You Get What You Pay For

When certain subjects begin to work on my nerves, I’m usually not quick to speak my mind about them. I’m a  fairly calm and collected personality and will wait to determine whether a subject needs my attention or not. Well, I’ve allowed a certain subject to work its way deep into my head, and now I feel that it’s my duty to warn unsuspecting buyers about a growing epidemic in the ATV industry.

How often do you take a cruise in your car on a Saturday afternoon with your family and notice a pile of motorcycles, scooters, ATVs as well as some other unusual contraptions that you’ve never seen before on the corner of a gas station parking lot? In fact, it looks a lot like an off-road dealer has set up shop without a building. So you get out of the car to check them out and realize with amazement that these machines are priced at about half of what you would pay for them at your local dealer. For those who think “that seems a bit fishy to
me,” you’re on the right track! For the rest of you, please read this warning very carefully. As an editor who is very informed on ATVs and cares deeply about this sport and its enthusiasts, this is a steal! But the problem is that those who purchase them will be the ones taken, not the roadside dealer. These dealers purchase these machines overseas in bulk without any sort of license or warranty.

Reading through our forums on www.atvrideronline.com is what really got my helmet lining in a wad. We’ve had post after post after post by those who have bought an off-brand ATV, had nothing but trouble with it since the day of purchase and are begging for parts, solutions and help. New posts of this nature are added literally every single day. If you don’t believe me,
just go take a peek for yourself. I know it’s too late for many who have already made this type of purchase, but for the rest of you, please be careful buying these off-brand ATVs. They will more than likely cause you more trouble than if you were to just go ahead and pay a little more for a brand-name ATV. Yes, there are occasions and certain circumstances when people can come out on top with the purchase of an off-brand ATV, but I would bet that is a rare experience. Or at least I rarely hear of them.

The differences between an off-brand ATV and a name-brand ATV are important. I totally understand that many people are looking for a low-priced unit, but buying a quality ATV will more than likely save you money in the long run, or at least allow you to come out even with much less hassle. Off-brand ATV companies are cutting huge corners on these machines. Cheap materials are used to manufacture them in order to keep the costs minimal. How can you be sure that these manufacturers over in China properly torque the bolts? Remember, they are cutting corners to cut cost! The stories that we’ve read on the forums are downright scary as people have gotten home and started them with no oil in the motor. Clutches burn out in an hour, parts fall off on the first ride…the list goes on and on. If you end up buying one of these machines, you’re likely to be left with one huge hassle.

Personally, I’m frustrated with these careless dealers and manufacturers as I feel they are giving ATVs and ATV enthusiasts a bad rap. New buyers buy, then get frustrated and end up leaving the sport forever because they’ve been met at the starting gate by a slick car salesman who has ripped them from the joy of the sport. It’s up to you to do the research, but we would highly recommend going with manufacturers that have a good track record, develop quality products, stand behind warranties and have parts readily available when you are in need of them. Oh, and an R&D department would be a good sign as well. ATVR

Things You Should Know Before Purchasing An ATV:

• Quality and service count. If you purchase an ATVfrom a parking lot or a local hardware store, where will you find repair manuals and replacement parts? Make sure your purchase is warranted, you can contact the manufacturer and you’ll be able to purchase replacement parts.

• Safety counts. Name-brandATVmanufacturers spend millions of dollars on R&D, strict manufacturing guidelines and safety features on their products. You’ll want your youngsters to have brakes that work and properly fitted parts that won’t fall off after the first turn.

• Looks aren’t everything. Most all of the off-brandATVs on the market are a carbon copy of the popular name-brandATVs. But just because it may look like a Raptor does not make it a Raptor. That goes for handling, quality and safety.

I’m sure that this editorial has made a few angry, but my goal is to inform those who might be considering a futureA TV purchase. My advice is not to trust everything I say, but research the information for yourself. The proof and ridiculous amounts of bad experiences are on our forums. So go check it out: www.atvrideronline.com.