What Is the Best ATV to Buy? | Best Questions to Ask

Figuring out what the best ATV to buy can be an exciting but daunting process. There are some important questions to ask yourself however, that will make the process easier. After all, with every Polaris owner telling you if you want Power you need a Polaris, and every Yamaha Owner telling you Yamaha's are the best kept secret around, it can be tough to figure out what the best type of ATV is for you to purchase.

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The first thing I recommend you do before running into the dealership to pick out a new ATV is ask yourself these questions:

- What do I plan to use it for?
- Where will I be riding it? (more on tracks, in the mountains, in Alaska?)
- Is this new ATV purchase for work, pleasure, or both?
- Do I care more about speed or more about maneuverability?
- What type of riding do I enjoy the most? (Do I want to trail ride, mud bog, rock crawl, etc)
- How do I like to ride? (Do I like to ride fast on on the machine, or relaxed and laid back)
- Do I want 4WD?
- How invested am I? (Is this a regular hobby or something I do from time to time)

Utility ATVS

Alright, lets start by figuring out what type of ATV you want to buy. There are three main categories to consider, the Utility ATV, the Sport Quad, and the Utility-Sport ATV. The utility ATV is going to be the most versatile an well rounded ATV. What that means is you can easily use it for work, then take it out on the trails and have a good time.

If you plan to use this on your property, or even think you will want to plow your driveway with it in the winter then a utility ATV is what you want to consider purchasing. Make no mistake about it however, gone are the days where a utility ATV is more just for work. These machines have come a long way and make amazing ATVs for trail riding. The utility style ATV is also something you will want to consider if you want a nice big machine that you can ride comfortably on. If things like comfort, bells and whistles, and storage are important to you, then you will probably want to start your ATV buying journey focused on the utility ATV.

The Sport Quad

Now if things like comfort and a laid back approach have less meaning to you, a sport quad may be more down your alley. The Sport quad machines are going to offer speed and maneuverability better than any of the other categories. A much smaller engine will get you a much faster ATV. So if you are looking to race your ATV, or just want something that you can hit the throttle and get

There are a few other considerations to remember when looking towards purchasing a sport quad, however. First off, there are few to no bells and whistles. This is great in the sense that it means less to break. However, things like 4WD, a liquid cooled engine, and an automatic transmission are all things you may be giving up. So just make sure you are OK sacrificing those things before making any hasty decisions.

The Utility-Sport ATV

Now if you want some of the benefits of a utility ATV and some of the speed of a sport quad, consider buying a utility-sport ATV. I consider the utility-sport ATV the best of both worlds but the greatest of neither (Clear as mud right?). In other words, you get a lot of the benefits of a utility machine such as the 4WD, more comfort, power steering, and automatic transmission just to name a few. You also get a lot of the speed and maneuverability found in sport quads.

Now I say it is not the best of either because you do not get the same level of size and comfort from a sport-utility machine that you do from a big bore, well rounded utility machine. Nor will you find yourself with the same lightweight rugged ATV that you can get with a straight sport quad. If you are looking to get some comfort, bells and whistles, and speed however, this may be the best ATV to buy.

Once you have the type of ATV figured out, you will want to start thinking about engine size. Below is a very very basic guide to consider and keep in mind. However, it is nothing more than a guide and you should test a few out, find one that you feel the most comfortable (and safe on), and go from there.

50-125cc (kids)
- These sizes are generally only going to be on very small machines, that's because they are meant for children.

300-400cc - Starter machines and smaller adults

500 - 660cc - Good well rounded size

700-850cc - Good for advanced trail riding or farming

1000cc - Mud Bogging, lots of speed, and good for pulling

In the end, make sure you take some time to weight your options. Do some research and test a few out. Don't let a dealer convince you to buy something that you are not absolutely sure about. Also, make sure you leave a comment and let me know what you chose and as always, thanks for watching and I hope to see you on the trail!

[chriskemper]

Wife & i been riding 30yrs
Had many machines. Don't need any more then a 500cc atv. Been all over the state. Perfectly happy!

[frankyalvarez]

1: work and play
2: both
3: yes
4: of coarse
5: like I’m on crack
6: as invested as I need to be

[thomasc.]

"The best of both worlds, but greatest of neither" I fukin love that dude.🤙

[riccardocarlotti]

Man this is the most usefull video i found till now. It’s been a while i was looking for a so clear explication

[MoonSnot-yizd]

Hey I’m a city boy that just moved at almost 40 to a 60 acre parcel in a rural area so I’m switching videos between band saw reviews, livestock tips, advice videos about excavators, farm ponds, natural building etc etc etc and this is the first video in literal months I’ve enjoyed so much I watched all the way through. You’re doing everything right, man and you should be proud

[massoncole]

8:12 its not just the sports quad that was durable, ITS A FREAKING HONDA

[preston]

For me personally, I loved my Honda 300 EX years ago. Great to learn on, very versatile. Basically was marketed as a sport utility, but easily converted to full sport. I rode that thing for 9 years, HARD. Never had any major issues.


Now that Im older, I wouldnt trade my 2000 Arctic Cat 500 4x4 for anything. Its not going to win many races, but its comfortable, reliable even at 20 years old, plows 2 foot of snow like nothing and havent bogged in a mud hole yet that people on newer quads wouldnt dare try.


All comes down to what kind of riding you're looking for like said in the video to get the most enjoyment. But those 2 I listed above were both great.

[morganhay]

Buy a used sport quad and a used utility for the same price as one new one.

[jaredmercer]

Big fan of the 400ex.. they can take a beating and very simple to work on 👍🏻

[mariahgarske]

I got a tracker 570 for my first 4 wheeler as an adult . And for what I have used it for so far it’s been a great machine . I had a scrambler in the early 2000s as a kid that was fun .

[youcanthide]

awesome video thanks Bud. Tons of valuable information here. I’m a 55-year-old guy. I’ve owned over 40 motorcycles starting with dirt bikes when I was a kid. I’ve owned a bunch of go, three wheelers, karts, boats, etc. believe it or not I’ve never had an ATV so this gives me a good starting point
And for the record, I appreciate you speaking fast

[terryf]

Boy..I needed to see this..I grew up on dirt bikes..but I know Jack squat about 4 wheels...my son is 5 now and this vid REALLY is a big help..so excited to ride with him!! Thanks so much for this helpful info!!! Thumbs way up!

[mbp]

I went with a 08 brute force 750.. it’s great for my kind of riding. By far best four wheeler for the woods and back trails. My favorite is riding power lines behind my house.

[jacobryan]

2000 model Honda 300 fourtrax, ive drove just about every brand of four wheeler and by far this is the best overall. Not for speed but actual trail riding, cannot beat it.

[RayRay-xxkg]

This really helps, thank you for elaborating your points very well. The rambling, not an issue, if we have time to listen, we will. Thanks again.

[DanielGarcia-zzeg]

I rode atvs when I was 5 years old. full size Yamaha for a couple of years. 26 years later I walk in and brought the 1000R Outlander can am XMR.
It had been a long time but I love it.

My friend not so lucky. I let him use my ride . 5 mins later he roll it over on its side.

He own a 850 Polaris.

He couldn't handle it.

I told him.
" you have to be one with the equipment, feel it"

[kenbreetz]

Best video for choosing a four wheeler!

[adampecore]

I’ve got a 2020 Outtie 650 XT Max (2up). Love the machine. Very comfortable ride for my wife and I. Top is 65mph. Don’t trail ride that fast. Faster would be pointless.
Very informative video! Thanks!

[Robert-euvu]

I’ve never thought about being comfortable while riding every quad has been comfortable and it’ll be my 10th year in a few days.

[jakelange]

If you are looking at a spot atv the another thing to notice is the ground clearance under the back axel is low to the ground so it will get stuck on rocks easier that a utility atv.