Quads

How old are the kids you're buying for?

300cc should be plenty for most kids.
 
How old are the grand babies? Might want to consider something like a Honda Pilot/odyssey that is a ton of fun but has a roll bar.
 
how old are kids? What type of riding (grass/lawn, trails, dirt)? Does it need to be trail legal for any public trails? Need 4wd? Will parents also use for riding or utility?
 
Tom, I would also suggest looking for some of the older Honda Fourtrax models (the ones that were air cooled). They were based on the engines from Honda's XR line of motorcycles which are just about impossible to break. I'm not as familiar with the Yamaha stuff, or nuances of quads in general (my background is motocross), but the quads often borrow from that mfr's motorcycle line so there is some crossover, and many pitfalls are the same. I believe both Honda and Yamaha had quads that borrowed from trail bikes (mostly air cooled four strokes in a more reliable state of tune) and some that borrowed from the motocross side (water cooled, more power, less reliable especially if maintained by someone thinking oil changes are optional).

As MX (race) bikes go, Yamaha has a good reputation for durability, but that's like saying that a pro stock drag race engine is reliable compared to a top fuel car. If neglected on oil and air filter changes as well as top end maintainance, modern four stroke motocross bikes can grenade in rather spectacular fashion. When they do, depending on what goes, even if you do the work it's ridiculous what stuff costs (not by airplane standards, but as a percentage of what the quad/bike is worth). Most share oil between the gearbox and engine, so when one goes it causes issues with the other.

In general, if you see an air cooled four stroke engine it is likely based on that mfr's trail bikes and in a milder state of tune. Feel free to shoot me a message if you think I can help. I raced motocross for 20+ years, the last 10 were on four strokes and rule #1 by my dad was I worked on my own bike.
 
Depending on the age/size/weight of the grandkids, of the used models you listed I'd look at the warrior and blaster. The blaster is a 200cc two stroke which must be leftover from yamahas older YZ or IT dirt bikes. Dirt simple air cooled two stroke. May have oil injection so you wouldn't need premix, although if it does, going through that system and doing new hoses etc would be advisable.

The warrior would be one of the air-cooled four strokes in a trail bike state of tune.

I think (not positive) that raptors are the more race-oriented Yamaha quads. The newer Hondas (TRX450R) are based on Hondas CRF450R or CRF450X MX/Off Road 450 four stroke (water cooled, reliable to a point but more maintenance intensive).
 
We are thinking a 50cc beginner for young kids. But thanks for the info.
 
Tom-D said:
We are thinking a 50cc beginner for young kids. But thanks for the info.
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Oh gotcha. Was thinking they were older. You should have a good selection. The 50-100cc bikes turn over pretty quickly when people's kids outgrow them, I would imagine quads would be the same.
 
Tom-D said:
We are thinking a 50cc beginner for young kids. But thanks for the info.
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I've had a 50cc Kawasaki for my a daughter...she outgrew it by age 5 (no joke). They are very small and slow. Also, be aware, that they are illegal for use in many states, including mine (but we had 20 secluded acres so we did it anyway).
 
tawood said:
I've had a 50cc Kawasaki for my a daughter...she outgrew it by age 5 (no joke). They are very small and slow. Also, be aware, that they are illegal for use in many states, including mine (but we had 20 secluded acres so we did it anyway).
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That's weird. I had a Honda 50cc dirtbike from 4 to 10 years old. That damn thing would easily do 50+ mph. I kept telling my dad that it was really fast and I could keep up with cars at highway speed. He didn't believe me until he checked it for himself. He called the Honda dealer and asked them why it was so damn fast. They laughed and said it was impossible for it to go that fast. Anyhow, not sure why, but I sure had a quick one I guess.

My grandpa was 300+ lbs and he rode my 50cc honda dirtbike all over Oshkosh. Enough power to pull him and believe it or not the suspension had no problem taking the weight.

I'd still have the damn thing today and would still use it as Oshkosh if some POS hadn't stolen it from me when I was 10. It took 20 years for my dad to figure out who the hell stole it. Turns out the guy is in prison.
 
jesse said:
That's weird. I had a Honda 50cc dirtbike from 4 to 10 years old. That damn thing would easily do 50+ ...
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My son had a ktm 50 mx bike that was that fast also. But 50cc dirt bikes weigh 1/3 the weight of the quad and are geared better.
 
tawood said:
I've had a 50cc Kawasaki for my a daughter...she outgrew it by age 5 (no joke). They are very small and slow. Also, be aware, that they are illegal for use in many states, including mine (but we had 20 secluded acres so we did it anyway).
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Quads are banned in your state, or you just can't drive it on the road? I have never heard of a state banning quads. They say California is bad... :rolleyes: What state do you live in?
 
Dav8or said:
Quads are banned in your state, or you just can't drive it on the road? I have never heard of a state banning quads. They say California is bad... :rolleyes: What state do you live in?
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Banned for children 10 and under (unless doing farm work...which is how we "got around" the law...we had a 20 acre horse farm, and whenever my daughter would ride, we would say, "make sure you check on the horses". There, doing farm work.)
 
tawood said:
Banned for children 10 and under (unless doing farm work...which is how we "got around" the law...we had a 20 acre horse farm, and whenever my daughter would ride, we would say, "make sure you check on the horses". There, doing farm work.)
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Oh, OK. I kinda see that because they can roll and in some ways more dangerous than a dirt bike. Still, parents should decide, not the state. It's likely why the small kid's ones are so slow when they could be faster.
 
Quads - yuck...us moto racers call them "couches" - sorry had to be the negative nancy here.
 
CC268 said:
Quads - yuck...us moto racers call them "couches" - sorry had to be the negative nancy here.
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That's exactly the same snobby term that stand up Jet Skiers use to describe the sit down type of Jet Ski. :rolleyes:
 
Dav8or said:
That's exactly the same snobby term that stand up Jet Skiers use to describe the sit down type of Jet Ski. :rolleyes:
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hehe yea I have a sit down jet ski actually...wakeboarders hate jet skis as well. ;p
 
CC268 said:
hehe yea I have a sit down jet ski actually...wakeboarders hate jet skis as well. ;p
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So what. Who the hell doesn't hate wakeboarders?? ;) Basically, on the water everybody hates anybody that creates a wake, or makes some noise... unless it's them doing it. I ride/drive more hours per year on the water than I do in the air by far. I live on the water and have to deal every imaginable water craft and their operators on a regular basis. I'm all good with everybody sharing the water, but I just hope for everyone to give everybody else consideration. I know I've been seriously ****ed off at nearly every type of boater out there at some point and I'm sure I've ****ed off my fair share of fellow boaters too. I just ask people think a little about what they are doing as I try to and realize that they are not really the center of the universe.
 
DO NOT BUY the low cost Chinese 4 wheelers. They are complete garbage. I have warned lots of cheap people about them and they buy the Chinese anyway. The vibrate severely. Everything on the machine will break! the carbs are junk and will never run right. If you let it sit for over a week you will be working on the carb. My wife works for a doctor and I told him the same thing. He didn't listen. He has 2 4 wheelers for his grandkids that just sit there broken. He asked if I would fix them and I laughed at him. Stick with Honda, Yamaha or Kawasaki and you will have good luck.
 
pigpenracing said:
DO NOT BUY the low cost Chinese 4 wheelers. They are complete garbage. I have warned lots of cheap people about them and they buy the Chinese anyway. The vibrate severely. Everything on the machine will break! the carbs are junk and will never run right. If you let it sit for over a week you will be working on the carb. My wife works for a doctor and I told him the same thing. He didn't listen. He has 2 4 wheelers for his grandkids that just sit there broken. He asked if I would fix them and I laughed at him. Stick with Honda, Yamaha or Kawasaki and you will have good luck.
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I'd second that...I know a couple of people that have bought them, and had nothing but problems.
 
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We bought a late model 200cc Yamaha Blaster with less 3 hours TT for $1250, When I looked at it I thought it was new. It will be a bit much for the little one but he'll ride it a few years before he out grows it.
 
Tom-D said:
We bought a late model 200cc Yamaha Blaster with less 3 hours TT for $1250, When I looked at it I thought it was new. It will be a bit much for the little one but he'll ride it a few years before he out grows it.
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Good choice! 3 hours is new except the lack of warrantee. Lots of years in that one.
 
Dav8or said:
Good choice! 3 hours is new except the lack of warrantee. Lots of years in that one.
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I wish they were street legal. ( as to treat like a car) the G/kids would never see this :)
 
Tom-D said:
We bought a late model 200cc Yamaha Blaster with less 3 hours TT for $1250, When I looked at it I thought it was new. It will be a bit much for the little one but he'll ride it a few years before he out grows it.
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I had a blaster before...those things rip!
 
Tom-D said:
I wish they were street legal. ( as to treat like a car) the G/kids would never see this :)
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In rural areas people ride them on the streets and get away with it under the farm equipment provision. Also you can legally ride them in the street in Mexico.
 
Dav8or said:
In rural areas people ride them on the streets and get away with it under the farm equipment provision. Also you can legally ride them in the street in Mexico.
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In Montana, atv's, utv's, mini cabs and everything in between is street legal. They are everywhere. I ride my Honda xr650l all summer long. Makes sense since it costs me about two gallons of fuel every week or two going back and forth to work.
 
Tom-D said:
I wish they were street legal. ( as to treat like a car) the G/kids would never see this :)
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Not that it helps you in WA, but they can be registered for street use in SD. I think WY does the same.
 
EppyGA said:
Love the Scouts and they are slowly coming back. This year goes to the Blue Coats though.
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My favorite show in recent memory was Carolina Crown 2015. This year, I liked Crown and Academy. Bluecoats were interesting, and I like Pink Floyd, but it was a bit weird. Maybe that's 'cuz I only saw it in the theater and not live.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
My favorite show in recent memory was Carolina Crown 2015. This year, I liked Crown and Academy. Bluecoats were interesting, and I like Pink Floyd, but it was a bit weird. Maybe that's 'cuz I only saw it in the theater and not live.
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Got to see it live here in Atlanta in the Dome. It was a very good show with a lot going on. The use of the half pipes was pretty amazing. We also went to Big, Loud and Live. Bucket list item to do finals week in Indy one year.
 
I would go with a dirt bike.

When they wad it up its lighter and a kid can get out from under it, pick it up and get back going on their own. Less chance of getting hurt and stuck out in the woods.
 
Concord Blue Devils. (so sayeth the guy who grew up in California)
 
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