Beginner ATV Riding Tips

All-terrain vehicles, also known as ATVs and referred to as “quads” or “four-wheelers,” are excellent powersports vehicles for either recreational or professional off-road riding purposes. If you’re new to the world of ATVs, it’s important to make sure that you’re doing everything you can to keep your quad rides safe.

Practice Makes Perfect

You can’t just take your brand-new ATV to an intense nature trail and expect to ride it without incident if you’ve never ridden the vehicle before. Instead, you should find a large, flat area of rough terrain, like a backyard, to practice riding your ATV in at a slow, even pace. Take your time learning how to speed up, slow down, reverse, and turn the quad.

It’s also good to plot out your first ride by examining a map of the trail you’ve chosen so you know what to expect. It can be helpful to ride behind a more experienced powersports vehicle rider on their own quad.

Wear Safety Gear

ATVs are open to the air and ridden straddle-style like a motorcycle, operated with handlebars. This means there are no seatbelts and there’s no enclosure to keep you on the vehicle if you hit something. Therefore, you must purchase a helmet designed for powersports vehicle riding, with either a full plastic face mask or goggles for eye protection.

Close-fitting clothes that cover your limbs will protect your skin from abrasions as you ride through the woods, while riding gloves and boots help you to maintain contact with your quad while protecting your hands and feet.

Ready to buy an ATV in Pennsylvania? Come see us at our dealership in Johnstown to take a look at our wide array of new and used four-wheelers for sale. Let us know if you’d like to use our financing options on your ATV purchase. Martin Marine Sales, Inc. is proud to serve our customers in the greater Pittsburgh, PA, metro area.