What to Look For in a Used ATV

!±8± What to Look For in a Used ATV

Some people have the luxury of being able to afford a brand new ATV. Not all of us have the cash or the credit to expend on such a purchase. If you are considering buying a used ATV, there are a few things you should be sure to check out. Even if it is used, you still want to make sure you are buying a safe and sound running ATV.

By carefully checking over any used vehicle, whether an ATV or a car, you can often make an extremely good purchase by buying used. Your first option is to take it to a qualified mechanic. This is very important when buying from an individual owner and not a dealership. Try to find a mechanic who specializes in the type of vehicle you are considering purchasing. Having a mechanic go over the ATV can put you out of pocket anywhere from 0 and up. If you don't want to spend any money up front, here are some things you should look for when giving the prospective ATV the once over.

Look carefully at the plastic fenders and check for any cracks or breaks in the plastic. If they are broken or cracked, they will need to be replaced. Replacement fenders for any ATV are very expensive. The condition of the plastic will also give you a good idea about how the ATV was treated, rough or well cared for.

Check the headlights to make sure they turn on and work well. Make certain that the lens covers are intact with no cracks, chips or breaks. Look at the seat and make sure it isn't worn out or ripped. One again, any replacement parts aren't going to be cheap.

Check the undercarriage. You may have to get some help to get the front end onto jack stands or a lift to do this. Look closely at the frame, looking for any cracks or dents in the framework. Also look for rust. As you can imagine, heavy rust is not a good sign.

Check the bike for play in the wheels. Play in the wheels can be a bad sign, indicating wheel bearings or ball joints that need replacing. Also check for play in the handlebars and steering column. Be sure to go over the tires and wheels, looking for plugs or bent rims. Make sure the bike still has good tire rubber. If it doesn't, the tires will be needing replacing soon which can be very costly.

Look at the rubber grips on the handlebars and make sure they aren't dry rotted or torn. It may seem like a small thing, but you might be shocked at what replacement handlebar grips cost for an ATV. I got lucky and found a set of quality bicycle grips that fit on my ATV handlebars perfectly. It was a savings of for me, so don't laugh.

Be sure to pull out the dipstick and have a look at the oil. It should be clean and not thick like sludge. If it's thick and nasty, you are probably going to buy yourself a heap of motor problems. Check that the air filter and air box aren't full of dirt and dust. If the air filter hasn't been changed regularly, the bike may have gotten excessive dirt into the air chamber.

You can get a good deal on a used ATV that will serve you well, if you use caution and common sense when making a decision on which bike to buy. Just check out everything you possibly can, or even better, have a mechanic look at the bike as I suggested at the beginning.