High mileage for an ATV is a common factor people consider when purchasing a used ATV. If you do not figure out a used ATV’s mileage, you might waste a lot of money on your four-wheeler.
An ATV is considered “high mileage” if it has covered roughly 10,000 miles. Although other websites may offer a number higher or lower than 10,000, what matters is how it was cared for and used by the previous owner.
In addition, if the ATV has been well-maintained by its previous owner, it may still have a long life left in it even after 10,000 miles.
There are other things to consider when getting an ATV, such as the hour ratio, the lifespan of the ATV, and more, which will be covered in this article.
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How Many Hours Is Good for an ATV?
While mileage indicates how far an ATV has traveled, it is equally important to take into account the actual riding time because high hours on an ATV reveal how hard the ATV was driven. ATVs with low hours and high miles typically indicate that the vehicle was driven hard.
What, therefore, constitutes a proper hour-to-mileage ratio?
A proper ratio is 15 miles per hour (15:1). It should be noted that ATV owners may alter this statistic by just idling their vehicles. The ratio does not account for idling and is based on the average ATV user’s minimal idle. If you’re concerned about riding for long periods of time, this is a fantastic starting point.
A digital display common in many ATVs will also track how many hours have been spent riding the vehicle. The hours are also used to calculate the average speed of an ATV.
If your ATV lacks the capacity to measure hours, there are a number of decent hour meters available.
The Average Lifespan of an ATV
An ATV will typically survive 10 to 20 years, based on how properly it is maintained. It will survive around 20 years if the gears are operated and maintained appropriately.
However, going over jumps, skidding, and making fast bends will cause extra wear and tear, which will only last for a maximum of 10 years.
Every ATV is unique, and while spending money on spares and maintenance is normal, there may come a point when it is no longer cost-effective to maintain your quad. When repair costs exceed the cost of the initial purchase, you should write off your ATV and invest the money in a new one instead.
Nevertheless, there are elements that influence an ATV’s longevity, including:
- Average speed
- Brand
- Hours/miles
- Frame
- Mud/dirt
Average Speed
An ATV has a top speed of 80 miles per hour (120 kilometers per hour). As a result, calculating the average speed allows you to see how quickly the user rode it.
If the average speed is less than 10 miles per hour (15 to 30 kilometers per hour) and the individual drives very slowly, the ATV will become less prone to suffering from wear and tear.
On the contrary, if the average speed is relatively high, it means that the driver applied more pressure on the quad, which increases the likelihood that the used quad would show more signs of wear and tear and not survive as long.
Brand
Purchasing your ATV from a good and respected brand, such as Polaris or Honda, helps ensure that your ATV will last a long time. These firms have built a solid reputation over the years, and the primary reason for this is the dependability of their products.
Hours/Miles
The amount of mileage and hours traveled is irrelevant in calculating an ATV’s average lifespan. However, what matters is how they were placed on the ride.
Lifting your ATV and inspecting the bearings is one technique to check. Examine your CV boots for rips or tears. Your CV axles benefit from the protection and retention of the grease provided by CV boots, which deteriorate with time.
Your CV joints may start to corrode if your CV boot has been torn. It may be a sign that the ATV was not well maintained if you see any large tears in the boot of your CV. This will reduce the ATV’s lifespan.
Frame
The outside plastic bits are easily replaceable, but the quality of the frame is what matters. To test this, try removing the outer plastic body components and inspecting the frame for fractures or dents.
This is generally a reliable indicator of whether or not the ATV has been abused or rolled over. A weaker frame will shorten your ATV’s lifespan.
Mud/Dirt
Many ATV owners are unaware of how harmful mud and dirt can be to their vehicles. Mud collects moisture on the vulnerable areas of your ATV. This offers the ideal environment for rust to form, weakening your ATV over time.
Rust takes three elements to form: water, iron, and oxygen. Iron corrodes when water and carbon dioxide, which is a component of oxygen, are combined.
Your ATV’s body will suffer paint deterioration if mud is left on it. This is because mud may scratch paint and cause corrosion to form. This is typically not an issue if the mud is just applied for a brief length of time.
Moving parts, such as joints and bearings, are harmed by dried mud because it functions as a harsh abrasive substance. Your brakes’ performance is also impacted by it.
Because of this, it’s critical to properly clean your ATV after each use. A muddy, dirty ATV has a substantially shorter lifespan than a clean one.
What Does “Low Mileage” Mean?
Since mileage is a helpful statistic to utilize when looking at the market for a used ATV and determining the worth of a current ATV, we should not focus just on the high mileage.
So, what does low mileage on an ATV mean?
Generally speaking, 75,000 miles (120,000 km) is considered low mileage. This figure represents about 25% of the total miles that an ATV will travel throughout its lifetime.
How Many Miles Can Good Stock ATV Tires Provide?
A decent set of standard tires will typically last 8,000 miles before needing to be replaced. It is determined by the sort of surface on which you ride the most.
If you ride mainly on sand and dirt roads, you should expect your tires to last longer. You will notice a shortage of your ATV’s life if you bike a lot on rough, rocky roads.
Because of this, it’s critical to prepare in advance, identify the type of terrain you’ll be riding on, and choose the appropriate tires for it. For instance, use sand tires for sand and mud tires for mud.
The average rider who takes his sport seriously will have a variety of tire sets at his disposal.
Conclusion
Mileage is a significant aspect of a used ATV’s worth and may help you simply sort through the prices available online. Nonetheless, this information must be supported by additional crucial data such as usage frequency, riding style, maintenance records, and the vehicle’s general history.
The test ride is the best and last resort for determining whether the ATV is in excellent working order. Before purchasing an ATV, it is usually a good idea to check the vehicle’s engine oil, coolant, and air filters.
