Tonight�s Youth ATV assignment will be�.

The first thing that comes to mind when you hear that word is school.  But that is not the case when it comes to your child’s happiness and safety, especially when it comes to buying their first ATV.  There is much parental homework to be done when you have finally decided to get your kids into this great sport.

The first step to this is research.  You need to look at such things as safety, cost, size, and the fun factor.  Now some parents out there might buy a certain quad for their child because it looks cool.  As with everyday life, looks aren’t everything.  Let’s first take a look at safety; the ATV industry has come a long way with safety, some manufacturers more than others.  What are some of the things you should look for?  Here are a few:

Tether Kill Switches – These are usually mounted to the rear of the quad with a long tether rope attached.  This basically allows the adult to walk behind the child and shut off the quad at a moment’s notice by yanking on the tether.
 
Remote Kill – A lot of import quads are now coming with remotes.  Some of the functions may include a remote start, kill, alarm, and panic buttons; a lot of the same features you can see on automobiles today.
 
Floorboards – Gone are the days of open pegs that allowed sticks and everything else you ran over to come up and smack or grab you.  These also keep your child from accidentally putting their feet against the tires or any moving parts.
 
Cost.  It’s a big concern for most of us.  After all, why would we want to pay upwards of $3000.00 or more for something our kids WILL outgrow?  And then it comes down to, do I buy a used, name brand quad, or do I spend the same amount or less on a new import?  This is a decision only you as the parent can make.  But how many of the used, name brand kids quads have any of the items that are listed above for safety?  Has that used quad been regularly maintained?  Has it been beaten to death?  You must ask yourself these questions.

Size.  Some states have regulations on how many cc’s your child’s ATV can be for their age.  Others don’t.  As a first rule of thumb, follow your state’s guidelines first.  If your state doesn’t have any, you must decide what size they should be on.  Check the dimensions of the quad you are looking at, the engine size you think is right for their skills, and the ergonomics of the quad itself.

Fun.  Lastly, you want to make sure the ATV you look at for your child will put a smile on their face.  Do they want to be able to shift gears, or gas and go?  Involve your child in every step of the decision-making process for your purchase.  Explain to them what safety measures the quad has, what it is capable of, and that they will be responsible for helping maintain it.  Teach them how to check and change fluids, read a spark plug, clean an air filter, tighten a chain, etc.  You’ll be surprised that they will almost like working on their machine as much as they do riding it.

 There are a ton of resources out there to help you do your research.  You are already on one resource, this website.  There are others out there; some of the best ones being forums where you can post topics and get replies such as www.atvforums.com.  Also, if you do not know much about the dealer you are looking at, try searching them on the Better Business Bureau’s site, www.bbb.org.  Now you have your assignment, will your kids give you an A+?

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