I'm looking at getting an ATV for my kids. Something that I would ride with them (meaning me and a kid on it at the same time) because they are still only 5 and 6 years old. Eventually they'd ride it themselves.

Can anyone recommend a good ATV (quad) for kids? Maybe there are models that I should avoid?

Any suggestions would be great!

Thanks,

JKW

 

We have a Honda 350 King Ranch 4WD and a Honda 300 FourTrax 4WD and both are excellent machines. The new ones have push a push button shift on the left handle bar, so even though my son can shift it easily when he drives (with me on it, he's only six). The FourTrax is a little older machine and still shifts with the foot lever, but it's no problem really. They're a lot of fun... my in-laws live about 2 miles from the Arkansas River bottoms and we spent all day Saturday and Monday riding the back roads and trails down there, just having adventures... fishing, picking berries, watching the wild life, and mudding a bit too, my wife and I love taking the kids out on them.

 

In our political correct times, I would probably be banned from parenthood....
but YEARS ago, I got my kids a suzuki ??? 50 cc with a governor and tether strap...
they were riding it @ 5 and 6 by themselves in an enclosed field without any danger spots in it...
THEY LOVED it !!!
(this was after they had already mastered an electric four wheeler and had most of te wrecks with the house out of their system :-)

Always had helmets, always watched them - That was part of the fun for them --- us cheering on their "race" @ 5 mph :-)
it was governed to whatever speed I wanted it to be...
(I think the MAX it would go was about 13 MPH ????)
I tethered it and could turn it off at any time when at first I could walk behind when it was slower :-) and then from my following four wheeler....

 

get a banshee man they are fast as hell....j/k look into the honda automatics or if you want some sporty feel the kawasaki makes a pretty sweet 700cc automatic sport....that or bombardia (SP?) or polaris depends on if you want a sport or off-road/ hunting rig but for automatics the polaris's are #1 ...in reliability Honda is #1 so do your homework before you shell out $3-7k for something they cant ride

 

Eton makes one that has a remote kill switch.

http://www.etonamerica.com/Prd_RXL40.htm

 

Those all have Solid Rear Axle's, which in ATV's isn't necessarily a good thing. At least, to my knowledge.

I'm a fan of Polaris machines. We have a 500 Sportsman, Two 330 2WD'ers. Then we also have a Honda 150 (no *****) and a Kawasaki 80 2-stroke that is fun in the mud.

For kids...if you're wanting something that they will be able to ride by themselves (supervised) in a few years, I'd recommend one of the 330's. My cousins in 6th grade ride our 330's (Twin 330's for twin boys) with no problem. It's not so heavy that it is uncontrollable for them, has enough giddyup too. That said, they DO go 65 mph according to when I was racing my uncle 330 vs 500 - I kept up with him till then, but he weighs like 200 pounds more then me which kinda helped me out.

I will say that the 2 Stroke Kawasaki is a blast. It's small enough that my sister in 1st grade rides it around sometimes, but its too small - you couldn't possibly ride on it with your kids. The 330 would be perfect for two people. It's got the capacity of the bigger ones as far as people, but not necessarily too big.

The reason why I mentioned Rear Axle earlier is because Honda's have a STIFF ride. I personally prefer the stiffness of a Rear Axle, but for the children it could cause problems. They go over some rough ground, that rear axle is unforgiving. My grandpa had a Honda 400 with a SRA and you hit any decent bump and that rear end would jack right up into your butt. I'm a sturdy 200 pound guy and it would give me trouble on the rare occasion - let alone your young children. This may not be as pronounced on lower models...but its just something to think about. Our Polaris's with their indepenent suspension do great in mud - unlike in trucks independent suspension in ATV's is optimal.

If you're wanting them to be able to ride it by themselves in only a couple of years....you may want to look for a 250cc, or else buy the 330 and have it governed down. Safety equipment is the key here. Thanks ^_^

 

Our Polaris spit out a Kevlar drive belt due to manufacturing defect (In the first 300 miles of ownership...it was barely worn) - only one that the dealer had EVER seen break - other then that none of our Polaris ATV's have had troubles. And trust me, we've beaten the hell out of them. One of our 330's no longer has power-assist breaks cause its been wrecked and it lost the whole assembly. That'll be getting repaired, but these things won't quit. We've had the 330's for a year or two now, and the 500....that's been at least 4 or 5 years. Reliability with Polaris is on par with Honda.

Plus...all the farmers around here run around on Polaris ATV's, doesn't that tell you something?

 

Get a Honda...

 

WOW - NICE little package !

a few things have changed in the 20 years since my little girl was little

 

JKW, I have been On Bikes for Nearly 30 Years, I started when I was 4.
I Ride every Chance I get (hence the name KTMGUY).. I experimented with ATV"S about 6 years ago, and since that time, I have always had an ATV also.

My Kids started off riding a Honda Fourtrax 70 at the age of 3, and are now riding an XR 80 and Ktm 50 sx PRO.

BUT they Still love to ride with Dad on the POlaris Every now and then.
SOme things to Consider, If Your Going to be riding 2 up alot, then Look at th TRV vehicles ( two rider Vehicles) from Both Bombardier and Arctic Cat.. Both offer an Extended Frame with another seat onboard as well as footrests.. The Lengthened frame sure adds to stability and safety.
Also, Ever Consider a Yamaha Rhino or a Polaris Ranger? They Offer side by side seating and are only slightly larger than the largest ATV's.

However if you wish to go with a Single Seat ATV then Look either towards the Polaris line or the Kawasaki Prarie Line. They Offer two of the largest most Comfy seats available which is important if your carrying someone else around alot. The Polaris Sportsman, Which I have has Great Ergonomics, many consider it to be the most comftorable quad in existence today.
The Prarie has a SRA instead of the IRS of the Sportsman, which gives it a sportier feel and a bit quicker handling (it also weighs 100 pounds less).

Make sure you get helmets!!!!!!