Jumps And Sharp Turns With An ATV
There are some ATV riders that can make extreme obstacles and jumps look like child’s play. Then there are others make them look dangerous and impossible. Superior equipment may be partially responsible. However, experience and familiarity with your ATV is what separates the men from the boys. The best way to get better is to put in as much riding time as you can. There are also a few techniques that will help you pivot your ATV around a corner or help you to take a jump, that can make riding a lot more fun.
If one of your goals is to learn how to take a corner quickly without losing much speed, depending on your ATV’s setup and capabilities, you may be able to conquer the turn by making your ATV pivot around it. This technique works best with light, powerful sport ATVs but it can be used with utility ATV’s as well.
The first thing you will do is enter the corner wide and fast instead of slowing down or coasting through it. When you get to a point in the corner that allows you to turn your ATV in the direction you want to go, turn your wheels in that direction, hit the front brake hard, and open the throttle.
When this technique is done properly, it will momentarily cause your rear tires to lose traction and spin your back end around. When you have turned your ATV far enough, simply release the brake and keep on the gas. You may fishtail as you finish this maneuver, but steering into the skid will keep you going where you want to go. The result is your ATV turning quickly around an obstacle without losing much speed.
The key to this maneuver is making your back wheels lose traction which will spin you sideways. If you are having trouble with this technique, you may get better results if you lean forward which will take some weight off the back wheels. This technique is easier to accomplish on ATVs with stiff suspension, low center of gravity, and lots of power on demand. If you do not have these characteristics, it will make this maneuver more dangerous and difficult to do properly. It can still be done if your front brakes can slow you down and you can get your back wheels to break loose.
If one of your goals is completing jumps on an ATV you must first learn the technique and have respect for your ride. Most jumps are relatively safe when they are done properly. However, if you bite off more than you can chew, you will get hurt. Easy does it when it comes to learning to get your wheels off the ground. There are no two jumps that are exactly the same, but there is a simple technique for getting air without kissing the handlebars when you land.
How fast you want to be going when you hit a jump will depend on the length and steepness of the jump. It is best to be conservative on the first couple of passes. That will tell you what kind of jump you’re dealing with. Sometimes a jump will have a lip on it that will do unexpected things to your ATV, so be prepared.
On your first pass, you will want to approach the end of your ramp with enough speed to make you feel like you would get a little bit of lift if you just held the throttle steady all the way through. Just before you reach the end of the ramp, let off the gas momentarily, and then quickly give it as much gas as possible.
This technique will accomplish two things:
1.) The burst of power right before you leave the ground will launch you into the air.
2.) It will cause your front end to shoot up into the air, much like doing a wheelie.
When you enter a jump in this way it allows your back tires to hit the ground first which will ensure that you and your ATV do not take a swan dive into the ground. When you are airborne you should let off of the throttle so that your ATV doesn’t over rev and the wheels can spin freely.
Once you have made a successful pass, you will know a lot about that particular ramp and what your ATV is likely to do when you jump it. This information will give you an idea of the best speed in which to hit the ramp and how much throttle you need to give the ATV before you leave the ground. Many ramps, especially those that are short and have a sharp angle (like the edges of dried out ponds), can be jumped successfully in first gear. If the ramp is too steep, trying your approach in second gear could be painful.
Whenever you ride an ATV you should exercise caution. This is especially true when riding in a new area or trying new techniques. Modern ATVs are extremely powerful and can get out of control quickly if you do not respect their power. When trying any new techniques, take it easy and master it at low speeds.
Just remember that something may look simple, but every ATV will handle it differently. Different ATVs will react to obstacles and maneuvers differently. Trying to do things that are beyond your skills and your ATV’s handling capabilities can prove to be disastrous and can keep you from riding again for a very long time.
