An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a quad, quad bike, three-wheeler, or four-wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control. As the name implies, it is designed to handle a wider variety of terrain than most other vehicles.
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Development »More
| Six-wheeled AATVs The term "ATV" was originally coined to refer to non-straddle ridden six-wheeled amphibious ATVs such as the Jiger produced by the Jiger Corporation, the Amphicat produced by Mobility Unlimited Inc, and the Terra Tiger produced by the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company in the mid 1960s and early 1970s. With the introduction of straddle ridden ATVs, the term AATV was introduced to define the original amphibious ATV category. Three-wheelers The first three-wheeled ATV was the Sperry-Rand Tricart. It was designed in 1967 as a graduate project of John Plessinger at the Cranbrook Academy of Arts near Detroit. The Tricart was straddle-ridden with a sit-in rather than sit-on style. Four-wheelers Suzuki was a leader in the development of four-wheeled ATVs. It sold the first model, the 1982 QuadRunner LT125, which was a recreational machine for beginners. | |
Buying Tips
Determining the category of quad that suits your purpose and riding style is the first step in buying an ATV. Don’t let enthusiasm on the showroom floor make the choice for you.
| | Should I go for the gears or get an automatic? All of the manufacturers offer at least one quad with an automatic transmission. All of theundefinedautomatic ATVs on the market are belt-driven. Get the gears if you plan on a lot of utility-type work with the quad or routinely ride steep terrain. Get the automatic if you’re not comfortable with all the shifting. Do I really need four-wheel-drive? Unless you like sport quads, if you live in the northern climates where you experience long snowy winters, getting aundefined four-wheel drive quad is recommended. If you can swing the extra money, go for the four-wheel-drive. If you ride moderate terrain and a limited amount of riding time, two-wheel drives are fine. Should I get that 500cc ATV? While the engine size on a utility quad is not a major factor, it plays a pivotal role with sport quads. If sport ATVs are yourstyle of riding gig and this is your first time buying an ATV, we strongly suggest that you start out with a smaller sized sport quad. |
Is my body size a factor?
Utility quad size factor: Your height and weight aren’t as big a factor as they are with sport quads. For maximum enjoyment, large people should get large sport quads. If you’re large and want to buy a small-sized sport quad, expect sore knees at the end of the day.
Do the Normal Test Drive
If everything looks acceptable, it's time to don your helmet and hop on the quad for a test ride. Considering it's not yours, yet, I would take it easy on the jumps until you've made the purchase, just so the seller doesn't get upset if you choose not to buy it.
written by Nicolas Yang
