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What To Look For When Buying An ATV
Owning your own 4x4 ATV can be an exciting purchase and one you may have thought about for a long time. Before you pull out your wallet, however, read on to find out what you should look for when you are buying your own ATV.
Budget And Brand Names
So, what should you look for when you are buying an ATV? First, you should work on your budget. You must set a firm price on what you are willing to pay on an ATV. One thing to look at is the different brands and models of 4x4 ATVs that are available to the public. A popular brand, such as Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, or Polaris is going to cost more up front just for the name. You can usually find off-brands that are just as powerful, but cost less than their name brand counterparts. To check out off-brand sites on the Internet, try going to Jackel Motorsports at www.jackel.com. Looking for an ATV for a younger child? Check out all the brands at www.kidatv.com to find something smaller for the kids.
Kinds Of ATVs
There are two different categories of 4x4 ATVs available on the market. You can choose from either a Utility Vehicle or the Sports Model. The difference between these models is usually pretty clear, although there are some crossover models that may be hard to differentiate. A utility model is built to do a job, such as hunting or plowing. If you plan on carrying a lot of equipment, or spending days camping in the woods, then the Utility ATV is what you will probably want to look at. A sport ATV is just that - an ATV specifically built for fun. The Sport ATV does not have front and rear racks. These types of 4x4 ATVs are built for speed, flash, and flair, and are good for jumping and four-wheeling. No matter what type of ATV you are looking for, there is a brand available for you.
Sport Utility models almost always come in 4X2 categories. The difference in 4x4s and 4x2s is generally speed. A 4x4 ATV model has four-wheel drive, meaning that all four wheels receive power from applying the gas. A 4x4 ATV will have a drive shaft protruding from the front wheels, as well as an additional drive shaft that goes to the back of the engine. The other difference between a 4x4 and a 4x2 is going to be price, with the 4x4 ATVs going for typically a thousand dollars or so more.
What Size Should You Buy?
The size of an ATV that you purchase will usually depend on your wallet, and what you want in extras. Most ATV salesmen are going to lead you towards the bigger model, as they cost more than their smaller counterparts. However, unless you want all the bells and whistles that come with the bigger model, a smaller size will probably be enough for you. Talk to the dealer about the size of the engine, as this also makes a difference in power and gas consumption. If you are planning to purchase an ATV for a teenager, then you will probably want to start out with a smaller model until they can get used to riding it.
Buying Used
It may be entirely possible that you can’t afford a brand new ATV. That is where buying a used model comes in. Buying used can turn out to be a great deal better than buying new. For one, you can avoid all the interest charges you accrue when you buy an ATV that is brand new. If you can pay straight cash for a used model, you won’t have to worry about payments each month, for years on end. It may be a great idea if you are already mechanically inclined and can handle minor repairs that may be needed on a used ATV. You may be able to buy a used ATV from a dealer, which is probably the best bet. Local dealers will usually have checked the machine out to make sure it does run well before selling it to you. Your next option is to look through your local newspapers for individual sellers of personal ATVs. It may be wise to bring along someone mechanically inclined, if you are not, when checking out a used ATV. That way, you know what you are buying, what needs repairing, and whether it is a good deal or not.
After buying your ATV, make sure you have the proper helmets, as 78% of ATV accidents that resulted in a fatality were from riders wearing no helmets. It is also important that your child is taught a safety course before riding an ATV on his or her own. This is important no matter how much they have ridden without one. Call 1-800-OHV-RIDE to register for the State Off Road Vehicle Certification Course.
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