When is it Time to Upgrade to a Newer ATV?

We all do it, whether we are out ATV trail riding or or working on the ATV in the garage and that is asking ourselves “When is it time to upgrade to a new ATV?”. I know I do it all the time and while it would be nice to have the latest and greatest ATV available, am I really gaining that much?

I currently ride a 2008 Polaris Sportsman 700X2 and I have made several modifications and upgrades to it to get the performance I want to ride the way I like to ride. For me to upgrade to a newer ATV at this time would not gain me a whole lot in my opinion.

Yes, I could get a more powerful machine with power steering and possibly a better suspension but I would still find myself modifying it because that is what I do. The extra power is not necessary because I keep up with or lead the pack with my current machine. Power steering would be nice and help reduce handlebar kickback but I just see it as another thing to go wrong.

So when is it time to upgrade to a newer ATV? Well it basically depends on two factors, one is the expense of purchasing a new ATV and the other is what are you gaining. Do the benefits of the new features the newer ATV offers outweigh the expense of purchasing it? I will tell a story of a guy that could really benefit from a newer ATV.

Lets call this guy John. John just started riding ATVs about a year ago. Since he did not know if he would enjoy the sport he bought a used Yamaha Grizzly 450 in fair shape for $1,500. After a couple of rides John was hooked and wanted to ride at every opportunity to improve his riding techniques. I would normally encourage this type of behavior if it were not for John’s size.

You see John was a big guy, 6’5” in height, weighing in at just under 300 pounds. That poor little Grizzly was no match for this guy. John thought his riding skill needed improvement but when you saw this guy coming down the trail the problem obviously was not his riding capability. You could almost hear the Grizzly screaming in pain as the suspension struggled to support the mass that straddled its frame.

On one particular ride I was stopped on the trail waiting for John and seeing him come around the corner I felt as if I was in an old cowboy movie where they had to shoot the horse to put it out of its misery. As he rode up I said “Dude, you have to get a bigger ATV!”

In this case, the benefits of a better suspension and more power were a major improvement in safety for John and would also end the cruel and inhuman punishment the Grizzly was subjected to. Since John enjoyed riding ATVs and wanted to continue pursuing this sport he upgraded to a newer Polaris Sportsman 800.

So if the benefits of a newer ATV outweigh the expense of a newer ATV then it is time to upgrade to a newer ATV. There are many good used newer ATVs available through repossessed ATV auctions or for sale on eBay and when it comes time to accessorize your ATV check out CampingATV.com

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