ATVs are amazing vehicles that are gaining popularity amongst off-road enthusiasts and people who want to take on the roughest mountain trails. With four-wheel drive capability, these machines are able to take on difficult terrain that would be impossible for other vehicles. With the right set of tyres and suspension, an ATV can climb steep hills and traverse through mud holes without getting stuck. They’re also much safer than driving a car or truck around such dangerous areas.
Though they come in many different shapes and sizes, the most common ATVs are quad bikes and trail bikes. These two categories define how rugged a vehicle is by its size and horsepower rating. Quad bikes tend to be smaller with less power while trail bikes are bigger with more power. Though they both have four-wheel drive capabilities, quad bikes typically have front or rear-wheel drives while trail bikes have all-wheel drives.
Though there are many brands of ATVs in the market today, some stand out from the rest due to their quality and performance. You can also improve the capabilities, handling and stability of your ATV using a range of accessories like an ATV wheel spacer, ATV suspension spacer or ATV engine guard. Here are some of the best ATVs in the market today, as rated by experts:
Best ATVs in the market today
Honda TRX450R
This is a great all-around quad bike that’s good for beginners and experienced off-roaders alike. It has a 449 cc four-stroke engine that delivers 50 horsepower at 7,000 RPM and 43-newton metres of torque at 5,500 RPM. The TRX450R can go from 0-50 km/ph in 3.2 seconds and has a top speed of 90 km/ph. It’s got an automatic transmission with manual mode, electric start and kick-start backup. The TRX450R comes standard with anti-lock brakes, front and rear suspension, adjustable handlebars and a fuel capacity of 7.5 litres.
Kawasaki Teryx 4
This is one of the most popular ATVs on the market today because it’s well-built and versatile. With a 361 cc engine delivering 21 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 30 newton metres of torque at 4,000 RPM, the Teryx 4 is good for both on-road and off-road driving. It can go from 0-100 km/ph in 9.3 seconds with a top speed of 130 km/ph. The Teryx 4 has an automatic transmission with manual mode, electric start and kick-start backup. This vehicle comes standard with adjustable foot pegs, a fuel capacity of 4 litres, rear-wheel drive and a high-mount exhaust system.
Yamaha Grizzly
This is an iconic vehicle that was built for off-road driving but can also be used on roads. It has been around since 1988 and remains one of the most popular ATVs in the UK today. The Grizzly comes with two engine options: a 363 cc four-stroke engine or a 649 cc four-stroke engine. The 363 cc engine delivers 19 horsepower at 7,000 RPM and 32 newton metres of torque at 5,500 RPM while the 649 cc engine delivers 29 horsepower at 7,000 RPM and 44 newton metres of torque at 4,000 RPM. The Grizzly has a manual transmission with automatic mode as well as electric start and kick-start backup. It’s got front and rear suspension systems, adjustable handlebars, a fuel capacity of 4 litres and an exhaust system that is high-mounted in the middle of the vehicle.
Suzuki 250 Quadsport
This is a great ATV for off-road driving and it’s also good for on-road use. It has a 249 cc four-stroke engine that delivers 13 horsepower at 7,000 RPM and 13-newton metres of torque at 6,000 RPM. The Suzuki 250 Quadsport can go from 0-60 km/ph in 8 seconds with a top speed of 85 km/ph. This vehicle comes standard with front and rear suspension systems, adjustable handlebars, a fuel capacity of 7 litres, electric start and kick-start backup.
Aftermarket Accessories to Improve Capabilities, Handling and Stability
ATV Wheel Spacers
An ATV wheel spacer is a simple piece of metal that’s designed to widen the track on your vehicle. This can improve stability, handling and capability because it allows for more traction without changing any components on the ATV itself. There are many different types of wheel spacers including ones with ball bearings, bushings and even grease fittings so you don’t have to oil them up every time you use them. Some ATV wheel spacers come in pairs while others come in sets of four or six. They’re typically cheap to buy and easy to install.
ATV Suspension Spacers
An ATV suspension spacer is similar to a wheel spacer but it’s designed for the vehicle’s front or rear suspension systems instead of its wheels. This allows more room between your tyres and the frame of your ATV, which improves handling because there are fewer vibrations passing through these areas. The same benefits apply to using an ATV suspension spacer as they do to using one on your vehicle’s wheels; they both improve stability, handling and capability. Though they’re not as common as wheel spacers, there are many different types of suspension spacers including ones that have ball bearings, bushings and grease fittings so you don’t have to oil them up every time you use them. Some ATV suspension spacers come in pairs while others come in sets of four or six. They’re typically cheap to buy and easy to install.
ATV Engine Guards
An ATV engine guard is a protective device that’s designed to keep your engine safe from impact when you’re driving off-road. Depending on the model of your ATV and what accessories are attached, an engine guard may be necessary if you plan on doing rough terrain activities like rock climbing or hill climbing. There are many different types of engine guards including ones made from light alloy aluminium and stainless steel. Some engine guards come as a pair while others come in sets of four or six. They’re typically cheap to buy and easy to install.
ATV Bumpers
An ATV bumper is a protective device that’s designed to keep your vehicle intact when it collides with obstacles in the off-road environment. Though they’re not always necessary, they do come in handy if you regularly drive through rough terrain and will help protect your engine from excessive vibration when travelling over bumps. There are many different types of bumpers including ones made from light alloy aluminium and stainless steel. Some bumpers come as a pair while others come in sets of four or six.
