ATV Riding Tips For Beginners
New to the world of powersports? Well, we’d like to welcome you to a new way of living that’s full of adrenaline-pumping adventure. Owning an all-terrain vehicle (ATV, also called a quad or a four-wheeler) is a great way to go off-roading with friends and family, explore nature trails or even get work done around your property or on a construction site.
But if you haven’t ridden an ATV before, it pays to be aware of the best practices so that you can stay safe and avoid damaging your vehicle or the surrounding environment. Cowboy Powersports in Beaumont is proud to be your Texas ATV dealer, so we’ve provided the following ATV riding tips for beginners to help you out.
Get in Some Practice
If you’re new to riding a quad, it’s a good idea to practice riding it before you take it to a riding area. Take your ATV to an empty, flat field so that you can figure out how to turn, reverse, brake and park it. You’ll want to go at lower speeds on relatively even terrain before you start to speed up.
It’s also helpful to plan out your rides in advance to determine the type of terrain you’ll be riding on. This helps you to anticipate areas where you may struggle. Riding behind a more advanced four-wheeler operator for your first few adventures will also help, since they can show you the best path and help you to avoid obstacles while setting a reasonable riding pace. In general, it’s best to ride ATVs in a group or with at least one other person so that someone can assist you if you become ill or injured or if your vehicle is damaged.
Gear Up For Safety
Because your four-wheeler is open to the air, lacks a seatbelt, and is ridden over unpredictable terrain, you’re going to need to protect yourself. Wear the right safety gear to prevent injury from befalling you. Your ensemble should include a well-fitting motocross helmet with a pair of goggles or a motorcycle helmet with a full face mask for eye protection from flying debris. Long sleeves and pants made from sturdy fabric, paired with ankle boots and riding gloves, will make up the rest of your attire and help to prevent sunburns, cuts and abrasions.
Stock Your Quad
You should also make sure to bring some other supplies along with you for every ride. A first-aid kit, a toolkit, tire patches, an air compressor, water and food, a GPS unit, your phone with a charger, an emergency radio, a compass, a flashlight and a paper map are all going to be extremely useful items to have in a crisis. If your ATV doesn’t have enough storage space, you can keep some items in a backpack or install some aftermarket storage to make room for your gear.
Ride Responsibly
Even when you’ve become a more experienced rider, you’re still going to be vulnerable if you aren’t careful. Always ride your ATV when sober, alert and well-rested; trying to ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol will lead to disaster, and trying to ride while tired or sick will cause you to lose focus, which also puts you in danger.
Make sure that you’re being respectful of other riders, hikers, pedestrians, animals, campers and anyone else you might encounter. Always follow the posted rules of any trail, including speed limits, and make sure that you’re giving stopped vehicles a wide berth. You never want to make anyone else feel unsafe!
We hope this guide helps you to have a successful first adventure on your ATV. Come see us at our Beaumont location to check out our available selection of new and used four-wheelers for sale. Cowboy Powersports proudly serves all of our Texas customers, including those of you in Lake Charles, Pasadena, and Baytown.