Now that you've mastered riding your ATV, and you can start and stop with ease. Next, comes the fun part - learning to climb hills.
This is the number one way people get hurt on ATVs, through improper techniques when climbing hills. Doing it the safe way will become second nature to you on your ATV once you learn the correct way to do it.
There are four basic keys to climbing hills and those are: momentum, throttle control, body positioning, and staying on the best line. Before you climb a hill on your ATV, take a minute and look at every line you can take to climb the hill. Choose the route that is the smoothest and that offers the best traction you can see.
Next approach the bottom of the hill with as much momentum as you can handle. You will probably want to be in a low drive for steeper climbs and if your ATV has a gear shifter, you might want to start in second or third and then downshift quickly before the revs have a chance to drop on you.
For the majority of your ride up a hill, you'll want to be in a crouched forward position with your weight over the handlebars. Let common sense be your guide, if your hill levels out too much or your rear wheels start slipping,lean back a bit to get more weight on your rear tires. Try to do this as quickly as possible so you don't lose your momentum.
If you feel as though you aren't going to be climb the hill safely or you feel you don't have enough momentum, turn around. The smartest course of action you can take is to never push your luck on an ATV. The best way out of a climb is to use the momentum you have and use it to go down the hill. If the hill doesn't have a safe place to turn your ATV around, you're going to have to slowly and carefully back yourself down the hill.
This is the number one way people get hurt on ATVs, through improper techniques when climbing hills. Doing it the safe way will become second nature to you on your ATV once you learn the correct way to do it.
There are four basic keys to climbing hills and those are: momentum, throttle control, body positioning, and staying on the best line. Before you climb a hill on your ATV, take a minute and look at every line you can take to climb the hill. Choose the route that is the smoothest and that offers the best traction you can see.
Next approach the bottom of the hill with as much momentum as you can handle. You will probably want to be in a low drive for steeper climbs and if your ATV has a gear shifter, you might want to start in second or third and then downshift quickly before the revs have a chance to drop on you.
For the majority of your ride up a hill, you'll want to be in a crouched forward position with your weight over the handlebars. Let common sense be your guide, if your hill levels out too much or your rear wheels start slipping,lean back a bit to get more weight on your rear tires. Try to do this as quickly as possible so you don't lose your momentum.
If you feel as though you aren't going to be climb the hill safely or you feel you don't have enough momentum, turn around. The smartest course of action you can take is to never push your luck on an ATV. The best way out of a climb is to use the momentum you have and use it to go down the hill. If the hill doesn't have a safe place to turn your ATV around, you're going to have to slowly and carefully back yourself down the hill.
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