i'm really interested in buying an atv...but i really don't know which kind i should get.
i've been on an atv twice and it was AWESOME and now i want to get my own.

i've done some research online and i know i want a sport and i know that 2wd would be sufficient for me.
but as for getting an automatic or manual...i really don't know which i should get. the atv i rode on was an automatic so it was pretty easy to ride. does it take a while to get used to a manual on an atv? i mean i've never driven a manual stick shift car, and i try to avoid it...because a manual is something that seems weird for me and i think i'd be uncomfortable with it. but i also mountain bike a lot and shifting the gears on a bike is a piece of cake for me....is shifting the gears on an atv anything like the shifting the gears on a mountain bike? or is it more like a manual transmission car?

for a beginner what are the pros and cons of an auto versus a manual?

but besides sport/utitility, 2wd/4wd, and manual versus automatic i don't know much about atv's at all. i try to read this forum as often as i can and i've been reading all those atv magazines but a lot of it i don't understand. i'm hoping you guys here can give me some input on what i should get.

also, i know i don't want something as big as a 500cc.....i guess a 350cc would be sufficient for me(?) i don't plan on racing it or doing anything extreme like big jumps or anything...just riding it on rough trails and stuff for fun.

as for prices....i don't want to go north of 3500....but i also don't want to skimp and get something cheaper that might break down soon after i get it. i really suck at maintenance so i would like to get something that's relatively maintenance-free....well, maybe not maintenance-free (cuz there's probably no such thing) but something that will last me a long time without breaking down....something that's very reliable. are there specific brands out there that are known for it's long lasting reliability?
i plan on buying new, but are used atv's from dealerships any good? i want to avoid anything used because if there was something wrong with it i'd have no idea on what was even wrong with it. i'm afraid i'll get suckered into buying a goodlooking sporty atv that had some problems and i wouldn't even know it. that's why i think i'll stick with getting a new one.


and also, what's the average life span of an atv?

there are so many different brands and manufacturers out there that i'm just overwhelmed by deciding which ones i should even consider getting.

any help and input from you guys would be very much appreciated. thanks.

 

some info about me:
i'm 22, 5'10", 170lbs

btw, what's a semi-auto? how does that work?

 

get a yamaha Breeze, JK i would reccomend a polaris trailblazer or a 250ex

 

you could get the kawi 700 v force its auto

 

since you said no need to go above 3500....go for a used 400ex,warrior or something...and a semi-auto is where you shift the gears without a hand clutch and you don't have to release the gas

 

get a 250 ex
reliable, semi-auto

 

Welcome to the forums Mickey!!!!

I will say,,,,it sounds like you are pretty serious,,,,because you are asking all the right questions (for a newbie).

What we really need to know,,,is,,,,what is your size???

age?
Height?
Weight?
Strength?
Manual dexterity.....and so on.....?

What type of terrain will you be riding on,,,, tight trails, logging roads, dunes, mud, what??

I would recommend you get a manual shift. Its a great day to learn how to use a clutch. If you can Mt bike,,,you will be fine.

There are a number of good starter bikes,,,,some more aggresive than others.

answer the above questions,,,so we can help you!!!

 

he did aswer those

 

thanks,,,,I missed that

 

a semi auto,,,means you shift with no clutch


You ought to check out the yamaha raptor 350(updated warrior),,,or Yamaha warrior350 (been around forever).

You should be able to find a good used warrior for about 2000. (give or take)

Also:
Suzuki z250 (auto shift)
polaris trailboss 330/Trailblazer 250 (a bit larger with an auto tranny)
Honda 250ex
Honda 300ex
Honda 400ex (all the hondas are pretty cheap used)
there are so many to list

give us more specific info