I'm having a problem that I need some advice on.

Since there are no legal riding area's in CT (the closest out-of-state area is 1-1/2 hours away), how do I justify purchasing an ATV? I bought one for my kids a couple years ago, but have not yet purchased one for myself because I have a hard time justifying it to myself.

The reasons I purchased one for my kids are (1) they wanted one, and (2) I thought it was something we can do together. Since I never bought one for myself, I renegged on #2, leaving the kids a little disappointed.

Money is not the issue here - I just don't want to purchase something to have it sit in the garage.

Any comments or suggestions? Did you face the same challenge?

Thanks

Kurt

 

I bought a suzuki lt-160 for my boy this past summer. It looked like so much fun, I had to buy one too!!! My son and I ride every weekend. It's a great way to spend quality time, get out of the house and you know where the kids are at and who they are with. Nothing can replace the time that you spend with your children. An 1 1/2 hour ride is nothing compared to the memories. I strongly encourage you to go buy an ATV TODAY !!! you are wasting valuable time with your children. MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!!!!!!!!!

 

You never get to ride as often as you would like but the experience and memories are awesome when you do. There is nothing like pulling to the top of a mountain, shutting of the engine, taking your helmets off and everyone is just staring at the open ground you have just conquered. Imagine the surprise you could give your kids when you arrive home with a new quad. I say go for it.

 

krkarcher,
i live about 2 hours from my closest trails here in michigan. i can justify it all for ya buddy. my kids ride gocarts, selling them for little quads as we speak. i tow my camper up north to the trails with my kids, 1 is 15, 1 is 10, 1 is 4, kids that is. my kids are with me on weekends, not out causing trouble . i use my quad 12 months a year, plowing my driveway in winter, now doing snow removal for others and making xtra money on the side. when the weekend comes, driving 2 hours with my kids is worth it alone. they ask ME what i'm doing each weekend, not trying to get out of being with me. they live for offroading, and thay is SO MUCH BETTER than living for being gone on weekends with there friends. there friends come here to see if they can go, instead of my kids dissapearing to there homes. when i am old, all the money in the world will mean nothing while on my death bed. the only thing that will matter, is have i lived my life as a good father and husband. i, for one, will have no regrets on my choises with my kids. being in the woods near dusk with your little ones is worth more than all the gold in fort knox to me. i have stories and memories that nothing else could ever replace. i say go for it! buy the quad, take alot of long drives together, and cet hotel rooms every month or 2. you will hear things come out of your children you just dont get at dinner or in front of the tube. when you are old, and you look back, you to will have a lifetime full of memories to remeniance on. good luck buddy, and remember, there only young once.


my pictures

 

If money is not the issue.....just do it.

The worst that can happen is you ride a bit in your yard, find that you never manage to take a riding trip and it *does* sit in your garage. So you sell it, take a few hundred $ loss and never wonder about it again.

On the other hand - 1 1/2 hours is not that far away. Even if you can only manage one day a month to get up early, load up the kids and quads and go riding for the day you will find that it is really worth it. We took an ATV vacation a year ago - drove two days to Wisconsin with 4 ATV's and camped/rode for ten days. If that had been the only time that year that we rode it would have made the purchase of the ATV's worthwhile.

We are fortunate to have several hundred square miles of prime riding area within 45 minutes of home. Even with that we are considering trips to other places about 2 hours away.

Once again, if money is not the issue, what about your wife? Does she ride or have an interest in riding? One kids ATV to use in the yard is a far cry from an entire family sharing a days ride on the trails.

I say go for it.

Jaybee

 

Screw-it! I'm going to do it! Worst case is that I sell it if we don't end up riding enough. At least years from now I won't be saying "I should have....".

Thanks for all the replies - it sure helped!

My wife has been on an ATV before (as a passenger only while on vacation in upstate Maine last year), but really enjoyed it.

Again - thanks for the help. Now I just need to decide on which model......

 

I am surprised there isn't someplace legal to ride with all the forest there. Buy a used entry level for yourself if you aren't committed. If you can justify the work side (snow plow) then something big with plow. I bought one and thought wife would ride with me. Naw, forget that, she said, but I am committed (ought to be committed, according to wife), and the 40 minuted or 2 hours I drive is still worth it.
Maybe you need help on finding somewhere to ride on the forum, or with CT officials.

 

Yeah, it is hard to believe that no legal riding areas exist but it's true. Unless you have written permission from the landowner private land is off-limits as well. Instead of spending grant money on recreation area's, the state spends the money on planes to track down violators. They will be happy to take your sales tax and registration fee's though.

I've already been in touch with the States Bureau of Outdoor Recreation (div. of DEP) and they have had the same plan for the last 5 years - "the idea is under investigation". I contacted my local representative and he had no idea what an ATV even was.

I'm also a mountain-biker, and more-and-more state owned area's are being closed down every year. I've come to the conclusion that this state wants it's residents to spend all their free time in one of the casinos or shopping in a mall, both of which are revenue generators.

 

If you are able to use a clutch, you won't go wrong with a honda 400ex. If you want something for the wife to share also, I recommend the kawasaki lakota with automatic clutch. I bought the lakota for the wife and I to share. It's a great entry level machine. I have out grown it already and want something bigger and faster, but the wife still likes it. have fun with the kids. You're making a wise decision

 

I forget what a blessing it is to be able to ride right from my house!!! This is one of the greatest family activities there is. We havn't been on an overnight trip since New Years, and the kids were just bugging me last night to make another trip soon. And, the kids have 20 friends who are all bugging me to get out again too.