Should i buy a 4 wheeler

How much power you want or need is dependent upon how you want to use the ATV, what kind of rider you are, your experience level and how much you want to spend. While youth 4 wheelers are powered to match the age and skill level of the rider, full-size models are available in a wide range of power offerings.

For other buyers who are more concerned about price or rideability for a wide swath of skill sets, a smaller displacement ATV, like the incredibly popular Polaris Sportsman , is probably the right choice. Utility quads are arguably the most popular ATV in the industry. In some ways, nearly every ATV available in the market today is designed to deliver some degree of utility, yet these four wheelers are engineered to do more work and still deliver a great trail ride when the job is done.

Polaris has all the bases covered in this category starting with the Sportsman HO and Sportsman The popularity of Sportsman is especially evident with the Sportsman - the best-selling automatic 4 wheeler of all time. For those who want more by every measure, nothing compares to the Sportsman and Sportsman XP Delivering the hardest working, smoothest riding performance with a rider active design, this duo delivers unstoppable power and capability.

These are performance first machines built to deliver key performance attributes:. Sport quads range from four-wheel drive models designed for trail performance to rear-wheel drive models geared towards racing on motocross tracks or in wide open deserts. This class once only contained pure-race type ATVs with clutches and manual shift transmissions. But as the ATV category grew, so too did the sport quad class to now include four-wheel drive trail models with automatic transmissions.

Within the utility category there are several sub categories, but one that often receives special attention is hunting. Hunting quads often start life as a utility ATV and are then specialized with unique accessories, features and colors to deliver improved hunt category performance. The final category is youth ATVs. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Matt Finley. Matt Finley is a sports writer specializing in off-road recreation.

Updated January 02, Featured Video. Won a New Car? Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for LiveAbout. The majority of four-wheelers sold today feature completely automatic transmissions.

If you can drive a car, you can drive an automatic ATV. Most automatic ATVs consist of a variable clutch, belt-drive system similar to that found on snowmobiles. However, some of the ATV manufacturers have gone in a different direction by designing complex, internal gear-driven systems. The more traditional belt-drive systems also emit quite a bit more heat in the summer, which can be a big deal since it is right underneath you. You can still find a manual ATV, but should only get one if you have a good reason for it.

The two kinds of manual transmissions used in modern ATVs are the traditional five- or six-speed with a manual clutch or a system with an automatic clutch. With this clutch, you shift with your left foot while your left hand controls the clutch. Liquid-cooled systems also known as water-cooled, even though the coolant is actually a mixture of anti-freeze and water are typically much more efficient, than more traditional cooling systems, at keeping the engine temperatures down.

The system works by flowing the liquid coolant from a radiator mounted on the frame to the hollow channels surrounding the cylinder. Many ATVs also have an auxiliary fan that blows on the radiator for further cooling. This extra fan is especially useful if you plan on traveling at slow speeds for long periods of time, such as during lawn mowing, snow plowing or farm work. Having cooler-running engine is important for several reasons. First, the power delivery stays consistent and strong.

Second, the overall life of the engine is increased, as well as the time span between overhauls. Overheated engines strain parts and decrease the effectiveness of the engine lubricants. Finally, a hot ATV engine can be a pretty severe nuisance for the rider on a hot day, trust us, we live in Las Vegas, as the ATV your radiates heat right onto your legs. Single-cylinder engines powered the overwhelming majority of most early ATVs, but you now have the option of getting a two-cylinder engine without breaking the bank.

The twin-cylinder motor is going to be better for the rider that wants more power at the same displacement and that wants to rev more quickly. The single-cylinder engine is going to be a better choice for the rider that cares more about having a smaller and lighter ATV as the the twin-cylinder engines are considerably bigger and heavier. Most ATVs today feature the superior disc brake systems. You should get one of these ATVs if possible. Simply put, they stop better, last longer and work much better in muddy and wet conditions.

A big question many ATV buyers have is whether to get a two-wheel or four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive ATVs do a much better job getting through muddy sections, climbing steep hills, crawling over big obstacles—such as logs and rocks—and navigating deep water holes.

Four-wheel-drive ATVs can also plow more snow, carry more cargo and pull bigger farm implements and trailers. Some ATV four-wheel drive systems have sensors that automatically switch the ATV to four-wheel-drive mode when it feels the need for front-wheel drive. It is always nice to have the four-wheel drive if you need it, but it may fit your needs better to save the money.

They stopped making them thirty years ago, but I saw one just this last weekend. They stopped making them for a reason. He also runs photographyandtravel. When he isn't playing, his day job consists of owning Huntley Law. Wouldn't race your significant other on four wheels be more fun than slowly bouncing up and down on a sweaty horse? We think so. We're not kidding. If you look up "riding an ATV" or four-wheeler on an exercise calorie counter, the activity would come up. It's not as simple as just sitting down and pulling the trigger handles.

You have to move with the unit, which means standing up, sitting down, squatting - doing all sorts of movement. Plus there's whatever kind of movement you do when you get to where you're going, or if you find something cool to look at along the way. We're not saying that it should serve as your only form of exercise, but it's better than sitting on the couch all weekend. Better for your sanity and better for your body. Plus - people that spend more time in the outdoors are happier.

It's a scientifically proven fact. If you bought an ATV, you could get rid of that dirty old push gas mower you have. It's not efficient, it makes you all itchy and sweaty after using it, and your ATV can cover more ground. Yes, you'll need a special attachment, but think about how much wider your ATV mowing lanes will be than the ones you can do traditionally. You'll get that lawn done in no-time.