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Choosing the right 4 wheeler is not easy.
If you have read my other blog, you already know that I am in the market to purchase a four wheeler for my grandson. I have read, and looked, and asked the experts, and still I cannot decide what to buy. I know what my grandson wants, but the price on the one he has chosen is a lot more than I want to spend. I have promised him a four wheeler by June 15 and the clock is ticking. I need to do some research and get myself knowledgeable enough to at least do some comparison shopping.
One thing I do know about four wheelers is that some are tougher than others. When my daughters were small I bought them a Kawasaki Bayou 250 ATV . I have four daughters and they put that ATV to the test. It took quite a few tumbles, (without a rider, thank goodness) and was on the go practically non-stop in the warm months. They raced the thing many times and left a lot of their male friends feeling a bit embarrassed that a girl had beat them. We purchased it in 1989. Now here is the best part! We still have it. It still runs decently and looks fair, considering. However, the suspension is about gone and I won't let my grandson ride it. It is fine as long as you go slow, but "slow" is not a word that is in my grandson's vocabulary.
Now you are probably wondering, "If she liked that one so well, why not buy another one?" And at first, that was my intentions. I have talked to a few people who have purchased the new Kawasaki Bayou 250 and have been told that the newer ones are not made to take the punishment like they used to. One of the people who told me this was a guy who works on them. I took him at his word because I felt that he should be in a position to know about them and how often they are in his shop for repairs.
Another reason I didn't just go and buy the Bayou 250 is because my grandson wants one bigger than that. What he actually wants is Polaris 800 EFI Sportsman. I don't know what all these numbers mean. So I went to the Polaris website and read about this thing. I still don't understand much about these different sizes, but I did read this on the site:
"Polaris ATVs with engine sizes larger than 90cc may not be ridden by anyone under 16 years of age. ATVs with 89cc engines may not be ridden by anyone under 12 years of age. ATVs with 49cc engines may not be ridden by anyone under 6 years of age. All riders under 16 should ride with adult supervision."
So I then start looking for numbers with that "cc" symbol. The only one I found for the ATV my grandson wants was listed as follows:
Engine Type 4-stroke
Displacement 760cc Twin
Carburetion 40mm Throttle Body
Cooling Liquid
Starting Electric
Now if what I am reading is that a twelve year old needs an ATV with an engine that is no larger than 89cc, does this mean that the Polaris that my grandson wants is 671cc too big for him? Or maybe I could ask, "Is it eight and a half times more that the recommended size for him?" I just don't understand these numbers! What is a cc anyway? The adult supervision warning is rather silly for me too. How can I supervise him if I can't even catch him? Maybe I should buy the Polaris 800 EFI Sportsman for me and a small one for him?
This is just all too confusing. I do not want to buy a four wheeler that is too big for my grandchild. I certainly do not want him injured. So I went and looked at the ATVs with the recommended 89cc engines. Now come on! My grandson is bigger than I am and would look rather silly riding that little thing. Does anyone know anything about this? I already know that safety should be my first consideration, and my grandson has attended safety classes in the past. I am wondering if people actually buy four wheelers at these dealer recommendations?
One thing I do know about four wheelers is that some are tougher than others. When my daughters were small I bought them a Kawasaki Bayou 250 ATV . I have four daughters and they put that ATV to the test. It took quite a few tumbles, (without a rider, thank goodness) and was on the go practically non-stop in the warm months. They raced the thing many times and left a lot of their male friends feeling a bit embarrassed that a girl had beat them. We purchased it in 1989. Now here is the best part! We still have it. It still runs decently and looks fair, considering. However, the suspension is about gone and I won't let my grandson ride it. It is fine as long as you go slow, but "slow" is not a word that is in my grandson's vocabulary.
Now you are probably wondering, "If she liked that one so well, why not buy another one?" And at first, that was my intentions. I have talked to a few people who have purchased the new Kawasaki Bayou 250 and have been told that the newer ones are not made to take the punishment like they used to. One of the people who told me this was a guy who works on them. I took him at his word because I felt that he should be in a position to know about them and how often they are in his shop for repairs.
Another reason I didn't just go and buy the Bayou 250 is because my grandson wants one bigger than that. What he actually wants is Polaris 800 EFI Sportsman. I don't know what all these numbers mean. So I went to the Polaris website and read about this thing. I still don't understand much about these different sizes, but I did read this on the site:
"Polaris ATVs with engine sizes larger than 90cc may not be ridden by anyone under 16 years of age. ATVs with 89cc engines may not be ridden by anyone under 12 years of age. ATVs with 49cc engines may not be ridden by anyone under 6 years of age. All riders under 16 should ride with adult supervision."
So I then start looking for numbers with that "cc" symbol. The only one I found for the ATV my grandson wants was listed as follows:
Engine Type 4-stroke
Displacement 760cc Twin
Carburetion 40mm Throttle Body
Cooling Liquid
Starting Electric
Now if what I am reading is that a twelve year old needs an ATV with an engine that is no larger than 89cc, does this mean that the Polaris that my grandson wants is 671cc too big for him? Or maybe I could ask, "Is it eight and a half times more that the recommended size for him?" I just don't understand these numbers! What is a cc anyway? The adult supervision warning is rather silly for me too. How can I supervise him if I can't even catch him? Maybe I should buy the Polaris 800 EFI Sportsman for me and a small one for him?
This is just all too confusing. I do not want to buy a four wheeler that is too big for my grandchild. I certainly do not want him injured. So I went and looked at the ATVs with the recommended 89cc engines. Now come on! My grandson is bigger than I am and would look rather silly riding that little thing. Does anyone know anything about this? I already know that safety should be my first consideration, and my grandson has attended safety classes in the past. I am wondering if people actually buy four wheelers at these dealer recommendations?
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