If you’ve ever wondered who Vito really is or how Vito’s Performance became a cornerstone for ATV lovers, you’re not alone. The history of Vito’s is deeply rooted in passion, performance, and community.
Today, it's thriving thanks to a dedicated ATV enthusiast named Ray.
Who Is Vito? (Short Answer: Yes, He’s Real)
First things first: Vito is a real person, but “Vito” is actually a nickname. His given name is Vince, and he’s been a powersports guy forever.
Back in the early ’90s, Vince (aka Vito) was building high-performance 2-stroke engines, tuning quads for speed, and inventing his own parts because he couldn’t find what he needed on the market.
His passion evolved into a full business in the early '90s also, as he started selling these parts to the public, founding what would become Vito’s Performance. Taking after his father, who owned a Yamaha dealership, Vito was paving the way for bigger and better offerings to ATV enthusiasts.
How Vito’s Became What It Is Today
Parallel to Vito’s journey, another operation was happening: a company called Motor City ATV, which began parting out thousands of Yamaha Banshees (and later YFZ450s) for parts around 1999.
Over time, Vito's and Motor City realized they complemented each other perfectly. Vito’s had the aftermarket/performance part innovation, and Motor City ATV had the inventory, OEM connections, and distribution.
That synergy drove a merger in 2015, combining the best of both worlds into one powerhouse. Since then, Vito’s has expanded beyond just Banshees and Blasters (their original specialties) into a broad range of ATVs: Yamaha Raptors, Yamaha Warrior, Honda 300ex/400ex, TRX450r, and more.
Fueling the Future: How Ray Keeps the Vito’s Legacy Wide Open
When Vince “Vito” decided it was time to hang up the wrench and pass the torch, he didn’t hand his life’s work to a suit behind a desk. He handed it to a rider.
Enter Ray, an ATV addict with gasoline in his veins and a garage full of projects to prove it. Since taking over in 2015, Ray hasn’t just kept Vito’s Performance alive, he’s taken the throttle, leaned in, and pushed it harder.
Ray shows up every day like a guy who still spends his weekends wrenching in the shop, dialing in jetting, helping riders chase down mysterious rattles, or talking someone through a late-night rebuild. He knows the scene. He lives the sport. And he’s kept Vito’s focused on what matters to real riders: performance, quality, and that “let’s go ride” energy.
Under his leadership, Vito’s has doubled down on everything that made it legendary in the first place: authenticity, knowledge, community, and innovation. And all with the same no-BS honesty that built the place.
What Makes Vito’s the Go-To for Quad Addicts
Vito’s has kept the energy high with custom-made kits to support performance builds, and a growing online community, where new parts, wild builds, giveaways, and customer rides are being shared constantly.
Why does the community continue to trust Vito’s? So glad you asked!
Here are just a few reasons:
- Authentic to the Core: Vito’s was born from a builder who couldn’t find parts tough enough, so he made his own. That gritty, build-it-better attitude is still the heartbeat of the brand.
- Real Technical Know-How: From 2-stroke Banshee screamers to modern race quads, Ray and the crew know their stuff. Their guides, blogs, and customer support come from real experience, not guesswork. If you’re tuning, upgrading, rebuilding, or chasing more torque, these are your people.
- Riders First, Always: Better prices. Exclusive parts. Fast shipping. Honest help. Vito’s listens to what riders want then stocks it, restocks it, and improves it. The team is constantly rolling out products based on what the community is asking for.
- Growth that Still Respects the OGs: Vito’s hasn’t abandoned its Banshee and Blaster heritage — they’ve expanded from it. Today, the shelves are loaded with top-tier parts for Raptors, Warriors, TRX models, YFZ450s, and more. And while the lineup keeps growing, the soul stays the same.
- Performance Parts that Deliver: Supporting performance builds for a wide range of machines, including modern race quads like the YFZ450, Vito’s continues to deliver (free in the continental United States!) quality parts and keep riders full throttle.
In Short: Why Vito’s Performance Matters
Vito’s Performance isn’t just a retailer — it’s a legacy. It started with a passionate builder (Vince, aka Vito) who needed better parts, grew into a store that ATV enthusiasts trust, and now thrives under a rider-led owner (Ray) who cares as much about the quad lifestyle as his customers do.
For anyone who cares about performance, community, and authenticity in the ATV world, Vito’s isn’t just a parts supplier; it’s one of the Quad Life family.
POWER UP | Since 1998, Vito’s Performance has been supplying the world with top-quality and hard-to-find ATV parts for builders and enthusiasts alike. We specialize in the Yamaha Banshee and the Yamaha Blaster, and carry parts for all Yamaha Raptors, the Yamaha Warrior, Honda 300ex and 400ex, and the Honda TRX450r. For assistance with all performance products, contact Vito’s Performance online or call (248) 969-9168.