In order to end up with the ATV best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.
Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of ATVs are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in an ATV.
Research the market: ATV essentials
ATVs are crammed full of features to make driving a simple pleasure. Automatic gearboxes, sealed brakes, tuneable suspension, fuel injection or carburettor, liquid or air cooling, 2 and 4-wheel drive.
The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the ATV market. The range of options can seem daunting, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:
Types: There are generally three categories of ATV; small-size, low power ATVs for general use - capable of being driven by children; sports ATVs which are designed to be highly manoeuvrable and responsive; utility ATVs which have rugged bodies and load carrying attachments.
Engines and transmissions: The smaller ATVs tend to have 50cc engines; sports models are available with engines from 250cc to 500cc; utility ATVs are fitted with engines from 250cc to 800cc. Gearboxes on the smaller models are automatic and they use a chain drive whereas sport and utility models have manual gearboxes, usually with reverse gear and shaft drive.
Features: ATVs have few frills, although there are accessories to empty your bank account. Everything from brush guards, grab rails, skid plates, front racks, rear racks, gun boots, light kits, winches and ploughs can be added to your standard ATV
Cost: Mini ATVs cost around one fifth the price of the top-of-the range utility or sports model. Basic sports and utility models start at twice the price of the mini ATVs.
Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself
Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in an ATV. For example, will you use the ATV only for leisure activities or do you need it to get around your rural property?
You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.
| Have I used an ATV before? |
| | If you have used an ATV, work out what you did or didn't like about it. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient. |
| What will I use my ATV for? |
| | Decide if you want your ATV to be a plaything or for it to be a workhorse. Perhaps it is a combination of the two. It may be used by drivers of all ages. |
| Is performance or durability more important to me? |
| | All ATVs are designed to take rough treatment but if you need something that will be a useful tool around the farm or on the country estate you may have to give up some performance edge to ensure that you get long life out of your vehicle. |
| Is the fuel type for my ATV an issue? |
| | Some ATVs have two-stroke engines; others have four-stroke engines. The difference is most noticeable in performance. A two-stroke has the edge on response to whacking open the throttle; a four stroke may be a little more sluggish but you don't have to fiddle around with two-stroke oil mix. |
| How much will an ATV cost? |
| | Cost varies with engine size and design, so it is worth working out the budget you can afford. |
Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.
Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of ATVs and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.
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