- 1). Wear suitable protective gear when operating a four-wheeler at all times. The helmet must be certified for ATV use (US DOT 571.218 motorcycle helmets) and have a secure chin strap. Goggles or safety glasses may be used if there is no visor on the helmet. Suitable clothing, such as leather gloves and long pants, will protect your hands and skin in the event of a fall. Boots are the second most important piece of clothing because your feet are a critical component of how you control the ATV. Standing while traversing bumps, and turning and shifting your body all require that the soles of your feet remain in firm contact with the ATV footrests. Your feet and lower legs must remain protected from gravel and low branches as you drive.
- 2). Perform a preride inspection, with the vehicle off, to make sure that the four-wheeler is in safe operable condition. Inspection items should include: checking the gas tank for adequate fuel, checking the engine oil level, confirming the tire pressure is correct in all four tires, verifying the helmet is in good condition with a working chin strap, cleaning the goggles and visor, and making sure a first aid kit is located on the vehicle. In addition, the footrests should be tested for tightness. Make sure the wheel bolts are tight on each tire, and the tires should have no obvious worn areas or cuts. All operating cables should have no signs of wear or breaks.
- 3). Perform a preride inspection with the vehicle on. Start the engine: it should start easily and idle smoothly. Make sure all lights work properly. Turn the handlebars in both directions as far as they will go. The engine should continue to run smoothly, with no RPM increase, regardless of handlebar movement. Test the brakes: the vehicle should stop smoothly with no grabbing or skidding. Shut off the engine: it should stop immediately with no run on.
- 4). Start up the four-wheeler following the manufacturer's instructions. Make sure the vehicle transmission is in neutral and that the parking brake is engaged before starting. Once the engine is running, disengage the clutch by squeezing the left handlebar lever as far as it will go. Depress the shift lever located on the left floorboard once as far as it will go with your left foot. Slowly increase the throttle by depressing the throttle lever with your right thumb while releasing the clutch lever with your left hand. Steer in the direction you want to go. Shift the gears and add and reduce throttle (speed) per the manufacturer's instructions.
- 5). Climb uphill while remembering that the vehicle's center of gravity increases the risk of flipping the vehicle backwards. To counteract this tendency, redistribute your body weight so that the load is more towards the front of the vehicle. Slide your body forward on the seat and lean forward while crouching down closer to the handlebars. Be sure to reduce your speed and use a low gear. Do not make sudden changes turns with the vehicle or rev the engine while going uphill.
- 6). Descend hills, keeping in mind that the center of gravity will pull you forwards and increases the risk of doing a front flip. To counteract this tendency, redistribute your weight so that more of it is near the back of the vehicle. Slide rearwards on the seat and do not lean forward. Use a low gear and slow down. Do not disengage the clutch or use neutral. Let the engine compression keep you at a slow speed.
- 7). Avoid driving sideways on a slope whenever possible because the offset center of gravity makes the vehicle very unstable in this position. Alter your direction and go either straight up or down the slope. Driving in a curved direction requires that you slow down. Do not apply brakes in a curve but rather slow down before the curve. Steer the handlebars, keeping a firmly braced foot on the outside of the curve while leaning into the direction of the curve.
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