The seller has this Suzuki ATV listed as a 1984 model, but all of the information I saw listed 1985 as the first year for this model. I hope one of you can shed some light on the year of this great-looking four-wheeler. Maybe they’re going off the VIN, if it shows a manufactured date of 1984? For now, I’ll list it as a 1985. This 1985 Suzuki LT230 QuadSport ATV can be found posted here on Facebook Marketplace in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and they’re asking $850. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
This LT230 QuadSport is Richard Roundtree-approved. You know from the graphics that this quad has a shaft drive rather than a chain drive, but it’s also a rear-wheel-drive only ATV as opposed to having power sent to all four wheels. That may leave some folks out of the equation as far as the want factor, but if it’s stability and fun you’re looking for, this looks like a nice one for the price. I believe this is the LT230GE model, more for work than sport, with the big hauling rack on the front. The LT230S was more of a sporty model. I can’t tell if the wheels have some rust on them or if it’s just the gold paint and shadows. In any case, that’s an easy fix. This quad was $2,000 new, which is around $6,000 in today’s dollars, ouch. Even ouch’ier, the warranty was only three months.
Suzuki is widely regarded as not having invented the ATV genre, but having introduced the first viable, mass-production, recreational, just-for-fun all-terrain vehicles for public use in 1982. Did that make sense? There were earlier three-wheelers, four-wheelers, six-wheelers, etc., but they were typically more farm and chore vehicles than just something to tear around on and have fun. The modern four-wheeler as we know it today is usually credited with being a Suzuki LT125. This 230 looks like it’s in great shape, but it would have been nice to have rolled it outside for the photos. You can’t really see it here, but the LT230 has an unusual side-kick kick-starter configuration.
Kudos to the seller for removing the perfect-looking seat in order to show part of the engine that’s hiding under it, and under the cladding. It’s a Suzuki 229-cc SOHC four-stroke single-cylinder sending power to a 5-speed manual transmission with a clutch, to the rear wheels. This one also has reverse, a very handy feature if you’ve ever dragged a 300-pound three-wheeler out of your storage unit. Hey, maybe that’s why my arms are so huge?! (crickets). They say it runs like new and has a new battery. This could be a nice first quad for almost anyone who isn’t into racing. Have any of you owned a 1980s Suzuki four-wheeler?
Hmm, I thought Isaac Hayes did that song,,,( right on) The farm in N.Wis. I lived on, had an ATV like this, only 4wd. Correcting the author is like like messing with a junkyard dog, but these have a recoil pull start, you can see it there on the left side. I know, because that was my 1st “job” on the farm, fix the recoil. My stories tend to have a downside, not really intended, but for your “inflammation”, parts for these are unobtainable. On the farm one, I happened to notice, one of the power shafts to the left front wheel, was about to come apart. The U joint was molded into the shaft, and not available. I did find one, $100 as bad as the one on there. Be advised, it may be an UNINTENDED 2wd. The 5 speed is a hassle, and has been replaced with infinite ratio like a snowmobile, with much better results, but you had to start somewhere, and Suzuki was one of the 1st. ATVs have come a long ways from these humble beginnings, many with P/S, A/C-heat, GPS,,a microwave,,,costing over $10gs, when all we really needed was this, but a 4wd. Why? When you get this thing stuck up to the handlebars, you’ll know why.
I’ll be a son of a gun (again), you’re right, Howard! I didn’t notice that, and the info I read about the 1,293,048 different models of this rig said it had a sideways kick start. Dang it. Thanks for catching that! The LT230E and LT230GE apparently had both electric start with backup pull start. I initially thought that was an S QuadRunner and forgot to go back and edit that part out. I get why sellers don’t give any VIN numbers or photos of details like that because of scammers, but man, it’s a slippery slope trying to figure out the different models with four photos and no info. I’m going to skip these things from now on unless they have better photos with numbers included.
Oh no, you don’t skip nuttin’, don’t make me come up there,,wait, how cold? Maybe I’ll wait( 50s here!),besides nobody, with a brain, expects the authors to be these wizards of all knowledge, and as a “member”, I feel it’s my duty, nay, obligation to add what I can. With as lackluster life I lead these here days, I actually look forward to it.
Richard Roundtree was the leading actor in the original “Shaft”. Taklin bout Shaft, we can dig it!
Nice little quad! Great collector for someone. Extremely clean. Might be great beginner for a teenager but parts would be difficult and a newer one like 2010+ would be much better. I bought my first one about that time but it was a Yamaha 200 (or 230?). IMO the Yamaha’s were much better. These were a VAST IMPROVEMENT over the killer three wheelers, but the quads were fully capable of maiming or killing in the wrong hands. These early machines turned me onto the expensive hobby of off road vehicles and I have been entranced since then. Warriors, Banshees, Raptors, 450’s, and now YXZ.
I bought this exact model used in 1988. Yes, 2WD but it had a plow. Had a extra weight block on the rig to keep the plow down. Didn’t work so well for that, but had fun for a few years with it on my friends farm. First time I have seen one of these since I sold it in the early 90s!
I have have a 4 wheel drive 2005 Honda Rancher 350 with a plow and chains on all 4 tires and it works fabulous. You almost don’t need 4 wheel drive on an ATV, but if you are going to plow with it then 4wd is a must.
Great quads. My cousins had one that they beat harder than anyone Ive ever seen beat a quad and it took it. I had a 230 quad sport (full manual) and my mother had the 230 quad runner (semi auto) and my dad had a suzuki ALT 185 trike. All the suzukis were great durable machines. The quadracers were ehhh but they were different league.
Had one of these about 25 yrs ago. Was a good 4 wheeler to already be about 20 yrs old
I’d call it ‘1st gen’ – just off the earlier 3 wheelers. Small, light, more a “run-a-round sport”. They are a rec vehicle. Today (see my last post on these if interested) we have these in heaver construction. But they’ve evolved to some that are quite capable and more worthy (in my mind) as transportation’n work. Sports, throw around, make some noise’n smoke (stand up on the pegs) and – as said a more sedate (but more capable than a wrangler). Can am outlander, massimo, etc. are ridden in the seat can plow, haul’n tow. A bit ofa bifurcated market now~
The listing went away. Did one of you grab this nice little LT230?