ATV Safety Tips
ATVs or all terrain vehicles, also called four wheelers or quads, offer adrenaline-pumping off-roading fun for powersports enthusiasts. Whether you’re a novice rider or an expert, you’ll find that riding an ATV through the forest or over sand dunes is an exhilarating experience that you’ll remember for a long time. ATVs are fast, nimble and capable of handling even the roughest terrain with their durable tires and powerful engines. However, because of their open-air, straddle riding style, they present a real safety risk if you don’t take some precautions.
Your local 4 wheeler dealer is Escondido Cycle Center. Our staff are well-versed in good safety practices when it comes to ATV riding, so we’ve created this quick guide to help you come back from your off-roading adventures in one piece. If your quad has any maintenance issues that could stand to be addressed by a professional mechanic, call up our service department so we can help you out!
Get The Right Gear
Your ATV doesn’t have safety gear standard, so you’ll need to invest in some before you ride. The most important piece of your safety arsenal is a well-fitting helmet that’s rated for high-impact extreme riding conditions. ATVs present a rollover risk, particularly on steep slopes or very tough terrain, so you want to be prepared in case you fall off and potentially hit your head. A motorcycle helmet with face mask can work for this purpose, but can be somewhat hot and heavy for ATV riding conditions. Therefore, we recommend a motocross helmet with a pair of goggles for eye protection. Motocross helmets are much more breathable and lightweight while still offering great protection for ATV riders.
The rest of your attire doesn’t need to be specialized in any way, but should serve to protect your skin from scrapes, sunburn and abrasions. This means long sleeves, pants, riding gloves with good grip and sturdy ankle boots should be worn while riding your ATV.
Make sure that you’re also carrying vital safety equipment with you as you ride. Snacks and water are important to keep you fueled and hydrated during a long afternoon of riding. A first aid kit stocked with bandages and medications will help you to address minor illnesses or injuries. Flares, an emergency hand-crank radio, your phone with charger, a map and compass to navigate if GPS or phone systems fail you, flashlights and an ATV repair kit with tire patches should accompany you on your rides.
Maintain Your Quad
ATV maintenance is an important component of safety. If you allow your ATV to wear down, don’t change the oil and never check the tires, you could suffer serious breakdowns or burst tires while off-roading that endanger you and others. Change the oil on a regular basis and check it frequently to make sure it’s clean and free of debris or sludge. Use a tire pressure gauge to check your tire pressure before every ride and air your tires up to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure guidelines. Look for bald spots, embedded objects or uneven wear on your tires that could necessitate replacement. Every so often, you’ll want to have your ATV serviced by a professional mechanic like the ones at Escondido Cycle Center. You can call us to schedule an appointment before your next ride so we can get you ready to go!
Follow Safety Guidelines
Make sure to only go off-roading during good weather conditions and daylight hours. While you might have lights on your ATV for safety in dim lighting, you shouldn’t use these to ride through natural areas at night because you won’t have enough visibility to spot animals, people or obstacles in your path. Never drink alcohol or use recreational drugs before or during your ride. This should go without saying, but it’s important that you maintain your sobriety for maximum focus while off-roading. Slow down around hikers and animals, giving them a wide berth. If you’re riding on a trail, stick to the given path to avoid doing serious ecological damage to the surrounding environment or hitting an unseen obstacle.
Still seeking a 4 wheeler to take you places you could never have imagined you’d go? Visit our showroom in Escondido to see our wide array of quads for sale, including both new and used models. Escondido Cycle Center serves the greater San Diego metro area, as well as the cities of Temecula, Oceanside and Vista, California.
