Chinese Quad?

[DennyRoark]

Does anyone own a China quad?  Will be looking for a <250cc utility for mama in a few months and am curious what brands seem to hold up best.  I bought a Marshin 3 years ago, and except for the handle bar control module getting squirelly, have had no problems with it.  Won't be rode hard, and looking for a semi or full automatic.  Not looking to get into the brand name arguments!  Been there, done that...

[nodlenor]

I bought a Baja 2 years ago and haven't had any problems so far. I don't use it very hard and don't abuse it. I just use it to hunt with and during gardening season I use it to pull a trailer with tools or produce. It starts easy and runs great. I can't compare it to other brands because I've never owned anything else but I'm satisfyed with mine. I cost about half as much as the Japanese ones.

[30-30man]

My nephew has a 150cc Hensiem I think and it leaves parts in my yard everytime he comes over.  I would spend the money on a used golfcart if it was for your mother.  There are very few parts on an electric mnotor that can go wrong and a good used cart can be found for 1000 +/- in my area that is a few years old.  My wife drives our 1986 ex-go almost daily to come and find me to give me another chore on our farm.  I admit sometimes I let the batteries drain when I want to be left alone..  It's on it's fourth set of batteries and I payed 500 bucks for it ten years ago;

[markc]

I think you need to be sure to research carefully before buying a Chineese ATV, jsut as you would a Japanese ATV, only more so.  Be sure you can find parts, buy only from an established, reputable dealer, and again research.  Here are a couple of links to short articles on Chinese ATV's you might find helpful..

http://www.rc-trucks.org/chinese-atv.htm

http://ezinearticles.com/?Chinese-ATVs-are-Junk---or-are-They&id=339477

http://ezinearticles.com/?ATVs-From-China---Danger-Ahead!&id=3388130

If you just want Chinese, go with a proven company, KYMCO
http://www.kymcousa.com/off_road.html

[jimmyp50]

most folks advise against them

[hillbill]

dont know about the quads but ive been advised totally aginst the 2 wheel bikes by a local tech. he said they are almost impossible to fix sometimes.i have noticed the resale is really bad on them.that tells a lot right there. but if yu get it cheap and get lucky, yu might do allright

[tripper]

I would consider somthing else. My brothers bro inlaw bought one because it was so cheap compared to US made. When he got home and tried to ride it, it viberated teribbly. End of stroy there were no mortor mount bolts in it. In talking to the dealer after that he found out one of the dealers tehc.s was in the hospital with a broken neck  because he uncreated one and took it for a test ride. Front end fell apart and he rolled. Somtimes cheap is not so goood.

[dks7895]

I owned a Twister Hammerhead 150.  This is a made in china two seater dune buggy.  Biggest piece of junk I ever owned.  Everything that could break, eventually did.  I fixed it the last time and sold it.  I bought a used Yamaha Bruin 350 4x4 to replace it.  I have had zero issues with it.   

[hillbill]

ive not much experience with them but, from what i hear they suk.id rather spend my money on a used jap quad. i just sold my honda 4trax 125 that was made early 80's, dang it was a goodun.i gave 300$ for it a few years ago and sold it for 400$ last week.yu wont do that with a china quad.before i buy anything i look on ebay and other places to see what the parts are going for if available at all.if there are no parts, then i dont buy. but thats just me, i dont pay anyone to werk on my iron.cars, trucks, bikes, quads, whatever

[Rex in OTZ]

I dont have one, I see them round six here in OTZ town, parked because something broke, the Alaskan bush folks are always on the prowel for a good deal, they are cheap and have 4 wheels, problem is when they hit the remote village they ride it like a Honda and they break down, ther purchase cost is so low its not econimal to ship it back out the bush via air freight to fix, if you let your 70 yro grandmother ride it to church it might stand the use,  a couple teenage boys pulling a wheelie with it or swamping it through tundra muck or heavy loads pulling a trailer.................... forget it.

Craigs list some the local's have found good deals.
Im seeing old leafspring tundras, 2 elans and one alpine, leafspring yamahas (2 Et's, one Bravo,2 enticers)and one ovation modified to a long track , 3 honda 300's in almost mint condition, 2 honda atc110 3 wheelers, 2 honda atc200 big red's and one atc250 three wheeler,  trx125 4 wheeler.

[torpedoman]

Just an idea but have you looked into the mini trucks?

[Rex in OTZ]

A local businessman brought 6 in and sold them for $9500 FOB Kotzebue Alaska, issue is the dont have parts easily available, I seen one with the track kit and most have ATV wheels.
The one 4door van type unit has to run 15 minuets to defrost a 6" spot on the windshield, they never run hot enough to heat the cab & defrost all the windows.
on a neat note I once walked into the Auto repair shop that was selling them they brought the mini trucks in at night & weekends they can tuck two in a single fullsize auto bay! so two trucks can park in a bay a Ford F350 will barely fit in.

[RON17T]

I'd buy a used honda or something,I don't know anyone who has had good luck with chinese quads.

[kctibs]

would'nt even consider one. I bought two for my kids a few years ago what a peice of junk. I took them back to the store the very next day and got my check back. Both of them had issues in the first 5 minutes. Never heard anything good about chinese quads.  I went and bought a couple of Polaris best buy I have made. Sometimes economics isn't the best reasoning.

[Empty Quiver]

Before you purchase, Find out where you get a replacement throttle cable and a new shut-off valve for the fuel tank, along with a new set of cv joints and boots for the drive. If the thing breaks down and no replacement parts exist it may be a very expensive toy. A small part can easily ground it forever.