The hot word in youth quads this year is "four-stroke" (or is that two words?). Kawasaki, fresh off the end of its alliance with Suzuki, has developed a pair of youth thumpers in the race to get 'em while they're little. Although we have been supplied with only sketchy details on the KFX450, we do know the KFX90 and KFX50 are the first models to sport Kawi's new signature styling. Polaris has also gone all four-stroke on its youth models with a new Outlaw 90, mini-ute Sportsman 90 and Predator 50. The company may have had some of the old two-strokes clogging up the factory, however, as a two-stroke version of the 50 and 90 sport models are still available, but only in pink.
Suzuki released a new 90, the QuadSport Z90. With an auto transmission and floorboards, it's more kid-friendly than the previous QuadSport 80.
Can-Am eliminated its two-stroke 90, as did Arctic Cat with its two-stroke 50.
But it's not as though two-stroke smoke-spewers are dead, is it? Cobra continues to develop its truly race-ready two-stroke youth machines with a reconfigured engine on its top-of-the-line ECX70. The ECX50 also gets an update with a new auto clutch in its single-speed transmission.
Can-Am
DS 50
Retail price: $1799
Engine
Type: Single-cylinder two-stroke
Displacement: 49cc
Bore x stroke: 40x39.2mm
Cooling: Air-cooled
Carburetion: Mikuni VM 16mm
Lubrication: NA
Starting: Electric with auxiliary
kickstarter
Drivetrain
Drive system: 2x4
Transmission: Automatic CVT
Front-wheel-drive: NA
Rear-wheel-drive: Chain
Suspension (Type/Travel)
Front: Single A-arm, independent/1.4 in.
Rear: Shock/2.0 in.
Tires
Front: 20x7-8
Rear: 19x8-8
Brakes
Front: Dual drums
Rear: Drum
Parking: Yes
Dimensions
Wheelbase: 38.0 in.
Claimed dry weight: 228 lb
Ground clearance: 7.0 in.
Length/width/height: 58.0/34.0/35.5 in.
Seat height: 26.0 in.
Fuel capacity: 1.6 gal.
Load capacity
Front/rear rack capacity: NA
Hitch tongue/Towing capacity: NA
Electrical
Taillight: NA
Headlight: NA
DC outlet: NA
Alternator: NA
Instrumentation
Fuel gauge: NA
Speedometer: NA
Odometer: NA
Hourmeter: NA
Tripmeter: NA
High-beam indicator: NA
Neutral/reverse light: NA
High-temperature light: NA
Color: Red