Hey All
I'm new to posting but have been searching and getting info from here for a few months. I'm looking to buy my daughters (8 and 6) there first quad. We live on a few acres and are surrounded by farms with atv trails. I soaked up as much info as possible and have narrowed it down to 3 machines. Money doesn't grow on trees so used is the route I can afford.
I'm hoping you guys can help figure the best option for us. The three I have narrowed down are as follows

1996 Suzuki LT80 - great shape well taken care of.Brand new tires. Needs battery for starter and has backup pull start installed (love that idea instead of fighting battery issues as most I read) and headlight.
700$
2004 Suzuki LT80 - great shape, good tire tread all stock
850$
1986 Honda trx70 - great shape. Compression was tested and is high. Spark tested as well. Hasn't ran in a few years starts up buy needs a carb cleaning and should be good to go.
650$

The big difference in the Suzuki is the 96 has brand new tires ,the 100$ pull start installed and a headlight but the 2004 is 8yrs newer and in great shape as well. I haven't been able to eliminate the honda cause as a kid I had a cr50 and it was unstoppable for reliability. The 70 seems to be rare as well and may have a good resale. Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated

 

Go for the 96 Suzuki. Now they have been out of production for about 10 years, nobody worries much if it is an 89 or a 2004, the condition is a lot more important. Being old and rare, you could have trouble getting parts for the Honda if it does need any.

 

Either LT80 is good. I still get 1987 motor/machines in still looking new.
The TRX is a good machine but a rough rider (no shocks if I remember right).

 

We are leaning towards the 96 due to the fact they both seem to be in great shape and my wife thinks the girls will like the white and purple scheme more then the yellow and black. Here is a pic of each..let me know what you think.

 

Tough to tell from 1 photo, but they appear to be in good shape...more importantly is how do they run???

 

get em both!

 

Either one would be a good choice. Whichever one is fastest is the one they would like the best probably lol. Obviously these kids quads are speed governed. Its a good thing they are, some kids have no fear and will run them wide open. I was riding a few months ago at an atv park and there was a family with a little girl about 6 I would guess on one of the little Chinese quads, probably a 50 cc. I guess she was basically riding it probably wide open, was getting up to almost 25 mph according to my speedo as I caught up with them. They pulled over and I passed them but I was somewhat impressed with how fast that little quad could go. If it could have went 40, I bet that little girl would have tried to go that fast. The mom had a Commander and had a much younger little girl in a car seat, I would guess maybe 18 months old. They were all having a great time.

 

Bikes this size don't get a lot of rough use usually. Unless of course they are abused by kids that have outgrown them and should be on larger machines. I have no experience with the Suzuki's, but the Hondas like you said, are bulletproof. You put gas in and it goes. Also had a Yamaha 80 for my son. It was trouble all the time with the junk gas clogging the carb ALL the time. I think I spent more time and money cleaning carbs than I spent buying it. The good thing about the three machines you listed is they are old enough that they are not going to lose any $ when you go to trade up. What you paid, is about what you will get when it is time to sell.

 

Good to see ya back Dragginbutt!

 

thanks. Just been busy for Gosh, the last 4+ years. After the open heart surgery, I had to take it wasy for a while. Now I have been working twice as hard so I can retire soon. Where does the time go?