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Posted by: jett
DO NOT buy Kasea under any circumstances. They have all the features, but they are junk. By far the WORST piece of Sh-T I have ever owned. I'm still waiting for warranty parts that I ordered in June of this year. I could write a book about all the problems I have encountered.
I would spend the extra and go with a solid brand name for parts availability along with a dealer network. Don't make the mistake I did .
Posted by: jett
My kids did not beat the crap out of it, it was just a piece of garbage from word go. Just to compare it to the little JR50 that they both ride, this little JR50 has been thru six kids before mine started riding and I have had not one problem with it. The Kasea's muffler has broke four times, brake bolts missing, steering linkage bolts missing, springs missing, and to top it off, once it was washed it would not start. For parts I'm dealing directly with the moorons who import this
piece of Asian garbage, in Seattle. I'd set it on fire to get rid of it, but the price of gasoline is too expensive. My warranty will soon expire and I haven't recieved the parts that broke on the first day I bought it. Word to the wise, stay clear of anything with the name Kasea on it.
Posted by: puddding
ATC 70
yes its a trike....sound dangerous........sure.....but hey.......everything is......and its not far to the ground on one of those.....
if the little person can master 3 wheels.......4 is a breeze.....teaches good riding habbits.....styles......and looks cooler than the kids down the road.
problem?.......they haven't made them for years.......but parts are easy to get......
Posted by: ftwflh
My son had a Eton 50 in 99 it was a good starter quad.But had carb problems i had to work on it all the time.A friend of ours has the same problem on his youngest sons 50. I looked around quite a while be for deciding on a 125 Breeze Yamaha for my 9 yr old . It is 4 stroke plenty of power and automatic with reverse.I dont have to stop and turn him around when he gets in a tight spot. Brad 425 magnum 4x4 400 sprortsman 125 Breeze
Posted by: YZGUY
My son is 8, and he just got a new Honda TRX90 (see the current issue of ATV Action for a review of this bike). He had ridden the Suzuki LT-80 for years, but as we began to take him out on cross country rides, it became appearent that without engine braking, the Suzuki just isn't a trail worthy bike. Now, the LT is great for a beginner to ride around a track or in an area where you have control of the terrain they will get into, but being an automaic, they have to rely entirely on the brakes to slow down-and the brakes are difficult for the little ones to modulate. The tendancy is to lock up the rear going downhill, skid, and get sideways-NOT GOOD!!
If your child is mature enough to learn to shift, and can handle a slightly larger bike, I would suggest the Honda because it is a bike he can grow into (you won't be replacing it for a long time). Otherwise, look for a smaller starter bike to hold him over for a while, then later trade up to something more capable.
Posted by: exmxer
Here's my two cents on the subject. First off, about 90% of the info already posted seems like pretty good info to me. I question the three wheeler thing....but anyway...Muddy4life's post seems to be right on the money.
My personal opinion is that you want to try to stay with a name brand quad. I know there are a lot of off brand quads out there that are working fine for their owners, but I still like the odds of the major brands...The physical size of your son is a major determining factor of buying the quad. If he is large enough to fit it correctly, I would strongly consider the Honda TRX90. It has a four-stroke engine, an auto-clutch manual shift transmission(I believe....), and an excellent reliability record. The handling, suspension and looks are top notch in my book. As soon as my son is large enough to own one, he will have it.
Another quad to look at is the Yamaha Raptor 80. I think it was formerly known as the Badger 80. They changed the plastic, but I think the machine is basically the same. You might be able to find the Badger at a blow-out price. It also is a four stroke, 3-speed(I think....) reliable little quad. I'm not as fond of the front suspension on this quad as the Honda's, but it's not a bad second choice. I'm not sure....but you might get electric start with this one.....Honda's take on electric start is that if you are old enough to ride it, you should be old enough to start it with either a kick-start or pull-start. If not, then you will HAVE to have an adult with you. It's a safety thing.
Next, I would look at the Suzuki LT80. Depending on the size of your son...this one might be a little small for him. But it's at least worth letting him set on one to see. We've had one for a year now, and had excellent luck with it. It's a peppy little machine once they out grow all the restrictors(3 different ones on the 80). The only thing I would caution against here is the two-stroke engine.
A two stroke must build higher rpms to get the same work done as a four-stroke. So, what you run into with any two-stroke, that is governed down, is you will have to set the throttle limiter to a level that you feel comfortable with, for your child to be able to climb an incline. And on that same hill, when they come back down their speed will be much faster than you might want. If you set the limiter slow enough for a comfortable speed going down, or even for level ground....there will not be enough power to climb the slightest incline(because there isn't enough rpms).
A four-stroke engine has more torque from the word go. As soon as throttle is applied, you have power. You don't have to wait for the revs to build up. This can be confidence inspiring to the beginner, who has stopped in a hole, or creek, or behind a rock, or log......or anything. It's quite intimidating for a beginner to have to rev the pee out of the thing just to get going, and then must let off as soon as the obstacle is clear so they don't go taking off faster than they want.
Another thing I like about the first two quads that I mentioned is the gears. Yes, I know a lot of people like automatics, for the ease of operation. But my take on this is that an auto-clutch manual transmission is very simple to use, and can be learned very fast by anyone. Kids included. One of the major advantages to manual transmissions is the engine braking going down a hill. You put it in low gear, and the child doesn't have to brake nearly as hard. My son has been riding for 2 years, but I still get a scared feeling in my stomach every time he has to go down a steep hill. His automatic would basically go almost as fast as coasting in neutral if he slipped up and didn't brake properly. I like the idea, that if he messes up on braking, the engine can still help slow him down. This was one of the reasons I chose the Suzuki, by the way. It has a foot brake for the rear brake. In a panic situation, I feel he is more likely to get a foot stomped on the rear brake than to grab it on the lever. I wish the Suzuki had gears and a 4-stroke engine.
One more thing I would like to share is we have helmet mounted radios. These have probably been the single most important purchase(since buying the quad itself) that we have made. These radios are voice activated and let me coach my son every step of the way. You just couldn't believe what a difference it makes when you child can hear daddy's voice coaching, giving words of encouragement, or....occasionally having to tell them to slow it down or they are going to get in trouble. Also, being able to listen to them talk about climbing a hill, or going through a creek crossing while the excitement is still in their voice is just....plain awesome!
I'm sorry for being so long winded....but I tend to get that way with something I care about a great deal. I hope this helps you a little....or helps someone out there a little. If you have any other questions about quads or radios or whatever, just e-mail me at Barnettcrew@yahoo.com.
Good luck.....
Posted by: exmxer
It sounds like Christmas came early at your house....Congratulations! I hope you and your son have as much fun as my and my son have had. There's nothing like a father and son loading up to go riding together for the day. You made an excellent choice on quads.....you will be very happy with your choice...
Posted by: exmxer
We have the Chatterbox FRS Multi-Sport radios. We paid about 160.00 each for them. I searched everywhere, and this was the best price I could find at the time. With shipping it was around 350.00 for both. I'm telling you...and I think my son would too...it was the best 350.00 I could have spent.
I'm not saying Chatterbox is the only choice out there....there are other brands. But I liked the simplicity of these radios. They are totally self contained. No radios on the belt with wires up to the helmet or anything like that. When a kid is involved, I try to keep it simple. If it gets to be a headache hooking the radio up everytime you get on and off a quad, eventually you'll quit using it.
If you have any other questions, just e-mail me....I'll be happy to answer anything I can.....
Rick Barnett
Barnettcrew@yahoo.com
Posted by: exmxer
Another thing about the Chatterbox radios...is the VOX, or voice activated DOES work. My five year old son(who has been using one for over a year) does not need to have to push buttons to key the microphone. He needs to keep both hands firmly on the handlebars.
One reccomendation if you buy a Chatterbox is get the set for open face helmets. Even if your kid has a closed face helmet. Which, I hope he does. The mic on the open face helmet is mounted on a flexible wand, or boom, they call it. This allows the mic to placed as close to your kid's mouth as you need to make the voice activation work properly. If it is too far away....the loud engine noise will sometimes key the radio. We experience this once in awhile with my sons. We have the closed helmet design. So this is a lesson that we have learned. I plan on buying two more radios within the next year, and they will both be open faced design.
Remember....keep it simple....for the kids....
Posted by: Sandhopper
My son (4yrs) has a 2002 Suzuki LT50, and it's a great quad for him. It's very stable, has floorboards, and is a very dependable quad, with kid-size levers and a lower stance than most 50's. My daughter has a Polaris Scrambler 90, and it's also a very nice little quad (she's almost 7). They both start up right away, and have enough suspension for them to be comfortable. They also both are fully automatic, with throttle limiters - so you can make them go as slow as you need to at first, and they are easy to adjust when they can handle more speed.
I honestly would stick to well-known brands, and these two have been great for us. I would highly recommend either of them.
Posted by: Sandhopper
Hi Paul!
Hmmmm, I'm trying to remember. I think I paid...too much! (just kidding!) I bought it new, cuz I didn't want to get an old one, and this is the first year they are making them again after like a 10 year hiatus! Ok, I looked it up - I paid $2300 out the door. But it was PERFECT for my son - it IS perfect for him. And the resale should be good when he moves up to his sis's quad in a few years.
The Suzuki actually has two power reduction devices. The throttle limiter, and then something else in the carb that we took out. It's got the full floorboards, oil injection (it's a two stroke), pull start (like a lawnmower!), and a tether in the back that you can walk along and hold when he is learning - and if he gets all crazy, you can just pull the tether, and it kills the engine. VERY handy! At least until they learn to brake when you tell them to!
Good luck! Let me know what you wind up getting!
Posted by: Sandhopper
Paul,
Thanks for the update! I was wondering! Congrats, and I know you guys will have a great time. ooooo, yeah, those Chatterboxes would be a great idea!!!! I have heard they make riding with your little ones 10X more fun, and it's easier to let the little guy know what to do and what's up ahead!!
Posted by: MUDDY4LIFE
Mr Spratt,
I am a licensed ATV instructor.I teach the safe and responsable use of ATVs to all ages,especially the under 16yr old group.
Some conciderations before a ATV purchase for a youngster should be,
1.His attention span?
2.Maturity?
3.Abilities to PROPERLY ride and UNDERSTAND an ATV?
4.Local laws regarding use for youngsters?
Manufactures ''RECOMMEND'' the following,
ENGINE SIZE..........AGE LEVELS
Under 70cc-----------6 and older
70-90cc--------------12 and older
Over 90cc------------16 and older
Notice that I highlighted the word ''RECOMMEND''.These are what the manufactures ''recommend'' that you follow,however,in most States,you do not need to adhere to these ''recommendations''.Most any child that is in the 12-15 yr old recommended age group is FAR to big to ride a 90cc ATV.These recommendations where put there as part of a CONSENT DECREE signed by the manufactures AND the Consumer Product Safety Commision[CPSC] of ATVs back in 1988.For the most part,they are there to protect the MANUFACTURES!
My first question is?Does this child have any ATV experience?Based on the questions that you asked in your opening post,I would guess the answer would be no?If so,I would suggust that you call ASI at 1800-887-2887 and tell them that you would like to enroll your kid in a 4hr ATV safety class BEFORE your purchase an ATV.Most all instructors have ''loaner''ATVs that they can provide your kid with to complete the training class.When you arrive at the training site,explain to the instructor that you are looking for his ''input'' for the correct ATV for your child at the conclussion of training.After the instructor has had a chance to evaluate your child,he can than set you in the right direction on which ATV to purchase.
BEST REGARDS,
Bill
Posted by: THEFUZZ
does anyone have any info. or input on a certain typ. atv for a 8 yr old, 2-stroke v/s 4-stroke auto.v/s stnd. and who makes these atvs
thanks.
Posted by: raptor720
Alot of great input here, including Muddy's comments. I hate to see parents who place their 8-12 year olds on Banshees.
As for the mini atv's, I have evaluated most of the brands on the market. The Kasea Skyhawk 90 and 50 are by far the best of the bunch.
The Kasea's offer a true tool steel rear axle and mounting system similiar to a Blaster. The shocks are Showa shocks with true rebound dampening and preload adjustments. The rear swing arm is the strongest of all minis. On the front, the suspension has a double mount at the king pin like the lt80. It is 100% stronger than the single welded mount found on the Polaris, Aeon, Sundiro, T-Rex, Eton, Artic Cat, Husky and other brands.
The fuel system has a vac operated automatic shut off so parents and kids don't need to worry about leaving the fuel on or off. It even has a 60 watt lighting coil that is fully prewired for lights.
The LT80 and the Eton DXL both incorporate the engine as the rear swing arm assembly. That is very bad as the atv will tend to flip forward on a sudden bump. The LT80 will cost about $300 to add lights.
I could go on and on. If you have any particular questions, send me a note.
Posted by: raptor720
THe best radio set up out there for teaching kids to ride is the Motorola Talk about. Clip on on his waist and buy the ear piece. You will note that the ear piece also has a mic and is set up for VOX voice activated communication. That does not work with the engine noise.
The way to get it to work so that you can talk to him is you plug in the ear piece and turn the radio on Then unplug the ear piece and plug it right back in. That will disable the VOX function. He can still press the talk button on the radio to communicate but the VOX feature will not become a problem.
Now you carry the other radio and provide real time instruction and hazard warning. Teach him that if you say stop that means stop instantly.
Oh, on the lt50, if you make an air cleaner mount and install a K&N filter, the main jet will need to be enlarged substantially. The pilot and needle do not need to be moved.
Good Luck
Posted by: raptor720
Bradb,
He already got a LT50 for the kiddo.
The LT80 is a real piece of junk by today's standards. Compare it to the Kasea and you will agree.
Posted by: raptor720
Jet,
Tell me more about your problems. Did you abuse the crap out of it?? Are you waiting for parts that your dealer is/was too stupid to properly order?? Are they parts that you can get from any one of the other bbrand manufacturers??
Even if the parts are slow, it is by far the best youth atv on the market bar none.
Posted by: raptor720
If you are interested in selling it, name a price shipped to California. I am always looking for an extra Kasea.
My son has been racing his 90 for 1.5 years and never had a problem. I did find that the rear axle nut came loose, and the rear brake was not properly adjusted BUT those problems related to the idiot dealer (ALBA YAMAHA) that assembled the pieces.
As with any new mini atv, replacing the transmission vent tube with a longer tube, replacing the junk exhaust, installing lights and installing a real air filter system are things that must be done before the atv hits the dirt.
On your starting problem, adding di-electric grease to the electrical connectors is a must for any atv.
Posted by: raptor720
Baker,
First off, you can buy the grease at any autoparts house that carries the Permatex brand of products. It is called "tune up grease." If you cannot find it there, ask any cable television guy for some. The grease is silicon based and it will allow the electricity to flow while keeping the water out of the connections.
Take the front plastic off the atv and at each electrical connection open the connection and apply a fair amount of grease. If you do this at all the connections, you will never have an electrical problem. I do this on all of my atv's regardless of the manufacturer.
Next, on all of the youth atv's with the CVT auto trans, you will find a small vent tube just in front of the rear sprocket on the sprocket side of the engine case. The tube is about 3"long and points straight down. Take that tube off and replace it with a longer tube that can be sip tied to a high point on the frame. Take care to make sure the end of the new tube points down so that water cannot enter. -- Also note that you should change the gear oil ever 2-3 hours of riding. I use automotive gear oil.
Depending on the engine that SUndiro installed in your ATV --they have used different models-- you may have an open vent system going into the CVT transmission cover. This is the large cover on the side opposite the front sprocket. If you are going through water, make sure that if you have any vent openings, they are sealed. There is no harm in removing any vent openings to this cover and blocking the holes.
Finally, the stock air box will cause sudden death to your atv in water. Remove the entire air box and replace it with a UNI foam filter. To protect the foam from water, fabricate a shield out of aluminum. Note the foam filter is the best for keeping water out of the engine. ONce you go to the foam, you will need to increase your main jet size. If you cannot find the jets, use a #68 drill bit to start. Do not change the air pilot or needle position.
2 stroke oil. Take your pick for the injection system. Just make sure the cable adjustment is set to allow maximum oil flow. If you want to make sure your engine will last for years, switch to pre-mix. This will require some additional work that I dan describe later.
Posted by: raptor720
When you are ready to add some performance, drop me a line. I have all the parts for mild to wild.
Posted by: raptor720
There is a little black plug on the top of the engine case about 3" forward from the rear of the engine (about 1" in front of the rear sprocket). This plug will unscrew standard thread. Use it for filling.
To drain the oil, look below the engine case (directly below the little black plug). It should be a 14mm nut that will be the drain.
Don't pay any attention to the manual for filling info. I add 80w automotive gear oil until it is at the bottom of the threads for the fill plug. As long as you have installed the long vent tube, this will not be a problem. The extra oil helps keep things cool and is very important to gear life.
Some day when you have the side cover off the engine, remove the rear gear cover and clean out any metal particles. I JB weld a small magnet to the bottom of the gear case to help catch the metal particles.
Good luck!
Posted by: 426hemi
My son is 3 years old (will be four in October) and he has been riding a new Suzuki LT-A50 for about 2 months now. Admittedly he is young for this bike but he has demonstrated good ability and judgement. My main reason for purchasing this quad was its ability to throttle down from 0 to approx 20 miles per hour. I was going completely crazy with those expensive electric models that arent worth the plastic they are made of! Even if the youngster grows out ot it or dosent like it these Suzuki 50cc quads have always had a high resale value. I purchased the Suzuki for the safety features, resale value, and durability (believe me I did tons of research). The quad has a low, wide stance and and thus feels very stable for the kids. I even had my nephew on it (he is 6) and he was riding like a champ inside of 15 minutes. Of course with any motorized vehicle at this age I NEVER TAKE MY EYES OF OF HIM WHEN HE IS ON IT AND I MAKE SURE TO TEACH HIM SAFE RIDING AT ALL TIMES. One even minor mishap and he will probably not want to get back on so take it really slow even when he appears to be getting better. Anyway good luck hope that helps.
Posted by: 426hemi
My son also has a JR50 with training wheels that he was riding regularly...that was until he got the quad. Since that day the motorcycle has been unused.
Posted by: 426hemi
My son also has a JR50 with training wheels that he was riding regularly...that was until he got the quad. Since that day the motorcycle has been unused.
Posted by: 426hemi
FYI I paid 1600.00 out the door for a 2002 Suzuki Quadmaster50. This might help in negotiations (I live on the border of another state so they didnt charge me sales tax).
Posted by: Pechmial
I bought my eldest son a Polaris Sportsman 90 (made by Aeon) a couple weeks ago. There are lots of good ATV's out there for kids, but this one seems very solidly built. I've got two younger boys (8 and 7 years old) who also ride it on occasion (under more restricted circumstances). All around, it's a good choice for safety and durability.
I'd considered several others in my search, and have no doubt that there are faster units out there, but this quad was packed with safety features I couldn't pass up and seems to have been the best choice for the general trail riding I plan on taking my son on.
Check my photo album site below for picts of this ride in motion.
Photo Album
Posted by: Pechmial
You might also want to consider the Scrambler 50 by Polaris (ok, Aeon makes this too). The local dealer had one at about $1600 and it has all the same safety features as the LT50 or the Sportsman/Scrambler 90.
BTW, I paid $2100 out the door for that Sportsman 90. For my youngest, who's 7, I am considering an E-ton 40cc model I saw at the local Arctic Cat dealer. They say they only want $1000 for this 'toy.'
Posted by: Batoutahell
I too am looking for a quad for my son. He is almost 5 and I have taken him on some slow rides with me and he loves it. I think I will get him a 50cc soon. I like the idea of being able to slow it down until he can show me that he is responsible and able to handle a little more and then slowly up it so that he gets the chance to master it a very slow speeds.
I would like to get any others opinions on these quads. My local salesperson said she likes the 50cc two wheelers better and her 4 year old has one, but I think I like the 4 wheeler idea better.
I have been riding quads for about 12 years, I got a late start. I started riding when I was about 22.
I want my son to have the opportunity to do it at an earlier age.
Paul
Posted by: Batoutahell
Hey Corry, If you don't mind could you let me know what you paid for your little guys quad. The suzuki 50 sounds like the quad for my little man also 4 yrs old and I am going to be pricing them out very soon. Might be a present from santa. I can't believe I am thinking about christmas already.
Thanks for the info on the 50
Paul
Posted by: Batoutahell
Corry, thanks for the reply, I am pretty sure that is what I will get for my son.
I think it will be a great beginner for him.
How do you like your 400, we are trying to decide what to get my wife. I have a raptor and she thinks it is too much for her, so I am leaning towards the 400 or maybe a warrior. Something along those lines anyway.
Again thanks for the info
Paul
Posted by: Batoutahell
Thought I would update everyone that was interested in this thread about my son and our quad search. I bought him a suzuki lt50 today. I love it and I know he loves it too.
Thanks Corry, Your advice helped. It fit him better than the polaris and I like my dealer (same as where I got my raptor). It is a fun little quad and I pulled the exhaust limiter also. It is a blast to involve the family in this sport.
Paul
Posted by: Batoutahell
Yeah, Christmas came a few months early, I told my son that this was part of his christmas and that we might have to be kind of light at christmas time. He will still have presents and probably we will go overboard as usual, but I love to buy my little guy the things he wants. Actually the quad for him, was more of a present to me. It makes me feel so good to be able to spend time with him and to see him really having fun. There is no other thing in the world that comes close.
One question, you have the helmet mounted radios, what kind of price did you pay for those?
Thanks
Paul
Posted by: Bakerboyz
I ordered a Sundiro from an online company. Have a few questions
Is there a special 2 stroke oil to be used?
Is the dielectric grease to be applied anywhere specific?
Why is a longer vent tube needed for the trans?
I question this because we need to cross two small streams to get to our track.
Thanks
Posted by: Bakerboyz
thanks for the tips. Just waiting for the delivery.
Posted by: Bakerboyz
Got the Sundiro Ridge Runner 90 Yesterday. $1499 delivered from eoexpress.com. Prices have since gone up.
Not much assembly (battery, oil & gas) Adjustments were needed on the brake cables, chain, air filter and tire pressure (10+ lbs in the tires). Also had some tune-up grease handy. The instructions (5"X8" card) and O&M are slim. Buying on line is not for the mechanical novice.
The mini has plenty of power. The suspension and handling, as expected,are not up to par with our Honda ex and will take some time to get use to.
We took it through most of our trails which include downed trees, brooks, mud and rocks and it handled itself admirably.
So far so good.
Posted by: Bakerboyz
Raptr 720
Your tips have been right on so far.
You said "Also note that you should change the gear oil ever 2-3 hours of riding. I use automotive gear oil." Where is this gear oil?
