From collectibles to cars, buy and sell all kinds of items on eBayWelcome! Sign in or register.
 Advanced Search

Reviews & Guides

Write a guide

Buying used ATVs, what to look for, look out for

by: coreycj5( 537Feedback score is 500 to 999) Top 1000 Reviewer
161 out of 168 people found this guide helpful.
Guide viewed: 9185 times Tags: Arctic Cat | Polaris | Kawasaki | Honda | ATV


As a former service advisor at one of the largest boat, snowmobile, and atv dealerships in the country, I've discovered a few things about atv's that may be of some use to those that our looking at purchasing a used ATV.
  • Inspect the overall condition of the machine. If it is beat up cosmetically, it was probably abused. Ideally, of course, you'd rather have one that looks well cared for. The cosmetics of a machine usually are a great indicator of how the machine was cared for.
  • Inspect CV boots for tears. CV's are expensive, and often overlooked, maintenance-wise.
  • Compression check is critical, particularly on a two stroke machine.
  • Check all fluids. Look for dirty lubricants, and excess metal shavings. They could be indicators of abuse or lack of careful maintenance.
  • Look for improperly installed accessories. Factory or dealer installed accessories are one thing, but you want to look out for cobbled together accessories.
  • Electrical issues. Most atv's over 5 years old will have some electrical gremlins, but they are usually minimized if the machine was kept indoors, and there are not a lot of electrical add-ons.
Don't be afraid to walk away from a deal if you are unsure of something, or if the seller seems elusive. There will always be another one coming, particularly here on Ebay.

If you found this helpful, please indicate so below. Thanks!

Guide ID: 10000000001593521Guide created: 08/10/06 (updated 07/19/08)

 
Was this guide helpful? Report this guide

Ready to share your knowledge with others? Write a guide



 


eBay Pulse | eBay Reviews | eBay Stores | Half.com | eBay Express | Reseller Marketplace | Austria | France | Germany | Italy | Spain | United Kingdom | Popular Searches
Kijiji | PayPal | ProStores | Apartments for Rent | Shopping.com | Skype | Tickets


About eBay | Announcements | Security Center | eBay Toolbar | Policies | Government Relations | Site Map | Help
Copyright © 1995-2008 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eBay User Agreement and Privacy Policy.
eBay official time