Aftermarket ATV Parts - Shop Online for Best Selection and Prices

!±8± Aftermarket ATV Parts - Shop Online for Best Selection and Prices

I decided to do a little shopping for some aftermarket ATV parts, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that there are a wide variety of parts and accessories available today.

It wasn't so long ago that if you wanted to add something to your ATV you had to go straight to the dealer, and they had you over a barrel since no one else was making parts.

The good news is that you have a lot to choose from when you shop for aftermarket ATV parts today.

Aftermarket ATV Parts Include Accessories As Well As Standard Maintenance Items

Most of us understand that we need to maintain our sport or utility ATVs for optimum performance.

It doesn't matter if you're using your quad to do some hunting, sight-seeing, racing or just as a workhorse around your place, there are things you can do to maintain and even improve performance with aftermarket ATV parts.

For example, there are oils and lubes designed for film strength and anti-wear capabilities under load. The tires that came with your ATV were adequate, but if you're planning to travel through sand, or rocky or wooded areas then you might want to consider a better tire that can grip under these unique conditions.

Improving the exhaust system can mean better performance from your quad, since more air intake means more engine output. You may want to upgrade springs or add a roll cage.

Aftermarket ATV parts can also include add-ons like a gun scabbard, front bumper or brush guard, a lift kit for better clearance, a winch or a plow.

Aftermarket ATV Parts Are Available for Which Quad Makes?

You'll be able to find aftermarket ATV parts to fit such makes as Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki, Polaris, KTM, Arctic Cat and more.

Other available accessories include ATV tire chains, fuel cans and mounts, covers to protect your quad when not in action, gear bags, radios and CD or mp3 players for tunes, heated accessories (like seats, hand warmers), lighting, ramps and racks, cameras that can be mounted to your quad, windshields, roll bars, and much more.

There is a healthy aftermarket ATV parts industry because many people are choosing to update or improve their existing quads instead of buying new. With the economy as it is today, it's much cheaper to add a few accessories to your ATV for fun, instead of spending the big bucks for a new quad.

Where Is It Best to Find Aftermarket ATV Parts?

You can, of course, shop your local dealer. This is most likely where you originally bought your quad, and they'll carry make-specific parts. This means that if you have a Honda TRX 400EX, you'll be able to get parts and accessories made for your quad model there at the dealer.

On the other hand, though, dealers can often be more expensive than other retailers.

You might try shopping online. The online community is eager to sell to you, and you'll be able to find a much larger selection of aftermarket ATV parts and accessories on the web.

The internet allows even small companies to compete aggressively with dealers. Often you can find accessories and parts that you've never thought of, simply because some weekend warrior like us thought of a solution to a problem he noticed and did something about it.

Online prices are usually much cheaper than you'll find at a dealer, too, even when you factor in shipping expenses.

One other place to try for aftermarket ATV parts is your local ATV group or club, and even Craigslist and eBay. Particularly among kids ATVs and quads, the local ATV group will frequently have a kids "swap". This is because kids grow so fast that they may outgrow their quad and need to upgrade. You may be able to find a good deal on a kids quad or other adult-sized ATV accessories at the local swap.

And again, don't forget to shop eBay and Craigslist.

What I Found for Aftermarket ATV Parts

I have a Honda Rincon that I use around the farm and for the occasional hunting expedition. I decided to upgrade the tires since where I live in northern Minnesota can have a wide variety of terrains. (They don't call it the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" for nothing.) I can go from thick woods and brush to swamp in just a few yards, along with some snow thrown in.

I also added front and bottom skid plates since the terrain can be uneven, not to mention that driving over logs and stumps can be hard on the undercarriage.

In addition, I added a heavy-duty brush guard and a rear rack for when I bag a deer. It sure is nice to be able to drive that buck home instead of having to haul him myself!

I checked out my local dealer to see what they had to offer and then I shopped online. I was able to save almost 50% off the dealer's prices on the tires and skid plates, and I was even given free shipping.

With a little legwork, you'll be able to find the best aftermarket ATV parts online, and at a great price!

Aftermarket ATV Parts - Shop Online for Best Selection and Prices

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Winter Motorcycle Riding Gear Options

!±8± Winter Motorcycle Riding Gear Options

That's it. It's time to accept it. Winter's here. I don't care how much everyone is screaming about Global Warming. Cold is cold. And when you're riding during the winter it feels that much colder. Wind chill is a bitch. Compound the factor of speed. The faster you go the more the temperature drops. So the main idea behind this months TAB. How to survive the winter on your motorcycle.

Some of you silly bastards like cold weather. I'll never understand that. Maybe it's because I'm a skinny white boy. Not much blubber to hold in the heat. I live in the south for a reason. But even in the dirty dirty it gets cold once in a while. When the temp drops and the wind picks up I'm grabbing every piece of heavy clothing I can wear at once. If I look like the little brother from a Christmas story when I'm done, so be it. Hell, I'll wear my underoo's on the outside if it'll keep my ass warm. Maybe that's a bit extreme.

For those of us hardcore (read: stupid) enough to ride year round we need to get a little creative when thinking of how to keep warm while riding in the winter months. Ok, so we all ride fighters and are not exactly particular about having fairing's. So to get around our stubbornness we need to try and break the wind as much as possible.

Hands, being the first line of defense. Winter gloves are usually a good idea. Something with Gore-Tex or Thinsulate is a plus. Just about every major motorcycle apparel manufacturer offers a winter glove. Most can be had for under with varying stages of protection and insulation from the elements. But aside from going out and buying a name brand glove. There are other steps you can take before you shell out some dough on specialty gloves. Take a run down to either the local grocer, hardware, or auto parts store and pick up a box of disposable latex gloves. These are great for holding in your natural body heat. And because they are form fitting, you can wear them inside your riding gloves as extra insulation. Some people may have a problem with latex. In which case, a sporting goods store or outdoor outlet carry glove liners. Moving up the sleeve, your wrists are prone to windblast. Even if you wear full gauntlet gloves, when in the riding position and moving around your sleeves can creep up and let in the wind. Try a pair of wristbands. A definite cheap trick for keeping the wind out of your sleeves.

As far as your upper body is concerned. This is going to take the brunt of the cold. Lack of a windscreen puts you right out there for old man winter to lay into you with a constant body blow. Heavy shirts are a must, obviously. But too many of these at once cannot only be uncomfortable, but restrict movement. Thermal shirts are always a plus. Combined with a sweater and lined jacket. But try some of those cool max shirts as a base to your layers. Anything to wick away moisture from your body is going to keep you that much warmer. If your jacket lets through wind in certain areas try and pin point them from the inside. Seams, vents, perforation. The fix for this is one that holds the world together. Duct tape. Yup, patch them up on the inside so the breeze doesn't make its way through. Plus, if you find yourself needing a piece for a quick fix on the road. there you go.

Lastly, a thin nylon windbreaker under the jacket can be a great help. Or even your rain jacket over top.

Your head and face are super sensitive. Good full-face lids with closable vents are always the way to go. If you're in an area that gets lots of snow and super low temps, you may want to look into snowmobile helmets for the winter. The ones with heated visors would be a great option. Of course one of the most common ways to keep your head warm is wearing a beanie under your lid. If that's too thick for a comfortable fit, try the sporting goods and ski shops for balaclava's. The ones made of nylon are typically very thin. If you can get one that fits around your neck and face you're that much ahead of the game. If you want to be super biker, there's always the classic bandanna too. This will at least keep the wind off your face and your breath will keep your face warm. Keep breath mints handy though. One more cheap trick for cutting down fog and retaining heat. If your helmet doesn't offer a breath deflector you can make one out of duct tape. Double up the tape and form it to fit your face. Then tape it right to the inside of the chin bar. Just be sure not to leave any adhesive exposed. Most of us don't need our mustaches waxed.

The feet and knees are always in the breeze. Ski socks are a definite plus. The longer the better too. Insulated boots are really the only way to go.

The less wind that can get in the better. A great piece of gear I found was MX knee and shin guards. These are similar to Hockey shin guards.

Plastic caps with foam padding and fabric liners. Also makes for another safety alternative. The cool part about these is they are thin enough to wear under loose fitting pants. The plastic blocks the wind very well while the foam helps to retain heat. These are fairly inexpensive too. They can be had for under . Some even under . For the rest of your lower extremities, double up on pants. Sweat pants, Track pants, thermals, etc.

Of course there's always the option of heated riding gear. These can get pricey but if you plan to ride in very cold climates, it's probably a smart investment. The cheaper method is the hand warmer packs. They're fairly cheap and some last up to 8 hours. If you plan on doing some long riding, I would suggest getting some for the trip. You can put them in your shoes to keep your feet warm, in your gloves to help out your hands and any place else you feel is subjected to direct cold.

So now that you look like a reincarnation of the Michelin Man, what can we do to the bike that will help you out with out totally goobering it up?

Well, again, anything that can block the wind will help. Like stated earlier, your hands are the first line of defense. Dirtbike style hand guards will keep some of the wind off your mitts. If you want to keep them toasty you can invest in some grip heaters also. Now Grip heaters are a bit limited as they really only work the palm of your hand. With the hand guards in place as well your fingers will thank you. Plus, if your bike has that kind of ruff and tumble look going for it, they'll fit right in.

Another, idea that struck me. Heated seats. This is actually a fairly simple idea. You can pull them from any factory-equipped car. Try the local junkyards. Just make sure they can bench test them before you walk out the door. You'll want the thermostat control with this, which can be mounted under the tail for adjustment while riding. Basically, heated seats are no more then a heating pad element that sits under the upholstery, a top the padding. The heating elements average about 100-140 degrees F. I did a search for "Upholstery Heating Elements" and came up with some good results and even installation instructions and tutorials for various seats. Both OEM and retro fits.

The biggest help of all is going to be getting out of the wind as much as possible. And to do that, we are going to need some sort of windscreen. Now for some, they may not approve of this idea, but there is an upside. This could be a seasonal exercise in restyling your bike. I'm not saying you have to go back to full fairing's, but stretch your creativity and maybe try a simple upper fairing. Restyle a factory upper, or make your own.

Even a small fly screen can add a little redirection. When it warms back up, you can go back to your original design. At least you survived another cold winter, and maybe... enjoyed it?!

Everyone stay warm out there, and have a safe and happy holidays.

Winter Motorcycle Riding Gear Options

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2009 KTM 450 XC-W Bike Test

!±8± 2009 KTM 450 XC-W Bike Test

KTM has greatly enhanced the 450 XC-W for 2009. We put the new dirt bike right to the test with a race evaluation and then continued to flog it across Southern California.

2009 KTM 450 XC-W Bike Test

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