When it comes to riding an ATV, there are several things that are of the utmost importance. First of all, its important to realize what an ATV was meant to do. In the beginning, these vehicles were made for heavy farm and ranch work. They were used to drive around a farm or a ranch because they could go over all kinds of terrain that pick up trucks and other vehicles couldn’t do.
However, even though they are still used for that, it has been more and more common to buy an ATV simply to have fun with. If this is the case, you need to have an ATV helmet on at all times. Even if you are using your ATV for work, ATV helmets are very important.
Why Are They Important
Even if you are using your ATV for work, which means you’ll be going at a relatively slow speed, it is always important to use ATV helmets. Yes, it is obvious to see why they should be used when you are using your ATV for sport, jumping sand dunes are driving fast, but it is oftentimes harder to see why you should have to wear ATV helmets when you are using your ATV for every day work and going slowly.
The main reason is than an ATV is an extremely heavy machine. If you were to tip over an ATV, even at a slow speed, it could crush you. It could also crush your head. It is often said that bodies might heal, but if your head is crushed by an ATV, you are going to die. It is very, very important that everyone in your family realizes that when they are on the ATV they need to wear ATV helmets.
Good Fit
Besides just wearing ATV helmets, you need to make sure that you are wearing helmets that are actually going to benefit you if you are in an accident. You need to make sure that your ATV helmets are heavy duty and are made for use by people riding ATVs and other sports vehicles.
Always make sure that your ATV helmets are manufactured for that purpose, and that you don’t use other kinds of helmets. Also, always make sure that your ATV helmets fit the person’s head very well. A good fit is extremely important when it comes to your ATV helmets.
Filed under Uncategorized by on May 21st, 2008. Comment. 
ATV riding can be a fun hobby, with plenty of scenic and challenging trails around for exploration on your ATV. Sometimes, though, people desire a little more than simple riding, but are looking for a bigger thrill out of riding their ATV. Racing your ATV or attempting ATV stunts can be fun, but also make this sport more dangerous. ATV stunts in particular should not be attempted by anyone new to ATV riding. If you’re bound and determined to learn how to do a few ATV stunts, there are some things you should consider.
Learn To Ride
In order to do ATV stunts, you need to be able to control your ATV well. This means not just riding your ATV, but riding it often. Go out on local trails and get comfortable on them, from the beginner trails to the advanced ones. If you can’t safely handle your vehicle on challenging ATV trails, then you’ll have problems if you attempt any stunts. The more you ride your ATV, the closer to second nature controlling it will seem, which is key when doing stunts.
Wear Safety Equipment
It should go without saying that you need to have proper safety equipment when attempting to perform ATV stunts. A helmet is only the start; make sure you have riding leathers and gloves when you work on ATV stunts to protect your body all over. Don’t think that riding outfits are just something that came up from riding culture, as proper riding wear is the armor that keeps you from some nasty scrapes and other injuries. Remember, even though an ATV is a small vehicle, it can go fast, which means potential for injuries from crashes.
Be Careful
ATV stunts are fun because they look dangerous, and it’s not just appearances; they’re very dangerous. Only through a lot of practice and careful work can you work your way up to something truly impressive. People that do ATV stunts professionally got to that level of skill through being cautious, not reckless. Be sure to start small with your ATV stunts, only using small ramps if you’re attempting jumps or going at slow speeds while attempting wheelies.
Also, make sure that conditions are right for attempting stunts. If the ground is too wet and slick, you shouldn’t even attempt jumps. Keep in mind that even professional ATV stunt riders pay careful attention to conditions before attempting tricks.
Watch
Finally, going to ATV stunt shows can be a great way to learn about the sport, even if you don’t plan to do any stunts yourself. Watching the stunt riders, and even seeing a few spills, can give you an appreciation of the difficulty of stunt riding and the skill needed for it. And if you’re lucky, you can get a chance to talk with other stunt enthusiasts and learn about what they do to learn new tricks. Remember, stay safe, start small, and you’ll soon have a small number of ATV stunts you can do.
Filed under Uncategorized by on May 18th, 2008. Comment.
Let’s face it, not everybody has the cash to put out for a top of the line Honda or Yamaha ATV, an Artic Cat, Bombardier or Polaris. And even the smaller models are relatively expensive. But you still want a ride so you keep looking around.
There are used ATVs and you can save some serious coin by picking up a used model, if you’re able to determine why it’s being sold and what it’s condition really is. The nature of ATV trekking and racing isn’t the gentlest of activities and an ATV can age remarkably rapidly because of extreme stresses. Maybe the seller is telling you the truth when he says he only did some flat trail and sand riding a couple times and never ever went muddy or airborne. Or maybe not.
You need a competent mechanic to check out a used ATV and even then he or she isn’t going to be able just how stressed and close to the breaking point some parts may be. So while you may be getting a great deal you may also be looking at some unanticipated repairs, real soon now.
Recently a variety of Chinese manufactured ATVs have become available. These ATVs are generally much cheaper than comparable well known brands. Usually there are fewer models and smaller engine sizes. The smaller ones may be ideal for a child’s first ATV and the low cost makes it more practical in that sense. There are also now some bigger models suitable for adults.
A plus is that the engines tend to be cloned versions of Japanese engines which means that the designs are basically decent.
There are some problems however. Quality control can be a major issue with products from some Chinese factories, so you need to be very clear on what kind of warranty you’re getting. Generally you’ll also need to accept that these machines are not as well-finished as the big name brand machines.
The major kicker, however, is parts availability. With any kind of a machine which is subject to rugged conditions of use – that is why you want an ATV after all – things will break. No matter how hot the name, how good the quality control, how high the price, when you bounce off rocks and slam the ground, launch a quad airborne, run through mud and sand and generally have a really good time, you are going to get breakage and plain old mechanical wear, tear, fatigue and eventual parts failure.
Getting parts to fix up your Chinese ATV could be a nightmare. Maybe they’ll come in six weeks, six months, maybe never. So before you put down one cent, do your absolute best to ensure that the dealer – or some dealer you can get to easily – really and truly has parts. Ask him to show you what he keeps in stock. They want to sell you a quad so they may stretch the truth some. Check on the internet, see if you can find other people who’ve bought the model you’re thinking of and find out what their experiences have been.
Buy a model that you know is being sold fairly widely. That doesn’t mean every seller will have parts, but there’s a better chance that a supply chain will exist and that you will be able to get parts relatively quickly. If you are going to be an occasional rider, a Chinese ATV may offer you a whole lot of machine for a lot lower price and the parts and service issue would be slightly less important. However, if you are going to be using it daily, if it’s essential to your work, then you need to be very very sure of the quality, the warranty and service and parts availability.
Doing your research first can make the difference between getting yourself a great deal versus sliding into a no-ride nightmare.
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ATV trekking is a multi-faceted sport with something for everyone. Visit ATVTrekker.com for more ATV articles and information |
Filed under ATV Guide by on May 15th, 2008. Comment.