Hi, new here, from New Zealand.

Looking for a bit of advice regarding a quad, this site popped up often on Google searches so looks like the right place to ask!

Looking for a quad to reach my wife to ride, very keen on an immaculate YFM200 (think called Moto4 also). Only 200cc, but my wife is 50kg, so small built, 5 foot 2.
So I'd like to know about these YFM200's. This is an '84.

No suspension on this one. 4 brand new tires, UNI filter, and looks immaculate, no corrosion, strong engine, plastics perfect, everything works. Shaft drive with reverse.
Not worried about the lack of suspension, as we ride on the flat beach only, and the wife will never be a speeder. Or SHOULD I be concerned with lack of suspension?

What are these YFM's like? Main thing we want is reliability. Not worried about being modern...plus the price is good for this one.

How do they compare to say a Honda TRX 250 2WD of the same era? Won't look at a Suzuki LT250 as here they all seem to be stuffed, smokey/rusty etc.

Any other suggestions? Quite keen on the YFM, but would look at others. Plenty of the Chinese 110cc quads out here, but a bit worried about them breaking down 20 miles down the beach.

Appreciate your thoughts, thanks!

 

I consider both machines mentioned to be very reliable.
Suspension is your call. Most all stock shocks are so stiff, I highly doubt she'll compress the springs anyways.

 

My family had a 1985 YFM200 that we bought in 1985 from a guy that owned it a month. It was a reliable bike, but the lack of any suspension made it ridiculously uncomfortable to ride. Granted I was 11 years old at the time and just happy to have something, but I would not buy anything without shocks on it. 1985 was the first year model for Yamaha 4-wheelers (already were making 3-wheelers), and in 1986, they put shocks on all four corners of the YFM200 making it a lot better. For what its worth, we sold our 1985 200 in very good condition in 1989 for $1000. The quad retailed in 1985 for $1800, and we bought it nearly new for $1500.

I liked the Yamaha, but honestly can't say that it stacks up well to the Fourtrax 250's of back them. They were tanks. The YFM200 is more nimble, fairly quick since its dry weight was like 331lbs, and will turn a tighter circle, but the lack of suspension just takes all the wind out of its sails.

 

Hi, thanks for replies. I bought the wee YFM 200 in the end, it's an 84, but really, really tidy. Seems a really solid wee quad, 4 brand new tires, and it's obviously been well looked after. Starts first pull cold, plastics immaculate, everything works. Just need to shell out $120 for a new battery.

Not worried about the lack of suspension, the beaches are smooth over here and the wife will just be cruising around quietly. Once I get my own quad we are planning on a 6 mile cruise down the beach to the next town on occasion, for an ice cream in the summer..I'm pretty sure the YFM 200 will last forever doing that!

Thanks guys.

 

Can I go?

 

Hope you enjoy it, sounds like it should fit the bill just fine. Where I live is rock city, and the lack of suspension would jar the crap out of you. For your application, I imagine it will do just fine. We ran ours through the hills and rocky creekbeds for a good 4 years and lived through it. I'm sure a sandy beach would go just fine. They didn't start selling quads in the U.S. til 1985. Maybe they had them available the year before elsewhere though.

 

This one brings back some nostalgia

Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA - 1985 YFM200 Home