Which ATV is Best for Your Child? Yamaha, Kymco, Kawasaki, or Honda?

ATV's aren't just an adult phenomenon. Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that many ATV manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Kymco make ATVs which are sized appropriately for children as young as six to ten years old. Fortunately, just as your child grows out of shoes, so will they grow out of a small ATV, but generally you can resell the quad or dirt bike for almost as much as you paid for it, so long as it wasn't ridden too harshly. Companies such as Honda and Yamaha have a long track record of building safe, high-quality child-sized ATVs for kids to learn the ropes on before they get into bigger machines as they get older. Some of the hallmarks of a good ATV for a child is that the engine will come equipped with a restrictor which you can set to limit the engine speed and primarily the speed which the ATV can attain, a low seat height so that little legs can easily manage getting on and off, a lanyard and emergency kill switch in case of accidents, and bright, highly visible color schemes which can't help but be noticed, both in the back yard and near the street, should your child wander out of the backyard. Other points for parents to consider when purchasing an ATV for a child is that they should have proper riding apparel including a full-face off road helmet with goggles, gloves, long pants, and a jacket or vest over a long-sleeved, heavy cloth shirt. Children should wear all protective clothing whenever they ride, regardless of whether they are with you on the trail, or in the backyard buzzing around in a circle. As always, it's better to be safe on an ATV than sorry.

As mentioned above, one of the biggest manufacturers of child-sized ATVs is Honda. Their lineup includes a four-wheeler or dirt bike which will fit literally any child as young as twelve years old. The premier child-sized ATV in the Honda lineup is the TRX90EX, a kid-brother version of the TRX450R. With great styling and a price tag of less than three grand, the Honda TRX90EX's reliability will never let you regret that you bought a Honda. The TRX90EX is powered by an 86cc SOHC single with an electric starter, automatic clutch, four-speed transmission, and sealed drum brakes, front and back. This ATV sits 36.5 inches high, and has a seat height of 26 inches. With a hair less than four inches of ground clearance, there's enough to get them over smaller obstacles while hanging the ATV up on those obstacles which might get them hurt. The TRX90EX is available in red or white and has a one-year unlimited mileage warranty.

Kymco USA is a fairly new manufacturer from Korea. They build ATVs which have smaller engines more appropriate for beginning riders or those interested more in fuel savings than having the biggest, baddest machine on the block. With that in mind, the Kymco Mongoose 50 4T is a $1699 marvel for any child as young as six who wishes to enter the sport of ATV riding. The Kymco features an adjustable throttle stop and lanyard safety kill switch. The Mongoose 50 kids' ATV has a CVT transmission (continuously variable) mated to a 49cc air-cooled engine with the perfect balance of power and controllability for young riders. The Mongoose 50 has an electric ignition with a kick-start backup and a one-year limited warranty. While the resale on this ATV won't be as good as with the Honda, your much-younger child should be able to ride this one for several years before they grow out of it, offsetting the price to resale value difference.

Also marketed for children over six years old is Kawasaki's KFX50, an entry-level ATV which sports a very stable 27.6 inch stance, full floorboards for extra comfort, and an electric start mated to a keyed ignition so that your child can't take their ride out without permission or supervision. The Kawasaki's CVT transmission is hooked up to a 49.5cc air-cooled engine and powers the wheels through a chain final drive. A screw-type throttle limiter prevents high-speed riding for inexperienced ATV riders, and an ignition kill switch lanyard allows instant engine shutoff in case of problems. The Kawasaki's $1749 price tag will leave you happy even if you can't find a used model ATV that someone or someone's child is willing to part with.

Yamaha's Grizzly 80 ATV is perfect for those young riders who want the same Yamaha ATV as their parent, but aren't quite ready yet for the 700cc+ class. One of the only ATVs available for your child which is modeled after the popular utility class of ATVs, the Yamaha Grizzly 80 is designed for riders over twelve years old. Wide fenders and floorboards provide plenty of protection for your child from rocks, debris, and water, and a removable restrictor plate allows for increasing power as a child's skill level increases. The Yamaha Grizzly 80 features an automatic clutch and three-speed transmission, and has the longest-in-class wheelbase of 40.6 inches, allowing for several growth spurts before your child will want to upgrade to the next size Yamaha Grizzly ATV.

Kids always want to have fun the way their parents do, and an ATV from Honda, Kymco, Yamaha, or Kawasaki is a great way to enjoy the outdoors as a family. While these ATVs are certainly not meant to traverse difficult trails or mud pits, they offer the ability for young kids to enjoy time with their parents on an ATV in a fun and exciting way. Remember to always supervise children on ATVs, however, as they are not toys, and should be treated with the same respect that you would give to a full-sized ATV.