I am looking for a small ATV that has a few years of growth on it. I already did the Chinese thing (Redcat 70) and returned it. I am now looking at a "name" brand

2003 Polaris Scrambler 50, $950
2001 Honda TRX80, $1200
2000 Yamaha Badger 80, $1000

or
(bikes):

new Yamaha TTR50, $999 plus training wheels ($120 from Yamaha)
new Suzuki JR50, $1099 plus training wheels ($130)
2005 Honda 50, $799

Anyone have any experience with these models? maintenance? parts? ease of use for kids? I assume all are quality machines but not sure about any common problems or bad models.

or any other ideas are welcome, but no need to waste your time recommending a chinese bike/ATV

 

Sir,
Go with your wife's idea and find the Big 4. If not, go to Johnatracewayatvs and give them a chance if you don't want to spend the money. If he screws you over, we'll kill him....wellkickhisassandhewillnotbeabletosurvive[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Good luck and Happy New Year. SEADAWG

 

If a two stroke is an option for you the Suzuki LT50 & LT80 are very reliable quads. My neighbor down the street has the LT50. I was surprised to see the power it has once all the restrictions were removed. It's actually quite funny to see the adults riding that little thing. There is also the Unison 50 and 90 you can look at. Many here have had good luck with their Unison's. Look at Raceway's web site they sell the Unison 50 & 90 models. All the bikes you listed are just fine with the training wheels. By the way good idea on the extra wheels. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] My daughter quit riding with us because she hated to go down on her TTR90. This is why she rides on four wheels now instead of two.

Good Luck with your next purchase.

SB.

 

Thumbs up on the Suzuki and Desert Cats too. Great reviews and SMB05 is right on...as always. SEAPUP

 

mhilli

The Yamaha moto4, champ, badger and raptor family have been around for a long time. you can find replacement parts
and asseccories just about anywhere, they are easy to maintain and very reliable. My kids presently ride the Raptor 50 and Raptor 80.
My son learned to ride on the 50. I chose it because it has a larger frame so that he did not outgrow it as quickly. he has ridden trails,
sand, mud and water and we have never had a problem with it. I just recently gave him the 80 and passed the 50 onto my daughter.
Both quads can hall my 200 lb butt around, however these quads are not performance machines. I wasn't looking for a quad
that they where going to be racing but something that they could just have fun riding without the constant tinkering to keep them running.

I myself own a couple of larger Hondas and think that these are great quads also but I don't have any experience with they're minis.

either way I don't think you'll go wrong in getting any of the big 4 or the polaris mini quads

I know the debate rages on this forum about chinese quads and I personally don't care how people spend their money either way, but
it has made this forum less than interesting to visit.

 

Thanks for the replies.

no decision yet, but I am going to look at the yamaha 80 tomorrow. If he will take $900 and it runs decent, I will probably buy it. I can not find any bad info on it.

 

If you go with a bike versus the quad, get your training wheels off of ebay. You will get them a heck of a lot cheaper!

 

thanks, that is good advice. it looks like about $25 plus shipping for the training wheels on ebay. that's about $100 cheaper.

 

mhilli

My son had a Raptor 80 and My Daughter a Suzuki LT 80. both are great bikes. My Favoite is the Suzuki 80 GAS AND GO.

 

well, I just bought a 2000 yamaha badger 80. it looks like brand new and runs perfect. $1000. i was so impressed witht the bike i didn't even haggle on the price. it pulls me around no problem. i am 6'4" and 280 ish

thanks for all of the advice. we are all very happy. my daughter keeps saying when will you have to work on it. i told her probably never.

the difference in this and a redcat 70 is night and day. nothing similar at all except the size of the engine.