mini quads

[smokinwrench]

My boys LT80 broke down today and I'm tired of it breaking down everytiem he's gonna race.

My question is what is the best 80-90cc quad out right now. We ride lots of sand, so the more power the better. Something with good suspension also.

[x.system]

http://www.cobramotorcycle.com/v2_quad.asp

[smokinwrench]

That looks great but to rich for my blood.

I'm wondering about the raptor 80 and trx90. I think both of those are 4 stroke, 4 speed quads. I just wonder if the 4 stroke will run as fast as the 2 strokes.

[42F67N]

Right now * have about the best kids mini quad out there in my opinion my kid has one and its problem free,i know there also a market for the lil dinli there suppose to be decent lil quads to mod out for racing.

i love yamaha but id stay away from the raptor 80 it has a solid axle front end,and ive been told the honda is slow in comparasion to the rest of the mini in its class

[Blown 331]

http://www.cobramotorcycle.com/v2_quad.asp


Wow, that thing looks insane.

[thefox]

Wow, that thing looks insane.

It better for 8 grand! I wouldn't even spend that much on a full size quad for myself.

[350Xhilaration]

You've got one of the best already. Do not go with the Moto4, I mean the Raptor 80.
www.atvconnection.com look up lt80. he's the man.

[RedRider_AK]

I wouldn't say that the LT80 is the best thing around... it's kinda old and not very powerful unless you're ready to drop a fistful of dollars...

The Cobra isn't exactly the cheapest. Ok, it's the most expensive mini ever, but it offers the best performance for the money.

Personally, I think that E-Ton's Viper is the best mini quad. Yes, it's an automatic and yes it's not made by a famous company, but it can roost like hell and has plenty of power. Plus, it's less expensive than the Raptor 80.

[smokinwrench]

I wouldn't say that the LT80 is the best thing around... it's kinda old and not very powerful unless you're ready to drop a fistful of dollars....


Where did you get that info? I say you have no clue what your talking about!

I just went to and looked at quads tonight. The dealer I went to sells yamaha, honda, kawi. He thinks best bang for the buck is the LT80 as far as power and easiness to ride.

I'm not impressed with the solid front axle on the raptor 80.

Etons are expensive, from what I've seen of them run they do seem powerful.

[Preddy05]

http://www.cobramotorcycle.com/v2_quad.asp

I wanna pipe like the one on that for my zinger! lol that bike is sweet looking but i can't say that about the price.

[MTS]

I have rode the Raptor 80 and the LT 80...the LT is far suprior in power and handling...the raptor 80 is just ...underpowerd and oversized for an 80....:)

[42F67N]

Go to a kids mx race and ull see what mini quads dominate lt80s and dinli min quads * can see some bad azz dinlis at this site

http://www.maximumrpm.com/pics/new_graphics/gallery.html#

[brapp]

when i worked at east coast, we built a little eton50 that scared the hell outta me!, and with a 4 year old as a pilot i seen him run the 300foot drags, he cleaned house against balsters and the polaris trailblazers that were piped and modded, and we only used a 70 big bore to it! and it flew liek 40+mph

[Mr. Sandman]

My sons have a Raptor 80 and a Kawasaki KFX 50. Both have been ridin hard and are proving to be great little quads. Sure, the design of them hasn't changed in years and they don't have the most up to date suspension, etc. but they serve their purpose for us. Granted, my boys don't race and there are a ton of mini's out there that you can pick up for a lot less money, and modify for racing, but my reasoning for buying these two is that the Japanese minis are much more reliable and will have parts available for years. The Chinese and Taiwanese minis may run good now but will they be around 5 or 10 years from now? Remember the Yugo? Just my $.02.

[TimSr]

I’ve had plenty of experience with several of these.

First you're dealing with two stroke CVT machines vs. 4 stroke manual trannys (w/ autoclutch). CVT’s are great when dry, but when you get into water crossings and deep mud they perform poorly. Also, when you are dealing with steep downhills on quads with poor braking systems, the manual trannys will give you some engine braking. The CVT models will coast, and roll freely, and we had a near disaster once when TimJr's first E-Ton once got away from him on a downhill. Both types will roll backwards in an unsuccessful hillclimb. For sand riding, either type would be fine, but if you were looking at a Midwestern woods and trail machine, Id pass on the CVT types. None of these have very good stock supension.

First the LT80 is good proven quad, but is outdated, and is also a royal pain to work on. Something as simple as changing the plug in the field can be a pain. They are a two stroke with a CVT tranny, which can be easily beefed up, but the basic motor design doesnt hold up well to high power modifications. Also its outdated suspension setup with staggered a-arms and swingarm placement have very limited capability. As a stocker for the kids, they are a decent machine, and probably be fine for dry sand riding, but for a more serious rider or racer, its not a good model to work with.

The Taiwanese two stroke mini quads flooded the market around 2000. These include the E-Ton, Sundiro, DRR, Alpha, Dinli, Blazer, Kasea, POLARIS, and probably a dozen other names. They are all pretty much the same machines with minor variations. Most of the parts are interchangeable, and there are tons and tons of aftermarket parts available all over the place for these. These quads are mild in their stock form, but a pipe and some matching variator rollers wake them up big time. They are modifiable up to the point that they could be competitive with stock Blasters. There are tons of suspension modifications. These use a single a-arm in the front, and have a CVT tranny. These dominate the mini quad MX classes by far. They would make great sand quads, and be my first choice for that, but again, if you are thinking of mud, water, and hills, they are not a great choice. Also the airbox location makes about 3” of water the limit. On steep sand downhills they are fine as sand doesnt require much braking power. Also, most of these have hand brakes, front and rear with no foot pedal. This is big problem for smaller kids who don’t have the hand strength for cable operated brakes where there are big downhills.

The TRX90 is an all around great machine. 4 stroke, 4 speed manual tranny w/ autoclutch. They handle about anything well, and can be competitive with the Taiwanese quads on the MX track, and many of them do compete there. The motor has more limitations, but everything can be setup to be a good competitor on the track. They do fine in sand as well. The bad news is that they are priced accordingly. They run about double the price of a Taiwan model, and about $1000 more than the Raptor 80. Ive never had one, but am very familiar with them.

When I first saw the front suspension on a Raptor 80, I assumed it was horrible. Then TimJr won one in a raffle. This has turned out to be the most awesome trail mini-quad imaginable. They are bullet proof, and suffer through the most incredible abuse. Ive watched it chug through water that my TriZ drowned in. Ive seen it pull him up any hill he aims it at, and hes well over 100lbs now. I cant say enough good about it. Its not nearly as quick as the E-Ton, but has a higher top speed. It would easily take the E-Ton in a tractor pull! It’s a 3 speed manual tranny w/ autoclutch. Its shaft drive, and near maintenance free. While it doesn’t suck up bumps as well as an a-arm system, Ive found it less prone to tipping over in off camber. Its got a long wheelbase, so its not prone to flipping over when climbing. If you want something that may not be particularly quick but will get through anything, Id buy a Raptor in an heartbeat. Ask the guys who rode with him at Wellsville!

[smokinwrench]

Great info Tim.

The TRX90 is $2,650
Raptor 80 is $2,250
Predator 90 is $2,350

I agree 100% the LT80 is terrible to work on. The TRX jsut looks better built in every aspect. Right now I'm leaning towards the TRX. It"ll go thorugh both my kids so it should be in use for years.

[smokinwrench]

The Taiwanese two stroke mini quads flooded the market around 2000. These include the E-Ton, Sundiro, DRR, Alpha, Dinli, Blazer, Kasea, POLARIS, and probably a dozen other names. !

If this is the case a person might as well buy the cheapest one you can find.

[TimSr]

If this is the case a person might as well buy the cheapest one you can find.

Absolutely. We bought the E-Ton because itwas about $700 cheaper than the Polaris at the time, but when I needed stock parts I ordered from the Polaris dealer beacuase they were about 60-70% of the cost of ordering them from an E-Ton dealer. That was before everything became available in aftermarket. The last brake shoes I got from Dennis Kirk (for Polaris). Everything else I need I get from Hetrick Racing, including OEM stuff now. ( www.hetrickracing.com ) Dont let the young girls voices on the phone fool you. These ladies really know their stuff when it comes to these minis!

[42F67N]

honda trx is outdated the motor is a dinosaur and its very heavy and stock for stock not as fast as a lt, lts80s are tight to work on but after one go around with the motor its not bad * learn the shortcuts of how to make it easier.

ive added a uni filter and a dg pipe to my kids lt and it moves awesome even with me on it and the sound resembles a blaster...heck my kid smoked my ass with his lt 80 vs my 125m in high gear lol

[thefox]

How about this one? :w00t:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lonstar-Honda-CR80-Modified-Youth-Quad_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6724QQitemZ4579605 756QQrdZ1#ebayphotohosting

http://i1.ebayimg.com/04/i/05/10/e9/84_3.JPG?set_id=100D

[DX Rider12]

Whatever you do stay away from the Bombardier DS 90 (or bombardier for that matter.) My bro has that quad and it sucks bad (suspension).

[TimSr]

honda trx is outdated the motor is a dinosaur and its very heavy and stock for stock not as fast as a lt, lts80s are tight to work on but after one go around with the motor its not bad * learn the shortcuts of how to make it easier.


Dinosaur? Granted its nothing earth shattering, but I believe the TRX90 came out in 1993 with most changes through the years being more cosmetic than anything, but if youre thinking the LT80 is somehow more modern and advanced with its 1987 design, I would disagree. As for smoking your 125M, I agree your LT80 wil, do the job, but so will the TRX90, and the Taiwan 90's. The Raptor 80 will also smoke you until it tops out and you catch up and pass.

[REDMAN225]

the polaris 90cc (made by aeon) is a very good machine and would be my first choice right now. although it is marked up in $$, you know you have access to dealer and parts. the new arctic cats are pure kymco machines which arent bad either.

[smokinwrench]

I just doen some window shopping today.

Redcat is another name for Tiawan quads. Problem is it is a 2006 model and is a 4 stroke now.

I also found out that the etons and redcats only have hand brakes. I watched my boy ride his trizinger and it took all he had to pull the brakes on it. SO that rules out them to models. Whatever I buy will have a foot operated brake.

[thedeatons]

I know this is an old post, but I just wanted to add that I just purchased a 2007 DRR DRX2 70cc from Extreme Mini Quads in Washington. I have yet to receive it, it is being shipped as we speak. As it turns out, there new 70cc is the DRX50 with a big bore kit on it. The 50 has been clocked at 40mph with the unlimited CDI box they also include. My new 2007 model has triple disc brakes, hydraulic in the front with SS braided lines, dual A-arms, chain drive, and is 41" wide. This is the equivalent of a +4 rear axle and +3 A-arms on the jap quads, and it is Tawainese made for better quality than China. Oh yeah, I also sprung for the water cooled model!! I only paid $2147 for one, shipped to my city. What a deal!! These are the quads that have been winning the nationals with kids on them, and are smoking the 90s in the 70-90cc class... I will let you know how it goes!!

[82300R]

sounds good. i'm going to pick up my sons new trx 90 tommorow. gonna put it in mini storage till christmas. hopefully this machine will hold him off for a few years before he is ready to upgrade. we don't race though just ride for fun.:)