How To Learn To Ride A Quad Bike
If you’re planning to get a quad bike or ATV, then you’ll of course need to know how to ride one. Although they might not be as complicated to drive as a car, there’s still more to riding them than you might think. In this guide, we’ll be covering every aspect of riding a quad bike, from using the various brakes properly to using the lights and gear selector. It’s important to mention that if you do get a quad bike and you want to use it on public roads, you’ll need to have quad bike insurance in place.
Key points
What Are The Main Features On A Quad Bike I Need To Know About?
- The gears: Just like a car, a quad bike has gears that you’ll need to know how to use to ride it properly.
- The clutch: If you have a manual transmission quad bike, you’ll need to know how to use the clutch to find the biting point so you’re able to change gears smoothly while riding.
- The brakes: Quad bikes will usually have two sets of brakes – one for the front wheels and one for the back wheels. It’s important to know how to use the brakes to ride a quad bike safely.
Front brake
The front brake lever is located behind the right handlebar. To use it, you simply squeeze it towards the handlebar and the brakes will be applied. How hard the brakes go on will depend on how hard you squeeze the lever. Although it’s simple to use, you do want to be careful at first while getting used to how hard you need to squeeze the lever in order to get the level of braking you want. The front brake on quad bikes and ATVs tend to apply more sharply than the rear brake, so this is worth bearing in mind too.
Rear brake
The other main brake on a quad bike is the rear brake. Where this is located will depend on whether you have an automatic or manual quad bike or ATV. If you have an automatic model, then the rear brake will likely be underneath the left handlebar. For manual transmission models, it’s usually located with the pedals at your feet.
The rear brake on an automatic quad bike works the same was as the front brake i.e. it’s a lever that you squeeze and the pressure you apply will determine how hard the brakes are put on.
Killswitch
The killswitch is one of the simplest aspects of a quad bike and will simply turn off the engine when it’s pressed. On most quad bikes it’s a red button that’s on the left switch gear.
Electric start
On newer models of quad bikes there’s usually an electric start button, which when pressed and the key is in the ignition and turned, will start the engine.
Lights
Using the lights on a quad bike is very simple and much the same as using them on a regular car. You simply adjust the switch depending on whether you want them on dipped or full beam. Although they’re easy to use, you should practice during the day when it’s bright, so you know how to use them properly for when you actually need them.
Gear selector
On manual quad bikes, the gear selector will allow you to change gears while riding and clicking on the foot peg with the clutch pressed down will let you change from neutral into first, second, third gear etc. For semi automatic quad bikes, the gears can usually be changed using the hand controls and don’t require the use of a clutch.
Clutch
One of the trickier aspects of riding a quad bike, particularly if you’ve never driving any other type of manual transmission vehicle, is using the clutch correctly. The clutch needs to be used in order to change gears smoothly. The trick is to find what’s called the ‘biting point’ so that you can change gears and then release the clutch in order to ride the bike smoothly without it jolting.
Learning to use the clutch well is incredibly important, particularly if you’re going to be riding at higher speeds or riding your quad bike on public roads.
How long will it take to learn to ride a quad bike?
This will depend on how often you ride it and how confident you are starting out. It’ll also depend if you get a manual or automatic quad bike, since with the former, you’ll need to learn to use the clutch correctly if you’ve never used one before. To answer the question though, it shouldn’t take too long with regular riding practice.
It’s always important to wear safety gear when riding a quad bike, especially when you’re first starting out. This means getting good leathers as well as gloves and a good quality helmet.
Can I ride a quad bike on public roads?
You can but in order to do this, you’ll need to register your quad bike with the DVLA as well as displaying licence plates on the front and rear of your bike and getting quad bike insurance.
In Summary
- Knowing how to use the clutch to change gears smoothly when you have a manual quad bike or ATV is essential
- You should ensure you know how to use the lights correctly before riding your quad bike when it’s dark or going dark
- The location of the rear brake will differ depending on whether your have an automatic or manual quad bike
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