Yamaha ATV Owner's Manual download pdf (Page 15)

You need to know the area in which you are riding and what you and

your ATV can do in order to have a safe, enjoyable ride. Your riding areas

may not have the types of terrain discussed in this chapter, but it is still

wise to know the strategies to ride in them.

Reading the Terrain

Choose places in which you can ride safely. Stay on existing trails. Be

aware of terrain where you do not belong, like steeper slopes, impassable

swamps and other hazardous situations. Keep a watchful eye for sharp

bumps, holes, ruts, obstacles, wildlife, and other trail users.

Reading the terrain means to observe and understand the features and

characteristics of the land on which you are riding. This includes surface

composition, slope or camber of the trail, hills, rocks, tree stumps,

creeks, vegetation, fixed objects etc.

Learn to read the trail as you ride. A wise rider watches well ahead on

the trail. Know what is coming; be ready to react long before you get

there. Be constantly alert for hazards and changing terrain conditions.

Ride within your ability, not beyond your capabilities. Do not operate on

excessively rough, slippery or loose terrain until you have learned and

practiced the skills necessary to control your ATV on such terrain. Adjust

your speed to trail conditions and visibility. A responsible rider stays out

of trouble not simply by handling the machine well, but by riding safely

and avoiding risky situations in the first place.

Choosing Proper Speeds

Always look well ahead and choose a speed that is proper for the ter-

rain, visibility, operating conditions, and your experience.

By scanning far enough down the trail, you will be able to pick the best

“lines” (or safest path of travel) around or over hazards or small obsta-

cles. As you approach a hazard, do not fixate on it, but rather continue to

search for other clues in the environment and adjust speed well in

advance.

Using S.E.E.

There is an acronym to remind you of the procedures for scanning trails

and making riding decisions: “SEE”. Each letter in SEE refers to steps

needed to identify and respond to potential hazards in the lay of the land.

Consider the consequences of possible choices and respond with the

correct manoeuvring skill.

Scan * Keep eyes moving and search the

terrain

* Check overall environment

* Watch several seconds ahead

* Avoid fixating on any one object

* Identify hazards

* Pick out specific problems

* Consider surface composition

* Other trail users and wildlife and

stationary objects

Evaluate * Predict what may happen

* Think of consequences

* Consider riding techniques necessary

* Predict results of choices

* Decide what to do

- Slow down so there is time to react

- Pick the best line or path. Consider

traction, obstacles within skill level,

visibility

- Choose to reduce risk

- Choose to stay well within personal

limits and capabilities of your ATV

Execute your decision * Adjust technique

* Adjust speed

* Adjust path of travel

Practising S.E.E.

An illustration of a rider’s thought process is described in this example.

In real-world ATV operation, the riding terrain constantly changes, requir-

ing a rider to continually process information and make decisions. The

following example shows how SEE can be used in this one “picture”. This

thought process must be seen as only a moment within a changing envi-

ronment.

How might a rider specifically use SEE? What might he or she think? A

snapshot entering a rider’s eyes and brain is shown here. Let’s eavesdrop

on the thinking strategy.

• SCAN. Open area with path of

travel along hill crest. Narrow,

dry path. Bumpy terrain, shrubs

and obstacles. Drop-off next to

trail’s path. Identify a narrow

trail along ridge. Steep drop-

offs on sides. Poor visibility

over crest. Dip in surface

ahead.

• EVALUATE. Predict what may

happen if other riders come

from the other direction result-

ing in a collision. Riders may be

coming from the sides. Getting

too close to the edge of the trail

could cause you to go over the

road side embankment. May

have to react quickly. Not much

escape area if trouble devel-

ops. Decide to slow, stay in

middle of trail. Look for

approaching riders. Stand up

for better visibility and adjust

weight if need for uneven ter-

rain. If path is clear, gain

momentum to get up next hill

area.

• EXECUTE. Release the throttle,

apply both brakes. Weight up

off seat - continuing to scan,

search and think.

Riding Strategies

Chapter 8

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Yamaha ATV Owner's Manual Page 15

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