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ATV Riding
Tips - Andy Lagzdins Tackles Rock Riding
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| 2007
OMA Pro ATV Champion, Andy Lagzdins, Rocky
Riding Tips |
Baltimore, MD (12/30/2008) - There
aren’t many obstacles more feared by ATV riders
than a gnarly rock garden filled will tire-swallowing
and skidplate-shredding boulders. Whether you are
racing through a cross country course or cruising
down a trail with your friends, it is good to know
how to negotiate the rocks to preserve your machine
and also your wrists and ankles. Living and riding
in the harsh terrain of Maryland and Pennsylvania
has exposed me to some of the rockiest trails over
the years, and I’ll try to share some of my
experience to help keep you and your quad together
in the rocks.
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| For
real rocky trails, aftermarket skid plates
are a must to protect from engine &
component damage |
The first step in preparing your machine for the
boulders is outfitting it with a set of skidplates.
I’ve had good results with PRM Products over
the years, and they manufacture a wide array of
aluminum protection parts for all types of ATV’s
with thicknesses to suit your particular needs.
I run a .125” thick chassis belly pan and
a .190” thick swing arm skid on my race quad,
unless I’m racing an extreme event such as
the Snowshoe GNCC which requires .25” thick
skid plates. Tires are the next priority, and you
want to choose a 6 ply tire such as the ITP Holeshot
GNCC in a 22” front size and a 20 or 21”
rear. The extra thick carcass construction prevents
punctures and the beadsaver eliminates pinch flats
around the edge of the rim.
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Tireballs
have dramatically changed off-road racing
because they nearly eliminate the possibility
of a flat tire, and nearly every top racers
has a set mounted. They aren’t cheap
starting at $169.00 per tire, but they are
well worth the extra expense to avoid a
flat tire |
ITP
Tires released their signature GNCC
tires, with an extra thick sidewall and
beadsaver lip, which has dramatically reduced
the risk of a side wall puncture, but ITP
isn't alone because Maxxis and GBC also
have released 6+ ply tires as well to resist
puncturing |
Tireballs are quite expensive for the average
trai lrider, but they really pay for themselves
when you consider not having to buy spares and
not having to change tires until they are like
bologna skins. Tireballs are a must for any serious
cross country racer, and after suffering through
so many tire failures in the past I’m never
going back to air-only tires even for trail riding.
If you do run air, set the pressure a bit higher
than usual to help prevent pinch flats. Nerf bars
and a good set of wide footpegs keep your feet
from getting run over when the going gets rough
and your legs are flailing all over the place.
To ease the abuse on your wrists from hard hits,
mount a set of Flexx Bars from Fasst Co. These
revolutionary handlebars use rubber grommets to
cushion the blows.
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Fasst
Company's patented Flexx Bars, which
are designed to absorb shock and vibration
that is transferred to your hands, arms,
elbows and shoulders. These multiple piece
handlebars utilize rubber elastomers to
absorb abuse typically transferred to your
upper body. |
Precision
Racing's Steering Stabilizer is another
must have for any ATV trail rider, and it
should rank high on any mod list since it
dramatically improves the handling of any
ATV through rough terrain, and it also reduces
feedback to the handlebars, which reduces
rider fatigue |
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