All-Terrain Vehicles

All terrain vehicles, or ATVs, are a peculiarly American phenomenon, though the sport is starting to gain some foothold in the rest of the world, as well. Before we talk about buying and using ATVs, though, we should perhaps examine exactly what an ATV is and which uses ATVs are good for. All terrain vehicles are expensive and can be dangerous if used improperly, so make sure you know what you’re doing and are educated in the sport before getting started. There are some classes available to provide training in that area – check out the section later in this article for more information about ATV training classes.

An all terrain vehicle, as generally understood in the United States, whether dealing with Honda ATVs, Yamaha ATVs, Polaris ATVs, or any number of all terrain vehicles by other brands, all share a few basic specifics. First, they are motorized vehicles. Nearly all ATVs operate on gasoline engines; as such, they are illegal to use in some locations. Check out any place you plan to bring your ATV before your trip – if it is marked “no motorized vehicles,” you’ll have to find another place.

The standard definition of an ATV, as applies in the American legal system, is derived from the American National Standards Institute (or ANSI), and that definition is used in all laws, rules, and regulations regarding the use of all terrain vehicles in the United States. The definition is fairly simple, and includes only a few basic characteristics, which all ATVs, no matter which brand they are built by, stems. An ATV, by the definition of the American National Standards Institute, travels on low pressure tires (for off road and flexibility reasons), utilizes a seat straddled by the person driving – in other words, the same type of seat as most motorcycles have, where the operator sits with one foot on either side of the seat, like a saddle. Also, an ATV defined strictly is generally steered by the use of handlebars, in the same way as a motorcycle.

Another major feature of an ATV, strictly speaking, is at least one extra wheel. Most ATVs in the United States have four wheels, which provides increased stability, especially important in the many off road operations ATVs are typically used for. However, some ATVs, known as “three wheelers,” have – surprise, surprise – three wheels. Though not quite so stable as the four-wheeled versions (often also called “four wheelers”), three wheelers are still more stable than motorcycles and are built for agile, off road movement. Some ATVs are even equipped with more than four wheels, such as some six-wheeled models designed for specialized uses. For instance, some six-wheeled ATVs are built watertight and buoyant, so they can cross water like a boat, earning the term “amphibious vehicle” – civilian models are often used for things like duck hunting, and are based on military operation vehicles. In the United States, ATV engines range from around 50 cc to 950 cc in power, making for a very wide range of power, speed, agility, and affordability.

America, of course, is not the only place that ATVs are used. They are, in fact, available all over the world, though often under different names. They are especially popular in rich but sparsely populated nations like Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, and especially in locations in those countries and in the United States especially dependent upon agriculture. Contrary to many popular beliefs, all terrain vehicles are not only used for entertainment, racing, and careening around the woodlands the way you so often see ATVs used in less agricultural areas.

Instead, many agricultural areas have turned the all terrain vehicles into the modern equivalent of the way horses were used in centuries past. Now, in areas of difficult, rugged, and rough terrain, instead of saddling up horses, ranchers often fire up their all terrain vehicles to run the fence lines or check up on the state of the back forty acres.

Whether riders prefer Honda ATVs, Yamaha ATVs, or Polaris ATVs, one fairly common activity many riders of all ages and backgrounds and skill levels enjoy participating in is the sport of all terrain vehicle racing. As we’ve stated, many ATVs are built for utility, to help out on the farm and ranch and to travel over rugged terrain in some remote and inaccessible parts of the agricultural world. As ATVs became more popular in terms of sport – such as ATV racing – ATVs (including Honda ATVs, Yamaha ATVs, Polaris ATVs, and a number of other popular brands) became available that were built for racing and sport rather than toughness, durability, and utility strength.

As ATV racing often takes place off road, on trails, dirt paths, and dirt obstacle courses, ATVs built for racing are designed with lightness and performance in mind. That means light alloys without a lot of extra weight (such as the specialized tools many utility ATVs include), an engine with a lot of power for speed, great suspension, and low centers of gravity to prevent an ATV from rolling when driving and taking turns at high speeds.

ATV racing is more complicated than a bunch of people getting onto ATVs and trying to get from one place to another as fast as possible. There are actually quite a fair number of types of ATV racing sports, all of which have their fans and their detractors, and many of which depend on the sort of terrain available in the locales frequented by such ATV racers.

Motocross, for instance, is one popular ATV racing sport, and one popular in most places that allow any access to ATVs whatsoever. Motocross, of course, stems from the popular off road motorcycle sport, and involves a circular track with dirt jumps and hills and troughs, which allows ATV riders to do jumps and tricks while racing around a track.

A few other types of ATV racing more defined by their locales are “woods racing” or cross country – getting from one point to another through a wooded or wild area, by whatever means possible and available – desert racing (or “hare scrambles.” open racing across sparse, desolate desert terrain), ice racing, speedway, Tourist Trophy, flat track racing, drag, and many other variations and combinations of all the above.

Like nearly all the so-called “extreme sports” – of which most, especially actual ATV riders, consider ATV riding to be, especially in ATV racing and motocross sports – ATV sports can often be very dangerous, and riders should be aware of that and take appropriate safety precautions. Many people who use ATVs incorrectly and in ignorance end up in the emergency rooms every year, so make sure you know what you’re doing before you get on an ATV. Safety is always important – the entertainment of ATV sports can be a lot of fun, but it’s not worth losing your life or your health! There are several things you can do to make this enjoyable sport far more enjoyable and safe, so make sure you do your research before you start.

For instance, one of the larger groups of ATV users is actually children – after all, in the United States, there is no legal limit on the minimum age at which people can operate ATVs, so this means that often children as young as six or seven get started on specially designed smaller “children’s all terrain vehicles.” As a parent, consider this carefully. Many advocates of ATV use say that one of the best ways to increase safety in ATV operation is to get children used to them young, but responsibly. In other words, teach proper safety techniques and charge them against irresponsibility while they’re young, and they’ll be better, safer drivers when they’ve graduated to full out, powerful ATVs that most people use when grown.

A major point of controversy, both among advocates of ATV use and those against it for environmental reasons, is the environmental impact ATVs have. An all terrain vehicle with a powerful image, let’s face it, tears up the ground it moves on – if it didn’t, it wouldn’t be nearly so fun to ride! However, this has some implications all responsible ATV operators should remember. Like a gun, an ATV has a lot of power and a lot of potentially destructive power, but, used correctly, can be a safe and enjoyable pastime.

The solution: follow the signs! There are plenty of designated ATV recreation areas all over the United States which have great land for riding on. There are also many designated areas where ATV use is outlawed. Riding on those areas destroys land which would otherwise remain untouched and last far longer. Like any other sport, a major part of owning and operating an all terrain vehicle is responsibility. Obey the law, be safe, and you’ll end up having a far better and more enjoyable ATV experience, no matter where you are or whom you’re with.

One major step for many people in moving towards a more responsible, more safe, and more skilled method of ATV operation is taking part in an ATV training course. Such courses are offered all across the country, generally in government capacities (The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, for example, offers courses in ATV safety), or from not for profit groups of all terrain vehicle aficionados.

Taking one or two of these classes might not be a bad idea. The more you know about safety and responsibility, and the more skilled you are in operating your all terrain vehicle, the less likely you’ll be to have an accident, and the better off you’ll be and the more fun you’ll have in the long run. It’s definitely worth considering – start searching online and in your local yellow pages right now. If you live in an area where ATVs are popular, try checking in with the local chamber of commerce or community center, and see if any ATV clubs are listed locally. Such clubs would know where ATV classes are offered if they didn’t offer them themselves, so they’re a great place to start with. Start looking today and see what you can find out.

Whether you’re interested in getting a Honda ATV, a Yamaha ATV, or a Polaris ATV, or any other brand of ATV you can possibly imagine, you can be prepared to step into a new and exciting pastime enjoyed by thousands of Americans across the country and hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Whether you’ll be using your ATV for home and rural work or purely for entertainment, there is definitely a lot to gain out of the sport; start looking online and in libraries right now to see what you can find. Generally, the more informed you are before you buy something or begin something, the better off you’ll be, and buying an ATV requires a large investment of time and money, so make sure you know which ATV you’re getting and know why before you fork over the cash. As we’ve said earlier, it would also be a good idea to know what you’re doing before you try anything too serious. See if any of your friends who own ATVs would be willing to show you how to use them and let you try theirs first – learning in a controlled environment with a skilled operator is always a plus. Regardless of what you do or what you buy though, remember the cardinal rules of ATV use: be safe, obey the law, and have fun!