Off road vehicles come with various names. An ATV may even be known by another name – such as “quad”.
Though quad and ATV may often be used interchangeably, it’s essential that you understand their respective differences to help select which vehicle best meets your needs.
ATVs
Typically, ATVs can only be driven on public roads if they meet what’s known as “street legality”, meaning they feature turn signals, headlights and brake lights as well as being able to pass a safety inspection. Furthermore, their operators must meet certain age and ride height criteria and must have successfully completed an ATV safety class offered by either their manufacturer or state government.
Alaska and some other states don’t permit ATVs on public roads, while in others they are only allowed to cross them. No matter what laws exist in your state, take great caution in operating any ATV. Inexperienced riders should never operate one.
Textron (Alterra and Mudpro), Arctic Cat, Kawasaki (Bobcat and Teryx) and Suzuki all produce ATVs and UTVs that are commonly found on the market today. ATVs are built for speed while UTVs tend to be more utilitarian; both models offer their own advantages depending on your specific application; typically UTVs can handle rougher terrain more comfortably than ATVs.
UTVs
UTVs differ from ATVs by having steering wheels rather than handlebars and bucket seats for driver and passengers, giving it more car-like qualities. Furthermore, UTVs boast larger payload capacities and are faster.
Tennessee allows UTVs on certain streets, provided that it’s designated as open to them and crossing at an angle at 90 degrees from one legal riding area to the next.
Your local DMV will inform you if additional courses and safety certificates may be needed to ride on public roads safely, and whether a windshield and quieter muffler should be added. For commercial uses, additional permits may also be required.
Motorcycles
Motorcycles offer one of the fastest and most exciting means of travel on the road. Their freedom and danger appeal can bring out the best in people; indeed they provide an incredible form of self-expression. Furthermore, many motorcyclists belong to clubs or associations which meet for rides or trips together.
A bicycle differs from motorcycles by having no engine; riders rely solely on pedaling in order to move forward. By contrast, motorcycles possess engines which enable acceleration and turning ability.
Motorcycles can be dangerous since they do not feature the protective chassis of a car and don’t include seatbelts or airbags that would help cushion impact of an accident. But with proper safety gear on, riding can significantly lower risk. Also, riding is an excellent way to burn calories quickly – one 70 kg person can burn 170 in an hour on their motorcycle!
Side by Sides
People may refer to them as SxSs, UTVs or ROVs – whatever name you give your new machine they can do amazing things! From coasting across sandy desert dunes to exploring deep woods off-path there is likely an UTV that can assist in any way possible.
Side by sides are ideal for beginners or anyone seeking car-like operating controls and less physically taxing riding styles than an ATV, or prefers more comfortable and safer handling over ATVs. Side by sides come equipped with accessories such as winches, cargo boxes, snow, rock and mud tires to meet individual riding needs.
Ultimately, cities and counties decide how they wish to deal with these types of vehicles on the road. Colorado leaves this decision up to individual counties while most cities tend to focus more on safety, noise levels, congestion levels and wildlife concerns while often creating their own set of rules and regulations as well.
Chris is a passionate learner and writer. When he’s not working on his blog or learning something new, he’s a full-time systems administrator and father of two beautiful girls. Chris loves spending time with his family, reading, writing, and playing hockey.