ATV Archives

by Mark Edwards

ATVs or All Terrain Vehicles are definitely a hit among men, and even among women and kids. How could they be not? Not only are they suited for various purposes, such as leisure or some sort of rugged transportation, they are also efficient in giving you that exciting and comfortable ride that no other vehicle can give.

You might be thinking of buying one and roll into the Great Outdoors. But before you fish for your wallet, make sure you know how check the thing before you cash it out.

Before moving any further, you have to admit upfront that money is really tight these days. From an economical point of things, buying a used ATV seems to be logical. Used ATVs don’t have to mean poor quality vehicles, but still, you have to do some mechanical check before cashing in on one.

If you really want to get your hands on a used but totally working ATV, you just need to follow these tips:

Scan the ATV for rusts. Rusts could mean that the vehicle has been heavily used by its previous owner. if you find rusts inside and outside the gas tank, the shock mount, the A-arm mounts, and the framed intersections, be wary of the bike. You might spend more dollars for the repairs than the price you will pay for the ATV.

Check the wheels. Raise the ATV up and move the wheels in all directions. This will allow you to see if there are loose ball joints and worn-out wheel bearings.

Look for dirt and water in the air box. If it does contain them, it is best that you look for another ATV as presence of these two in the air box can potentially damage the ATV engine.

For 4×4 ATVs, do some inspections on the gear lube and the CV joint boots. Dont purchase the machine if the gear lubes color is chocolate brown and the CV joint boots are not in good condition. Otherwise, you’d spend thousands to repair them overtime.

Lastly, look out for the small yet important areas of the vehicle such as engine, brakes, engine oil, shutoff system, handle bars and the lights. These things better be functional if you are to buy the quad bike.

If the parts are still in good working condition but are already too old, take note of them because they can be a reference point in negotiating the price of your soon-to-be ATV.

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by Gregory Paul

In Ontario, Canada, there has been an encouraging decline of snowmobile related accidents from1997 to 2007. From 47, there has been a dramatic decline to 17 in ten years. Officials are happy to relay that probably people have gotten the message on how to safely enjoy the sport. Apparently, more sports enthusiasts are joining the bandwagon of responsible snowmobile riding. It has been noted that ninety percent of reported accidents happened off the legal trail.

Many experts will say that the most important advice a rider could follow is to stay on established trail systems. When out of the trails, there are many dangers abound. There are fences, rocks, and a multitude of unseen hazards. It is safe to speculate that those who decide to go off trail are irresponsible drivers who disregard safety precautions and do just about anything because they want to.

Driving a snowmobile off season is not such a cool idea. Some sledders like to take their rig out for a spin when balmy spring weather approaches. This is the time when ice covered lakes begin to thaw. They should think of the miss plunges that almost killed some thrill seekers.

As a warning, in 2006, in Fort McPherson, two men tried to cross a river in one vehicle when they ran into a patch of open water. One of them was never found, and the other was pulled out and rushed to a nearby health center. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it.

Measures have been made by some officials to lessen the risks of snowmobile related accidents. In Middletown New York for example, they offer Snowmobile Certification Course to riders. It is imperative that sports enthusiasts pass this course. The course provide instructions on proper riding, safety equipment, and the rules of the trail. The course is handled by certified instructors.

One of the most successful measures place would be the requirement of a commercial guide for snowmobile riders in Yellowstone National Park. It has been reported that there was a dramatic fall on incidents of snowmobile riders harassing wildlife, venturing off limits, having accidents, violating speeding and safety precautions. The commercial guides are trained by park officials

Steps in improving the quality and security of the sport has been taken by manufacturers as well. these days you will find snowmobiles that come with even better machines that provide for more comfort and safety. They pack more power for electrical accessories and are cleaner and quieter as well. Some helmets have built in communication devices so riders can talk to each other with ease. The extra power also provide means of heating for the comfort of riders.

To make the snowmobile riding sport safe, multiple precautions are in place. The government and business sectors have done their part in making this adventure safe, and fun. That’s how this sport should stay – sound and exciting. Riders can actually make this experience almost if not 100% safe if they just follow the measures that were placed for their protection.

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by John Quarry

Today, ATVs or quad bikes are not only used as a toy for your family, as a handy helper in your household chores, as a lavish way to stroll downtown, or as an alternative for golf cars. They have already become a way of life for some people.

Just in case you are one of them, you might be wondering what latest ATV models are the hottest in town. This list will give you a rundown of the 3 most comfortable, luxurious and quality quad bikes that will surely become the envy of every ATV fanatic like you.

Polaris Ranger RZR 170 – The Polaris Ranger RZR 170 is sure a thing of beauty. Manufactured by Polaris Motors, the company has kept up to its tradition with the Polaris Ranger RZR 170.

High end parts and materials are just some of the reason why this quad bike provide a great driving performance without compromising driver’s comfort. In addition, this model has been the topper of all ATV review sites, with 9 out of 10 consumers very much happy. Priced around $4,000, this ATV’s durability and overall functionality makes it a a great deal.

Arctic Cat 90 SE -The Arctic Motor Company also parades some of the world’s top ATV models. Adding to the list is the Arctic Cat 90 SE. As a matter of fact, demands for this particular model has been very steady. More than the performance as well as quality, this model can also be yours for a very low price.

Carrying a price tag of $2,600, this model is clearly cheaper than the other low-priced models such as the Polaris Ranger RZR 170. No doubt people on a budget are bent on getting this model.

Honda TRX 450R – The best ATV in the market is none other than the Honda TRX 450R. Engineered by Honda Motors for extreme ATV racing, this model boasts of superior handling, maneuverability, and comfortable overall design.

Its parts and joints are as flexible as they are strong. To top it all, it has an electric start unlike all other quad bikes. If you want this, you better prepare to shell some cash because its going to cost you around $ 7,500.00. The overall performance from this quad bike will tell you the price is worth every penny.

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Tuning your go kart engine is very important in keeping your go kart running at optimum levels. Even though these engines are small, they’re all packed with performance for their size. Take some time to plan out a regular tuning and maintenance schedule, though. And remember, there are four main types of these motors.

The first type of go kart engine is very popular, and it has a bore made of aluminum – called a cool bore – with roller bearing on either side of the crankshaft. It’s very high-performance, though a little rare and maybe not worth all the trouble it would take to get one. The second type can fill in just as nicely, and it features bore made of steel with the same roller bearing set up. Also, it can win just as many races.

The remaining pair consists of single-bearing engines, with either an aluminum or a steel bore. All four motors, really, can be extremely competitive in racing, as long as each is built up and then tuned properly. And when tuning and maintaining a go kart engine, remember that regular oil changes help the most. After that comes inspecting and tuning up the sole spark plug. Remove and check it over regularly. Look for accumulated carbon on the electrode, in addition to any scoring on the electrode surface.

It’s important to make sure the plug is gapped to required spacing between the electrode and the plug firing tip. Take a gapping tool and run it through to make sure the spacing is between.025 and.030. If it isn’t, re-gap it and then reinsert it back into the engine. And don’t forget to check the plug’s wire for signs of cuts or any excessive wear. This can degrade engine performance significantly, if present.

The air filter comes next. Remove and inspect it for excessive dirt or clogged-up surfaces. Replace it if required. You can take a compressed air hose and blow out any light surface dirt from a filter that’s not excessively dirty and keep using it until it is. Now it’s time to check the fuel-air mix of the carburetor. Tighten the needle valve all the way down and then back it out about 2.5 turns, which should make for a perfect mix of gas and air. In-depth tuning with a timing light can be done, too. Just download a guide for doing so and follow it to the letter.

Learning to tune you go kart engine isn’t difficult. You’ll be doing it like a pro with some practice. It’s not very hard, either. Just ensure that regular engine maintenance and tuning becomes a part of all go kart racing activities to increase not only engine performance but also lifespan. If done right, it will be many miles before an engine will require extensive rebuild or repair.

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by Tom Jonesy

ATV vehicles are fun and do a great job in the outdoors. They are all the fad these days. ATV stands for All Terrain Vehicle and that means they are meant to be driven over every imaginable surface from dirt trails, to mountain paths to paved roads and everything in between.

You need to find tires that you can use that will be able to withstand lots of beatings. With this in mind, when referring to “cheap” ATV tires we are talking about inexpensive tires and not those of a lesser quality or poorly constructed tires as those would be completely unsafe and unacceptable for use with your ATV.

When getting ATV tires, there are things that must be considered. For starters, you will need to know what size your wheels are. Diameter is important to know. You need this information in order to search what you need. Make sure you know what you need for front and back tires. They may not be the same.

Performance is definitely important. You may also want to consider the look and style of the tires for your cool ATV.

Know what it is you are going to do primarily with your ATV. Some tires do different things and are meant for different terrain. If your only concern is how cheap the ATV tires are, then skip this step and just start comparing prices at tire stores or online.

Otherwise, take into consideration the effect that different tire designs will have on your vehicle’s performance and look only for the type of tire that you want at the best price possible. You can call around to different tire stores or visit the various ATV tire websites to find the best price. You should also consider auction sites, where you may be able to find really cheap ATV tires that have been discontinued or that someone purchased and no longer needs. However, keep in mind that you will not receive the same warranty if you go that route.

Finding cheap ATV tires isn’t really complicated at all, especially if you are doing your tire shopping online. There are so many online tire stores to choose from and they often include free shipping which makes a good deal even better. Just make sure you also check deep into the different pages on the search results. You can find great deals buried in the back.

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by Ferdinand Mekinsy

Taking your four-wheeler off road is one of the big reasons you no doubt procured your ATV in the first place. That feeling of being able to journey easily over very thorny terrain is why the ATV has become such a favourite recreational vehicle. We don’t really think about it very much but the engineering that goes into a four-wheeler is pretty phenomenal. Producers that provide ATVs to the four-wheeler markets make those machines to be basically “ready for anything”. They know that people who own all terrain vehicles take that title seriously and really will take that ATV onto the most thorny and hostile environments and expect them to roll over downed trees, ravines anything else they might encounter in the wild and do so with ease.

It is a good idea, all the same, to have some common sense about how you use your ATV and what you are going to expect it to do for you. This idea is even more vital when a young person takes the controls of a four-wheeler and takes it off road. There is a lot of power in an ATV that gives it the ability to roll over brush and trees without pausing. Pound for pound, an ATV is more strong and takes on much greater challenges than even the conventional family car.

That power can give the inexperienced rider a sense of freedom and power that can delude the driver into thinking there is nothing this machine cannot take on. The general sense you or whoever drives your ATV must be well in touch with is that a four-wheeler is not a tank and it is feasible to put it in a situation that it cannot handle. And if you get to charging through an off road environment without concern for reality or safety, the outcome can be a break down or accident that can be a catastrophe.

Even though your four-wheeler can do stunning things, you must know exactly what it cannot do. Only someone who has driven the ATV quite a bit and knows it well should be allowed to take it into unexplored territory. That wisdom to stop before taking that vehicle into territory that could be beyond the abilities of the ATV is the common sense that any ATV owner or operator must have.

In addition to common sense, preparation and regard for safety rules must also be second nature to ATV driver and passengers alike. Simple rules like not drinking while driving a four-wheeler, the use of seat belts and helmets and how to prepare for an outing so you have communications and first aid equipment on hand should it be needed must be a requirement for any four-wheeler driver. If you are well in touch with the rules of how to use an ATV responsibly and you are always prepared for the unexpected, you can take that powerful machine out for many adventures off road knowing that you are doing so responsibly and safely.

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by Ferdinand Mekinsy

It is one thing to take an ATV out for a recreational tour of the wilderness. It is dangerous enough when you have the liberty to go slow, turn back or get out and clear the route before you take your four-wheeler over that terrain. In a racing situation, you are pushing that ATV to its speed limits and the driver will commonly charge right into unfamiliar terrain that may have hidden dangers because of the need to move quickly to win the race.

Going “four wheeling” is a sport that returns that sense of freedom and adventure to the use of a motorized vehicle that has largely disappeared in other types of driving. The fact that a four-wheeler is made to allow you to go off road appeals to the adventuresome side of us. Its fun to use your ATV to explore wooded areas, to get to that remote lake for some serious camping or fishing or just to have some off road fun racing or kicking up some dust.

But one priority that is common to the working man’s ATV and to the recreational four-wheeler has always been a top priority to Honda and that is safety. Even if you are out to have the adventure of a lifetime going off road with nothing else in mind than having fun, safety is a priority. Honda knew that even if the customer was not thinking about safety, that ATV had to have safety built into ever aspect of the vehicle. That is why Honda ATVs have a tremendous record of safe operations in a wide variety of sport and utility uses.

But one priority that is common to the working man’s ATV and to the recreational four-wheeler has always been a top priority to Honda and that is safety. Even if you are out to have the adventure of a lifetime going off road with nothing else in mind than having fun, safety is a priority. Honda knew that even if the customer was not thinking about safety, that ATV had to have safety built into ever aspect of the vehicle. That is why Honda ATVs have a tremendous record of safe operations in a wide variety of sport and utility uses.

By the same token, you know the dangers that driving an ATV off road can present. The caution and common sense that is second nature to an adult are often absent in the very young. So it is up to the adults in their lives to help children and especially teenagers to develop that common sense that may not be that common at a young age. If you make that a priority and you impress on your kiddos the need to learn to drive an ATV responsibly, then you can begin to bring them along on the road to four-wheeler ownership.

The market for used ATVs is an active one. So if you have been thinking about buying a four-wheeler for fun, sport or for work, the used market may be a good answer for you. Many of the best makes and models of four-wheelers are built with such a high priority on durability and quality that they command lots of attention on the used market. Yamaha, in particular, is a make of ATV that holds up extraordinarily well on the used market. While that might mean you pay a little more for a used Yamaha ATV, it also means that you will be getting quality vehicle that will perform well for you now and for many years to come even if you bought the four wheeler used.

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by Ferdinand Mekinsy

Before you try anything adventurous with your new four-wheeler, take sometime to get trained on how to use it. An ATV is a different kind of vehicle from a car or a truck and you need to have some exposure to how the machine handles especially in an off road situation. Also, take the time to take the ATV into “tame” off road situations and get to know it well. Better to have a problem with your four-wheeler a half mile from your home in a field where help can reach you than to get stranded in some dangerous, remote location.

It will be costly to buy high quality tires for that ATV especially if you take our advice and keep a second set on hand at all times. But considering what you are asking those tires to do, its worth it to invest in the best tires you can get so that when you are out there in the wilderness with your ATV, there is no question that those tires can take care of you.

The four-wheeler should also be built to operate at a much reduced power and challenge level. This means the child’s ATV or even the teenagers version of the four-wheeler will not be so powerful that they youngster could lose control of the vehicle easily leading to a nasty accident. But the most important thing your child needs when he or she is learning to operate an ATV is teaching. Under no conditions should he or she take that ATV into unknown territory or difficult terrain. Driving around a vacant lot in the neighborhood is plenty. Then as you teach your child how to operate that machine, you can slowly increase the challenge as the common sense of how to drive a four-wheeler responsibly begins to become evident in the way your son or daughter drives their very own ATV.

Getting a four-wheeler for your teenager takes more than just putting out the chunk of cash it takes to buy it. When you put a big bow on that ATV to have it under the Christmas tree or to give to him or her for a birthday gift, there is a lot of preparation you must do for this moment and plenty of parenting work to be done before you cut that youngster loose with such a powerful machine.

Of course, everything about the ATV is built for this kind of demand. The shocks, the undercarriage, the brakes, the axils and every other component of that four-wheeler is designed to be able to handle any conceivable terrain without difficulty. You will think about that engineering when the ride gets rough as you take that ATV into some really rough and unsettled terrain. You want that four-wheeler to take that ground like an invading tank and those tires should be tough as tank treads to live up to that expectation.

Also, be aware of the fit of the four-wheeler to your youngster’s size. To operate an ATV, the youth should be able to easily manage the steering and other controls and to access the readings that they need to drive their ATV responsibly. This may call for getting some measurements before you give the vehicle to your youth. But better to get them in on the surprise than to get them an ATV that is not comfortable for him or her to operate. This is both an ease of use issue and a safety issue.

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by Ferdinand Mekinsy

When you buy your first four-wheeler, there are some priorities that make a big difference to you. If it is style and look, you get to know what your friends have and perhaps buy that so you will be riding an ATV that is “cool”. But for many who are going to make the investment in a quality four-wheeler can be summed up in one statement. “I want the toughest four-wheeler there is.”

The 4-wheeler should also be built to operate at a much reduced power and challenge level. This means the child’s ATV or even the teenagers version of the four-wheeler will not be so powerful that they youngster could lose control of the vehicle easily leading to a nasty accident. But the most important thing your child needs when he or she is learning to operate an ATV is teaching. Under no conditions should he or she take that ATV into unknown territory or difficult terrain. Driving around a vacant lot in the neighborhood is plenty. Then as you teach your child how to operate that machine, you can slowly increase the challenge as the common sense of how to drive a four-wheeler responsibly starts to become evident in the way your son or daughter drives their very own ATV.

The two important criteria of an ATV cover you will be using for many wilderness outings is durability and transportability. That cover must compact down to a fairly small space so you can store it in a side pouch on your ATV in a way that does not take much space away from camping gear. But most importantly, it has to be tough. Camping excursions are roughing it experiences for man and gear. So invest well in a quality four-wheeler cover for your hunting, fishing or camping outings and it will take good care of you for dozens of adventures in your future.

It will be expensive to procure quality tires for that ATV especially if you take our advice and keep a second set on hand at all times. But considering what you are asking those tires to do, its worth it to invest in the best tires you can get so that when you are out there in the wilderness with your ATV, there is no question that those tires can take care of you.

But one priority that is usual to the working man’s ATV and to the recreational four-wheeler has always been a top priority to Honda and that is safety. Even if you are out to have the adventure of a lifetime going off road with nothing else in mind than having fun, safety is a priority. Honda knew that even if the customer was not thinking about safety, that ATV had to have safety built into ever aspect of the vehicle. That is why Honda ATVs have a tremendous record of safe operations in a wide variety of sport and utility uses.

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My son is a real ATV dirt bike enthusiast so when I saw these atv personal checks online I decided to get him some checks for a birthday present. He is also leather, black that is, enthusiast so I couldn’t resist buying him the matching ATV dirt wheels black leather checkbook. I can’t say it’s a sport that I particularly enjoy with the mud; dirt, dust, noise and of course nervous tension that any mother would have watching her son leap through the air on a hunk of metal. He does wear a helmet and I guess he could be doing far worse things like sitting at a computer all weekend.

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