How to Prepare For Your First UTV Ride
If you’ve never ridden a UTV (utility vehicle) or side by side before, you’re in for a real treat! These rugged vehicles are compact powerhouses capable of handling rough terrain, meaning you don’t need a road or trail to ride them on. You can take them almost anywhere, from rocky outcroppings to sandy dunes to forests to open prairies. They’re useful on job sites and for hauling heavy loads, but they’re also really great recreational vehicles. To help make your first UTV ride easy, Bellevue Suzuki Kawasaki of Memphis has prepared this quick guide to UTV riding.
Be Ready To Get Dirty
Riding a UTV is dirty work due to the way it rolls over terrain and kicks up dust, dirt, mud, rocks and other debris. If you ride through muddy puddles or creeks, be prepared to get splashed -- this isn’t the time to wear nice clothes. You’ll also want to make sure to cover and store any delicate electronics and personal belongings as you ride, because the mud and dust will get everywhere, and flying pebbles could damage your phone screen or camera.
Acquire The Right Safety Gear
You should always equip yourself well with safety gear when you’re riding your side by side. While they drive very similarly to cars, with seat belts, gas/brake pedals and headlights, the truth is that the lack of a ceiling or hard sides makes UTVs more dangerous to ride than a car. You’re just not protected as well, particularly in the event of the UTV rolling over. This is why a helmet is strongly advised, and you can wear either a motorcycle or motocross helmet for this. Both styles are intended for high-impact extreme sports, which makes them perfect for side by side riding.
If your helmet lacks a face shield, goggles are advisable to keep flying debris like dust and rocks from hitting your eyes. You should wear long pants and sleeves -- and they should be clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Strong boots that cover your ankles and gloves are good to wear, too. You can never be too careful!
Follow Your Leader
When you’re first learning to ride a UTV, you’re probably following a trusted and experienced friend or a professional guide in their own UTV who is showing you the ropes. Don’t stray away from the path they forge -- it’s in your best interests to stay at a safe distance behind them and follow in their wheel tracks. They will determine the best route to take that avoids large obstacles and maintain a safe speed that you should match.
Know Your UTV
Not all side x sides are the same! Some handle differently than others, based on a number of factors. Older models will not handle very smoothly and are more prone to tipping or rolling over, so you’ll have to be wary while you’re riding one of these. New models are made to be more stable and easy to handle, so if you want the smoothest ride possible, go with a newer make.
Bring Your Camera
Finally, you’re going to see some amazing sights as you ride, so it’s best to bring a camera to capture those moments. Whenever you stop for water or to admire the view, you can start snapping pictures for your feed. Just make sure that you bring a waterproof bag for your camera or have a very secure place to store it while you drive because of the aforementioned dirt, dust and mud that might land on it and damage it if you don’t protect it.
If you’ve been searching for a great side by side, look no further than our Memphis showroom, where we carry a great selection of UTVs in both new and used styles. Bellevue Suzuki Kawasaki serves the greater Memphis metro area, including the cities of Bartlett, Jackson, Germantown and Collierville, Tennessee, as well as Olive Branch and Southaven, Mississippi.