ATVs prove versatile

Known by names such as “wheeler," “OHV," “ute” and others, the four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle is a piece of machinery used by some owners strictly for working and by some owners strictly for recreation.

According to Stan Glumac of RJ Sport and Cycle, the majority of owners find a way to combine uses of this popular machine and enjoy the benefits it offers to be both a workhorse and a recreational pursuit.

Glumac said his customers for four-wheelers range in age from 12 to 80 years old and prices range from $2,200 to $10,000.

The versatility of the vehicle is limited only by the manufacturer’s imagination in its design and options, and by the aftermarket industry in supplying accessories. Plowing snow, hunting, fishing, mowing lawns, hauling firewood, tilling gardens — the potential uses for a four-wheeler owner are endless.

Some owners choose to employ their four-wheelers simply to enjoy the outdoors. ATV trails are abundant throughout the northland. A sampling of trails can be found on the Minnesota DNR website at www.findthetrails.com. Web surfers can find similar websites for trails in other states. The options for simply enjoying recreational use of these vehicles are about as endless as their use as a working tool. Hunting, fishing, camping and trail riding are just a few of the recreational adventures that one can enjoy employing the use of a four-wheeler.

As in the working mode, the recreational mode of four-wheeler use has seen a progression of development. Winches, hand warmers and plug-ins for electrically warmed riding suits help keep the enjoyment seamless for the recreational user.

“One of the biggest advancements in four-wheeler ease of operation has been the inclusion of power steering,” Glumac said. “Yamaha introduced a model with power steering in their 2007 product year, and now all the major manufacturers offer that option.”

That brings the operation of a four-wheeler to a population base that may have been excluded in the past. No longer does a rider have to wrestle the vehicle through the woods, rather, the rider guides the four-wheeler with ease.

By whatever name you call the versatile four-wheeler, it remains a machine for all seasons and all reasons.

Tags: twin ports rides, budgeteer, auto