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.
Richard Roundtree was the leading actor in the original “Shaft”. Taklin bout Shaft, we can dig it!