ATV Safety Basics
One of the best ways to enjoy time out in nature if you’re an adrenaline junkie is to ride an all-terrain vehicle or ATV. These machines have only become more popular since their development around 40 years ago, and it’s not hard to see why.
However, riding an ATV does pose some inherent risks, which means that you need to practice good safety habits if you want to avoid injury or damage to your vehicle. Nielsen Enterprises, located in Lake Villa, is your Illinois ATV dealer. As such, we’re happy to present you with this brief overview of ATV safety basics so that you can stay safe and enjoy every ride you take without incident.
Equip Yourself With the Proper Gear
The best way to keep yourself safe while riding your ATV is to ensure you’re wearing the right gear for the ride. As with a motorcycle or any other open-air vehicle, you need to be wearing a helmet at all times on our ATV. Powersports-specific helmets don’t really exist, but you can opt for a motorcycle helmet or a motocross helmet instead, since both of these are DOT-certified with high crash-test ratings and are designed for extreme sports riding.
With your helmet, you’ll either need a full face mask (as is often present on motorcycle helmets) or a pair of well-fitting goggles to keep your eyes protected from flying debris, dirt, sand and branches in your path. You don’t want to become blinded by dust and crash your quad, after all!
The rest of your attire should keep your skin protected. Long sleeves, pants, riding gloves with good grip and sturdy ankle boots are all great choices. Make sure you tie back long hair and don’t wear anything loose or flowing that could get caught on something. Tuck in shoelaces as well.
Ride Sober, Ride Smart
It’s not advisable to ride your ATV when you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Just as you need focus while driving your car or truck, you need it on your ATV. Your vehicle won’t protect you in the event of a crash and you’ll be riding over tough terrain that could have obstacles cropping up at random. That’s why having your full attention on the road is important. By the same turn, don’t ride if you’re exhausted, sick or on prescription medication that clouds your focus.
Always ride during daytime hours and in good weather. Ensure that you’re following posted signs and not going excessively fast. You need to be able to react quickly to obstacles, animals or hikers in your path, and going too quickly won’t give you the time you need to maneuver out of the way or come to a full stop.
Maintain Your ATV
Your ATV won’t operate very well if you don’t keep it maintained. Peruse your owner’s manual to see what the manufacturer recommends in terms of regular maintenance tasks. You’ll also find recommended tire pressure levels, oil change schedules and what types of parts you may need to replace. You can perform some tasks at home with the right tools, but if you ever need assistance, you can contact the service department here at Nielsen Enterprises to schedule an appointment with our professional mechanics.
Make sure you also keep a tool kit on your ATV so that you can perform quick tune-ups while you’re out on the trail. You’ll want to have a tire patch kit, an air compressor, screwdrivers, wrenches and a flashlight handy to address any repairs you may have to perform away from home.
Searching for ATVs for sale near greater Chicago? Come by our dealership in Lake Villa, Illinois, today to see our current stock of new and used ATVs for sale by all the leading brands. Nielsen Enterprises is proud to serve the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.