Figuring out what the best ATV to buy can be an exciting but daunting process. There are some important questions to ask yourself however, that will make the process easier. After all, with every Polaris owner telling you if you want Power you need a Polaris, and every Yamaha Owner telling you Yamaha's are the best kept secret around, it can be tough to figure out what the best type of ATV is for you to purchase.
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The first thing I recommend you do before running into the dealership to pick out a new ATV is ask yourself these questions:
- What do I plan to use it for?
- Where will I be riding it? (more on tracks, in the mountains, in Alaska?)
- Is this new ATV purchase for work, pleasure, or both?
- Do I care more about speed or more about maneuverability?
- What type of riding do I enjoy the most? (Do I want to trail ride, mud bog, rock crawl, etc)
- How do I like to ride? (Do I like to ride fast on on the machine, or relaxed and laid back)
- Do I want 4WD?
- How invested am I? (Is this a regular hobby or something I do from time to time)
Utility ATVS
Alright, lets start by figuring out what type of ATV you want to buy. There are three main categories to consider, the Utility ATV, the Sport Quad, and the Utility-Sport ATV. The utility ATV is going to be the most versatile an well rounded ATV. What that means is you can easily use it for work, then take it out on the trails and have a good time.
If you plan to use this on your property, or even think you will want to plow your driveway with it in the winter then a utility ATV is what you want to consider purchasing. Make no mistake about it however, gone are the days where a utility ATV is more just for work. These machines have come a long way and make amazing ATVs for trail riding. The utility style ATV is also something you will want to consider if you want a nice big machine that you can ride comfortably on. If things like comfort, bells and whistles, and storage are important to you, then you will probably want to start your ATV buying journey focused on the utility ATV.
The Sport Quad
Now if things like comfort and a laid back approach have less meaning to you, a sport quad may be more down your alley. The Sport quad machines are going to offer speed and maneuverability better than any of the other categories. A much smaller engine will get you a much faster ATV. So if you are looking to race your ATV, or just want something that you can hit the throttle and get
There are a few other considerations to remember when looking towards purchasing a sport quad, however. First off, there are few to no bells and whistles. This is great in the sense that it means less to break. However, things like 4WD, a liquid cooled engine, and an automatic transmission are all things you may be giving up. So just make sure you are OK sacrificing those things before making any hasty decisions.
The Utility-Sport ATV
Now if you want some of the benefits of a utility ATV and some of the speed of a sport quad, consider buying a utility-sport ATV. I consider the utility-sport ATV the best of both worlds but the greatest of neither (Clear as mud right?). In other words, you get a lot of the benefits of a utility machine such as the 4WD, more comfort, power steering, and automatic transmission just to name a few. You also get a lot of the speed and maneuverability found in sport quads.
Now I say it is not the best of either because you do not get the same level of size and comfort from a sport-utility machine that you do from a big bore, well rounded utility machine. Nor will you find yourself with the same lightweight rugged ATV that you can get with a straight sport quad. If you are looking to get some comfort, bells and whistles, and speed however, this may be the best ATV to buy.
Once you have the type of ATV figured out, you will want to start thinking about engine size. Below is a very very basic guide to consider and keep in mind. However, it is nothing more than a guide and you should test a few out, find one that you feel the most comfortable (and safe on), and go from there.
50-125cc (kids)
- These sizes are generally only going to be on very small machines, that's because they are meant for children.
300-400cc - Starter machines and smaller adults
500 - 660cc - Good well rounded size
700-850cc - Good for advanced trail riding or farming
1000cc - Mud Bogging, lots of speed, and good for pulling
In the end, make sure you take some time to weight your options. Do some research and test a few out. Don't let a dealer convince you to buy something that you are not absolutely sure about. Also, make sure you leave a comment and let me know what you chose and as always, thanks for watching and I hope to see you on the trail!