This is the same question I asked before purchasing my son’s quad about 5 years ago. Let me start by saying there is no question that name brands like Polaris, Yamaha and Honda make a higher quality product.
Here is the question you need to answer, “Is the higher cost of a name brand ATV worth it?”
In my case I decided to get the Chinese model and I have been more than happy with that decision. There are several things to consider when deciding if a Chinese 4-wheeler is right for you, let’s breakdown the pros and cons and by the end you should know which way to go.
5 Reasons you should by a Chinese 4-Wheeler
Here are my top 5 reasons for purchasing a Chinese model. You will quickly see they all focus on the price.
You can’t afford to spend more
If you are on a tight budget but want to get your child off of their electronics and outdoors this is a great way to do it. You will have more money to invest in things like a quality helmet if you spend less on the ATV.
You aren’t sure if your child will like it
Who want’s to spend thousands of dollars on something that might not get used? I know I don’t. If you are just getting into motorsports and don’t know how much use the 4-wheel will get a low cost investment is the way to go.
You want a something to ride around the yard
If you have a large yard and plan to do most of your riding at home Chinese Quads are great options. Why pay for the higher build quality on something that will never see rough terrain.
Replacement Parts are Cheap
The big name manufacturers know that they can charge more and the includes replacement parts. Off brand Chinese makes don’t have that luxury, so replacement parts are quite cheap. It may take a little work to find the parts thought, the same model may be sold under more than one brand name in the US and you might have to wait for it to come in directly from China. They may also be very easy to get. I replaced the carburetor on my son’s 4-wheel with one from Amazon that had prime shipping.
Your kid will still have fun
Don’t let a brand name drive your decision. My son didn’t know or care who made his new 4-wheeler. He was super excited and years later still has fun on it.
5 Reasons you should not buy a Chinese 4-Wheeler
While Chinese models offer a great value, there are some reasons you should consider a name brand over a Chinese make.
Some assembly is required
To get the best value on your purchase you will have the assemble the quad yourself. I ordered mine online and it arrived in the same shipping crate it left the factory in. It took me and a friend a couple hours to get it out of the crate, assemble it, charge the battery and replace the factory oil with some high quality ATV oil.
If you aren’t very handy or want something the is ready to ride, this is not the way to go. There are dealers all over the country selling ready to ride Chinese 4-wheeler, but you will pay more making the price more comparable to a name brand.
Less dealer support
Dealers who sell and service Chinese ATVs are harder to find. Going along with the first point, if you don’t think you are up to making minor repairs and maintenance yourself, make sure you pick a model that can be serviced at a local powersports dealer.
Lower resale value
Even used youth size quads from companies like Polaris sell for substantial price. If you purchase a Chinese model don’t plan on getting the same return when you child outgrows it. Chinese models will only sell for a couple hundred dollars on the used market.
Lower build quality
Besides investing less on advertising and dealer networks, Chinese manufacturers save money on the parts too. Under heavy usage some of these lower quality parts will fail sooner and need repaired or replaced.
Replacement may be hard to get
Parts will eventually break and need repaired no matter what atv you buy. When those parts need replaced you want them to be easy to get. Because Chinese 4-wheelers are sold under many different brand names it may be hard to figure out who the real manufacturer is and where you can order parts. This is not a problem with the big brands, you know exactly who made it and the local dealer may have the part you need sitting on a shelf.
Who should buy a Chinese 4-wheeler?
Now that we have covered many of the pros and cons of Chinese 4-wheelers the real question is who should buy one.
In my opinion if your child is going to be a casual rider. Enjoying their 4-wheeler around the house with the occasional trip to the trails, a Chinese model is a great option.
On the other hand, if your whole family is out on the trails every weekend, or if you plan to get into racing or other competitive riding, I suggest getting a name brand model.
One last thing to consider is the used market. Youth ATVs are always being sold because the are outgrown. If you are patient and spend some time searching places like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and ATV Trader, you might find a very lightly used name brand model for the same price as an off brand.
If you have any questions or would like to share your experience and opinion please leave a comment below.
Thanks for reading and Happy Riding,
Jason