ATV Riding: Must-Know Tips

Just like any other motorized vehicle, your ATV has, literally, hundreds of different components that make it work. You are the one that is responsible for keeping the vehicle running so it’s important that you understand what you’re doing. Just because your ATV looks invincible, neglecting to maintain it only proves otherwise. The best tip you can use is by having ATV covers handy to shelter your vehicle whenever you are not using your ATV.

• Several ATV riders prefer to ride around with low air pressure. This is a very bad idea. Low air pressure is an easier way for debris to get lodged between the tires and the rims. You have to ensure that you clean this out routinely so you get the most out of your tires.

• Debris could also get wedged up near the ATV’s shocks. The shocks are a really important section of the ATV. Without properly cleaning the ATV shocks, you’ll see a severe decrease in the performance of the vehicle.

• You should also double check the cables before you go out to ride. The last thing you want is to end up being stuck in the middle of nowhere with an ATV that doesn’t work.

• When loading your ATV onto trucks or trailers, make sure that your ramps are secured. Several people put their lives in harm’s way by loading their ATV’s without securing the ramps first.

• The fuel vent lines could become clogged with grime and dirt. This traps your fuel from getting to its destination.

• Choosing the right fuel is vital. A lot of people will think that putting a high octane fuel into an engine will raise ATV performance. This isn’t true. “HOF” is usually meant for motors that are high-compressed. If you try to put it into stock motors, it will slow them down.

Summer Safety Tips for Motorcyclists

Going on a summer motorcycle ride is one of the most stress-relieving trips a person can indulge themselves in, and as the summer starts to wind down, now is the perfect time to do it. Here are some tips to keeps you safe:

1) Drive behind anyone who drives "worse" than you.

2) When you ride with bikers who ride "better" than you, your guard is to still follow your instincts. (You can also follow people to their death).

3) Drive only what you can, when you can and however you can! If the others have to wait a minute, then they will just have to get over it!

4) Pick-a "partner" with whom you ride motorcycles. He or she should drive a little better than you.      If there are too large of driving differences for both motorcycle riders, then it becomes stressful.    (One must wait continuously and the other has a bad conscience). It is supposed to be fun!

5) Practice dodging whenever possible, at all speeds! You never know when you need it in real life.      6) If you yourself are insecure/uncomfortable on your bike, resort to exercises that will hopefully correct that. Sometimes taking a step back makes more sense than falling forward!

Here are some tips for the summer months:

-       Dress appropriately- Most riders will wear little to nothing during the summer months when riding but that is exactly what you don’t want to do. You want to make sure you protect your body in case of an accident or against sun damage.
-       Just wait for cool temps- You can always just wait to travel until later on in the day instead of doing in the hotter hours of the day. If you want to get an early start, that is fine as well.
-       Make sure you have plenty of fuel and water- Having plenty of these two things are very important. You never want to push your bike to the limit in the heat.
-       Use motorcycle covers to shield your bike from the elements. Having a working bike is crucial to riding safely. A cover may not help much, but any protection is better than none.

Prevent Motorcycle From Theft with these Easy Tips

The number of reported, and unreported, cases of motorcycle thefts have grown exponentially in the past decade and experts say that it is only going to get worse. That is unless owners do something about it.

Local studies, which can be regarded as representative, shows that about one in six stolen bikes were parked unsecured and that theft in enclosed spaces (such as garages, basements, and showrooms) is only a very small proportion of overall losses.

Many motorcycles are stolen in part by a lack of or poor security (cheap locks). Above all, deterrence protects most of these investments. For a suitable lock, you should buy one that is about ten percent of the price of your motorcycle. The more expensive and lighter the wheel, the harder and more expensive the lock should be. Motorcycle covers are great for protecting your vehicle from the elements and the possibility of theft.

Motorcycles, motor scooters, mopeds and bicycles are popular with thieves. Last year was, according to crime statistics, a favorite for mopeds and motorcycles among thieves. But the thieves are not only interested in the motorcycle but the high-quality accessories that go along with the vehicle.

Crime scenes are in many cases, the large parking lots at train stations, schools, swimming pools, sports and leisure facilities, which usually lack the ability to secure the motorcycle. Therefore it is important to protect each bike by taking precautionary measures to make it harder for thieves to work.

Select a bike lock that is made of hardened special steel and is equipped with a solid locking system. Leave your bike in your view whenever possible. Close the frame and both wheels on firmly anchored objects. If you follow the following tips, you should be way ahead of thieves and you should protect yourself more than most.

·       Even if you only park for a short time: Remove the ignition key and make sure that the steering lock is in place. In addition, secure your motorcycle helmet with a lock.
·       Lock individual parts of your motorcycle so these are less attractive to thieves
·       Ideally, you can equip your bike with the addition of an alarm system.
·       If you back on the front wheel, then the lock should also enclose the fork legs. It is better to install the fuse at the rear and to carry the castle by spokes or rim and solid frame parts.
·       Secure the bike to a solid object if possible, for example, on a plate or a lamppost. Even a secured bike can be transported by trailer or van.

General Maintenance Tips of an ATV

You could take an ATV to a service shop to help keep up with your service schedule, however there are some basic maintenance service checks you could do in the comfort of your own garage.  This is  to help save you some money and, in fact, educate you on mechanical and operational ATV aspects.

Some of the fastest ways to ruin your ATV would be to crash it, but there are some other ways to ruin it as well.  From neglecting the minor maintenance issues to learning the hardest way that your ATV isn’t a fantastic swimmer, here are some easy ways to run your ATV to the graveyard. The best way to protect your ATV is to buy ATV covers and use them whenever you can.

1.     Never changing the oil. This is one of the worst things you can do to any engine so make sure you change the oil according to the manual.

2.     Never cleaning the air filter. If you think that a louder engine sounds better and a clogged up air filter will give you that, then you are right. However, what happens when your engine stops because your engine gives out because of it?

3.     Never Tighten Your Bolts. If you think that your nuts and bolts will just magically tighten themselves, you are wrong.

4.     Submerging It. Your ATV isn’t made to swim.

5.     Crashing it. “ATV” doesn’t stand for bumper cars.

6.     You Never Wash It. If you never wash your ATV because you think it looks cool, what happens when you can’t ride it anymore? Or what about when you have to crack that wallet open and shell out hundreds of dollars?

7.     Never Change The Fuel. If you do not ride it regularly, you still have to change out the fuel.

Crucial Items To Bring On A Motorcycle Road Trip

Motorcycle trips are the best way to see the country and enjoy the beauty of the open road. You know though that when you are planning a trip, there is a myriad of items you need to bring, but space is a consideration on what you truly can pack. While a motorcycle cover should be an item you never leave home without, there are also some other crucial road trip items.  

A tool kit should be an item you take with you whether you’re going cross country or across the town in which you live. Being stranded roadside when you know that a simple tool could have fixed the problem is not something you want to face. What to carry? At a bare minimum, you need: duct tape, wire cutters, a wrench or pliers and a CO2 cartridge to fix for a flat tire.

Carrying items such as bulbs, chain oil, spark plugs and fuses are also a good idea. These small, but crucial, motorcycle parts could leave you stranded but if you have them, a quick fix will let you get back on the road again.  

First aid kits are crucial whether on a motorcycle trip or a car trip. Keeping items to administer first aid for burns, scratches, bug bites, sunburns and even pain relievers is always a great plan. Your first aid kit should carry the basics – the above mentioned items and bandaids – in addition to items to address any specific medical needs. The use of a GPS, whether on your telephone or a stand alone device, is also a road trip must have.  

Taking your motorcycle in for an inspection before you hit the road is also a great pre-check task. This helps assure you that all is in working order before your vacation

How to Restore the Dead Battery of Your ATV

If you are an outdoors person, chances are pretty high that you own an ATV or All Terrain Vehicle. These maneuverable “cats” are becoming more and more popular as years pass; however, they are only as good as the maintenance you perform. They are expensive in the first place depending on the model and repairing them due to poor upkeep can be even more costly so it is important that regular maintenance is kept.

Simple things like using an ATV cover to throw over your vehicle when you are not using it can actually be a huge help. In fact, did you know that one of the biggest problems with an ATV is a dead battery? This can be due to leaving lights on or battery corrosion or a number of other things. The good news is that you can ensure that these sorts of things do not happen.

If you do find yourself with a dead battery, there are a couple of things that you can do to remedy the issue. First, you can try to jump start the dead battery using battery cables connected to an alternate power source. This is probably the most popular of choices. Alternate sources include mobile power boxes, cars, other small vehicles compared to an ATV (for instance a riding lawnmower, etc).

The most important thing to remember is that protection is your greatest ally. When you decide to cover your ATV up, you are ensuring that the elements are not allowed to work their way into damaging your terrain vehicle. In the end it is going to save you time and money.

What to Look for When Purchasing ATV Parts

Are you the proud owner of a new ATV or are you a seasoned rider of one already? If you answered yes to either of these questions, chances are you are going to need some ATV parts at one point or another for as long as you own your machine. But what do you need to look for when you purchase your ATV parts? This article will take a quick peek into some things you need to keep in mind when you have to open your wallet.

Always pick a reputable ATV parts dealer when buying your parts even if it is online. Never buy your parts off sites like eBay or other personal sites because you just never know what you are going to get. If you buy your gear off a business site with known reputation then you will have no issues in getting the parts you need when you need them. For instance, if you need a new ATV cover to replace the old one, just go online and choose a site that has known feedback for great customer service and purchase it. Better yet, see if there is a retail store nearby that has your part.

Another important thought is to make sure if you are replacing parts is that you get the exact part as the one you are replacing. Many people will just guess based on certain information. The best thing to do will be to take the part out or off your ATV and compare it (side by side) to the other part.