ALL TERRAIN VEHICLES

All Terrain Vehicles

You have seen the commercials...or you have heard your friends talk about the fun they have while on the trails...In all kinds of weather and in every season, people are enjoying recreational ATV trail riding. And now, the ATV bug has bitten you.

If you are new to All Terrain Vehicles, the first thing you need to do is take a trip down to your local ATV dealership. I would not buy one there as they are more expensive, but this will allow you to look at and try out different models, and talk to the dealer for information as well. Make sure you ask questions as the salespeople are there to help.

Another good idea is to try to rent a particular model you are interested in before you buy. This is an especially smart thing to do if you plan on sharing ATV trail riding with your child. So many times, a child will want to try a new hobby only to discover they don’t like it on the first day. There are some adults like that also. Renting an All Terrain Vehicle for a test run can save you a costly purchase that will do nothing but sit in your garage.

The 7 most popular brand name ATVs are:

Honda

Suzuki

Yamaha

Kawasaki

Polaris

Can-Am (Bombardier)

Arctic Cat

Some riders are loyal to their favorite brand name bike and will only buy an ATV made by that manufacturer. Others will buy an ATV that has the options they are interested in, no matter which Name is on the side.

There are two main types of ATVs on the market: Sport and Utility. There are even some ATV models that claim to be hybrids of the sport and the utility models. The Utility ATV will usually have racks on the front and rear of the vehicle, while a sport model will have no racks. A hybrid model might have a rear rack only.

If you plan on using the ATV for a hunting, fishing, or camping trip, you will be more interested in an Utility ATV. Those activities involve hauling a lot of stuff in and out of the woods, and you will need the front and rear racks. This type is also good if you are interested in participating in rock crawling.

Sport ATVs are for trail riding or racing and will usually have more speed available, as well as bright colors for high visibility on the trails.

Another important consideration is Engine Type. Two stroke engines have a system where they lubricate themselves by burning fuel. There is a specific gas-to-oil ratio mix you must use in order for the vehicle to run properly. A few of these models require that the oil reservoir be refilled every five or six tanks of gas. One major drawback to this type of engine is the noise, which is a by-product of the higher RPMs of these engines.

As technology improves two-stroke engines are fading from popularity, as more people lean towards the cleaner-burning four-stroke engine. Four stroke engines are also quieter and are more fuel efficient than their two-stroke counterparts.

Another feature that may cause confusion is the Automatic Clutch. An automatic clutch requires putting the ATV into the appropriate gear when the engine hits the corresponding RPMs for that gear.

An Automatic Clutch does not mean Automatic Transmission. Models with an automatic clutch will not have a foot peg for shifting; instead, there is a shifter for your left thumb on the handlebar. With an Automatic Clutch, you still have to change gears, you just do not have to use a clutch.

An ATV with Automatic Transmission has its drawbacks as well. You must maintain a certain number of RPMs in order to have the machine engage the automatic transmission. This can be a problem when you are climbing steep, rocky terrain.

When buying an All Terrain Vehicle, you will also need to decide on whether you want a two-wheel or four-wheel drive, otherwise known as “two by two” or “four by four”.

In a two-wheeled drive vehicle, the rear wheels do all the work and push the vehicle along. A four-wheel drive uses all four wheels at the same time which will provide better traction.

Four-wheel drives tend to cost more, but they are good for providing you with extra traction in particularly tough terrain. The newer machines on the market allow for “on-the-fly” four-wheel drive. This is where the four-wheel drive is engaged as needed.

The last thing you need to decide on is the choice between an enclosed drive shaft, a chain, or a belt drive. All three methods of drive are good ones. However, an enclosed drive shaft seems to make better sense for leisurely trail riding because it is less maintenance. However, they are more expensive to repair

If you choose a chain or a belt drive, you will always run the risk of snapping the chain or the belt while you are out on the trails. This will cause you to do some emergency repairs.

However, an enclosed drive shaft will have a tendency to get hung up or bottom out on rock crawls and in the mud. Unless you are into extreme trail riding, the shaft drive will pay for itself with the lower maintenance costs.

Once you have decided on the type of ATV you are interested in, you will need to determine if you would rather buy a new machine or a used one. Buying a used ATV will sometimes allow you to afford a bike with more options and perhaps a better one than you could buy new.

Whatever you decide, Here you will find New and Used ATVs at Discount and Wholesale Prices. And when the time comes to repair or upgrade your All Terrain Vehicle, you will also find Discount new and used parts specifically for your ATV.