Kids quad HELP
Discussion
ExPat2B said:
DO NOT BUY YOUR SON A QUAD AS A TOY
I ride a variety off off road machines and Quads are without doubt the most dangerous. They are very useful as tool to get places and pull small trailers that other machines won't go.
As a "toy" they are f
king lethal. I can name many of my friends and associates that have had life changing accidents on quads. There are a number of issues :
1. Total lack of Rollover protection - they rollover very easily, and tend to trap you under them and cause very nasty crush injuries.
2. Head on collisions with trees - due to way the weight transfer and rear axles work, when you start to push on they can suddenly and without warning simply swerve a few feet from right to left. If you swerve into a tree, no matter the safety gear you are very likely to end up paraplegic.
3. Rear axles and turning - due to the solid rear axles on the non "farm" type 4wd quads, there is a very specfic way to get a quad bike to turn at speed, you basically shift weight to the front, initiate the turn and then slide the rear, or they just understeer straight off the road. This means that even simple turns are close to the limit activities and leads you straight into the rollover problem above.
Buy him something like this : its more fun and a full order of magnitude safer. Yes its twice the price but when you balance that against the life/spine/ of your kid its a no brainer.
http://r.ebay.com/gTvKAn
Looks ACE. Bids are over £600. I know Polaris is an excellent make. He would prefer that to either a bike or a quad, so would I.I ride a variety off off road machines and Quads are without doubt the most dangerous. They are very useful as tool to get places and pull small trailers that other machines won't go.
As a "toy" they are f
king lethal. I can name many of my friends and associates that have had life changing accidents on quads. There are a number of issues : 1. Total lack of Rollover protection - they rollover very easily, and tend to trap you under them and cause very nasty crush injuries.
2. Head on collisions with trees - due to way the weight transfer and rear axles work, when you start to push on they can suddenly and without warning simply swerve a few feet from right to left. If you swerve into a tree, no matter the safety gear you are very likely to end up paraplegic.
3. Rear axles and turning - due to the solid rear axles on the non "farm" type 4wd quads, there is a very specfic way to get a quad bike to turn at speed, you basically shift weight to the front, initiate the turn and then slide the rear, or they just understeer straight off the road. This means that even simple turns are close to the limit activities and leads you straight into the rollover problem above.
Buy him something like this : its more fun and a full order of magnitude safer. Yes its twice the price but when you balance that against the life/spine/ of your kid its a no brainer.
http://r.ebay.com/gTvKAn
I cant magic the money though and it has to stop somewhere, this is an 8year old's birthday gift after all!
crusty said:
Hi
I bought a second hand LT50 for my daughters a few years ago, was perfect for them and was very reliable, and mine was an older one which I sold for under £400, so do consider used.
They also have a restrictor on the throttle and also an engine cutout cord on the back you can pull whilst they are starting out.
Ive seen a few on ebay etc but I don't know whats a good one or bad one :-( I bought a second hand LT50 for my daughters a few years ago, was perfect for them and was very reliable, and mine was an older one which I sold for under £400, so do consider used.
They also have a restrictor on the throttle and also an engine cutout cord on the back you can pull whilst they are starting out.
PAULJ5555 said:
Is the extra worth it for the safety factor, If not get something else. everyone has told you the dangers of quads but you seem happy to get him one, accident happen to responsible kids too.
£600 is one hell of a birthday gift, I never got a R/C hovercraft for my 10th birthday, I got over it.
You're missing the point. I cant magic the extra money. £600 is one hell of a birthday gift, I never got a R/C hovercraft for my 10th birthday, I got over it.
Do I seem happy to get a quad? I don't think you have read the thread in that case.
I'm not 'happy' to get a quad OR a bike, but I wanted advice from people more in the know than myself as to the pros and cons and makes / models of machines.
Yes it is one hell of a gift, but we are going to buy something, whether it be a bike buggy or quad. Each one of these can be dangerous and everyone has their own opinion.
Those contributors who have owned and had children ride bikes/ quads etc are helpful because they're speaking from experience and that's the point of my question.
Pat H said:
This is a really good post.
I started off when I was five years old, back in the mid 1970s, on a little Malaguti like this...
I was lucky because my Grandad had a farm, so there was plenty of space to ride. My parents bought me a little Kangol open faced helmet, but it was soon discarded because it made your head sweat.
I always dressed for the ride and not the crash. Jeans, trainers and a tee shirt.
I fell off plenty of times, but my worst injury was a burned leg when the bike landed on top of me.
Dad spent a lot of time straightening forks, changing sprockets and chains, or replacing broken levers. I sat there passing him the spanners and watching how it was done.
I inevitably moved on to bigger and more powerful bikes and I'm still riding at the ripe old age of 47.
As a middle aged bloke, I look back with a wry smile at the casual attitudes to safety, but I had a huge amount of fun and learned so much about maintaining bikes and cars.
Anyway, enough sentimental crap.
What you need to know is this:
1. Forget the quad. They are dangerous. Your son will get hurt.
2. If it has to be four wheeled, then an off road buggy is miles better.
3. The thing to get is a small Japanese off road bike. Preferably a four stroke, as it will be quieter.
4. Get the right protective kit.
5. Have regard for other people. I love bikes, but get pissed off with the local chavs making a din.
6. Make sure you have a tame mechanic on hand. If it is used properly, it will need plenty of fixing.
7. Make sure you have somewhere secure to keep it. These things are always being nicked.
8. Finally, and in case I haven't made this clear, forget the quad. They are crap.
I would strongly encourage your lad's interest. I regret not getting involved in organised motorsport when I was a kid. But I am glad I started riding so young. I learned a lot, got to spend loads of time with my Dad and became confident with spanners. Was one of the best things I ever did.
Really fab and helpful reply I started off when I was five years old, back in the mid 1970s, on a little Malaguti like this...
I was lucky because my Grandad had a farm, so there was plenty of space to ride. My parents bought me a little Kangol open faced helmet, but it was soon discarded because it made your head sweat.
I always dressed for the ride and not the crash. Jeans, trainers and a tee shirt.
I fell off plenty of times, but my worst injury was a burned leg when the bike landed on top of me.
Dad spent a lot of time straightening forks, changing sprockets and chains, or replacing broken levers. I sat there passing him the spanners and watching how it was done.
I inevitably moved on to bigger and more powerful bikes and I'm still riding at the ripe old age of 47.
As a middle aged bloke, I look back with a wry smile at the casual attitudes to safety, but I had a huge amount of fun and learned so much about maintaining bikes and cars.
Anyway, enough sentimental crap.
What you need to know is this:
1. Forget the quad. They are dangerous. Your son will get hurt.
2. If it has to be four wheeled, then an off road buggy is miles better.
3. The thing to get is a small Japanese off road bike. Preferably a four stroke, as it will be quieter.
4. Get the right protective kit.
5. Have regard for other people. I love bikes, but get pissed off with the local chavs making a din.
6. Make sure you have a tame mechanic on hand. If it is used properly, it will need plenty of fixing.
7. Make sure you have somewhere secure to keep it. These things are always being nicked.
8. Finally, and in case I haven't made this clear, forget the quad. They are crap.
I would strongly encourage your lad's interest. I regret not getting involved in organised motorsport when I was a kid. But I am glad I started riding so young. I learned a lot, got to spend loads of time with my Dad and became confident with spanners. Was one of the best things I ever did.
Thank you.
Vaud said:
R8Steve said:
What is about ‘what bike/jetski/quad/whatever should i buy’ that turns pistonheads into mumsnet?
The guy asked what quad he should get, not should he get a quad.
Sure, but sometimes new ideas spring up from discussion, that an OP wasn't aware of... (like a more able go-kart). The guy asked what quad he should get, not should he get a quad.
No need to stifle debate and discussion as others also learn from different perspectives.
SeeFive said:
That looks fun and safe. A good hybrid by the look of it. And only an extra half hour's fees too if my lawyer is anything to go by 
Sorry, couldn't resist - my quote for divorce legals is "between 2 and 10 thousand"... More if it goes to court... £400 an hour plus vat. She is reported to be very good though, so I see it as great value considering the potential outcome.
Gawan, be a good dad. You know you want to. You can always upgrade next year once he has his skills and has had a few safe tumbles.
Jeeeez she would have to be. Ridiculously wide quote ...Sounds like a messy divorce and possibly ancillary relief application!! Stop!! Enough legal tripe! Ha 😂Sorry, couldn't resist - my quote for divorce legals is "between 2 and 10 thousand"... More if it goes to court... £400 an hour plus vat. She is reported to be very good though, so I see it as great value considering the potential outcome.
Gawan, be a good dad
. You know you want to. You can always upgrade next year once he has his skills and has had a few safe tumbles.NinjaPower said:
I have nothing to add apart from the following:
When I was 7 my Dad bought me and my brother a brand new Honda Z50R bike for Christmas, he rode it through the house and into the living room on Christmas Day.
I'm 35 now and still to this day, the Honda is single greatest present anyone has ever bought me. I rode it for years and years, crashed it countless times, and I didn't manage to break it once. I must have spent hundreds of hours on it riding round our fields absolutely flat out.
I still have it now and will never sell it. When I have children, they will be getting it, fully restored, for Christmas
Whilst I was still a child, Dad also went on to buy me one of those lethal two-stroke Go Karts that do 80mph, and a 'Dingo Buggy' off road racing buggy that was far too fast and I could barely reach the pedals... I think he was maybe trying to kill me??
Haha funny. I think you're right !! They look fun but WAAY to fast for him. After all this he has said he would like a dirt bike NEXT year!! Kids!! Who'd have em?! 😂When I was 7 my Dad bought me and my brother a brand new Honda Z50R bike for Christmas, he rode it through the house and into the living room on Christmas Day.
I'm 35 now and still to this day, the Honda is single greatest present anyone has ever bought me. I rode it for years and years, crashed it countless times, and I didn't manage to break it once. I must have spent hundreds of hours on it riding round our fields absolutely flat out.
I still have it now and will never sell it. When I have children, they will be getting it, fully restored, for Christmas
Whilst I was still a child, Dad also went on to buy me one of those lethal two-stroke Go Karts that do 80mph, and a 'Dingo Buggy' off road racing buggy that was far too fast and I could barely reach the pedals... I think he was maybe trying to kill me??
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