Your first look at mini buggies might be a little confusing since so many buggies look the same. Trying to figure out who's who in the world of China Imports is no easy task, so we thought this page might help you find a buggy that will interest you. We will look at the 150cc buggies like the Crossfire, Yerfdog, Hammerhead, Carter and more. We will also cover the 250cc Hammerhead, Joyner and the 300cc Carter and Kinroad and of course a quick look at the Boss 500.  Over time we will add more info on these mini buggies and others.

Crossfire 150 / 150R / Punisher 150	Dune150 / Reaction 150	Yerfdog 150	Carter 150
HammerHead 150	HammerHead 250	Joyner 250	Carter 300
Carbide 150 (ASW- Quantum)	Helix 150	Boss 500	Kinroad 300
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What is a mini buggy? A mini buggy is a go kart on steroids.  Now you know, see how easy that was.  Ok, now it's time to pick a mini buggy for the family.   Many mini buggy owners in the Buggynews.com and BuggyMasters.com community, and  organizations  like the MBRA, have tested just about every brand of buggy made in China today.  I have personally driven and worked on about 13 different models of China buggies and thought I might share my likes and dislikes on some of them.

Crossfire 150, 150R & Punisher  / back to top

The Crossfire is a big-box store product (Sam's Club) and is supplied by Tomberlin.  The original Crossfire frame design can be seen on a total of four models. Three of them were Tomberlin and one Baja Motorsports buggy which was sold thru PepBoys as the Dune 150. The other three are the original yellow 150cc non reverse Crossfire, the second generation Crossfire 150R and their sister brand, the Punisher, which has the same front bumper as the Dune 150.  This review will look at the Crossfires and the Punisher.

The frame design is excellent with lots of room for average size adults. For someone a little bigger, just flip the steering wheel mounting-bracket so that the shaft goes over the top.

The quality of the welds is usually above average when compared with other china imports but you can always find some exceptions.  In our experience with this frame, we have found four weak points when pushing this mini buggy beyond its abilities. You can click the image for a closer look at the locations.  It took a large amount of force and many hours of extreme driving before cracks began to show along the weld edges.  This is an easy fix and nothing to worry about under normal riding conditions.

The only other place we found a weak point was on the steel chain cover. The tab that bolts on the swingarm has two small welds and no rubber padding between the cover and the swingarm. This weld will break on every yellow Crossfire ever made. The fix is a full weld across the tab, and a rubber support between the swing arm and the chain cover. The steel cover was discontinued after the first Crossfire so you won't find it on any other model.

The front suspension is another area of this buggy we are impressed with. Unlike many china mini buggies, the Crossfire is among a few that use a long travel suspension system which improves the ride and adds stability. 

There were some changes made to this front end on the Crossfire 150R but it had mixed results. It was much stronger, however it reduced the turn radius so you did lose some of the high speed handling on tight trails.

The rear is a standard swingarm design like many other china buggies and could be improved if it were made slightly longer which would allow for a smoother ride. 

During our UFB builds, we found adding as little as six inches in length to the swing arm made a world of difference when you're looking for a smoother ride, and you can still use the same shocks.  You can also purchase more expensive shocks to get better results.  Overall, the frame design and suspension give this mini buggy a good ride and excellent handling ability with stability better then most China buggies  in its class.

The Performance of the Crossfire 150 is great for most types of riding on trails and for hill climbing but the Crossfire comes up short on top speed. This stock mini buggy can barely hit 30mph on the flat. With some modifications, this can be overcome and, for the record, one of our Crossfires has reached speeds of 42mph with the stock cam and piston.  Standard upgrades like clutch, exhaust and jetting gave the Crossfire all it needed to break the 40mph mark.

The two biggest problems with the original Crossfire is the lack of reverse and no front breaks.  I still like the Crossfire over most 150 mini buggies because of its overall frame and suspension design; it handles better and is far more stable then all other 150cc mini buggies.

The Punisher and the Crossfire 150R both differ from the old yellow Crossfire and both have the reverse and front breaks. They also use the dual chain, which I love. The Crossfire 150R has the same front bumper as the original version but the Punisher uses a slightly different one with a top straight bar like the Dune 150, and the lights are located on the top of the buggy. In addition, the Punisher 150 also has fenders.

The worse thing about the Punisher is it cost a lot more then the Crossfire, and they are the same machines with only cosmetic differences. 

Dune 150 / Reaction 150 / back to top

The Dune 150 was also a big-box store product. It was sold at PepBoys and had a low price like the Crossfire. There is not much to say about the Dune other than it was the Punisher / Crossfire under another name.  The frame and suspension is the same as found on the Crossfire.  The only difference with the Dune was the external reverse.  Some people like the external because it's easier to work on but the planetary gears are weaker and can't take a excessive abuse.    It handles great and has great power for climbing and running on the flats. With the proper mods, this buggy will run in the high 40's.

The Reaction kept the same engine setup as other 150cc with the internal reverse. It also had great design changes in the looks department. Power and speed are not a problem for this puppy;  however, this buggy fails big time when it comes to quality welds, front suspension design and stability.  This is one buggy I would never buy new but a used one could be a great buy. Modifying the front suspension is easy and would be very easy  on the wallet.

Yerfdog 150 / back to top

The Yerfdog mini buggy is a great machine for a new buggy owner that needs a low cost machine with plenty of power. The lightweight Yerfdog can out-run most 150cc mini buggies when running bone stock head to head on the flats. The only exception is the light weight Helix 150 which is a little bit quicker.

The stock tires it comes with are the first thing you'll need to change if you plan on hitting any kind of muddy trails or big hills. 

As much as we like the Yerfdog mini buggy, it has some problems that are pretty bad when you compare it to other buggies.  The entire front end is the weakest of all mini buggies. 

It's not that the Yerfdog is made with poor quality components. In fact, it is made very well for what it was designed for.  The Yerfdog was not designed for major trail riding or hill climbing. 

In the mini buggy world, problems like this can be overcome. There are plenty after-market parts for the little dog that will make her as strong as anything in its class.  After market control arms, ball joints and spindles are all easily available from quality dealers like BuggyDepot and others.

The only other concern with the Yerfdog is the stability; it's about the same as the Reaction 150 when hitting turns at higher speeds.

Carter 150 / back to top

Now here's a  mini buggy that has a lot of fans. Carter like other big name brands, made a few different 150 models and they all had one thing in common, fast right out of the box.

The Carter 150 frame styles and front suspension are common among the China buggies.  The shocks are almost vertical and the control arms are short making these buggies less stable the mini buggies with  the A-frame design control arms.   This also produces a more ridged ride which for some folks may be a bit much. 

We have also noticed many Carter 150 owners complain about the rear axle bending after jumping.  The axle on the Carters in not the best available, that claim goes to Tomberlin and its line of buggies.  The bending does not seem to happen on level landings only when the buggy lands on a hard angle which should be expected when you consider the speed and weight of the buggy when they hit the ground.  This is not a problem to worry about if your a normal buggy rider that just likes to go a little crazy. 

Used Carter mini buggies can be found all over the web and are a great buy for your first buggy.

HammerHead 150 / back to top

Here is a min buggy that is always making the right changes to keep the riders happy.  The 150cc Hammerheads are extremely popular and for good reason. They run well and have excellent support for OEM parts and a name brand line of their own performance and suspension parts.

HammerHead has worked hard to make their brand name known in the mini buggy community, and for this we should all be thankful. This company is the only one that has stayed true to the sport and works hard to keep their customers happy.  The many 150cc models they sell are all built well and have all the bells and whistles a true buggynut would want.

The only change I would like to see on their 150 mini buggies is the front suspension.  So many of these China companies continue to use the same style front end with the vertical shocks and small control arms; it drives me nuts.  A few times, I have also seen the external reverse unit come with buggy gremlins.  This is not a big problem, just a little annoying, and it happens with other brands as well. 

The best thing about the HammerHead is the company and the dealers they support.  Without a doubt, the HammerHead brand stands alone when it comes to customer service and quality control over their imports. A great buggy to buy, new or used.

HammerHead 250 / back to top

One of the top picks for a 250 mini buggy must be a Hammerhead. This buggy has a proven record with few minor problems that some owners have experienced.

Although the front end still has the short nose China buggy style, the IRS system gives this buggy a smooth ride and helps keep the buggy on all four wheels when your ripping through the trails.  The power is what you should expect from a 250.  An impressive machine that can run up grade for long distance and still maintain high speed.  For big hill climbing the hi-lo gears are perfect, they'll surprise you when you hit that first big hill. The low gear is also great when your in a ditch and you want to push your way out slow and steady.

The bells and whistles are all included on the 250's and the canopy is nice for the hot days when the sun is pounding on your helmet.  The speakers are nice and loud for your ipod or other electronic gizmo you might want to hook up.

The stock tires are not great for heavy mud and the stock exhaust on both the 150 and 250 have been know to break. The best way to fix this is by having fun with your buggy. Drive it hard until the tires ware out and the exhaust breaks. Now buy some new ITP rubber and HammerHead performance exhaust and your ready to go.

Joyner 250 / back to top

The only way to describe the Joyner 250 is plain and simple; It's a tank!  There is no match to the strength and durability of a Joyner. It is the powerhouse of the mini buggy world. The frame and suspension on this beast are exceptional in every way. Handling tuff trails, hills and holes this monster does it all, while keeping you nice and comfortable inside it's steel shell. 

Plenty of room for the big guys and fully enclosed lower body separate its looks and design from all other buggies. You may find mini buggies that look similar but they are mere copies of an original beauty.

The Joyner line of buggies is a little higher on the food chain when you compare them to other China mini buggies. Quality far exceeds your typical China mini buggy, while its cost is not that much higher when you consider how well these buggies are built.

If there is a down side to this buggy, it has to be the speed. The Joyner 250 is designed for trail riding and climbing so don't expect crazy speed. If you want more speed you'll have to do some upgrades, nothing major just the basics you would do on any other buggy.  It's also a very heavy buggy, that can't be helped when you build something this durable. More steel equals more strength and  more weight, simple.

My favorite thing about the Joyner is how easy it takes major motor upgrades. With other mini buggies you need to make a lot changes to the frame and suspension when you increase motor size. The Joyner only needs mounting points changes for a bigger motor. The rest of the frame is ready for just about anything you wan to stuff in it.

The Joyner is truly a top dog in the mini buggy world.

Carter 300 / back to top

Now this is one sweet buggy I had the pleasure of riding at the 2009 and 2010 National Buggynews rally. There is not much difference between the Carter 300 and the 250 other than the displacement.  This mini buggy does everything you ask it to do and more. It has an nice frame design with outstanding suspension that delivers a really sweet ride. Top speed could be a little better and I would have liked a little more room for 2 adults. Although it was a tiny bit snug for 2 big guys, you still felt comfortable while driving on the trails and climbing the hills.  I should add that this buggy was climbing those big hills with 2 slightly over sized adults and had no problem.  

Special Note About Carter Brothers Inc.
 It has been rumored that Carter is out of business due to a fire. Although the damage from the fire is true Carter is not out of business.  They are trying to speed things up so they may resume production of their buggy line of products. When we know more we'll let you know.

Carbide 150 / back to top

Sold by some of the big stores like Tractor Supply this mini buggy is pretty decent.  The Carbide 150 is an American Sports Works (ASW) product and is listed as the Quantum on their website.

I like the looks of the of the frame and suspension setup on this buggy.  It may not be the best but it does hold up pretty good under tuff conditions.  The weakest point on this buggy is the axel. I have seen more than one of them bend with low impact.

Power out of the box is good with a top speed of 39mph, some buggy owners have exceeded that number slightly with a bone stock Carbide. Electrical problems are as common as any other mini buggy on the market today. 

Overall a good buggy for the price.

Helix 150cc / back to top

This buggy can take a little bit of a beating, however I wouldn't recommend it for serious buggy riders. Although it is lightweight and very quick out of the box, it may fall apart under serious riding.  Like the Yerfdog the Helix does have some weak parts in the front end design and frame. For modest dirt trails and hill climbing this mini buggy will do fine.  This buggy is still a player in the mini buggy world it just needs a few mods to move it up the food chain.

If your a good welder and can swing a mean wrench, this mini buggy does make a great buggy rebuild project. The main reason is you can pick up an old Helix dirt cheap.   A full redesign of this buggy could be complete for about $500 if you shop wisely.

The Boss 500 / back to top

The Boss 500 was a major hit at the 2010 BuggyNews rally. This monster rolled into the park like a rock star and caught everyone's eye instantly.  From what I've seen of this Boss 500, it is a great looking buggy that can climb with any 4x4 on the market.  Look out Rhino and Razor, there's a new buggy on the block. 

This buggy is still new and there are many planned changes for it. The Boss 500 will be made with bigger engine options and maybe a few cosmetic changes.  We won't know for sure what types of gremlins this buggy may or may not have for a while.   It's still a new buggy and testing and design changes continue. so far what we've seen is excellent and we wish the Boss team good luck with this beast.

Kinroad 300 /  back to top

Here was a real winner at the 2009 BuggyNews rally.  A total kick ass design in frame and suspension.  My experience as a passenger and driver of this buggy at the 09 rally was a pure run of fun.

The speed of this buggy was sweet, it out ran everything at the 09 rally and it looked great doing it.  At about 40mph I was plunged into 3 feet of water and came out soaked and sandy, but still smiling.  Everything was excellent on this buggy until we had to make it work for a living.

We found out pretty quick that this buggy is made for speed and not towing or extreme climbing.  The clutch took a major beating right away when we put it to work.  In my opinion this is not a major problem because after market clutches are available for just about every mini buggy made today. I would gladly buy a kinroad 300 knowing that the clutch is the only major weakness on this machine. Sweet machine with great looks and nice smooth ride.

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