Okay, I need a ride for my 13yo. Good rider, semi-aggressive, 5'5" <100 lbs.
Due to what I've read about pre and post sale service and reliability I've setled on these two quads.

Jetmoto - good rep, raceway - great rep, this one is wider 39" but taller 42"

Shinima - good rep, Jason - great rep, this one is narrower 36" but shorter 36"
(maybe more stable?)

I don't mind wrench turning so that is no issue.

We ride at CA OHV park with mixed terrains and some have designated trails with lots of elevation changes. The CVT and lack of engine braking does concern me on both of these.

Those of you with JM 150 or Shinima 150 experience, please share you thoughts!

 

Welcome to the forum NotSoYoungAnymore! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Im sorry for not responding to this quicker. Ive been spending most of the last 4 weeks or so trying to fix my broken CNC Mill. I have been spending all the time i would be here searching around CNC forums for some help.

I do not have any bad words for Jason or his Shinima quads. I bought my wifes first quad from him and picked it up from him personally at his warehouse. I also had very good experience when looking for a replacement part from Jason.

Having said that I would still reccomend the Jetmoto 150. Your comment about a "semi agressive 13 yr old" makes it a no brainer for me. The Jetmoto 150 has a superior chassis/suspension and will be a much nicer quad for your son. No one is importing a better 150 from China right now no matter how much it might look like a Jetmoto. If your son was going to putt around on a quad it wouldnt matter and you could probubly save a few bucks getting him a "no-name-Chinese quad. .

 

Thanks. Jason is very accomodating and is really trying. The Shinima looks pretty well built, but it has the cheap drum brakes on the front. It is also 3" narrower.
Thanks. Jason is very accommodating and is really trying. The Shinima looks pretty well built, but it has the cheap drum brakes on the front. It is also 3" narrower.
Do you find any issue with the lack (?) of engine braking from the CVT, or it that being over hyped in some threads?
We go to Hollister and some mountain trails, so if the lack of compression braking is very tangible, he will need to learn about it before a looong 500' descent!
I sat on a JM150 at Kid Sport in Salida two weeks ago and was very impressed!
I guess 'that tears it...' I will probably go with the JM.
Unless.. I can find some more money and buy myself a new quad and give him mine....
I'll PM you about this weekend.

 

The disc brakes are pretty good on the 150 so I never even give much thought to engine braking. But it definitely doesnt have the engine braking the 125, 200, or 250 does. I dont think you would be disappointed with a '07 Jetmoto but you might be if you got a Shinima and are hoping for Jetmoto performance.

I will be looking for your PM and will try to remember to PM you my ph number later so you can call me.

 

I'm not sure if this issue is the same for all quads with the CVT, but I have a Kawasaki KFX 700 which has the CVT tranny. The thing has absolutely no engine braking when descending a hill and the engine at idle. However, the CVT will bite and offer SOME brake torque on a downhill descent with a blip of the throttle to raise the RPMs off of idle causing the trans to engage. Even then, engine braking is still nowhere near what a manual tranny quad has. It's not a big issue as long as you are aware of the dynamics and don't get caught off guard (hands off the brakes).

 

That makes sense, to get the CVT re-engaged. I am sure that its someawhat like an car automatic in OD, just letting off the gas does almost nothing. Make it downshift and you're in business.