Looking to buy a 110cc ATV and don’t know what to expect? Or maybe you are having trouble with your 110cc ATV and want to get more power out of it?
Well, if these apply to you, then you may be able to find the answers to your questions below!
How Fast Does a 110cc ATV Go?
110cc is pretty small, which means that 110cc ATVs won’t go very fast. Up to 35-40 mph is probably what you should expect from such an ATV.
There are plenty of things that will affect the maximum speed of a 110cc ATV though. For example, if the ATV doesn’t have a transmission, then it probably won’t go faster than about 15 mph. But if the ATV has a 5-speed transmission or so, then it may be able to go the 35-40 mph we mentioned above.
With that said, if you really care about the speed of your 110cc ATV, then there are ways with which you may make your little off-road vehicle go faster. Much faster, as a matter of fact. But before we move on to the ways of making an ATV more powerful, there is one important thing we want to discuss.
Should You Try to Make a 110cc ATV Go Faster?
First of all, should you even attempt to make your 110cc ATV go faster?
Well, the answer to this question may be no.
You see, 110cc ATVs are small vehicles, and ATVs that small are usually intended for children. And the thing here is that children and ATVs don’t combine well.
Children are involved in around 30% of all ATV-related injuries and deaths, which is a pretty significant share. In 2015, 26,700 children younger than 16 were seriously injured by ATVs and 73 children died in an ATV-related accident. Moreover, more kids die from ATV accidents than from bicycle crashes.
Over the years, ATVs have become bigger and faster. While this does make riding an ATV a more fun activity, it also increases the risks associated with them. And children often do not have good judgment, knowledge, or physical preparation to safeguard themselves from the risks of ATV operation.
With this in mind, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children under 16 not to operate an ATV. In some states, this may actually be enforced by age limits or license requirements. But it still will be up to you as a parent to supervise the safety of your kid while they are operating an ATV.
Now, what does this have to do with 110cc ATVs and their speed?
Well, it’s pretty easy. As mentioned above, 110cc ATVs are often intended for children. And if you’ve bought a 110cc ATV for your kid or already have one, then you really don’t want it to go fast. The slower, the better.
If you are yet to buy an ATV for your kid, then make sure to go for a slower model. If you already have a 110cc or more powerful ATV, then you will have to take extra care when supervising your child.
If you have an adult 110cc ATV though, things will be completely different for you.
Upgrading an ATV vs Buying a New One
Whether you already have a 110cc ATV or are planning to get one, you will have two options for making it faster and more powerful – you may do some aftermarket upgrades to it, or you may just buy a more powerful ATV.
And we think that the second option is actually the better one. It’s all about safety.
A less powerful ATV may not be at all designed to handle higher speeds. You sure can install better suspension or exhaust system on your 110cc ATV, and it may indeed go much faster than it did from the factory, but you will probably be compromising your safety by making upgrades that the ATV hasn’t been designed for.
If your 110cc ATV’s default configuration allows it to go up to 35 mph, then maybe you shouldn’t push its speed further – the ATV may not be strong enough to withstand higher speed. Not only that, but some upgrades may make your ATV unreliable.
With that said, you can do some smaller upgrades to optimize your ATV a little and make it go faster. But before doing so, you should probably ask the ATV’s manufacturer whether you should attempt to upgrade it.
If the ATV has been indeed made with upgradability in mind, then sure, go ahead. Otherwise, it probably would be safer for you to buy a more powerful ATV.
How to Make Your ATV Go Faster
Now, let’s have a look at the things that you can do to make your ATV faster.
Check your air filter
Upgrading your stock air filter to a high-performance one is an easy way to add a little power to your ATV. However, there’s an easier thing that you can do to optimize your ATV’s air filter.
If you’ve had your ATV for a while and haven’t done any air filter cleanup, then do make sure to clean your air filter. If the air filter is clogged, the airflow through the filter and into the combustion chamber of the engine will be restricted. This will translate into less combustion and less power.
Thus, a simple cleanup could noticeably increase the performance of your ATV. But if you’ve already been keeping a good eye on your ATV, then you may go straight for a better filter.
Upgrade the exhaust system
Upgrading your exhaust system to a less restrictive one can deliver a noticeable increase in your ATV’s horsepower. A good exhaust system that provides good airflow may increase the horsepower of your ATV by around 10%, but this will greatly depend on the condition of the ATV and on what kind of an exhaust upgrade you purchase.
Install a big ATV bore kit
Increasing the surface area at the top of the piston, a bore kit allows for a larger amount of air/fuel mixture to be drawn inside. A higher amount of the air/fuel mixture increases the force exerted onto the piston, which ultimately transfers to increased speed and power.
Switch to better fuel
Switching to higher-octane gasoline may be very beneficial for your ATV’s performance as well. With that said, if your ATVs engine doesn’t require high compression ratios, using high-octane fuel may bring no benefits whatsoever.
Besides, according to the US FTC, in most cases, buying higher-octane fuel is a waste of money.
You should go for the fuel rating recommended by your manufacturer. Aside from that, you may try to switch to higher-octane fuel if you have the issue of engine knocking. Otherwise, a higher octane rating probably won’t bring you sizable benefits.
Change your gear ratio
You may also try to play around with the gear ratio of your ATV to optimize its power band.
While adjusting your ATV’s gear ratio can make it more optimized on the track, what kind of ratio will be the best will depend on the track’s nature. You may gear down on tracks with few to no straight sections, or you may gear up if you need higher top speed.
To adjust the gear ratio, you will need some experience, as well as trial and error to determine which gear ratio works optimally for the current track conditions.
Switch your tires
It may also be a good idea for you to switch your tires. As you probably know, good traction with the ground allows the ATV to transfer the power produced by the motor to the ground more efficiently.
And to ensure good traction, you could go for good all-terrain racing tires.
Pay attention to your rear tires – they should have a staggered pattern, a pattern that gives solid contact with the ground. Not only that, but such tires will stay relatively free from mud.
The front tires are simpler –racing tires contain a tread that runs along the center of the tire. There may also be some tread on the front tires’ sidewalls.
Adjust your tire pressure
Tire pressure may also be able to make a difference in the speed of your ATV.
There are no secrets here – you just need to maintain the tire pressure at levels recommended by the manufacturer. Too high tire pressure will make the ATV too stiff and less comfortable, while low tire pressure may put extra strain on the ATV’s wheelbase. Not only that, but underinflated tires can get pinched.
If you are experienced, then you may go a little lower or higher than recommended by the manufacturer if needed. Otherwise, just maintain the tire pressure at the suggested levels to ensure that you are getting balanced performance out of the tires.
Final Words
In the end, does it really matter how fast your ATV goes?
Well, if you are a competitive rider, then it does. With that said, it would probably be a better idea to buy a more powerful ATV than to try and optimize a 110c one.
If you won’t be participating in competitions, then it doesn’t really make sense to make your ATV more powerful.
And please do remember that you shouldn’t make your 110cc ATV faster if it’s used by your kid. On the contrary, you would want to make it slower to ensure the safety of your child.
