Looking for an ATV for my kid

[IDbasser]

Does anyone have any experience or know anything about these ATV's?

http://www.taotao.us/

[daviscw]

Never heard of them. I don't know how old your kid is, but I started out on a Suzuki 80.

[Gatorbassman]

Yea, They kill, mangle and maim kids just like the next one.

Sorry man, I work in a Trauma Center and we had two separate ATV accidents this weekend. One kid died (12yo) and the other is paralyzed from the shoulders down (14yo). That makes over 50 ATV accidents this year where they made it to us still alive.

[IDbasser]

I have seen my share of ATV accidents too.  This is a rural area with alot of ATV's. I work ambulance and I am an RN in the ER here. But you can't let things you see completely run your life. My kid is 8 and I am looking for a youth size 110cc. He did pretty good on one a friend has. He doesn't get to ride mine, way too big for him.

[Grey Wolf]

I have seen my share of ATV accidents too. This is a rural area with alot of ATV's. I work ambulance and I am an RN in the ER here. But you can't let things you see completely run your life. My kid is 8 and I am looking for a youth size 110cc. He did pretty good on one a friend has. He doesn't get to ride mine, way too big for him.

What you say is true until it happens to you.

[daviscw]

I've never died, and I've never had an accident. Sign him up for an ATV safety course and slap a helment on him and you'll be fine. I bet you have a better chance getting hurt in a car. With a 4-wheeler that small you can limit how fast it goes by loosening or tightening the screw near the throttle.

[Grey Wolf]

I've never died, and I've never had an accident. Sign him up for an ATV safety course and slap a helment on him and you'll be fine. I bet you have a better chance getting hurt in a car. With a 4-wheeler that small you can limit how fast it goes by loosening or tightening the screw near the throttle.

Famous last words.  

[Chad.]

Get him a go- kart so fun and will teach him the basics of driving.

[Hookemdown.]

I was riding a Polaris 425 when I was 10.

Put the kid in a safety course, limit the max speed and have an adult watch him ALL of the time while he is riding it.

[daviscw]

I've never died, and I've never had an accident. Sign him up for an ATV safety course and slap a helment on him and you'll be fine. I bet you have a better chance getting hurt in a car. With a 4-wheeler that small you can limit how fast it goes by loosening or tightening the screw near the throttle.

Famous last words.

We'll see.  

[IDbasser]

He wears a helmet.  These small ATV's have throttle adjustments so you can control the max speed.  Also have remote kill switches.  He will never be out riding alone.

[bassdocktor]

One thing to think about guys is its probably better he learns how to safely operate it from his dad now than friends later. Plus dad is looking out for him trying to find the right size ATV, making him wear a helmet, supervising him, and getting one with a remote kill switch.  

I personally haven't seen that brand, but going on enough ATV websites and forums, I can say make sure you can get parts. It's sometimes harder to find parts or get service for some brands.

[IDbasser]

Parts are easy to get, and I am going to call some repair shops and check to see if they work on them.

And the way I see it it is like teaching a kid gun safety.  Start out early teaching the kids to respect guns, and in this case an ATV, they will have a better respect for them when they are older.  

Most accidents I see are from kids who are not supervised, no helmets, and are turned loose on ATV's too big for them, and who have not had much experience with them.  That is why am I going about this the way I am.  I am teaching my son how to ride and respect the ATV.  I am getting an ATV that gives me control.  I control the speed, and I can shut it off with remote if I need to.  

Don't you think him being taught responsibly by me is completely different than turning him loose with friends when he is 12 or 13 with not much knowledge of the ATV?

[Fisher of Men]

I've never died, and I've never had an accident. Sign him up for an ATV safety course and slap a helment on him and you'll be fine. I bet you have a better chance getting hurt in a car. With a 4-wheeler that small you can limit how fast it goes by loosening or tightening the screw near the throttle.

Famous last words.

We'll see.

[Pencil Pusher]

Back to the original question. I don't have any personal knowledge of that particular ATV, but it is made in China and I would have second thoughts about putting my child on a piece of machinery made in China without having some independent reviews, etc. on the build quality.

[Evan Pease]

I have a Kawasaki 250 that I got when I was eleven. Ive never had any problems with it and it had a throttle screw. It also has a small frame so I never felt like I was too small. It wasnt good on steep hills though. I know thats not what you wanted but thats my only experience.

[Hookemdown.]

IDbasser, My brother just bought an ATV for my niece that looks very similar to that one.  I'll have to ask him about it.

[IDbasser]

IDbasser, My brother just bought an ATV for my niece that looks very similar to that one. I'll have to ask him about it.

Hey thanks, by the way, I grew up in AR (Texarkana), left after graduating high school in 1991.

[Fisher of Men]

Hey ID, I saw a pink one (Polaris maybe) at the Branson BPS the other night on vacation (I think 90 cc). My nine-year-old daughter looked at the tag (it was $200 off) and said, "Look daddy, it's only two thousand three hundred dollars."

I'm sure these are somewhat cheaper than that. Have you checked at Tractor Supply Company. I think they sell some small ones (maybe Manco?) for reasonable prices (around $500-$1000). I'm not sure of the quality, but it's another option.

-Fisher

Edit:  Here's a link:  It's a little over $1000:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_37511_-1______?rFlag=true&cFlag=1

I still think some stores sell one cheaper than that.

-FOM