If you’re just getting into the world of ATV vehicles, and you’re learning to ride a quad bike, strap in because you’re in for a lot of fun and a great deal of adventure.
Quad bikes are super fun to use, and a very popular adventure activity, as they allow you to explore your surroundings, going off-trail, and driving like there’s no tomorrow.
We’ll start by saying that riding an ATV isn’t quite as easy as it seems. Many people think that you simply hop onto the quad back, press down on the acceleration pedal, and steer your way through hills and bumps. But actually, it requires a good deal of control to safely drive an ATV vehicle through the rougher areas.
Nevertheless, if you take the right steps and follow the right techniques, you can learn to be in full control of your ATV, so that you can confidently drive it around, in no time!
Let’s start by giving you a few main techniques that every beginner should learn, as they will quickly and easily make you feel confident and in control, and you’ll be able to drive the ATV around without as much of a struggle:
Wear the right clothing and gear:
This one is kind of obvious, but wearing the right clothing and gear can seriously give you the upper hand when it comes to riding an ATV. If you’re well protected and comfortable while driving, you will be able to focus on the actual experience of it all!
Careful with your feet:
Getting the riding position and posture right can take some while, but once you’ve gotten used to it it can seriously improve your performance and experience. One thing to remember is to keep your feet on the ATV, facing forward, where they are supposed to be.
It’s easy to have your feet move towards the side, but it’s important to keep them in place so you are ready and in control. (Also, you should use shoes with a good grip to help you with this!)
Practice using the clutch and shifting:
Learning to properly use the clutch and shift through the different gears is absolutely vital when driving an ATV, so the sooner you master this, the sooner you will be good at it!
One of the most important things to remember in regards to this is to be gentle with the clutch, so there are no abrupt changes or movements, especially as you’re in rough terrain!
Using the brakes:
With an ATV, if you combine the design of the quad bike with the rough terrain, it’s important to know how to use the brakes properly.
If you brake too suddenly or while turning, you might end up slipping and having the ATV turn upside down, which is something you need to avoid. Be gentle with the brakes, and always use them when in a straight line.
How to steer properly:
Steering might seem easy enough, but when you’re trying to get around rough and bumpy terrain, it gets complicated. As with most things on a quad bike, you need to be gentle, adapting to the speed and terrain so that you don’t end upside down.
Standing up when needed:
When riding a quad bike, it’s not as easy as sitting on it and driving. As the terrain is rough and uneven, you also need to get the rest of your body involved, standing up when needed.
For example, if you’re going up a steep hill, it is vital that you stand up, leaning your body forward so that you don’t drag the ATV down with your weight, causing it to fall backward. It can be daunting at first, but don’t be scared to stand!
Don’t rush into the tricks:
You might have seen some cool tricks being performed with an ATV, and you might be dying to give them a try. But here’s the thing, until your skills and experience are at the right level, those tricks are just going to be a risk to you, and won’t pay off.
Have some patience and focus on perfecting your control first. That way, when you do try the tricks, they’ll work all the better.
How do you ride a quad like a pro?
Once you get used to riding a quad bike, and you leave behind your beginner days to grow in skills and confidence, you might begin to wonder what the next step is. How can you ride your quad like a pro? How do you improve your skills to that next advanced level?
The obvious answer is practice. Riding your quad regularly will help you grow in experience and the more you practice the better you will get, slowly accumulating more advanced techniques and perfecting your control over the vehicle. However, there are a few things you can do to help you ride like a pro even faster:
Don’t stick to the same trail:
If you always drive the same trail or go around the same area, you will get very good at what you’re doing, but you won’t have much growth in regards to skill or experience. It’s important to be versatile, trying out your quad in different terrains, so that you challenge yourself daily with new problems and new solutions.
Get a practice partner:
Riding your quad alongside someone else is always more fun, but if that someone is also more experienced or advanced, then they can point out any mistakes you’re making or give you tips to improve.
Get to know your quad bike:
Don’t just ride your quad, learn about it. The mechanics and the different bits and pieces, how it works every little detail about it. If you know your vehicle well, you’ll drive it better.
How do you ride an automatic ATV?
Riding an automatic ATV can be a lot easier, as you don’t have to worry about properly shifting between each gear. Instead, it will shift automatically for you. The only thing you need to do, therefore, is to put the ATV in gear when you first start it up and then press the throttle to get going!
After that, you just need to worry about the speed and the steering, which makes it a lot easier. Although most professional ATV riders actually prefer to have normal gears, so that they have more control over them.
