Sales of side by side vehicles are surging compared with quad bikes for on-farm use.
With a stable driving platform, easy entry and safety features including seat belts and roll over frames, as well as load carrying and towing capacity, they make a sound solution.
That’s not too mention many fall under the current $20,000 price mark.
Mojo Motorcycles Michael Poynton said there was “absolutely a trend” in sales.
“Up until the end of May side by sides were tracking at close to 30 per cent of the total market.
“To put that into perspective at the end of the year in 2015, as a percentage of the total market, side by sides were about 21 to 22pc.
“It is already at 30pc and it's our opinion that it is the way the market is going to continue to trend,” he said.
“I still believe it has a long way to go because when you look at the US market more than 50pc of their market is side by sides.”
Polaris’ Simon Gloyne agreed.
“The pressure from legislators and safety people is pushing toward fitment of CPDs on ATVs, which we don't endorse in line with the FCAI, but we are busily promoting that we’ve got 23 models with Roll Over Protection Structures.
With the exception of a handful of competition style machines all sales go to farming, Mr Gloyne said.
“Every year sales of side by sides are increasing and there is a corresponding decrease in ATVs - and that’s for the overall market as well.”
Michael Poynton expected some quad bike demand in the sub 400cc range from hobby farmers or those who need a runabout.
With increased sales, side by side pricing is also dropping.
Mr Poynton said the side by side “price jump used to be more than double, but over the past couple of years companies like us are offering a UTV at the price some are offering an ATV.”
He expected the total side by side market would be about 6000 units – which doesn’t account for sales of tractor brands like John Deere and Kubota and others.
“UTVs are about 55pc of what we sell,” Mr Poynton said.
“ATVs are inherently dangerous... and the message has got through and for that reason they are looking for safer alternatives,” he said.
“Now for the cost you can carry more and tow more, so they tick a lot of boxes.”
Polaris offers a wide range in both specifications Mr Gloyne said citing the Ace single seater.
An Ace 570 HD with ROPS, seatbelt, tipper body and descent control retails for $11,995 compared to a Polaris UTE 570 HD quad with a tipper tub and power steering at $10,995, he said.
“We’re always evolving and improving our vehicles and always have new stuff coming,” he said.
