Jan. 2005
Kymco Website

KYMCO Motorsports, located in Inman South Carolina, is the exclusive importer and distributor of KYMCO brand scooters for the USA. KYMCO Motorsports, formally know as STR Inc, Motorsports Division has over 25 years of experience in the business representing TOMOS brand mopeds and mini-cycles. In 2001, STR Inc., Motorsports Division discontinued its relation ship with TOMOS and selected KYMCO as it's main product line. (Kymcousa.com)

We are proud to provide a comprehensive review of two Kymco youth quads, based on criteria pertinent to potential buyers who want their child's quad to function dependably on the trail.



Specs:
Kymco Mongoose 90cc

Engine/Transmission
Engine Type -4-stroke air-cooled, SOHC
Displacement-89cc
Horsepower-6.3hp
Cooling System- Fan
Lubrication- Wet sump
Ignition- Electric w/kick start backup
Gearbox- Automatic CVT

Chassis
Front Suspension- Single A-arm
Travel- 2.9"
Rear Suspension- Swing arm
Travel- 3.2"
Front Tires- Maxxis 18x7-8
Rear Tires -Maxxis 18x9-8
Front Brake -Drum
Rear Brake- Hydraulic disc

Dimensions
Length-57 in. (1447.8mm)
Width-34 in. (863.6mm)
Height-37 in. (939.8mm)
Seat Height-26 in. (660.4mm)
Wheelbase-37.9 in. (962.66mm)
Ground Clearance-7.25 in. (184.15mm) average

Other
Fuel Capacity-1.4 gals. (5.29 liters)
Weight-232 lbs.
Available Colors- Red, Yellow or Blue
MSRP-$1,899

Features Taillight, lanyard safety switch, 1 Year Limited Factor Warranty, and a C.A.R.B. Certified. Forestry Approved Spark Arrestor.


Safety Features
In order to keep your child safe during their adventures, Kymco has fit their 90cc quad with wrist lanyard, full floorboards, rear brake light, hydraulic rear disc brakes, and three ways to limit the speed to your child's skill level.

Mounted on the right handlebar, the wrist lanyard kills the quads motor in the event your child is thrown from the quad.
Full floorboards are, in our opinion, very important. They keep debris away from the rider as well as the riders feet where they belong. The Kymco Mongoose 90 has FULL floorboards incorporating a sturdy composite non-skid surface, which gripped our test rider's feet well.
Rear hydraulic disc brakes make for a quick, safe, reliable stopping power. We would like to see hydraulic brakes made standard by all youth quad manufacturers. Some still insist on fitting their quads with cable-operated systems though.
The Mongoose 90 has three speed restrictors. First is throttle screw used in nearly all youth quads. Second, there is a rev limiter incorporated into the CDI. To eliminate this restriction, cut the LIGHT GREEN wire at the CDI. The CDI is a black box located under the seat. After the wire is cut, the Mongoose can cruise up to 12 mph. At that point a restrictor located in the variator of the CVT keeps the quad from accelerating further. A replacement shaft is available from Kymco to allow the quad to reach a top speed of up to 30mph.

Although this quad does not come standard with a headlight, it does come prewired, and a headlight kit is available through Kymco.

Setup
All Kymco quads tested were easily assembled and didn't require any initial adjustments to the drivetrain.



Styling
The 90cc Mongoose has a nice sporty look and a comfortable seat. Controls are located on the handlebars with the exception of the key and the manual choke. The key is located above the right fender, instead of on the pod where it would be out of the way of mud and dirt. The manual choke is well placed, located on the left side, just below the gas tank. The one thing that we thought could be located in a much better spot was the kill switch. The kill switch is located on top of the left handlebar next to the grip. It is very easily bumped. Several times we found our test riders sitting dead wondering why their quad died and wouldn't start. This was an issue with all the Kymco quads.

Motor/Transmission/Drivetrain
Somewhat uncommon in the youth quad market, but becoming more common due to emissions laws, the Mongoose 90 is a four stroke. This has advantages and disadvantages. The main disadvantage is less power than its 2 stroke cousins. Advantages of Kymco's four-stroke 90cc motor is its extremely smooth and quiet, easily started (easier than most 90cc 2-strokes), and doesn't leave a cloud of smoke behind for followers to encounter.
The smooth running motor is easily started with the electric start. If your battery runs down, there is also a kick-start. As mentioned above, the Mongoose has okay power, but lacks compared to many 2-stroke 90's on the market. It was difficult loading the Mongoose into the back of a pick up; it just didn't have the low-end power needed.
We didn't experience any mechanical failures with any of the Kymco quads. There was a slight hesitation when accelerating from idle, most likely an easy fix though.
The Mongoose has no oil filter, and to check the oil a small decorative panel has to be removed on the right side of the quad.
Transferring the four-strokes power is a CVT transmission. Instead of engaging right from idle, the clutch on the Mongoose engages at a much higher rpm. This lends to the lack of low-end power associated with this quad.
Connecting the automatic transmission to the rear axle is an O-ring style chain. There is no chain tensioner on the Mongoose. Twisting of the motor when under load (due to soft motor mounts) can cause the chain to become misaligned with the front sprocket. This results in the chain producing a "popping" sound unless the chain is adjusted regularly to keep excess slack out.



Suspension/Handling
The Mongoose 90 features a single A-arm front suspension with adjustable shocks and 2.9" of travel. In the rear is a swing arm with another adjustable shock and 3.2" of travel. The ride is a bit stiff on the 'normal' setting, but takes the abuse of jumps better than some weaker setups.
This quad is not very stable when cornering at speed, in off camber situations, or on rough rocky terrain. We didn't have any accidents but this quad will easily tip up if cornering too hard, too fast or in off camber terrain. On rough rocky terrain the tippiness combined with the stiff suspension tends to easily rock the Mongoose.
The Mongoose doesn't have the greatest ground clearance, but it isn't the lowest either. The Mongoose 90 has a very sturdy rear skid plate to protect the rear brakes and chain.


Braking
Front brakes are the usual drum brakes associated with many youth quads. Rear brakes are hydraulic disc. The rear brakes do a very good job of stopping the Mongoose, but wear quickly when exposed to mud and sand.

Water/Mud Ability
Kymco has placed a snorkel on the intake of the CVT transmission. This keeps water from entering the intake of the transmission. The exhaust from the transmission exits the bottom and rear. As a rule of thumb, most 90cc quads are capable of water up to the floorboards. The intake snorkel Kymco has placed on their transmission gives a little more confidence when crossing the local stream.
The Mongoose does okay in the mud, but is limited by its lack of low-end power. The rear brake pads also wear quickly when exposed to mud.

Overall Quality
The Kymco Mongoose 90 is not just another 'Polaris clone' with generic parts. A quick look at any Kymco ATV and you will see Kymco makes a lot of the parts for their quads. The Mongoose we tested was well assembled with attention to detail given, all bolts were snug, and no wires were loose. A quad that could easily make a beginning rider feel like a pro.

Kymco's Mongoose 90 is in our opinion a great value at a MSRP of only $1899! A quality, dependable quad at a great price.
Kymco Website

Wildcard,Doc