The Golden Rules of ATV Riding

Jennifer — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:16:49 +0000

The Golden Rules of ATV Riding: Keeping Kids Safe

Keeping Kids Safe

(ARA) – As a child grows, he or she goes through many stages of mobility. One day they’re crawling, the next they’re walking, and shortly thereafter comes the fascination with wheels sending parents rushing off to the sports store.

Most children start out with a tricycle, then a bike with training wheels which ultimately come off and most kids gravitate towards some sort of battery-powered ATV that replicates the real thing as a stepping stone for the future.

The reason for going through all these stages is so a youth can build up the skills and confidence needed to play with wheeled-vehicles safely. “We feel that similar stages — rights of passage if you will — are necessary for kids to stay safe on ATVs as well,” says Mike Adamek, all terrain vehicle (ATV) communications and safety coordinator for Minnesota-based OEM Arctic Cat.

Adamek points out that children who are too young to drive a car should not be operating an adult-sized ATV. “It simply isn’t safe,” he says. “We recommend families that are interested in riding visit their local dealer to find an appropriately sized ATV for their youth and take an ATV safety training course. It’s also a one-stop shop for all your safety gear too.”

That very recommendation is one of the Golden Rules of ATV riding according to the All Terrain Vehicle Institute (ASI), a not-for-profit division of the Specialty Institute of America (SVIA). Here are the others:

1. Always wear a helmet, gloves, eye protection and long sleeved shirts and pants when riding.
2. Never ride on public roads; another vehicle could hit you.
3. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
4. Never carry a passenger on a single-rider vehicle. Extra weight may upset the balance of the ATV causing it to go out of control.
5. Parental supervision is needed for riders younger than age 16. ATVs are not toys.
6. Ride only on designated trails and at a safe speed.
7. Take an ATV rider safety course.

“One of the biggest challenges we face in this industry is making it clear to parents that they cannot put their children on an adult-sized machine. Until they reach a certain size and maturity level, kids just aren’t capable of handling the size and power,” says Adamek.

Arctic Cat’s recommendation is that riders ages 6 and up start out on a 50cc machine capable of reaching maximum speeds of 15 miles per hour. Once they reach the age of 12, children are ready to move up to a 90cc machine that can be speed governed up to 30 miles per hour.

New on the market this year is the Arctic Cat 150 4×2, a transitional model meant for riders 14 and older. It arrives from the factory with a governed top speed of 20 miles per hour, but as the young rider progresses in skill, so can the speed; upwards of 30 miles per hour, also governed by the parent.

“Just because a 14 year old is 6-feet tall doesn’t mean they are capable or responsible enough of handling an adult-sized ATV. The new 150, which weighs about 250 pounds, is manageable and fun for a Youth. It does a great job of bridging the size gap safely,” says Adamek.

For more information about Arctic Cat ATVs and safety equipment, log on to www.arcticcat.com or visit your local dealer.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Modifying Your ATV

Author — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:29:03 +0000

There are many reasons that you may want to modify your ATV. If you want to improve performance or looks, or just customize your ATV you my be hesitant because you do not want to mess anything up. Or, you may be gung ho and have no hesitation about tinkering with your ATV. No matter which mindset you have, there are some things you should consider before modifying your ATV. You should do some research before attempting modifications and make sure you have a plan and know what to expect when changing parts.

A great place to start your research is online. There are many websites and forums where you can get personalized advice. If you are not sure where to begin or have a question about a specific part, there are many people who will be willing to give you impartial advice in ATV forums. And it is free to join in the discussion. You can also find information on modifying your ATV on websites and even in blogs, so do a little research online before you start the work. If you do get stuck or make a mistake, you can get solutions to your problems from ATV forums and learn how to fix your mistakes. Even a small mistake can turn costly, so make sure you get advice before you end up spending more than you have to.

Sales people at you local ATV dealership or parts store can also give you advice, but you should be aware that sometimes they are more interested in making a sale. If you are not sure what you should do, do not let yourself get pressured into buying parts until you are sure it is the right course of action for you. Dealerships and part stores can be good sources of information but you have to be careful not to buy things that you do not need.

You should always work on your ATV slowly and complete one project at a time. You can spend a great deal more than you intended to if you do not go slowly and you may even complicate your work by trying to change more than one thing at a time. You should plan out what you want to do and estimate what each part will cost and how long each part of the project will take. Then you will now exactly how much money you will need and how long the entire project will take.

You should always plan your modification according to your budget. While this seems obvious, without a plan you may find yourself spending more than you can afford. It is important to price parts before you start so you know if your plans will fit into your budget. You mat be able to save money if you buy used parts or wait for a sale, so always investigate all your options. If you find that you cannot afford everything you want to do right away, save for a while and modify your ATV more slowly.

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The Golden Rules of ATV Riding

Modifying Your ATV