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YOU WANT TO RACE??
So you have bought your ATV and what
now? Hopefully you have bought an ATV for the purpose that you are going to use
it. As you should be aware by now there are basically two types of ATV's, Firstly
the Sport ATV and secondly the Utility ATV. There are many differences on these
ATV's but by in large most people buy them for recreation. Its amazing to see how
many people step into the age old habit of listening to people or reading adverts of what
to do without contemplating the consequences thereof.
RACING YOUR ATV/BIKE
If you want to get your face on TV then you better be good, no let me
re-phrase "AWESOME" otherwise you are in for an expensive exercise.
Motorsport is one of the most expensive sports to compete in on a private level. If
you got the money then by all means go for Gold. Less then 1% of all riders in
this country get factory sponsorships, which leaves the other 99% being classified as
privateers. So now that your coffee is cold and you have had a rude awakening, I invite
you to read this page.
TRAIL RIDING
I am going to generalize in this section to the point that those that do not
officially race their ATV's are social riders which we can then classify as recreational
riders at tracks and parks and trail riders that do the more exciting part of ATV riding.
Then on trail riding we can split it further to high speed technical riding and
recreational trail riding which encompasses the exploration of nature and different riding
terrains at lower speeds. Now seeing that the majority of all ATV riders fall into
this category it fascinates me that people still think that bigger is better. As I
have said before "It is not who you are or what you ride, its how you ride".
Whether you ride on a 250cc or a 700cc it doesn't make a difference as long as you
have completed the ride to your own satisfaction. I have taken many riders out on
trails and seen how the smaller ATV's have out done the bigger ones purely because the
rider is patient and assesses the route/obstacle accordingly. I would say the most
important aspect of trail riding is to be able to keep your running costs as low as
possible so that you have more money to spend on things that you really need.
ENGINES
Don't let anyone tell you to start with something small and then when you have
got used to it, then you buy a bigger ATV. Buy the engine size that you
want and learn to ride your ATV. So many people have bought ATV's and then have
modified their engines to all kinds of degrees. Have you ever asked yourself the
question why the factory doesn't give you the same specifications on the showroom floor?
All these modifications perform at inconsistent levels and basically the only way
to remain consistent is to have a factory sponsorship that will take your ATV apart after
every race to get it back to pre-race specifications. Most of the time privateers do
not have the resources to cope with the extent to which these ATV's are prepared. So
now that you have paid MEGA bucks for your new engine which has been gas flowed, got a new
cam, high compression piston and so forth you can look forward to spending some more MEGA
bucks to keep that engine going. There are plenty of shops and people out there that
make big promises but its strange how many people still remain unsatisfied with built up
engines. Why? Because manufactures have spent countless hours on research and
development to give you a machine that is trustworthy and reliable and now you want to go
and change all that because one advert or 5 minutes of a sales pitch tells you otherwise.
If you are not happy with your engine size get another ATV. Look at it this
way, use the money you where going to spend on mods, and pay in the difference to get a
brand new machine that has the backing of its manufacturer. It is also interesting
to note that people who have had engine modifications done have far more problems, ask
your buddy if he would do it again and the answer is most certainly NOT.
MY ADVICE TO YOU IS LEAVE YOUR ENGINE AS
STANDARD AS POSSIBLE FOR TRAIL RIDING.
SUSPENSION
The suspension on an ATV that is being used on trails is far more beneficial
to the rider than the CC's of an engine. If your suspension has been poorly setup
then you will tire quickly and make costly mistakes due to fatigue. Many a
professional rider has pointed out that fitness and an excellent suspension is a winning
combination to any race. If you want to spend money and make it worth your while
then get your ATV to give you a ride that makes riding trails effortless and therefore
more enjoyable. After market suspensions are by far better then the standard ones
you get on your ATV. Here the manufacturer must use their discretion in order to
save costs so that the ATV's price is market related. As there are plenty of brands
to choose from make sure that the one you choose has been tried and tested in the type of
terrain that you want to ride in. An important factor to remember is that your
suspension has been setup correctly with regards to the type of ATV you are riding and
your average weight on the ATV.
ACCESSORIES
This will include anything from nerf bars, steering dampners, anti-vibe
steering columns, hand guards, sprockets and many other items not listed. Many of
these products have good uses with regards to safety and better riding. This should
be discussed with people who are able to give you valuble advice on experiences that they
have gained within the sport.
TYRES
Tyres are another serious factor to consider. How often have I come
across situations where one can clearly see that tyres played a crucial role in completing
an obstacle. Many riders have their own personal opinion about this issue, and I
suppose I am going to give you mine. With all the rides that I have done over the
last couple of years there is only one type of tyre that stands out. These tyres
have proved themselves in muddy conditions, sand, rocks, you name it. Tyres that
have a profile with a V paddle type pattern seem to do the trick every time. Don't
get me wrong there are various types of tyres out there that each have their strong points
but the tyres that I have just mentioned seem to work the best. Whether you are
crossing a river or riding a dune these tyres are able to work on most terrains because of
their versatility.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INSIGHT TO TRAIL
RIDING, PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL!
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