| All terrain vehicles, commonly called ATVs or Quads, | | | | Side by Sides, or Utility Task Vehicles, can |
| are made in many different sizes and are designed to | | | | accommodate more than one person unlike most |
| serve many different purposes. Some are made | | | | ATVs. They resemble a cross between a small |
| purely for recreational purposes like racing. Others are | | | | pickup truck and an ATV or a souped up golf cart. |
| used by businesses or property owners to traverse | | | | They come with cargo boxes that can hold several |
| rough terrain. Hunters and camping enthusiasts often | | | | hundred pounds. A UTV is very heavy and not built |
| use them to get further off the beaten path. When | | | | to go as fast as a Sport ATV, but they do come |
| it comes to buying an ATV, how you intend to use it | | | | with enough power to get you and your payload |
| will largely determine the size and type of ATV you | | | | over even the most rugged land. There are also |
| purchase. In this article, we will examine the most | | | | usually a lot of accessories available for UTVs such as |
| common types of ATVs you may encounter when | | | | winches and plow attachments. |
| you visit a dealer. | | | | Youth ATVs are small and designed for kids or those |
| The first thing you will probably notice is that ATVs | | | | with no previous experience riding an ATV. The |
| come with different size engines, stated typically in | | | | engines typically range from 50cc up to 125cc and |
| cubic centimeters or cc. The cc measurement | | | | can handle riders weighing up to 100 or 150 pounds. |
| represents the volume displaced by all of the engine's | | | | Most come with an automatic transmission so there |
| cylinders and is a rough estimation of power. You | | | | is not much of a learning curve in terms of operating |
| may see ATVs designed for kids with 50cc engines | | | | the ATV. If you are shopping for an ATV for your |
| and bigger utility ATVs with 800cc engines. | | | | child, you may be tempted to buy something a little |
| Utility ATVs are the best selling type of all terrain | | | | bigger for them to grow into, but from a safety |
| vehicle. The generally have larger engines, four wheel | | | | standpoint less is more. ATVs in good condition have |
| drive and can be used for towing or hauling small | | | | decent resale value so your child can move up when |
| loads using attachments made for such work. Utility | | | | the time is right. |
| ATVs are popular with hunters, campers and | | | | Choosing the right ATV is a matter of determining |
| ranchers or business owners who need to tend their | | | | your intended use first. Consider where and how it |
| land or move cargo across rough terrain. | | | | will be used most often. Some sales people will try to |
| Sport ATVs are also quite popular and they are used | | | | sell you more vehicle than you need so try to go in |
| almost exclusively for recreational purposes. They | | | | with an idea of what you want. Set a budget and |
| tend to be lightweight, accelerate quickly and have | | | | stick to it as it is quite easy to go overboard with |
| good suspension. Sport ATV owners often enjoy | | | | your choice of ATV or accessories. Understanding |
| customizing and modifying their ATVs for | | | | the differences between the various types of ATVs |
| performance, racing or for taking on different types | | | | is a good first step toward picking out the right |
| of terrain. | | | | all-terrain vehicle for you. |