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ATV Operation
Your safety depends on using safe riding techniques. Statistics from the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) say that inexperi-
enced riders who don’t use safe riding techniques are
13 times more
likely to have an ATV accident
than riders who have over 1 month of
experience.
Safe riding techniques include:
Riding
Once the engine’s warm, the ATV is ready to
go.
1. Keep your feet on the footrests and both
hands on the handlebar.
2. Hold the brake levers, and release the
brake lever lock.
3. Release the brakes slowly and apply the
throttle.
Skidding or Sliding
If you lose control after hitting sand, ice, mud,
or water:
1. Turn your handlebar into the direction of the slide.
2. Keep your hand off the brakes until you’re out of the skid.
3. Shift your weight forward.
Sometimes your ATV may not respond and goes straight ahead instead
of letting you turn. Here’s how to handle it:
1. Slow down.
2. Move forward on the seat.
3. Lean to inside of turn.
4. Turn handlebar.
Leaning, Weight Shift, and Balance
When you turn, the trick is to move forward and slide over to the side of
the seat that’s on the inside of the turn. Support your body weight on the
outside footrest. At the same time, lean your body to the inside of the
turn. Pay attention to the handling—if you feel the tires coming off the
ground, reduce speed, shift more of your body weight to the side that’s
lifting, and make the turn wider if possible.
Tips
• Riding
• Skidding or Sliding
• Leaning, Weight Shift, and Balance
• K-Turns
• Riding Uphill
• Sidehilling/Traversing
• Riding Downhill
• Wide Turns
• Sharp Turns
• Crossing Obstacles
• Crossing Water
• Crossing Roads
• Cold Weather Driving
• Stopping the ATV
• Stopping the Engine
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ATV-0013
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ATV-0025
