| Before you buy a used quad, you should
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| | apparent dents or frame damage. Be sure
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| consider a few of important factors in
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| | to pay close attention to the A-arms and
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| your decision making process. One of
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| | areas where the frame intersects and
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| these decisions is what type of ATV is
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| | check the welded areas for any breaks or
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| appropriate for your needs. Of course,
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| | cracks. Any rusty areas should be looked
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| there are ATVs available for utility,
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| | at closely for cracks. Minor damage can
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| sport, racing, or a combination of
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| | usually be repaired by welding and
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| purposes. ATVs are available in 4x4
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| | repainting the affected area.
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| models and 2x4 models. In addition, the
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| | Using a jack, raise the front end of the
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| size and displacement of the quad should
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| | bike and shake the handlebars to check
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| also be considered. Last but not least,
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| | for play. Also, grab each wheel and try
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| for most of us, our budget also plays a
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| | to move it in and out, up and down, and
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| large role in choosing an ATV.
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| | from side to side, looking for any play,
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| After you have done your research and you
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| | meaning possible worn wheel bearings or
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| suspect you know which ATV or class of
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| | ball joints. Next, jack up the rear of
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| ATV is right for you, I suggest you go to
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| | the bike and perform the same checks on
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| your local dealer and sit on the newest
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| | the rear wheels.
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| version of that bike, just to get
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| | Check the oil, look for dark, black, or
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| acquainted with the size and overall feel
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| | "Chocolate milk" oil.
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| of the quad. In most cases, older
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| | Also, check the oil to make sure proper
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| versions of the new bikes generally have
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| | levels are maintained. Also, check to
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| the same characteristics and feel.
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| | color of the oil. Dark, or black oil
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| Next, in conducting your search for a
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| | could be a sign it hasn’t been changed
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| used bike, you should consult multiple
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| | in a long time. If the oil is watery, and
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| sources in an attempt to locate your best
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| | looks like chocolate milk, water has
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| deal. Most importantly, ask other ATV
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| | leaked into the oil. Also, look for any
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| riders for opinions. Use the ATV Source
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| | small metal flakes in the oil.
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| message board and other outlets for rider
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| | Check the front and rear brake pads,
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| opinions. This will usually provided an
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| | rotor, and brake fluid. Also, check for
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| unbiased opinion of an ATV. When looking
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| | any broken or cracked cables. Engage the
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| for a bike, I suggest beginning your
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| | parking brake and make sure it is
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| search online, including the
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| | functioning properly as well.
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| “classifieds” section of this
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| | On 4x4 ATVs, inspect the CV joint boots.
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| website, Internet auction sites, and
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| | If there are any cracks, breaks, or
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| other sites devoted to trading used ATVs.
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| | places where water could penetrate the
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| Also, don’t forget about your local
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| | boot and cause expensive repairs. Also,
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| newspaper classifieds section, as many
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| | remove the front and rear differential
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| people still prefer to advertise in the
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| | plugs and inspect the oil. Again, if the
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| print media. Your local ATV dealership
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| | oil looks like chocolate milk, water has
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| may be another source for used ATVs, as
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| | contaminated the fluid.
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| many dealers will allow trade-ins of
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| | You should also inspect the air box and
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| older quads toward the purchase of new
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| | air filter. Look for evidence of water in
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| bikes. In most cases, these ATVs have
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| | the air box. Water trapped in the air box
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| been inspected by their service
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| | could result in costly engine repairs.
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| department and might even come with a
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| | Changing the air filter is an important
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| short warranty. Dealerships will vary, so
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| | part of ATV maintenance, make sure the
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| check their policies on used bikes.
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| | filter is clean and in relatively new
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| When you find that bike you are
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| | condition.
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| interested in, one of the first things
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| | Inspect the chain and sprockets for rust
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| you should immediately notice upon
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| | and wear.
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| approaching the bike is the condition of
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| | Look at the chain and sprockets for wear
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| the plastic. Of course, the condition of
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| | and rust. The teeth on the sprockets
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| the plastic has no bearing on the
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| | should not be worn, bent, or crooked.
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| mechanical condition of the bike.
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| | There should be no rust visible and ask
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| However, it may be an indication of how
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| | the owner how often the chain and
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| the bike has been treated or if it has
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| | sprockets where lubricated. In addition,
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| been involved in any serious wrecks.
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| | inquire as to how often all of the fluids
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| Also, ATV plastic is expensive and if the
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| | where changed and service performed.
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| bike you are looking at has cracked or
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| | Ask the owner if he still has a copy of
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| broken plastic, you should keep in mind
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| | the owner’s manual and if the bike has
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| the replacement cost and use this as a
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| | a clear title. You should check to see if
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| price negotiating point.
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| | a title is required in your state. In
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| Check the condition of tires. Worn tires
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| | some states a bill of sale with the
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| could be a safety hazard.
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| | vehicle identification number is
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| Another one of the first things you
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| | sufficient. The vehicle identification
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| should immediately notice is the
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| | number is stamped on the ATV engine.
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| condition of the tires. Again, ATV tires
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| | Finally, start the ATV and check the
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| can be expensive and worn tires can be a
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| | headlights, taillights, and engine shut
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| safety hazard on the trails. Before
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| | off. If it’s a 4x4, engage the 4x4 and
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| hitting the trails, your ATV tires should
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| | make sure it is working properly. You
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| be in good condition. While you are
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| | should ride the ATV and determine if the
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| looking at the tires, check out the rims
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| | bike is pulling to the left or right.
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| for cracks, bends, or warping.
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| | Also, check for sufficient power and a
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| You should also look for are any tears,
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| | responsive throttle.
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| rips, or separated seams in the seat.
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| | There are a lot of reasons a seller may
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| While riding, the seat is often put
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| | wish to sell an ATV. Of course, the best
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| through heavy stress due to constant body
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| | scenario is to find a seller who simply
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| movements by the rider. As a result, ATV
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| | never had time to ride the bike and the
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| seats sometimes tear or come apart.
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| | bike is still in new condition. Also, as
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| However, these can usually be repaired or
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| | previously stated, buying used from a
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| a seat cover can be purchased.
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| | dealer is also a good option as these
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| Carefully inspect the stress points of
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| | bikes have usually been professionally
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| the frame, including welds and A-arms.
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| | inspected. However, this is not always an
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| Now that you have inspected a few of the
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| | option, so older, more “broken in”
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| easily viewable areas, get some help and
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| | bikes sometimes become the only option.
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| carefully raise the front of the bike and
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| | In any case, the tips described in this
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| place the bike onto the rear grab bar.
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| | article should be used as a simple guide
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| With the bike in this position, inspect
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| | in an effort to help avoid a potential
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| the undercarriage of the ATV for any
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| | money pit or a new piece of lawn art.
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