ATV Upgrades: How to Take Your Ride to the Next Level
Considering upgrades for your ATV or side-by-side? Quad bikes and snowmobiles originated in North America and Canada, meeting millions of customers’ needs and wants for nearly a century. The vehicles traverse uncharted terrain, provide riding fun for all ages, and complete work tasks on farms, ranches, and construction sites.
The range of ATV and UTV brands and models has exploded in the last few years, offering more power, capability and comfort. And a large aftermarket has followed suit with hundreds of parts and accessories. Anyone looking to get more out of their vehicle is treated with a huge selection of ATV parts Canada-wide, compatible with all major models and brands. To make buying simpler, here’s a short list of parts that deliver on multiple fronts:
Using Protection – ATV Bumpers
Whether stock or aftermarket, bumpers are necessary for all ATVs and UTVs. They shield the bodywork, headlights, engine and suspension parts in varied riding conditions. The parts brush away branches, steer rocks aside, and are the foundation for various ATV accessories, such as winches. Most riders will be happy with durable bumpers up front, but for full protection, pair these with rear units, especially in hard riding.
Choose from tubed steel bumpers for the highest strength, sheet metal variants to protect more of the quad and winch-ready bumpers, (in tube or sheet guises) if you need the added versatility for work and technical terrain. When buying, consider higher-grade steel for better impact and corrosion resistance, and whether there are provisions for extras such as lights and towing shackles.
Drivetrain Upgrades
For the best possible performance, inspect the drive belt and the condition of the axles and CV boots. Frayed, torn, and belts with missing teeth can cause loss of power, thwarted acceleration, and issues with the clutch. Clean the belt after every ride, ensuring you remove collected debris, mud and water. Get a compatible replacement if there’s advanced damage, noticeable power loss, or difficulty engaging the gears. Prices vary on design and materials, and belts are geared towards different applications. For bigger and more torquey machines, go with composite materials based around Kevlar, carbon fiber and synthetic rubber compounds. These offer higher strength for efficient power transfer, better heat resistance, improved flexibility in gear changes, and should last longer in tougher and more demanding rides.
The stock axles should last if you’re easier on the gas, haven’t fitted an aftermarket lift kit, or don’t slug the quad through mud and rocks. But eventually, you’ll have a snapped, bent or broken axle, no matter how hard or easy you are on the bike. Aftermarket replacements feature thicker shafts in heavy-duty steel, precision machined CV boots, industrial bearings and thicker neoprene boots. These offer more strength in technical riding, smoother power transfer, and prevent contamination and overheating from lubrication loss and punctured boots.
Lastly, consider reducing the gear ratio with a clutch with a smaller diameter one-way bearing pulley. These ATV parts Canada increase low-end torque, a necessity for slow-speed maneuvers in technical terrain, and when hauling thousands of pounds of gear. Reworked clutches also prevent slippage, and keep your new drive belt turning for longer.
Improved Performance with Aftermarket Exhausts
Aftermarket exhausts are simple and affordable solutions for high power and torque output. They improve combustion efficiency with revised designs to get spent gases out faster. There are two options for two different needs. Wider, straighter piping, and less restrictive mufflers net riders better throttle response, more low-end power and higher top speeds. They also improve the sound, with a throatier and louder exhaust note.
When you need to go undetected, for instance when hunting, choose slip-on mufflers with better sound insulation. These come in simple slip-on designs. When buying your next ATV or UTV exhaust, ensure you go with high-quality materials, decent build and parts that are compatible with your quad. Treated stainless steel lasts in prolonged exposure to mud, water and potential rusting, integrated spark arrestors up safety by preventing fires, and quality mounting hardware ensures a snug fit.
Winches for the Rough Stuff
Winches are lifesavers. They help you get out of tight spots when you’re stuck in mud or stranded on uneven ground and aid a friend during a recovery. They’re also used in clearing trails from stumps, boulders, and other obstacles you’ll come across. And they’re irreplaceable for work and hunting purposes when moving heavy loads, clearing debris, helping with livestock, or getting kills to higher ground.
Ensure the pulling capacity matches your ATV or side-by-side. This ranges between 2,000 to 6,000 pounds in most vehicles. To install the winch, you’ll also need a compatible winch cradle, either as part of the bumper or as a separate mount. Lastly consider build, materials and features that ensure fast and care-free operation. Waterproof metal housings, heavy-duty steel cable or durable synthetic rope, all steel gearsets and ergonomic clutches are some things to go by.
Final Considerations
While many ATV and UTV brands have their own lines of OE parts and accessories, they’re often more costly without offering more in terms of performance or quality. Aftermarket and specialized companies have universal and model-specific parts, often with better build, higher performance, and lower prices. There’s also more choice to suit individual needs.
