Haavard Krislok
ATV- and offroad-enthusiast, engineer, farmer, and self-taught home mechanic; a description I believe fits me quite well.
I was born and raised in a mid-size cattle ranch in the middle of Norway. I worked at the farm just about every day until I got my bachelor's degree in construction.
We bought our first ATV in 2004. It was a Honda Foreman Rubicon 500, a rock-solid little quad. Since then, I've run through several more ATVs, as well as a bunch of dirtbikes, snowmobiles, Jeeps, and motorcycles. Fun times!
Already as a child, I learned that when you're running a farming operation, stuff will break all the time. I also learned that there's a lot of money to be saved by doing repairs and maintenance ourselves. Fixing and making sure our machines and vehicles were in good shape were daily tasks that I soon learned to enjoy. Even to this day, a couple of decades later, this stuff still gives me a great sense of satisfaction.
I started BoostATV.com in 2018 as a hobby project. My goal with the site is to help other ATV enthusiasts by sharing what I have picked up through the years. I know what a great sense of self-accomplishment I get from fixing a problem on my own, and I want you to have the same great experience. Disclaimer: I am not a trained mechanic, but I do know quite a bit. And, as you may notice, English is not my native language - but I try my best! Hopefully, you will find my site helpful!
Haavard Krislok
My Hands-On ATV Experience
So, what hands-on ATV experience do I have? Here is a list of some of the ATVs that I or close friends and family have owned or still own today. I've had the pleasure of running, fixing, and maintaining most of them. As you can see, they range from small youth ATVs, Sports, and touring ATVs to heavy-duty utility machines
2004 Honda Foreman Rubicon
UtilityThis was our first ATV, a rock-solid workhorse. Here it's being ridden by my awesome grandfather. The Honda had a smooth automatic transmission with optional push-button gear shifts. We did not have any issues with the transmission as long as we owned it, but I know others have. And they are not cheap to repair either. The 2005 and later models had a much more reliable transmission. It had a solid axle drive, which I believe is superior to any CVT transmission for utility work. It had a solid axle rear end, which made it less than ideal off-road. It was not too fast, but not slow either. We sold it after a few years after my father flipped it from hauling a heavy load on the rear cargo rack up a hill.
2008 Yamaha Grizzly 660
UtilityA buddy owned this lifted Grizzly for several years. It managed to withstand all of the use and abuse we could throw at it. If I were to name one reliable brand of ATV's, it would have to be a Yamaha. Rock solid, lots of fun and and no fuzz.
2011 Can-AM Outlander 650
Utility/TouringAnother buddys ATV that he had for several years. He had it from he was 16 years old, and had wery little issues with it through the years he owned it. It's the one on the left on this photo, standing next to a 2007 Honda Foreman. The photo is a few years old, but the Honda looks like new still to this day!
2008 Polaris Sportsman 500HO 6X6
UtilityWe use this ATV to collect big game during hunting season. The 6x6 provides excellent traction on soft grounds but does impact maneuverability compared to a 4x4. In recent years we tent to use a tracked 4x4 while keeping the 6x6 Polaris as a backup.
2016 Can-Am Outlander 1000 High Lifter
SportThe Grizzly above was traded in for a 2016 Can-Am. This one is a beast! Big, massive, and powerful. It's not as agile as my sportsman when riding off-road, but in mud or snow, I cannot keep up. Mostly due to the large lugged tires that are fitted to the Can-Am.
2015 Suzuki Quad Sport Z90 Youth ATV
YouthMy brother bought this Suzuki for my nephew after he had worn out a couple of cheap china-brand youth ATVs in no-time. The Suzuki, however, seems almost indestructible. It's now passed on to a younger nephew of mine. He runs it like he stole it as well, but it holds up very well never the less. It could need a proper cleaning tho.
2016 Polaris Sportsman XP 1000
Sport / UtilityThis is my own ATV. I bought it new from the dealer in 2016, and it has done a great job so far. I really don't see a reason to upgrade it just yet. I'm not crazy about the transmission; the gear shifter could preferably move a bit smoother. This is a common Polaris problem. The shifter on my father's Textron is much smoother to operate. Also, I had to upgrade to an aftermarket exhaust. The stock one is designed to meet the rigorous noise emission requirements here in Norway and would glow red when pulling heavy at low speeds. Other than that, I love it!
2015 Polaris Scrambler 1000
SportYet another buddy owns this 2015 Polaris Scrambler 1000. It's basically a lightweight Sportsman with better suspension and a more sporty looking body. The frame, engine, transmission, and much more are just about identical with a Sportsman.
2019 Textron (Arctic Cat) Alterra TBX 700
UtilityMy father bought this brand new 2019 Textron. He will primarily be using it around the farm and for hunting. I haven't seen a 4x4 ATV with a flat-bed before. It will be interesting to see how it performs and how well it holds up.
Selected posts
Enough about me. Here are a few of my posts that you might find interesting!
