With the youth ATV market booming, it’s hard to gain a foothold in the industry when you’re competing with classic youth models like the Yamaha Raptor 90 and Polaris Outlaw 110.
But Kayo has done just that in recent years, offering a number of youth and smaller ATVs that have begun to grow more and more popular.
While Kayo even makes the list of today’s best youth four wheelers, their ATVs also have some noted drawbacks that drive owners of certain models a little bonkers.
This review of Kayo ATVs as a whole will highlight both the good and bad with these machines when it comes to the following:
- Models available for 2024
- Build quality
- Performance
- Design
- Durability
- Youth safety features
- Included accessories
- What owners like
- What owners dislike
Table of Contents show
Kayo ATV Models For 2024
There are a total of nine different Kayo ATV models available for 2024.
Five of these are sport models and the other four are utility models.
Kayo Sport ATV Models:
- Kayo Fox/Storm 70
- Kayo Predator 125
- Kayo Storm 150
- Kayo Storm 180
- Kayo Jackal 200
Kayo Bull Utility ATV Models:
- Kayo Bull 125
- Kayo Bull 150
- Kayo Bull 180
- Kayo Bull 200
A review of the Kayo Fox 70 shows it to be the smallest and least powerful of the Kayo sports models, but also the most popular.
And a review of the Kayo Bull 200 shows why it tends to be the most versatile among all of the Kayo ATVs, making it the most popular utility-focused model.
While these models all vary when it comes to their parts and components, most models have plenty of similarities.
Build Quality & Performance
Engines
The Kayo engines range from the smallest, least powerful 70cc engine in the Kayo Fox 70 up to the highest-performance 199cc engine in the Kayo Jackal 200.
Each of the engines are made by Kayo Motors out of China, who also makes most of the other parts and components used in these ATVs.
Every engine among the line of Kayo ATVs is a four-stroke single-cylinder that is air-cooled (though some are a mix between air/oil).
The engines in the utility models are all geared low and offer good low-end power for their price point, able to handle most terrains.
The sport models’ engines are geared a bit higher, offering better pull through the gear ranges which translates to better top-end speed.
While the power provided by these engines is good, they’ll run into issues in some muddy, steep, and soft terrains.
The fuel delivery is provided by a carburetor in every model, as they don’t make use of EFI for now.
Drivetrains
Each of the Kayo ATVs is chain-driven, with the chain providing power to only the rear wheels, making every model in the line strictly 2WD.
That’s standard for youth ATVs, as even some of the biggest-name models like the Yamaha Raptor 125 or Polaris Predator 90 don’t offer 4WD either.
Pretty much the full Kayo ATV line makes use of an automatic transmission which makes for easy shifts.
That said, a couple of the models do introduce a semi-automatic transmission and the Kayo Jackal 200 is the only model equipped with a manual (four-speed) transmission.
Each model also only offers three different gear settings in Forward, Neutral, and Reverse.
All models do have a parking brake that should be applied when stopped.
Suspensions
Aside from the Kayo Fox 70, each Kayo ATV is equipped with a Double A-Arm front suspension and a rear swingarm suspension with a single rear shock.
The suspension systems are solid for these machines, doing a good job of stabilizing the ATVs over bumps and around turns.
And the rear swingarm and single shock suspension makes for solid traction and enables you to use your bodyweight to easily maneuver.
This set-up is very similar to one of the very best smaller models you can find in the Kawasaki Brute Force 300, making the rear end easy to slide out around turns.
As you’d expect, the sport models sit closer to the ground and only offer up to around 5 inches of ground clearance depending on the model.
Most of the utility models sit a little higher up, offering up to 6.9 inches of ground clearance.
Tires & Brakes
The stock tires vary in size among the different models, but they’re all knobby off-road tires with grip patterns that are plenty sufficient for the off-road terrains most of these ATVs are meant for.
That said, some of the bigger models like the Kayo Bull 200 and Kayo Jackal 200 that can easily carry adults around may run out of traction in steep, soft terrains with heavier riders on them.
All models make use of hydraulic disc brakes, which are higher-quality than the drum brakes used on some other youth models.
The brakes are solid, able to stop these models quickly in just about any terrain or on any surface level grade.
Dimensions & Capacities
Kayo ATVs are all smaller models geared toward youth, but some of the biggest among them are plenty suitable to carry adult riders around.
And while they’re pretty compact overall, on models like the Bull 200 and Jackal 200, small to mid-size adults won’t feel all that out of place.
And their lighter weights are great for being able to body control them for riders for all sizes, along with offering impressive agility and maneuverability on the trails.
Benefits Of Their Compact Build Styles:
- They’re extremely easy to handle and control, even for smaller riders.
- They can easily fit into the bed of a standard pick-up, so you won’t need to throw them on a trailer when transporting them.
- They make excellent options for narrow, twisting trails or tight wooded areas.
- If you ride BLM land often, they easily stay within the 50-inch width limits.
Youth Safety Features
As models geared mostly towards youth riders of all different ages, some of the smaller Kayo ATVs come with three main safety features to help keep riders safe:
- Throttle Limiter
- Electric Kill Button
- Safety Tether
Throttle Limiter
A throttle limiter in the smaller models restricts their top-end speed and power out of the box.
This feature amounts to a screw on the throttle box that can be easily adjusted to increase how fast the ATV can go and how much power it can attain.
Electric Kill Button
Some models also come with a remote controlled electric kill button that parents can hold onto and push to kill the engine if things get dicey.
The engine won’t restart until unlocked using the same button.
Safety Tether
A safety tether may also be included depending on the model.
Similar to the tethers you’d find on a jet-ski, this tether can be worn around the rider’s wrist and will unplug from the engine stop switch if the rider was to fall off.
This would kill the engine, which wouldn’t restart until the tether was plugged back in.
Kayo ATV Accessories
Kayo ATVs also come standard with a number of accessories that serve to increase their appearance and also make them more off-road capable out of the box.
You’ll find many of the Kayo ATVs include some or all of the following:
- Dual front headlights
- Single rear tail light and brake light
- Turn signals
- Safety flag mounts
- Front and rear storage racks
Kayo ATV Review – What Owners Like
- These ATV models offer good overall performance for a fraction of the cost of some of the bigger-name models.
- Compact builds combined with a number of safety features help to put parents’ minds at ease when it comes to their youth riders.
- The overall size of most models makes them versatile in the types of trails and terrain they can ride.
- Suspension systems offer a smooth ride for an entry-level ATV and offer good stability.
- These smaller machines get good gas mileage.
- The battery, airbox and air filter are located just beneath the seats and make for easy maintenance.
Kayo ATV Review – What Owners Dislike
- Slightly underpowered, with steep hills and soft terrain giving them some issues.
- The top speed and overall performance of some of the smaller models can’t match some of the bigger-name models in the same class.
- Stock carburetors in these models are known to cause issues.
- Drive chains are known to fit a little loose and pop off occasionally over bumpy terrain.
- The cheap outer plastics of these machines are prone to scratching and cracking from abuse.
- Final assembly of these models takes place at the dealerships they’re sold through, which can be hit or miss.
For more on the drawbacks with these machines as a whole, check out this guide to common Kayo ATV problems.
Final Word
Kayo ATVs are some of the most price-friendly models you’ll find in the youth and small ATV industry these days.
For the performance they provide for the price, they make for good values. But they don’t come without some noted drawbacks.
For more on Kayo, check out the Kayo S200 youth side-by-side – brand new for 2024 and Kayo’s first side-by-side option.
