Not everyone can drop down the thousands of dollars for a brand new ATV with all of the latest features. For many people the only options of jumping into the exciting sport of riding ATV’s is buying second hand. There is nothing wrong with buying second hand, every year millions of used cars, motorcycles and ATV’s are bought by people like you and I. There are some simple things that you need to know and what to look for before you decide on a used ATV. Before you begin your hunt of a new ATV you will want to identify whether you want your vehicle for leisure off roading, motocross racing, or as a utility vehicle for your ranch.

The best place to start but unfortunately the last place in peoples mind is your local dealership. Who better to know about people who are looking to trade their old ATV in for a brand new model, than the Honda or Yamaha dealership. Another use for your local dealership is to shop for a ATV that will fit your style, sit on a few, ask some questions before you come to a decision on the type of ATV you want before looking through your classifieds.

After collecting all of the data that you need to make an informed purchase, you can begin your search. Like I said before start with your dealer, local riding clubs or organizations are also a good place to look for people wanting to get rid of their old machine. Check on the Internet for ATV’s for sale, Craigslist is an invaluable resource. In my honest opinion, I would save classifieds to my last choice.

Once you locate an ATV that you are interested in it is important to do a thorough inspection. A quick visual appearance will give you an idea of how the previous owner treated the ATV. Next you will want to dig deeper and unless you are a experienced mechanic, bring in a professional to check it out mechanically. Check out the undercarriage, and frame to make sure there are no cracks or dents in the frame. Check out the handlebars for any loose play in the steering. Inspect the tires, loose wheels could indicate damaged ball joints or worn wheel bearings.

While you are involved in your mechanical check, inspect the owners manual to see if scheduled maintenance has been performed. You will need to ensure that the owner has a free and clear title, and it is a good idea to have a VIN (vehicle Identification Number) inspection done. Make sure you get a bill of sale to protect both seller and buyer.

Always keep in mind that when buying a used ATV you are buying as is. This means that after the purchase is completed that the old owner is not responsible for any problems that might arise. By doing a detailed inspection of the things that I have mentioned in this article you can be more at ease in your purchasing decisions.

Source by Michael Varnado