Archive for the ‘ATVs’ Category
Friday, March 13th, 2009 |
Not all of us can afford a brand new ATV with all the bells and whistles. As with cars or motorcycles we sometimes have to start out with buying a pre-owned ATV. Of course there’s nothing wrong with purchasing a used car, used bike or an used ATV. If you are going to buy used, you have to know what to look for, especially with a vehicle such as an ATV where you know that there is a chance the previous owner might have given the ATV some serious abuse on the trails. Before you begin to cruise the classifieds you have a couple of decisions to make. Who is the ATV for? An ATV for an adult is made differently than one made for a child. Do you want the ATV for purely recreational purposes? Do you want to race or just enjoy some leisurely off-roading with your family? Do you want to use the ATV as a utility vehicle?
If you are purchasing your first ATV, the best place to start would be at a local dealership. This will give you an opportunity so see which brand and model will best fill your needs. At the dealership you can ‘test’ the different classes of ATVs like three wheeler ATVs, six wheeler ATVs, Sand Rail ATVs, Dune Buggy ATVs etc. The different branded ATVs are Bombardier ATV, Yamaha ATV, Suzuki ATV, Polaris ATV etc. Sit on a few to see how they fit, each ATV will be different and you might find that some are more comfortable than others. Even though you are trying newer models, there really won’t be too much of a difference between them and the older versions.
After getting all the information you can from the ATV dealer, you will have some idea of what make and model you will be looking for in a used ATV. While you’re at the dealership also check to see if they have a bulletin board for other ATV resources. Sometimes if you contact a club or other organization they may be able to put you in touch with people who have ATV’s to sell. Classified ads and specialized classified magazines like you see for cars or motorcycles will also be a valuable resource. And of course the number one source for finding used vehicles is the internet. Places like eBay will no doubt have a lot to offer, the only problem with that is, unless the seller is in your area, you have no way to view the ATV up close.
Another advantage of shopping online is the market is increased dramatically, You are able to shop the entire United States from the comfort of your home and find the best price available. You can have your ATV delivered to your home. he major drawback to buying online is the inability to personally inspect the vehicle. Be sure to ask a lot of questions. If the item you purchase has been misrepresented you will be able to recover the purchase price plus shipping costs.
Lastly, if a title is required in your state ask the owner if they have the title and if it is clear. Most states require a bill of sale with the VIN (vehicle identification number) on it. Whether your state requires a bill of sale or not, it is always a good idea to have one to protect both you and the former owner incase a dispute crops up. Be aware that in most cases you are buying the ATV “as is”, which means the previous owner is not responsible for any problems you might find with the vehicle after you have purchased it and brought it home.
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Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 |
You’ve heard about them, seen them and even had the opportunity to try riding one and now you are seriously considering buying your very own ATV. Before you pull out your wallet from your pocket and hand over your hard earned money to the very first ATV dealer you find, let me share with you a few thins that you should look out for when you are buying an ATV – especially if this is going to be your very first one.
How much to pay?
First of all, you must work out your budget. Ask yourself this question – how much you are willing to pay for first ATV? For some people, money is not a question (isn’t it great if everyone falls into this category?) but not everyone has that privilege of being able to splurge, so you have to decide beforehand just how much you are willing to pay for your ATV. Would you be willing to pay more just for the sake of a brand name? Or are you comfortable with an off brand ATV that is just as good as the “branded” ones? A top of the line like Yamaha ATV or Polaris ATV sure does cost a lot more than off brand ATVs that you can find, at the end of the day, it really depends on how “fat” your bank account is.
The ATV features
Next, you have to do a little bit of homework on this one – the features that you would like to have for your ATV. Do you want an automatic, manual or semi automatic transmission ATV? The standard transmission would be the manual one which is much like driving a stick shift in a car – if you are a new ATV rider, I suggest that you do not attempt to purchase a manual transmission ATV as you may cause more damage to the machine by improper usage. Automatic transmission ATVs are the easiest for a beginner because you only need to give the machine gas and brake while the rest is done without your assistance. Whether it is an automatic, manual or semi automatic transmission ATV – the choice is really yours. Get one that you would feel most comfortable operating.
There are typically 3 types of methods starting ATVs – electric, kick and pull start. Electric start ATVs uses battery and a push button ignition and is the easiest way to start any ATV. Just like the name, kick start ATVs comes with a lever located on the crank case where you will need to kick one of three directions – depending on the brand front, back or sideways to start the machine. The pull start option is just like how would operate any lawn mower machine. In my personal opinion, if you decide to go for the electric start ATV, you might as well look for one with an alternate pull start option – just in case the battery dies out on you in the middle of nowhere, you are still able to start your machine – and get home.
Also, you will need to decide if you want a Three Wheeler or a Four Wheeler ATV. Much of this decision really relies on your personal preference, and obviously, the Three Wheeler model would be a lot cheaper compared to the Four Wheeler model. However, let it be known to you that Four Wheeler models are much larger and work oriented machines. Unless you are buying it for work, a Three Wheeler ATV is good enough for recreational activities.
If you are thinking about buying an ATV as a gift for someone, you must consider the age of the rider. Should that person be below 16 years of age, you should be getting him or her a youth ATV instead of an adult ATV because adult ATVs are bigger and heavier, while youth ATVs are smaller in size and easier to be maneuvered by kids younger than 16 years of age.
There may be one or two particular brands of ATVs that you favor due to some reason – be it influence from your friends or family members, or maybe you were given to opportunity to ride on them before and you like what you have “tried”. But this only limits your choices and there are still many other ATVs out there in the market that you may not have tried out before. What I am trying to say is that you shouldn’t make up your decision based on the one or two ATVs that you have had experience with. It is best to widen your choices first before you shortlist your choice of ATV. Look around, read reviews about them and no matter what, you must make it a point to visit the ATV dealer and see the physical machine yourself before you make your final decision. Everyone have their own preference and just because I like a certain ATV model does not mean that you have to like it too.An ATV for sale is not just buying a toy, you have to think and ponder about it just like you would if you are buying a house or a new car because this too, is an investment.
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Thursday, August 21st, 2008 |
For those who are not familiar, it’s easy to assume that indulging oneself in a sport like ATV riding can be expensive. After all, let’s just take a few of the current models into consideration. With heavy modification, an ATV today could easily cost you more or less $20,000. And how about a Prevost motorhome? With modification and custom paint.
This is one of the most obvious ways to save some money. if you don’t need an ATV with a huge motor with all the bells and whistles, then forget about it. Most Mid-Range ATVs costs about $7,000 or so. So, if you’re not really in it for the big motor and fancy design, you can easily get one for $4,000 these days. Yamaha and Polaris produces some of the best beginner machines and these beginner ATVs go for approximately $3,000.
Now, this is one of the least obvious cost when it comes to ATVs. When you buy a new ATV, don’t forget that you’ll need a way of getting it back to your home if the supplier does not provide it. So, clarify this issue with the ATV dealer and if they don’t or cannot provide this service, rent a trailer with built-in ramp so that you can get the ATV back home. Otherwise, if you own a mini van or pickup truck, they’ll do just fine. Renting a trailer for the purpose of transporting your trailer back home is very practical and inexpensive.
The kind of riding gear you need pretty much depends on the kind of riding you’re going to do. However, with that said, even if you don’t intend to purchase a whole new closet-ful of riding attire, please invest in some basic safety accessories like helmet, goggles, gloves and boots. Yes, we have to admit that some of the branded ones are a little bit pricey but if you do a little bit of legwork, it doesn’t have to be.
If you wish to, you can get riding boots but boots are not a primary safety gear. You can’t do without the helmet because it protects the head and face. So, if you’re riding on a low budget, get the boots when you are ready.
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Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 |
The all terrain vehicles are small motorized vehicles devised especially for off-road usage. These hardy vehicles are designed to take on difficult terrains are becoming increasingly popular nowadays. It may be mentioned that motorcycles, jeeps - land rovers and similar other vehicles capable of off road usage are available too but the all terrain vehicles are specialized to especially take over all kinds of rough terrain. The all terrain vehicles or ATVs as they are called are used for pleasure purpose, for hunting and for work or travel on off road sites. The ATVs are also called 4 wheelers or quads. However, some models of ATVs are also 6 wheeler or 8 wheeler. The all terrain vehicles come in a variety of makes, models and sizes.
All terrain vehicles may be very basic with skid steering, balloon tires and no suspension. Again there are sophisticated models too featuring track conversion systems for use on a variety of terrain conditions for all seasons. Using these you can get around just any terrain and at any time of the year braving all odds. Besides, it also enables carrying out a number of activities effectively in punishing conditions which were hitherto unthinkable.
While on an all terrain vehicle remember to use the safety equipment and wear a helmet. Also never forget to carry an electric air pump and tire-plug kit with tire sealant.These will come of use in repairing flat tires in difficult uninhabited terrain. Upon duly adopting the safety measures suggested by the all terrain vehicle manufacturers you can expect to get the best maneuverability on difficult terrain by riding an all terrain vehicle of choice.
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Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 |
Harlan Mannigel, the host of the Polaris ATV Adventure Tours, was quoted recently in the Salt Lake (UT) Tribune in a story about the National ATV Jamboree in Fillmore, Utah.
Harlan has long been an enthusiastic participant in the National ATV Jamboree, sometimes leading groups of riders on treks through the spectacular Utah scenery, sometimes enjoying a busman’s holiday of purely recreational riding at the Jamboree between Polaris ATV Adventure Tours.
Here’s the lead paragraph of the article:
“Harlan Mannigel makes a living planning and leading all-terrain vehicle adventure tours across America for Polaris Industries. When it comes time for the Mosinee, Wi., resident just to be a rider and leave the organizing to someone else, Mannigel heads to this town in central Utah for the National ATV Jamboree.”
The article continues:
“I’m fond of telling people that when God created the universe he gave the state of Utah the most beautiful scenery to be viewed anywhere and, as an afterthought, he threw in the world’s best ATV trails,” said Mannigel. “That’s my genuine feeling. When you add the amazing local people of Fillmore you get the country’s best ATV jamboree.”
This year’s Jamboree was held in June. Utah is home to several of the nation’s best ATV rallies, and several upcoming events are listed at the end of this story.
Harlan and his wife Bev co-host Polaris ATV Adventure Tours and Polaris Snowmobile Adventure Tours. These are turn-key tour packages that take riders to some of North America’s most exciting and scenic riding destinations.
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Friday, July 11th, 2008 |
When you talk about buying second-hand stuff, the first thing that comes to mind is that since it’s second-hand, it’s probably second rate. But in terms of buying used Mini ATVs, it’s our contention that it’s perfectly fine. Of course, if you had the financial resource to actually get a spanking brand new one, by all means, go ahead. There’s nothing better than buying a new ATV instead of a used mini ATVs. But we understand that not everyone’s got that kind of cash all stacked up in their bank account and some of us may have to buy used mini ATVs instead.But buying used mini ATVs is not actually such a bad idea at all. It depends a lot on the quality, brand and condition of the used mini ATV.
I mean, if the previous owner hardly used the mini ATV, it would be almost brand new, wouldn’t it? The fact that it was previously owned by someone else doesn’t automatically mean that the used ATV is in disrepair. So, the first rule of thumb is, (if you want to buy a used mini ATV) to inspect the machine properly before you buy the used mini ATV. And you should also probably conduct a very short ‘interview’ with the seller of the mini ATV. What you’re trying to do here is to make sure that the used mini ATV is in good condition and you’re trying to establish the extent of use on the used mini ATV. Some owners of these expensive ATVs actually use it for a short period of time, for short trips, or bought it as a temporary measure. When they no longer need it, they sell it off.The better the brand, the more lasting the used mini ATVs will be. If the used mini ATV is from a reputable brand name, you don’t have very much to worry about especially if the previous owner has been using the mini ATV for a short period of time. That’s because established brand names used higher quality materials to produce and manufacture their mini ATVs and can usually outlast any other cheaper brands.Before you sign your name on the dotted line, it’s better if the previous owner permits a test drive. Some owners might not like the idea of their potential buyers test driving the used mini ATVs before the actual purchase – this, in itself, is already suspect. Therefore, don’t buy the used mini ATV if the seller is reluctant to let you test drive the machine before purchase. Testing the used mini ATV is an important part of the purchase process because you can determine the condition of the used mini ATV by merely taking it on a very short drive
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