Ill agree ATV parts are balls expensive. But alot of them are hand fabbed...like A arms and stuff and that all takes time. Some just takes alot of testing..such as shocks and companies want to make money off their big investment. But most importantly is people buy the stuff for that price!!!! a few companies are starting to step up and make stuff at reasonable prices...look at rocky montain atvs tusk, arc, g force, longhorn stuff. Works has supposedly come out with a new shock that performs real nice and is cheap. The market has been pretty small for the past few years...now its getting bigger, expecially the race part and things are going to be cheaper.
Oh and how to save money...buy used!! when ever Im looking for something new I always check ebay or the for sale section here for a deal. You can save big bucks on used parts. Recently i got a set of V-force in mint shape for 170, intake for 125, 33pwks with K&Ns for 200....