Riding the trails can put a lot of wear and tear on your ATV. You can avoid costly repairs and downtime if you know some basic riding techniques. These techniques won't just keep your ATV out of the shop, but they'll also make you a better and safer rider.
When you're out riding, naturally you're going to come across a lot of hills and slopes. Sometimes these slopes may be minor, but other times you may face a mountainous incline. Before revving the engine and throwing caution to the wind, make sure your ATV has the power to handle the slope. If you're confident that you can make it, keep at a constant speed without overdoing it to avoid an unwanted wheelie. Stand up and lean forward into the incline. Once you reach the top, switch into a low gear and lean back in the seat to handle the descent. Never take a slope at an angle, or ride horizontally across it, or you may put yourself at danger of flipping your quad. If you are riding directly across a titled slope, then change your center of gravity towards to incline. Only tackle slopes that are more gradual, otherwise known as an off-camber trail. They're not full-on hills, so you can still ride on them without fear of wrecking as long as you lean correctly. If you come across mud, it's recommended to approach it directly and drive right through it. Gauge whether the mud pit is too deep for your quad beforehand. If you find yourself stuck and spinning tires, turn your handlebars back and forth to gain traction with the front tires. You may find yourself stuck, in which case stop spinning your tires deeper into the mud and use a winch or the help of another rider to get yourself out. It's always smart to ride with friends in case anything goes wrong - plus it's more fun! |
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