ATV riding tips.

[Benny]

One thing I learned real fast when I started racing Motocross with both the 3 and 4 wheelers was throttle control.

If your going to be jumping table tops,whoop-de-do's or just doubles you better learn how to control the machine in flight.
The number one way to do this is throttle control, if you hit the gas your front end will rise, let off and it will dive.

You also need to hit the base with an even throttle , this eliminates the machine from any attitude do to gas on or gas off.

If the gas is on and your pinned to the bars more than likely your going to wheelie over or tend to go skyward with the front of the machine.

Just the opposite if you off the gas and slowing down as you hit the jump.

Both can have advantages in certain situations, but the best way to start off the jump face is with an even throttle.

Once air borne you can use the rear brake to get the front to dive and the gas to get it to go up or level out.

Now with a 4x4 model I am not exactly sure the gas on gas off once airborne is still going to do the same thing.
I do believe it will work though as the rotating mass is still going to force the energy up ward if the gas is shut off or the brakes applied.

This tip is meant for the more experienced riders, if your just starting out please keep it on the ground until your skill level is good enough to handle air time.

Benny

[Benny]

Skill levels!!!!

Don't think your going to be as good as those riders you see rippin through the trails on the television commercials until you have many hours of riding under your belt.

The riders shown are all pros, they have been riding ATV's for many years and understand what each one will do at any given situation.

Just start out slow and cautious, ride to your level and let the banzai brothers go rippin by.
In time your skills will improve too, then you will be riding with them as well.

Find an area with different types of terrain, start out slow and just ride.
Watch how the experienced riders attack the rocks or hit the hill climbs.
Then try it on the less aggressive terrain first, moving up as your confidence and skills to control the machine advance.

It is the fool who hits the biggest hill first, just wait and be patient.

Benny

[Benny]

Remeber in the dry conditions we are having to always have your spark arrestor on the end of the mufflers.
Or in some models just keep the baffels in place.

These machines get hot and a sudden deaccelaration can cause a back fire or some un burned hot fuel to blow out the muffler and ignite the grass.

Benny

[Benny]

When you come across a situation that requires you to traverse the side of a hill, remember to keep your wieght on the down hill side foot peg and your upper body leaning into the hill.

This will keep the center of gravity lower as the wieght is on the lowest part of the machine while your upper body mass will counter the force of the machine wanting to tip down hill.

This is also the proper why to take a corner on the ATV's, it only looks cool to have that leg flappin up in the air while your leaning way over into the corner.

You can spin out, or actualy roll the machine because you are adding wieght to the hights center of gravity on the machine.

Benny

[Benny]

ALWAYS wear your helmet, even if it is just a quick spin to the mail box!!!!

I read again this week that some one rolled thier machine and smacked thier head on the ground while just going to the mail box.

The guy rode out his drive and turned to get closer, but let go of the bars as he neared the box.
The machine hit a small chuck hole left over from the last winter, cuasing the front tires to turn him into the ditch.

Benny

[Benny]

Here is a good tip for those who load an ATV into the back of a truck.

Always use a safety chain on each end of your ramps to keep them from slipping of the gate.

I was over at the Hitching post a while back checking out the new machines.The sales man and I watched a customer drop his gate, put the trifold ramp up to the gate and only locked in one side.

He drove up to the ramps, put his front tires on them and then gunned the motor to climb up.

The ramp shifted just as his rear tires were about to go onto the gate, the machine and rider fell off the gate with the frame catching the gate and throwing the rider off and rolling the machine over backwards.

The guy didn't get hurt because the machine hung up for a few seconds, giving him enough time to roll away before it slammed over onto its bars.

The machine crushed the light pod,bars,and controls, and would have hit the rider if the frame had not kept it up for those few seconds.

The way I load a machine is to secure the ramps on both sides, then approach them with an even speed fast enough to carry the machine up into the bed but not so fast as to go through the back window.

Benny

[Benny]

When you come to a steep down hill, slide your weight back as far as you can and still have a solid grip on the bars.

Keep both feet on the pegs or floorboards, and go up to and over the edge as slow as you can .

Never try to gas it over a ledge, and don't go over the lip with any momentum built up.
Never hit just the back brakes, us both front and back to slow you down.

If you start to slide out because you hit the rear brakes to hard, just let off the rear brakes till the machine comes back under you and then use front and back again.

Benny

[Benny]

One way to keep those ice studs sharp when not on the ice is to cut 4 strips of old carpet wide enough and long enough to wrap around your tires.

Then you can tie them on with rope or a bungy cord.

Now you can roll the machine around on the pavement or concrete and not dull the studs.

Benny