ATV Riding Tips

An all-terrain vehicle is a fun way to test your riding abilities, speed, and overall guts at times. Before you can take on some challenging terrains or jumps to test your skills, you need a good foundation of the basics. Let’s get you started on the right foot with a few basic ATV riding tips.

1. Educate yourself on your machine: One of the most important yet often overlooked ATV riding tips is to simply get to know your machine before you ride. You should consult your owner’s manual for any insights on how your ride operates, riding suggestions, and other pertinent information. Aside from that, hopefully you did your homework before you bought your ride. For instance, if you are dealing with a beast of a machine in terms of size and power that is just a bit too much for a first time rider just learning the ropes, it can certainly make learning to ride a bigger challenge. Another good idea is to get to know some fellow ATV riders with your same model to see if they have any tips or tricks on a better ride based on the specifics of the machine.

2. Check your footing and handlebars before every ride: Before any ride, you should check the handle bars and foot pegs on your ride to make sure they are secure. These two elements are the most crucial in terms of control when riding so they need to be secure for a safe ride. Loose handlebars can be a big concern in terms of being able to properly steer.

   You should also look at adding what are called Nerf bars which are basically large heel guards to keep your feet trained on where to stay during the ride. This will not only train your feet, but it will give you better control while riding until you get used to ATV riding.

3. Get comfortable with the throttle: Another important part of riding is knowing how to handle the throttle. This is one of the ATV riding tips that will take time to perfect, but it’s definitely worth the effort. The throttle will take some getting used to as a new rider which is why you should start slow. You never want to put the throttle all the way down because it will give you too much speed at once. It is best to start slowly with just a little throttle to get used to the way the ride moves. It also takes practice to get increased throttle while already moving because if you give too much more all at once, the front end will pop up and you could even flip over. Make sure you go slow and slowly build up your confidence in terms of throttle.

   You should also consider using a high test gas for your ride. A high octane fuel will make the machine smoother overall and can help new riders get used to the way the throttle handles with more ease.

4. Know how to shift: Once you get the throttle under control, knowing how to shift is crucial to a good ride. If you have an ATV you have to ramp up on manual shifting, this is something to get familiar with for a safe ride. Typically, the left foot will control the shifting lever while the left hand controls the clutch which will leave the right hand to manage the throttle speed. This is a lot to get used to managing all at once if you have this type of setup up on your ATV. You want to spend some time practicing changing gears until you can do it like second nature. It is easy to get confused with all the different hand and foot controls and coordination, so take some extra time and practice this before going out on a ride.

5. Master your posture: When riding an all-terrain vehicle, the matter of posture is paramount to a good ride. It can help give you more balance and control while ensuring comfort when riding. The right posture will take some getting used to as you ride but you should definitely pay attention to it with every ride. A few good tips include leaning to the opposite side of the momentum on turns to avoid flipping, riding in a stance rather than a seated position when picking up speed, and keeping elbows and knees bent rather than locked. Its key to stay loose while riding because the terrain can have unexpected shocks and bumps so you want a certain level of looseness to avoid injuries.

6. Always wear the right gear: When riding, you need the right gear to master ATV riding. A good pair of riding gloves can give you a better grip on the handles. A pair of riding shows with special soles will give you better hold on the floor pegs. A helmet is a must-have for safety reasons. A pair of goggles keeps your vision clear and ready to ride. The right gear can certainly help you learn to ride with a little assistance.

7. Keep practicing!: The best tip for ATV riding is to just keep practicing. Wherever your weak spots are as a rider, they will only improve if you stick with it and make an effort to keep practicing until perfect. Once you master one element, it is time to master something else. The great thing about ATV riding skills is that there is always something to improve and work on. For example, if you have the basics down to a second nature, you can start working on going faster, taking on tougher trails, or even doing a few jumps. The bottom line is to never stop riding and never stop improving.