1.) The Excitement of ATV & Dirt Bike Riding

The high speeds are almost addictive, and when you add in the jumps and competition you may find that can never look back. The sport may have you in its clutches and you are never going to escape. – Hey, we know the feeling,… and its great! – We love to ride ATVs and dirt bikes as much as anyone else, but we must talk to you about something…

2.) Protecting Your Knees

Instead of talking about the best sites to ride, and other tricks regarding dirt bikes and ATVs, in this article, we absolutely must cover knee protection. Its crucial. You know and we know it. With all the fun we have out there, we gotta take some responsibility for what we are doing. We move at high speeds and a little knee protection can come in handy in case something bad actually happens!

3.) Top of The Line Support & Protection

The jumps and the high speeds combined, are awesome but they are a great way to also get hurt! Unfortunately, all it takes is for your knee to undergo a sudden twist or a turn in the wrong direction and one of your ligaments may rupture. If not rupture, they can really get damaged to a lesser degree. So, we recommend that you think about getting a knee support that can provide you with side to side stability, as well as front to back support. The knee brace should also include a patella cup and shin guard accessory to help you in case you fall. These accessories can be worth their weight in gold, and if you ride then you should seriously look at them. – We are not going to push a brand name here, but we will tell you that a well designed knee brace does not have to be heavy to be supportive, and it no longer has to be bulky to help provide you with some serious protection!

If you have a knee ailment, then you should speak to your physician about medical advice.

The Knee Brace Superstore

The Ossur CTi OTS Pro Sport Knee Brace has had great success in protecting people while riding ATVs and dirt bikes. Do not forget the patella cups and shin guard accessory! – If you would like to take your knee stability to the next level (affordably) then visit us online today at http://www.drbraceco.com Dr. Brace Co. is an education based site, created by true brace specialists, that can provide helpful information and meaningful support for your knee. If you have questions come to our site and let us know, or call toll free 1-888-564-4888. We will respond.

1) Purpose

Are you up for a sport that will give you the thrills? What about a sport that lets you witness some of the most amazing and interesting landscapes while you’re at it? Having an ATV lets you experience all that! First, you got to be sure what would you be riding your ATV for. It can be for racing purposes or a recreational activity with family and friends or even for hobby purposes. All of it will give you an experience of your lifetime!

2) Budget

Ask yourself how much are you willing to spend on your ATV. Give yourself a budget range. That way, you will not be restricted to only a few options. If you are not sure what minimum range to start with, here’s a secret; good off-brand or Chinese ATVs will start with a minimum cost of about $600 plus and you can get a good 110cc ATV to start with.

3) Off-brand ATV or Branded ATV

I bet this is your one main deciding factor that keeps you going back and forth. Here is the truth, Chinese ATVs or off-brand ATVs has since been improving tremendously on their quality and technology. No longer are the days where people are shunning away from these ATV types because now the usability and even technical specifications of Chinese/Off-brand ATVs are in fact on par with those branded types. Branded ATVs comes with a high price, some of which even starts off with a minimum of about $3000 plus. It has always been a battle to choose between Chinese/Off-brand ATV and branded ATV but my advice is, have an open mind and explore on both options! You may even see why many of the ATV riders out there are getting off-brand or Chinese ATVs as compared to the branded ones nowadays.

If you are new to this sport, there is nothing to worry about! Everyone has to start somewhere, and you just started yours here. The good news is if you are already thinking on answering the above 3 questions, you should get yourself an ATV. Live your life to the fullest and make it happen!

You and your ATV are made for each other. Enjoy the ride!

Data tag and data tool have been around in the motorcycle industry for many years and with great success returning 100’s of machines back to their rightful owners. But just because the advertised in the motorcycle sector it doesn’t mean that the system will not work on Quad Bikes or ATV’s for that matter. Any item of value can be datataged which means that even Buggies and Minimotos could be tagged too.

Datatag were started in the 1990’s with the thought of making a reduction in theft and placing the bias back into the owners hands. The system was designed with a small transmitter that would be buried onto a machine and then could be picked up if scanned by someone who had a receiver. These receivers were only available to police forces. So should the police have cause to scan a vehicle like a motorcycle or agricultural machinery then even if the identification on the machine had been removed then the transmitter/transponder would send the correct signal back to the receiver confirming the identity of the item.

Only recently a piece of plant and machinery that was hired from an A-Plant Hire Centre in the UK. The skid-steer was stolen from the midlands and quickly shipped from the UK to Gibraltar and then carried across the Mediterranean Sea and down through the Suez Canal to Oman where it was unloaded and trucked into Sharjah, in the UAE.

UK police worked tirelessly with international authorities making sure that the vehicle was kept under surveillance until they arrived. The men that were caught in possession of the vehicle were quickly arrested and charged with handling stolen goods. The datatag system was used to give clarification to the police that the item was in fact the one stolen from the uk.

The data-tag system can be placed on any expensive item and is recommended by most leading insurance companies in the UK for Plant and Machinery as well as Motorcycles and Quad Bikes. There is a substantial discount package available to people who have Datatag installed on to their machines and this is then transferred to a new owner should the vehicle ever been sold.

Unfortunately these systems are not like some of the conventional tracking devices that can be moved from one vehicle to another and have complete permanent fixture to the vehicle once installed.

i-Track is a PGS based system which again is fitted by Datatool UK. The system much like any other in it’s class will show up an a screen if you ever need to find your machine if it has been stolen. As well as this it uses the mobile GSM Global Network via the masting system. This allows iTrack to constantly confirm the whereabouts of the machine as a secondary confirmation.

Below you will find some of the key areas that Datatag have insisted are big selling points with their system and, knowing the GPS market I would agree that everything seems to be covered.

* Probably the smallest and most compact commercial tracking system available increasing options for covert fitment.
* Rechargeable internal battery back up in case the main power supply is disconnected i.e. the vehicle battery.
* iTrack will advise if vehicle battery or internal battery level is running low keeping your vehicle covered at all times.
* The most advanced movement detection system immediately alerts Datatag in case of unauthorised movement.
* Automatically sets a “Geographical Fence” or “Invisible Security Fence” around the vehicle and raises an alarm if the vehicle or property leaves this secure area without consent or permission.
* Lower battery drain than any other system currently on the market.
* Mud and waterproof – capable of working in the harshest of conditions means it’s ideal for Quads, Agri, MX Bikes, ATV’s and Buggies.
* iTrack is future proof – It can be upgraded to the latest UK Thatcham Category 5 status using the Keyless “Smartcard” operating system.

And looking at all of those Unique Selling Points I’m sure you would feel pretty confident that should your Quad Bike or ATV ever go missing, that you would be paired up again very soon.

http://www.myquadbike.com is the New Voice of the Quad Bike, ATV, Buggy and Mini Moto industry, and supplies advertising space for businesses as well as private individuals and traders. Businesses can either advertise quad bikes on a page or by using a single adverts, to placement of banners.

Individuals can use a FREE Advertisement which has limited space for writing your story but costs nothing. This can be upgraded to either a premium listing which gets you twice the amount of space for your description and up to 3 photo’s.

Should you want to get complete market presence you would go straight for a “Plus” advert which gets 500 characters, 5 colour photo’s and attached YouTube facility so you can show your bike off to the world giving potential buyers every reason to buy.

So if your buying a quad bike or selling a quad bike, MyQuadBike is the place for your machine.

Keeping your Quad Bike or ATV safe and secure not only counts towards your insurance premium being lower but can also save on major heart ache too. I can completely back up this statement having had a Quad Bike stolen from outside the front of our house one early evening. And, as distinctive as your machine may be, many people would not even think twice if they visualized your machine go past with someone else riding it.

Always A Good Reason
The purpose of this article is to give you an insight into what it is you can do and how you can do it. Quad Bikes, ATV’s, Buggies and Mini Motos are just as sought after to the thief as motorcycles, scooters and dirt bikes. Because of the risk it is always advisable to make sure that the system you use to lock your machine is a recommended and approved mechanism.

The one main thing to remember is that if you have something that is visual to the average thief it should deter them from attempting to steal your bike.

Where To Go. – Most hardware or DIY stores will supply you with a quality lock and chain and in some cases they will have certain kite marked locks giving authenticity to the quality and grade. The main area’s to observe when purchasing a lock or chain is that they conform to the Insurance Classification of CEN4 or better.

For an insurance company to pay out if your quad bike is stolen, in most cases you will have to provide not just proof of purchase but in some cases they impose a photographic clause to prove that your Quad or ATV is or was secured. Anyone can prove that they have purchased a lock, but now they say you may have to prove that you were using it.

Standard Practise – If a lock is to Grade 4 Standard it has a hardened alloy shackle and body as well as the possibility of a removable cylinder so that the barrel can be re-set to match existing locks. For example if you purchased a top of the range lock for your Quad Bike or Buggy then the chances are that you can get the barrel removed and matched even to a door key. This for example would be a very good lock for something like a child’s quad bike from probably a 50cc Quad up to a 250cc depending on the value.

Upgrades Are Good – The main way that insurance companies rate a lock is by the variables of the key match and the grade of the materials used in manufacture of both the main body and the clasp. To maintain and keep a CEN 4 Grade the manufacturer should keep this variable key match to no less than 250,000 possibilities.

Some of the top manufacturers of locks for example, Abus, also manufacture locks that meet the classification of CEN Grade 5. To achieve this standard, again the quality of materials are tested and the variable key match is raised from 250,000 to 300,000. Using a CEN Grade 5 padlock would always be the best option for a performance road legal quad bike or off road quad bike where the value is higher than normal.

I hope that this is of help to you when deciding on what strength of lock is good for your machine. The details contained in this article were correct as of April 2009.

Digging your own anchor is a last resort, but when you find yourself in a desperate situation, miles from civilization, it may be your only option. Here’s how you can make your own winch anchor if the situation calls for it.

If you’re adequately prepared for times like this, most likely you have a shovel stashed in your ATV or truck. Pull it out and start digging. The depth of the hole will depend somewhat on the size and weight of your vehicle and just how good you’re stuck. The deeper the hole, the sturdier your anchor will be. At minimum, it should be deep enough to fully cover an object the size of your spare tire and rim.

Dig the hole directly in line with the stuck vehicle, if possible, and far enough away from your quad or truck to spool out a decent length of cable for a maximum power pull. Spool out the cable ahead of time to measure the distance if you’re unsure where to start digging. Taking the time to plan out where your dead man needs to be is better than making the hole too close or too far away from your vehicle and then having to dig a new one.

A broad, weighty object makes the sturdiest dead man winch anchor, such as a log, large rock, or spare tire. If you carry a spare, you have a heavy, solid object on hand without scrounging around for a log or other large object. The size of the tire corresponds to the size of your vehicle and, if buried deep enough, should hold fast as you winch out.

Attach a chain or tree strap to the anchor and bury the log or tire deep in the hole, angled away from your vehicle for greater resistance during the pull. Fill in the open areas with dirt and pack it down solid. Hook up your winch to the chain or strap and you’re ready to start the recovery. After you winch out your vehicle, make sure to retrieve your makeshift anchor and fill in the hole. Leave as little trace of your digging as possible.

Instead of burying a heavy object, you can also drive in long stakes or axles. They should be at least three feet in length to reach deep enough into the ground. For a solid anchor, pound in several stakes, one behind the other, at an angle away from the line of pull. The stakes must be deep enough and the ground dense enough to sustain the force of the pull or the winch will yank the anchor right out and all your work will be for nothing. This can also create a potentially dangerous situation if the buried anchor pulls free and rockets toward you or your vehicle.

After driving in the stakes, connect them with a chain or strap, and attach the winch hook to the strap as close to the ground as possible. If you have trouble pulling the stakes back out, try winching them out by pulling at the same angle as the anchor.

As you can see, digging a dead man takes time and hard work and is not going to be your first option, but when it comes down to walking back for help or making your own winch anchor, now you have the option of getting out on your own without the embarrassment of calling in the rescue squad.

Even though the law does not state that you have to wear a helmet, there has been many calls for it to be a legal element when riding or using an ATV or Quad Bike on public roads. It is in our opinion that should anyone ride a machine of any description that can reach speeds of over 25mph, a helmet should be compulsory.

Which Helmet To Use – The easiest way to define which helmet to use would be to use the same system that is in force for two wheeled machines – that being anything used as protection for the head should carry the BSi Safety Kite Mark. This way you know that the helmet has been tested to the standards for use on the road.

Full Face – Open Face? – There are obvious differences between helmets and each one carries it’s own issue. Open face helmets are good for head protection but should anything hit you in the face whilst riding you certainly know about it. Even at low speeds of 25-30mph the impact of a “fly” in the face can cause bruising and even flesh wounds.

A full face helmet is the completely opposite – they offer good protection to the head and, if the visor is kept lowered then any insects or dust, stones being thrown up by other vehicles will not danger your face.

There are many helmets on the market today that not only offer great protection but also have the looks and style that even the most modest of trend setters would wear.

The strangest part to all of this is that should you use an ATV or Recreational Vehicle whilst working, then you need to meet safety standards at all times. If for example you worked in the road repair industry and used an ATV as a traffic calming solution, you have to wear a helmet to meet the current regulations for health & safety at work.

Summary – A good way to look at this is always wear head protection when riding an ATV or Quad Bike on the road. Whilst government are still in debate over whether to make it com

The majority of this section seemed to either be dark colours or camouflage, but which ever one it may be you need to make sure you have some High-Visibility points so that you can be seen whilst riding at night.

Below are just some of the market leading concepts in the high visibility section.

Arm Bands
It doesn’t take much to cast the mind back to doing your cycling proficiency test at school to remember some of the tips given by the road safety officer about “Being Seen At Night.” The arm band is one of the easiest items to wear and offers great visibility to vehicle approaching from the side – for example when parted at a junction. The costs involved in buying something like this are minimal.

Body Strips
Much like arm bands, the body strip is again easy to wear and gives great visibility from both front and rear. If worn with the arm bands it’s safe to say that you would have extremely high visual impact on traffic coming at you from any angle. Costs, well again these are pretty economical and would cost you no more that about £15-20 depending on the size/manufacturer.

Waist Coats
Now we are not saying that these are the trendy alternative to wearing body belts or arm bands, but they certainly are light weight and can be stored easily under the seat on pretty much any ATV or Quad Bike. With a Velcro fastening system on the front and High Visibility strips and the front and rear, this style of garment is possibly one of the better ways to be seen at night. Costs between £15-20.

Jackets
We all see these day in day out when passing anyone working on the road gangs or building sites. Not only are these High Visibility but they come waterproof too. They have fluorescent stripes on the arms, front and rear panels and even the collar. (depending on manufacturer) These are great for night riding and not only give you a great presence on the road but are very warm and dry. Costs between £35/40 – £100 depending on manufacturer.

To summarize – the levels of visibility offered with these types of apparel vary. The costs agin are very much the same – but how can you place a cost on safety?

What we have prepared below is some basic guidelines for the buyer and hope that this makes enough logical sense that it gives you some idea on what to look for and how to find it.

Pre-Owned Quads & ATV’s

Even though someone advertises their Quad Bike or ATV as “GOOD CONDITION,” it is always a good move to make sure it is “AS DESCRIBED” before you part with your cash. Most advertised machines are usually out of area, so if you decided to buy it based on pictures and description then you should need to be sure your happy with the seller.

Over the last few years there has been an increase in the sales of NEW & USED Quad Bikes, far greater than Motorcycles, so it is always good practice to make sure you either see the goods before you part with your money, or that you have an independent holding facility retain the funds until the vehicle has been viewed if it is being delivered by courier.

Pre-Owned or Pre-Loved?
There is a massive difference between these two statements, and one of them does get used out of context all too often. The one thing you should always consider is a Quad Bike or ATV will be used for one of three reasons:

* Work Horse – That has got to be one of the best ways of describing the fact that it was purchased for a purpose. No matter whether it is a Farm/Utility Vehicle or for getting round a large estate, both use the same description yet, can be completely different in the way they are used.
* Just For Fun – Again, yet another open ended answer that can be completely flattering in one respect, yet the other side of the coin could spell complete abuse. It may have been a fun machine for one person, or the whole of the local town or village, so make sure you define the terminology with the seller.
* Used to get from A to B! – This one is a complete mine field. Was he just commuting backwards and forward to work on the road, or did he work on a Quarry? The reason you ask is that with some of the Chinese imported Quad Bikes, the moving parts are not as reliable as their Japanese blood lines. For example, the shock absorber on a Yamaha would be completely different to a Kinroad and would last probably 10 times longer if used off road.

The trouble is, no matter what it says in the listing when someone is selling a quad bike, it is there for one reason – to sell the bike. Most of the time people can be honest, but then you will always get the ones who wish to try and sell something that isn’t anything like what they described in the advert.

Did you find this article helpful?

For anything related to the Quad Bike Industry there is only going to be one place to go – http://www.myquadbike.com

No matter what it is you are trying to find, a New Quad Bike to a Fuel Filler Cap – all will be available on a site you can trust. With information spanning all sections of the industry from Insurance, Finance, Where to Ride, Safety, Security and A List Of Dealers that are recognised as Industry Specialists, you’ll always find something interesting.

Also we have a comprehensive blog so, if you want to make your point known or ask a question then you have a point where you can do it. Visitors to the blog is increasing every day, so make sure that you pop by and leave us a comment.

It would be much appreciated if you could rate this article, so that other who come along can, at a glance, make sure that what we write is worth reading. Should this not be the case, then please feel frr to contact us regarding the article that you have shown interest in.

There are 5 areas that I will discuss in a 4 part series that will help riders get their machines ready for spring, (1) Fluid Levels (2) Battery Condition (3) Tire Condition (4) Carburetor Condition (5) Safety Check

(1) Fluids: Oil and Coolant: Check your owners manual or with the service department at your local dealer to see how often you should change your oil. Changing your oil is not a difficult process, but you will need the following tools/accessories:

(a) oil filter wrench;

(b) crescent wrench or the appropriate sized wrench to remove the oil plug

(c) a drain pan.

Locate your drain plug (it is located on the bottom of your engine)

Put the drain pan or some type of oil collection device under your machine.

Remove the drain plug and let the oil drain out. Use the oil filter wrench to remove the oil filter.

After all the oil has stopped dripping, replace the plug and the filter. Take your finger dip it in the oil and apply a thin coat around the gasket on the oil filter before you replace it, this will help it seal better. Snug the filter tight with the oil filter wrench. Dispose of the oil properly, your local auto parts store will most likely accept your oil to recycle.

Add oil to the manufactures specifications and check the oil level.

While your checking Fluid levels look at your coolant level if you machine is liquid cooled and make sure that it is within the correct range.

You should check for:

a. Tread wear – make sure that you have enough tread left to maintain traction and control of your ATV on the terrain you plan to ride.

b. Cracks – aged tires tend to crack. Superficial cracks may not appear critical, but they are indications that the rubber has begun to break down. Tire failure can have varying impact depending on your riding technique, rider ability, and riding location. If you are going ride your machine around the ranch at moderate speeds and you ride within your ability, a blow out will have a different impact than if you are going to ride aggressively up the side of the cliff on Moab Rim.

c. Holes – some of which you might not be able to spot. If you fill your tires up and the next day they are low again you might want to fill them up and check them under water to see if you can locate a hole. Fixing holes is a fairly easy process if you have a repair kit. To fix the hole, use a rasp to rough up the edges of the hole by inserting the rasp in the hole and moving it in and out several times. Next thread a booger (a sticky piece of rubber/cloth material) through the insertion tool half way so half of the booger is hanging out on each side of the tool and cover it with rubber cement. Push the insertion tool and the booger into the hole until only about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of both sides of the booger remain on the outside. Let it sit for a couple of minutes and you should be good to go.