If you are considering buying an ATV for your child, chances are you have heard the advice to only let them ride a youth sized ATV. Is there a big difference between youth ATV’s and adult sized ATV’s? There is indeed and the differences are what will keep your kid safe or potentially cause them to get injured. You should only let your kid ride a youth sized ATV because they are smaller, lighter, and easier for a child to handle.
Adult ATV’s are dangerous for children and children should not be allowed to ride them until they are old enough and large enough to properly handle them.
While size is the most obvious difference, there are other differences between youth and adult sized ATV’s. It is important for children to only ride youth sized ATV’s because they can comfortable control them. A child or preteen will have to stretch to reach the handle bars of an adult sized ATV and will not be able to put their feet on the ground. It is important to be able to comfortably reach the handle bars and the ground for safety reasons. Most children under 16 are not big enough to comfortably ride an adult sized ATV.
Adult sized ATV’s are also heavier and more powerful than youth sized ATV’s. They are designed for adults and children will have a hard time reaching the handle bars and pedals. This makes them harder to ride and they require more strength to control because of their larger size. Most children do not have the strength or experience to properly control these bigger machines. Adult ATV’s also go much faster than youth ATV’s which is not a good thing for inexperienced riders. Children should only be able to ride at a speed they can handle and on terrain they can comfortably maneuver.
Even if they have their own ATV, your child will probably want to ride yours because of the “cool” factor. Make sure you explain to your child that adult ATV’s are dangerous for children and they need more experience and strength before they can ride one. Do not be tempted to give in, as it is easy for a child to loose control of a large ATV. The size and speed of an adult ATV makes them dangerous for children so make sure you wait until your child is old enough to let them ride one.
Youth ATV’s also have safety features not found on adult ATV’s that will help to keep your child safe. These features allow parents to retain some control and keep their kids safe if they run into trouble or break the rules.
You can get a youth ATV with a remote shutoff so that you can turn off their ATV if they run into trouble.

ATV’s were developed for use in agriculture, for hauling equipment and traveling around farm property. They have since evolved into a hobby for many people and are now even used for racing. People love the excitement that ATV’s provide and the vast array of terrain that ATV’s open up for exploring. ATV’s can provide a lot of enjoyment for riders and be a worthwhile activity.
ATV’s can also be dangerous, especially for children. Adults are often injured when they loose control of an AT and children have even less skill and experience than adults. This is not to say that children should not be allowed to ride an ATV, but they must follow strict safety rules in order to avoid injury.
Children should be taught that an ATV is not a toy and should be operated with care and with safety in mind. They should be made aware of all the safety rules and never allowed to ride without supervision. If children realize how dangerous ATV’s can be and what they must do to stay safe, they will be at a much lower risk of injury.
The best thing you can do for your child before they are allowed to ride is send them to an approved ATV training course. Many places require riders under 16 to take a training course before they can legally ride which is a good idea anyway even if your area does not require it. You should attend the training course with your child so that you are also familiar with ATV safety and can enforce the safety rules your child learned.
Another important safety practice for you and your child is riding the correct sized ATV. Children should never ride an adult sized ATV, as they are usually too large for them to comfortably operate and increase the likely hood of injury. If you are going to purchase your child an ATV make sure you get a youth sized ATV that is not too large for your child. You should also consider the engine size as a more powerful engine means a faster ATV. Children should only drive an ATV that they can handle.
Wearing appropriate safety gear is also an important part of ATV safety. Children should always wear helmets, gloves, goggles, long pants and a long sleeved shirt. Most places require helmet use by law but even if they do not a helmet should always be worn. Using safety gear will prevent many injuries that can occur when riders fall. Make sure that the safety equipment you purchase for your child fits properly and is of high quality. You should make sure that the safety gear your child uses is rated for ATV use.
The last thing you should always do to keep your child safe, is to inspect their ATV before each use. Teach your child how to inspect their ATV as well and you can then both make sure it stays in good working condition and will not break or malfunction during use. If you and your child follow these safety tips, your child will have a safe and enjoyable time with their ATV.

If your child wants an ATV, you may be hesitant because of safety concerns. While many injuries occur every year, many of them are preventable if children take the proper safety precautions and ride the correct sized ATV. It may not seem like the size of the ATV would matter much, but when it comes to kids and ATV’s, size does matter. Children should not be allowed to ride an adult sized ATV for many reasons.
Large ATV’s take a lot of strength to control and usually have more powerful engines that allow them to go much faster then youth ATV’s. Children should have the opportunity to hone their driving skills on a smaller, slower ATV before they graduated to an adult sized ATV when they are older, stronger, and more experienced. ATV’s can be a source of great fun and a worthwhile hobby for children.
They should always be supervised when riding and wear appropriate safety gear. Many places required minors to wear helmets by law and prohibit them from riding adult sized ATV’s. Even if this is not a requirement in your area, it is still a good idea and will keep your child safe while pursuing their ATV hobby.
Children and pre-teens (ages 6-12) should ride an ATV with an engine size of 70cc or smaller. There are larger models for teenagers, and while age should be a factor in which ATV you choose for your child, other things such as maturity, size, and strength should also be taken into consideration. A smaller child who is 16 should still ride a smaller ATV, and while this may not be optimal for them, it is imperative for their safety. Your child should only drive an ATV that they can comfortable handle.
When buying an ATV for your child, you should make sure it is the correct fit for them. Your child should be able to reach the ground with their feet, without standing on their tiptoes. They should be able to comfortable reach the handle bars without having to overextend their arms. Their arms should be slightly bent as they have a firm grip on the handle bars. They should also be able to reach the ground with their feet and have their legs slightly bent. Getting your child an ATV they can comfortably control is important and will help to keep them safe.
As well as age and size, your child’s maturity level also plays an important part in what type of ATV you buy them. You will have to consider if your child can shift gears or would do better with an automatic transmission.
If you want to retain control over your child’s ATV, whether you think their driving skills need some work or they will have problems following rules, you can consider getting an ATV with a remote switch to turn off the ATV of your child gets into trouble.
Buying an ATV for your child is not a decision to be taken lightly. You should make sure your child knows that an ATV is not a toy and can be dangerous. Make sure they ride an appropriate sized ATV and always wear protective gear.

No matter the reason, if you are going to purchase an ATV there are some things you should remember. Depending on your purpose, budget, and needs, a used model might be fine or a new ATV from a dealership may be a better choice. No matter where you purchase your ATV, you should do plenty of research before you make a decision and be sure to get plenty of impartial advice. Never let a salesman in the showroom talk you into purchasing something you will regret. Make sure you have a good idea of what you want, and what you need, before you set foot in a showroom.

Your first consideration should be the age and size of the rider. If you are buying an ATV for a youth or small adult, you will want to go with a smaller model for the best riding comfort. An average sized adult should do fine with a larger model. If you are buying an ATV for someone else, it is best to take him or her along to make sure the ATV you pick is suited to their size, its better to make sure its right than to surprise them with an ATV that is too big or too small and not comfortable for them.

The second consideration when buying an ATV is your purpose. Do you need an ATV to help haul things around your property, to carry game in form the woods while hunting, or other work purposes? Are you planning to ride your ATV for fun or even try your hand at ATV racing? ATV’s vary in sizes, styles, and accessories so you will want to be sure you get one with all the features you need.

If you want an ATV for work purposes, you will want to get a strong heavy ATV that is suitable for hauling or carrying large loads. You can get ATV’s that have built in racks for carrying equipment or game and that come with a hitch to hook up a wagon or trailer. If you are purchasing an ATV for fun, you will probably not need all those features and would do well with a simpler model. If you are thinking about racing with your ATV, you will want to get one that is light, powerful, and designed for racing.

You should also get the proper tires for your ATV when you purchase it. If you are planning to ride in hilly, rough, and muddy terrain, you will want to get mud tires with deep tread that will help you to navigate this harsh terrain. If you are going to ride around flat ground or on trails, stock tires will suffice. If you will be racing, you should get specially designed racing tires as well.

You should also consider price and get an ATV that you can afford. You do not have to pay full price at a dealership, if you research what you need you can probably find it used in your area. If you want a warranty or service after the sale, you should consider buying from a dealership but always compare prices and know how much the model you want should cost.