Updated thoughts on best ATV available today

[TheRealWorld]

I miss the Kentucky Donkey, I am hoping maybe he comes out of hiding and answers this question. I hope the rest of you will also comment. I am looking for a new sport 250 - 350. What would you guys buy if you were in the market.

[TurboT]

I miss the Kentucky Donkey, I am hoping maybe he comes out of hiding and answers this question. I hope the rest of you will also comment. I am looking for a new sport 250 - 350. What would you guys buy if you were in the market.

I'm assuming Yamaha isn't an option??

[TheRealWorld]

Won't fit in the budget!

[katoranger]

Not many reviews on those. Haven't heard much on the latest vbike offerings.

[TurboT]

I'm at a loss for a recommendation for the sole reason I'm in Canada and have the Gio's, which is really my only exposure to any Chinese made ATV, and I know you can't get one in the US.

I've only ever seen reviews on Vbike on this site from a US seller, and now this budgetatv place from a new member, who hasn't even put the little guy together yet.

[TheRealWorld]

Thanks for the input. My take on this subject is there is no consistent ATV on the market. The Chinese seem to get parts and products and put them together, without regard to quality control. I have purchased one and it came from Vbike, it was actually a Runmaster. It was a huge disappointment. 90 percent of it was good, but the rest was not. I was able to do a bunch of work on it and finally sell it, but took a loss.

[FastDoc]

I'm considering this but I really don't know:

http://www.powersportsmax.com/product_info.php/cPath/37_57/products_id/502

I'm not an ATV guy, the only one I had I got for my (ex)stepson. It was a 90cc Q Link, and it was a fine product.

[FastDoc]

This one is liquid cooled and an OHC 250 that seems nice, but who knows?

http://www.powersportsmax.com/product_info.php/cPath/37_58/products_id/322

[PoManzATV]

The prices look as good as they possibly can get at powersportsmax, but what do they charge for shipping? That was one of the good things w/ budgetatv that I recently bought from. Decent price and shipping is included in the price you see. I still dunno if I'd want to cough up a grand for a Chinese import quad though. DEFINITELY not more than a grand!

Joel

[FastDoc]

But what do they charge for shipping?

$280

[TheRealWorld]

Thanks for the info. These are impressive machines, and I wonder about the quality, how do we know? They look good. Did you see they have a 200 enduro at a very good price also.

Go Vikings!!!!!!!!

[FastDoc]

Thanks for the info. These are impressive machines, and I wonder about the quality, how do we know? They look good. Did you see they have a 200 enduro at a very good price also.

Go Vikings!!!!!!!!

I wish I knew how good they are. :roll: The 250 liquid cooled quad looks great. Best I can tell from the websites its identical to the one on budgetatv's with the same Loncin powerplant. Just about $50 cheaper when you factor in shipping.

To the best of my knowledge, Loncins are good. There is even a shop in town here that sells and services them.

As far as the 200cc enduro goes, I had that exact bike for a season. I paid about the same as you see there. It was worth it, but it was a nice upgrade when I bought the Q.

[TheRealWorld]

I believe the Runmaster I had was a Loncin, and it will be a long time before I will have one of those again.

[FastDoc]

Good to know. I wish we had a guinea pig for these 'new' ATV's...

Was the Runmaster liquid cooled?

[TurboT]

You'd be comfortable with a water cooled ATV? Just seems like another system to go wrong and an easy spot for a rock to hurt your day of riding on porous chinese metals...

As for Loncin, I haven't heard anything bad about them, and in Canada, they seem to be held in higher regard than the Lifan's or Zongshen motors. I suspect my 110cc from Gio is a Loncin motor and I have no complaints with it, as it has always run flawlessly.

[FastDoc]

I'd figure water cooled would last longer and make more power because of better temperature control and be quieter than air cooled, but who knows?

[Reveeen]

I'd figure water cooled would last longer and make more power because of better temperature control and be quieter than air cooled

It should last longer being more dimensionally stable, more power would come from bumping the compression ratio (with better cooling) and they would be quieter.

But, as with anything else, when you try to make something as cheaply as possible, you could be just adding another source of trouble.

[TheRealWorld]

The Runmaster was air cooled, but did have cooling fans on the head. I too prefer the simplicity of the air cooled system. Water cooled would be a good thing in warm areas and in bigger engines. I have a 300 Honda Four Trax and it has been flawless, in every way. It is air cooled, but I have never run it hard in warm weather.

[TheRealWorld]

The water cooled design does require a higher level of manufacturing quality control.

[TurboT]

The water cooled design does require a higher level of manufacturing quality control.

That would be my concern right there. QC is not the strongest point of any Chinese made ATV.

Not to discourage you at all. :) My YZ 250F is water cooled and I've been trail riding the past year with it with nothing but the plastic louvres in front of them and I've been lucky so far. I've had no issues... HOwever it's a bike and a Yamaha.

With a quad, I can see if being lowered to the ground and perhaps more likely to eat a rock. Rad gaurds can help there and as long as the system is designed well perhaps it's not a worry.

[katoranger]

Thanks for the info. These are impressive machines, and I wonder about the quality, how do we know? They look good. Did you see they have a 200 enduro at a very good price also.

Go Vikings!!!!!!!!

Shouldn't you be cheering for the packers.

[TheRealWorld]

I am one of those people who stays loyal to my friends. Favre made some mistakes, we all do, and the Packers should have taken him back. I will always be a Favre fan and will cheer the Vikings until Favre retires or the next 20 years,what ever comes first!!!

[katoranger]

Being a somewhat native minnesotan we are rivals. Except I don't care about football.

On the atv subject. I would stick to air cooled. Not sure if the chinese have the watercooled thing down yet.

Didn't the one guy in kansas I think have issues with his liquid vbike.

Its a tough choice to buy an unknown online. The larger atvs are not very popular to get adequate reviews.

Allen

[TheRealWorld]

I remember that you were from MN. I am a Favre fan and only get interested in football at times. I have too many other things to occupy my time. I will avoid the water cooled units when and if possible. I will PM the Kentucky Donkey and see if I can get his attention. I still have that Mazda truck!

Thanks for the input.

[katoranger]

I believe the problem was the cooling fan. Didn't come on when needed.

Don't remember any other problems, but not enough reports to get a good feel.

I think that was a 250 model. KD had the 300cc model.

Allen

[FastDoc]

I can't find a good used name brand ATV locally for less than $1,800, and those look sorry.

Maybe I'll start thinking about the 200cc Beast with the Lifanoid engine for $1,070 delivered...

It would have all the power I need.

Are they manual clutch?

[waynev]

I can't find a good used name brand ATV locally for less than $1,800, and those look sorry.

Maybe I'll start thinking about the 200cc Beast with the Lifanoid engine for $1,070 delivered...

It would have all the power I need.

Are they manual clutch?

Yes they are manual clutch, R-N-1-2-3-4, the only problem for you is they only ship within canada.

[FastDoc]

I'm looking at this American imported version:

http://www.powersportsmax.com/product_info.php/cPath/37_57/products_id/502

Whatever happened to NAFTA anyway? 8)

[PoManzATV]

If that one's $849 + $220 shipping, no tax, HOW CAN YOU BEAT THAT!! I hear you on buying used. You can't touch anything even remotely decent for less than $1500-2K in my area. Kids machines included. One thing on that K081 200cc, what's with the E-fan up by the jug? Just to purdy it up?

Joel

[Reveeen]

Whatever happened to NAFTA anyway?

It seems to be in place for a select few (I would assume friends of the politicians). "Free-trading" doesn't seem to work for me. I *think* NAFTA is for goods manufactured in North America.

I *think* the stuff we are being sold (in Canada) slips in as "off-road" and does not have to meet EPA standards. Where you fellas have EPA "blanket coverage".

Recently I could not send (ship) a used 2 cycle lawn mower to the US, as it was EPA approval "free". (I could have smuggled the parts over, after taking it apart, but not a complete lawn mower, specifically the engine).

[TheRealWorld]

So what do we know about the ATV-K081 200cc Sports ATV with Manual Transmission w/Reverse?

Any one out there know more than this link has discussed? I think I would order one if I could talk to some one who had one and could give an average review.

My take on these machines is, take it a bit easy and I think you will get years of service out of it.

My advice to any China Rider is don't buy one if you are not at least a little handy!

[FastDoc]

I'm leaning towards doing it but I don't know. I just want something to ride with my older friend who has an ATV but no dirt bike. Something to also ride in the rare winter snow we get here would be fun, plus for kids to ride when they visit, etc. I also like the fact it's harder to fall off of than a dirt bike. It would be fun to ride in plowed farmer's fiends with no crops. They are too furrowed to be fun to ride on the dirt bike.

I've never had an ATV before. :?

[FastDoc]

So what do we know about the ATV-K081 200cc Sports ATV with Manual Transmission w/Reverse?

Any one out there know more than this link has discussed? I think I would order one if I could talk to some one who had one and could give an average review.

My take on these machines is, take it a bit easy and I think you will get years of service out of it.

My advice to any China Rider is don't buy one if you are not at least a little handy!

If it is indeed the same as a Gio Beast, there are a few amongst our members, and seem to be well received.

[TheRealWorld]

Do we know if it is made in the same factory or is it just of the same parts?

[FastDoc]

Who knows? Its a China Bike. All bets are off. The Chinese probably don't know :roll: . All we have to go on are pics from the internet, and suppliers with a so-so reputation, at best. Then the pictures are unreliable. It's common to see disc brakes when the specs say drums, or displacements that don't match up. It's a bit of a crap shoot.
:!:

[PoManzATV]

That's just it. You have to be willing to accept the consequences when you pay about 25% of what it would cost you for a big name brand product. With my little kids 110cc, I'm impressed so far with the frame and engine. They seem to have gotten that down. You just need to be able to fiddle, tinker and possibly substitute parts if need be. On the Powersportmax website, their ATV-T005 looks identical in every way to my Taotao ATA-110D, yet they say nothing about being a Taotao. The box said "Zhejiang Taotao Industry".

Joel

[FastDoc]

I've had a Zong, Q Link ATV, an XP, an XF, a Lifanoid GY, a Lifanoid 250 street bike (POS), and my buddy has another Lifanoid GY. So, I've had experience with 7 CB's.

It's all been good. Like you say you need to know how to handle a wrench, and have a sense of humor, but it's been all goo. Everything is sold now but the XP I currently ride, and don't want to sell. The Zong is in a holding pattern.

It's a reasonable risk to get a useable product at a low price.

[TheRealWorld]

OK, I am leaning in this directions, but I will do a bit more research first. Where can a guy look if I want to see a Zong ATV?

[PoManzATV]

It's a reasonable risk to get a useable product at a low price.

That's an excellent way to put it.

Joel

[phil]

OK, I am leaning in this directions, but I will do a bit more research first. Where can a guy look if I want to see a Zong ATV? to my guess china as zong dropped all atv's generators part of the cutbacks :cry:

[FastDoc]

Do you carry any ATV's, Phil?

[TheRealWorld]

That Phil has got ESP! Thanks for the input.

[phil]

i still have a few left but in case no one has noticed that's a graveyard in my profile as soon as i or anybody comes up with a decent atv with some kind of dealer support i would love to know about it 8O i dont have esp, i have been trying to find something in the atv and would be glad if zong carried them but im still looking

[TheRealWorld]

Phil, You have never seen a China build ATV that you would feel comfortable selling?

[phil]

i have see a few but most companies are gone, the jet moto was fair, and had support, the best i have seen is the cpi, with not support, i seen a 250 utility semi-auto i really liked. but i have yet to find what im looking for the lifans seemed really good but you know the story there. china makes quite a few machines i like, they just need to learn how to make a distributor :wink:

[FastDoc]

I don't see any ATV's on your site, Phil. What do you have?

[phil]

what i have left 1 cpi 150cc and 2 90 jet motos 1 still in crate both are pink i still have 3 homeless small motorcycles and the zongs

[FastDoc]

Thanks Phil but I think the smallest that would work for me would be 200.

[phil]

thats ok i dont fit in airplanes, without a prescription :lol:

[TurboT]

Thanks Phil but I think the smallest that would work for me would be 200.

Oh come on, a Pink 90cc would be right up your alley. :)

[ron9969]

I just spent time on the powersports site,the quads look preety good,but who knows?i emailed them and asked who makes their quads?Im looking for parts for my baja buggy right now,its preety tough,i havnt found the parts i need to make it usable,i thought about buying a baja 90 for my kids but you know that saying about being burned once.its so bad i may buy two quads and park the buggy until i can find a donar motor,mabe from a dirt bike to put in it.Funny the powersports site had more baja parts on it for sale than the home page of baja motorsports.

[FastDoc]

I just spent time on the powersports site,the quads look preety good,but who knows?i emailed them and asked who makes their quads?Im looking for parts for my baja buggy right now,its preety tough,i havnt found the parts i need to make it usable,i thought about buying a baja 90 for my kids but you know that saying about being burned once.its so bad i may buy two quads and park the buggy until i can find a donar motor,mabe from a dirt bike to put in it.Funny the powersports site had more baja parts on it for sale than the home page of baja motorsports.

I know some Bajas are made by Heinsiem, if that helps.

[TheRealWorld]

Someone here will be able to steer you in the right direction. These have many common parts, so what you need is out there, it is hard to find because you cant pick it up to compare.

[TheRealWorld]

I am looking at a new ATV and it is supposed to have an Zong engine. Let me know your thoughts. Cost is $1200 delivered if the dealer is accurate. He is offering me a price break just to try it.

http://www.roketa.com/product/6/0/25809.shtml

[Weldangrind]

My Gio Beast has an air cooled 200 Zong, and it's a reliable performer. Since the Roketa is only making 12.5hp, I don't see the need for liquid cooling; it's more stuff that can fail, and the air cooled version has never let me down.

[TheRealWorld]

Yea, I agree but I was impressed by the overall deal. Thanks for your comments.

[katoranger]

My Gio Beast has an air cooled 200 Zong, and it's a reliable performer. Since the Roketa is only making 12.5hp, I don't see the need for liquid cooling; it's more stuff that can fail, and the air cooled version has never let me down.

I bet the 12.5 is a bad spec. Probably 12.5 kw and about 16hp.

The top end looks like it was slapped onto an air cooled bottom end. I don't think I would jump at it.

Allen

[TheRealWorld]

Thanks for the input, I will do more research!

[katoranger]

I am skeptical. It really doesn't look like a well thought out engine. I would stick to air-cooled.

Allen

[FastDoc]

My Gio Beast has an air cooled 200 Zong, and it's a reliable performer. Since the Roketa is only making 12.5hp, I don't see the need for liquid cooling; it's more stuff that can fail, and the air cooled version has never let me down.

I bet the 12.5 is a bad spec. Probably 12.5 kw and about 16hp.

The top end looks like it was slapped onto an air cooled bottom end. I don't think I would jump at it.

Allen

I agree, FWIW.

[TheRealWorld]

OK that one is out! I liked the Zong engine, but I love your input and will avoid that one. Thanks

[KentuckyDonkey]

I miss the Kentucky Donkey, I am hoping maybe he comes out of hiding and answers this question. I hope the rest of you will also comment. I am looking for a new sport 250 - 350. What would you guys buy if you were in the market.

Have no fear, the Donkey is here!!!!!!

Well....I've messed with 3 different Chinese ATvs over the course of almost a year now- and my current Vbike 300M I've had for almost a year....and all I can say is that you just never know what you're going to get with these things. You can order the same model from the same place and get two different bikes...

While my water-cooled 300M has been relatively problem-free, I must say that I don't use it much and when I do, I use it very gently and even then, I am just kind of waiting for something to break.

In the 10 months I've had it and with only about 100 miles on it, the chain adjustment is already at it's max.....so next time the chain stretches, it'll be time to remove a link.

Electrical system is degrading as expected (turn signals work in reverse [left is right...], one tail light quit working...sometimes the dash light comes on every time you squeeze the brakes.....

Nothing major has broken yet....but again, it is used infrequently and gingerly. Clutch adjustment also appears to be at it's limit. I've tried to sell it on and off for some time...no luck.

Not that it's too awful....but I am just kind of disgusted with the overall lack of quality and cheesiness....and I've given up my quest to mount a trailer hitch, as I noticed that the rear swing arm flexes alot just with me on it...and the stress of anything bigger than a lawn-tractor cart would likely create problems/kill it.

I don't hate the thing...and it does get me around the farm when need be...but I'm just ambivalent towards it.

On the plus side: The Loncin motor is a real trooper.

The only Chinese ATV I could heartily recommend is the discontinued Vbike 250cc water-cooled V4SW. For $1200 including shipping...it was a gem! (It even had a quality feel to it)

My feelings are, if you stay below $1300 and get a decent bike (luck of the draw) these can be a decent deal, especially for kids, or people who do infrequent and gentle riding...and if you don't mind the feeling of cheesiness.

I will no longer buy Chinese bikes though- I just don't feel they are worth it. I'd pay a little more and get a good used Jap bike. For all the trouble, time and effort one has to put into these things...they just are not worth it.

If I ever sell the 300M for a decent buck, I'm just going to do without an ATV- I'll just use the tractor...it may not be as fast or nimble....but I don't care.

While I can't say that my experience with Chinese ATvs has been bad or that I've lost anything.....I can say that I have not been thrilled with the quality and especially the lack of quality control and the evasiveness and intruthfulness of even the highly-rated "Tim" from Vbike.

And just to recap from a previous post: The Vbike 250T which is touted as an upgrade of the V4SW is in fact not an upgrade, but a downgrade. it is not as stable, and not as fast....and not of the same quality. While not a bad bike for the price and can be fun to ride....it's tipsy-ness would discourage me from recommending it.

My 3 Vbikes have represented 3 different manufacturers(Vbike just buys generic ATVs and calls them by their own name), I noticed that the parts on them all are pretty much all the same and can even be mixed and matched among different models and manufacturers. They just seem to cobble together whatever they have, and if they run out of one part halfway during a production run, they swap in something different- and even if it significantlyu changes the bikes specs, they don't even tell their dealers...and even send them mixed shipments.

If they would up their quality control a little and standardioze their parts and be more honest, they coulod have a rather decent low-priced product. And who's to ay that they won't do these things in the future? -Just as was the case with early Japanese products? But for now, I just wouldn't recommend these things. Not to say that you can't get a decent one....but it's largely luck if you do- unless you go to the showroom and test-ride and inspect an already assembled one. You just don't know what surprises (usually unpleasant) await you when you open a crate!

Oh, and by-the-way, RealWorld: How are you making out with that Virago-eque clone cruiser from Vbike (which they no longer sell)? I was very tempted to buy one of them! Kind of glad i didn't now, though.

[TheRealWorld]

Great review and I greatly appreciate it. I have about the same experience and attitude toward the China ATV. I am sure there is a good one out there, but I am not willing to gamble on it any more. I wish I would have purchased the one you liked and had good luck with and then sold out of stupidity!!!! I will look up your phone number and call you on the bike. I have actually had good luck with the bike, but i will call and discuss it in detail. I won't have time to call until some time tomorrow.