WHEN SAFETY COMES FIRST, ATV RIDING IS FUN, FUN, FUN!
Your child will love their new ATV and have many, many hours of good times riding it when they learn to be safe first. This site has basic safety information for both you and your child.
Safety starts with selecting the right size machine. Children of the same age can have different levels of skill and coordination, so only a parent can understand their child’s capabilities. When a parent decides to allow a child to ride a motorized vehicle, it is essential that they realize that the child’s safety rests entirely in their hands. The child must NEVER be unsupervised.
The quad’s power and speed must be set to match the child’s capability at all times.
The parent is the only person responsible for the child’s safety. By allowing the child to ride a quad, the parent accepts that this is his sole responsibility and risk. The governor on the quad should be set to allow the child to travel only at a walking pace while
learning to ride. The area in which the child is allowed to ride must be free of obstacles that could be a danger to the child and free of people and animals that could be injured.
As the child’s capability increases, the quad’s speed can gradually be increased but always only to a safe level. The Redcat 50 is unique in that its gearbox can be locked into first gear for beginners, thereby driving like an automatic vehicle.
When the child has more experience, the gearbox can then be locked into second gear by replacing the gear lever and moving it into second gear, then removing the lever again. This way the quad will again function like an automatic vehicle. For older and more experienced children, the gear lever can be left on, giving the quad four semi-automatic gears. This unique design will take the child from beginner to expert, at which time she/he graduates to the next size quad. Please read and apply all the safety information in this manual and on the quad. This quad is designed for off-road use only.
Remember: Safety First!
To help you ride and operate the quad safely, here is some advice you should heed. Only you can protect yourself. Your safety and the safety of minors in your care is your responsibility.
1. Pay attention to and obey the warning labels on the vehicle. If they become faded or are removed, replace them immediately.
2. Take instruction and make certain you are fully aware of – and able to operate – the vehicle’s controls.
3. Ride under the instruction of a competent teacher until you are an experienced rider.
4. These vehicles are designed and manufactured for off-road use only. It is illegal and unsafe to use this machine on any public street, road or highway, tarred, dirt, paved or cement.
5. Check local riding laws and regulations before operating this machine.
6. Check local environmental laws and respect them. Redcat urges you to keep the
environment clean, safe and beautiful for all to enjoy, including yourself.
7. Riding an ATV is serious; it can be hazardous to operate. A collision or rollover can occur quickly, often with serious consequences. Even in routine maneuvers such as turning, riding over obstacles and on sloping ground or across water, mud or loose surfaces, the quad handles differently from other vehicles.
8. Never carry passengers, as this alters the handling characteristics dangerously.
9. Never operate the ATV on paved, tarred or cement surfaces.
10. Never exceed the recommended load capacity. Cargo should be properly distributed and securely attached. If carrying a load, allow greater distances for braking and reduce your speed, especially if pulling a small trailer. Overloading or improper loading can cause mechanical failure, loss of control and unnecessary danger.
11. Always keep both hands and both feet securely on the ATV.
12. Never attach unauthorized accessories to the ATV.
13. Never attempt stunts, jumps, wheelies or other tricks.
14. Never ride faster than your skill or conditions permit.
15. Never ride when tired or after consuming alcohol or drugs or while experiencing any
dangerous medical condition.
16. Inspect your ATV each time you use it to make sure there are no mechanical faults or
problems with tires, brakes or controls. Your ATV must be in safe operating condition at all times, with sufficient oil, gas, and brake fluid and tire pressure.
17. Always follow inspection and maintenance procedures as recommended.
18. Never use your ATV in flowing water or in water deeper than 5 inches.
19. Always use the recommended tires and pressures to reduce the risk of tire failure.
20. Always turn the engine OFF when refueling.
21. Don’t run the engine in an enclosed area —THIS CAN BE FATAL.
22. Always wear an approved helmet that fits snugly as well as eye protection, gloves, a longsleeved jacket and long pants.
23. Engine oil from a recently run motor can be very hot. When draining oil for an oil change, be careful.
24. Be sure to replace fuses with ONLY the correct ones; using an incorrect fuse can cause a fire.
25. When checking battery fluid, remember that a spark could cause the battery to explode. Switch the engine and power OFF and avoid sparks.
26. Never put your feet on the ground when the vehicle is starting off or moving.
27. It is your responsibility to ensure that the ATV is properly and safely ridden and maintained.
28. People should not operate an ATV beyond their physical or mental limits or capabilities.
29. Keep the Owner’s Manual in a safe place on the vehicle or under the seat at all times.
30. While you are learning to ride, use an ATV only on level, open ground away from people.
31. Obey government laws at all times.
32. Contact your dealer about anything related to the ATV that you do not understand or need advice about.
33. If you allow an untrained person to use the ATV, you are endangering his/her life and the lives of others.
34. Check that the ATV throttle, accelerator and cables are free and working. A jammed throttle can cause an expensive and injurious accident.
35. REDCAT cannot be held responsible for your lack of knowledge. If you don’t know, ask your dealer. You ride at your own risk.
36. In some countries ATVs with 50cc or smaller engines cannot be driven by those aged 6 and under.
37. Riders under age 16 should ride only with adult supervision and only after training.
38. All riders should take a course of safety instruction.
39. Never use gasoline (petrol) to clean the ATV.
40. A slight spark could cause a fatal explosion. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby when working on the ATV.
41. Excessive “play” or slippage on a chain drive can cause the chain to break which could, in turn, cause a serious accident.
42. “Grabbing,” shuddering or lack of braking ability could mean there is a serious brake
problem. This must be fixed before riding or serious injury could result.
43. The high-tension wire from the CDI unit to the sparkplug generates extremely high voltage and can cause a serious or fatal shock if touched with the power on.
44. Don’t touch any part of the engine, exhaust or silencer until it has cooled down.
45. Don’t siphon toxic liquids such as fuel or brake fluid by mouth or allow them to remain on your skin.
46. Wipe up IMMEDIATELY any oil or grease that could cause you to slip or lose control of the ATV.
47. Don’t allow animals or children to be around an unattended ATV.
48. Keep loose clothing and long hair well out of the way of moving parts.
49. Remember: MANY PEOPLE HAVE LOST FINGERS OR LIMBS that were pulled into moving parts, especially chains. DO NOT WORK ON THE ATV WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING.
50. If, despite following all these precautions, you are injured, seek medical attention
immediately.
*This list of safety precautions was compiled by Redcat to increase your safety awareness and to improve your safe enjoyment of your ATV.
TEACHING TECHNIQUES:
*This advice especially relates to children on smaller ATVs but applies equally to beginners of all ages.
Your student’s safety depends on your commitment to take the time necessary to fully educate him/her on the proper operation of the ATV. Remember that proper instruction before your student begins to ride is just as important as proper instruction and supervision while riding. Please go through this manual with your student page by page. Fully explain all of the instructions, requirements and warnings it contains. Be sure to put as much emphasis on safety precautions as on proper operational techniques. Question your student as you go through the manual to ensure s/he understands what you are saying.
Following is a step-by-step guide to help make your student’s first use of the ATV safe and enjoyable. Before you begin to use this guide, however, be sure you have reviewed the vehicle features and riding techniques described in the earlier parts of the manual. REDCAT strongly urges that you use this guide to teach each student whom you let ride the ATV. Be sure to take breaks as the student becomes tired or his/her attention starts to wander. Full attention at all times is needed to safely operate any motorized vehicle, including this ATV.
STEP 1: PROPER CLOTHING & PROTECTIVE GEAR
The first step to safe riding is proper protection of the rider. Your student should always
wear a helmet, eye protection, gloves, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt or jacket and boots.
Make sure your student is not wearing any loose-fitting clothes. Loose belts, scarves, etc.,
can get caught in moving parts and cause personal injury. Even in hot weather, make sure
the student wears long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. These not only protect against abrasiveinjuries but also help reduce fatigue which comes from loss of body heat caused by exposure to the wind.
STEP 2: FAMILIARIZATION WITH THE VEHICLE
Your student should become completely familiar with the names and functions of all
controls. Demonstrate operation of the controls if necessary. Ask the student to do such
things as “Apply the brakes. Turn off the engine,” etc. Practice this exercise until the
student can operate all of the controls without hesitation and without looking at the controls. Review the instructions with your student until she/he knows all the items that should be checked. Give specific examples of things to look for.
STEP 3: STARTING OFF AND STOPPING
To help your student develop confidence, she/he should
PRACTICE FIRST WITH THE ENGINE OFF, as follows:
1. Have student sit on ATV.
2. Instruct student to keep his/her eyes straight ahead while you slowly push the vehicle
from behind. This will give the student the “feel” of riding a moving vehicle.
3. As you push the ATV, instruct your student to steer straight ahead and perform
operations such as stopping the vehicle and turning OFF the engine switch while
moving. Watch your student closely to make sure she/he is operating the controls
correctly and without looking at them.
4. As you approach the end of the practice area, tell your student to stop the vehicle.
You should drag the rear end of the ATV around so you can push it straight ahead in
the opposite direction.
5. Practice with the engine OFF until your student gets the “feel” of using the brakes
and can stop the vehicle and turn OFF the engine switch without hesitation and
without looking at the controls.
STEP 4: ADJUST THE SPEED LIMITER TO SLOW NOW.
Next start the ATV’s engine and have the student practice starting off, riding in a straight line
and stopping with the vehicle under power. Walk alongside the ATV and hold the engine
cutout switch cord or have the student ride back and forth between you and another
supervising adult. Make sure your student:
1. Opens the throttle gently when starting off.
2. Releases the throttle and applies the brakes in sequence when stopping.
3. Becomes aware of the distance it takes the vehicle to stop when the engine switch is
turned OFF while the vehicle is moving.
As you approach the end of the practice session, you should again tell the rider to stop the
vehicle and get off so you can turn it around for him/her. Practice this exercise until your
student can start off, accelerate, cruise and stop correctly and confidently.
STEP 5: TURNING:
After your student has learned to ride the ATV in a straight line and can stop it at will, you
should teach the student how to turn the vehicle. Explain the proper body movements for
turning and let the student PRACTICE FIRST WITH THE ENGINE OFF as you push the
vehicle from behind.
When turning, watch to make sure your student:
1. Shifts his/her weight slightly forward and supports his/her weight on the outer
footrest.
2. Leans his/her upper body into the direction of the turn, pressing down with the
opposite leg.
When the rider is able to properly turn the ATV in both directions with the engine OFF,
she/he should practice turning with the vehicle under power. Again, make sure that the
throttle limiter is adjusted to provide a low maximum speed capability. Watch closely to
make sure the rider is using the proper technique. The rider should practice turning until s/he
can do so correctly and confidently.
STEP 6: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
When your student has mastered the basic riding maneuvers in the previously listed steps,
she/he should practice them all together. Instruct the student to perform various maneuvers such as turning right, turning left, stopping, etc. Vary the order of these maneuvers so the student will not anticipate what s/he will be asked to do next. Practice this exercise until you are confident that the rider has mastered all the basic maneuvers. Using this procedure will help the first-time rider learn the most basic riding techniques. To become a skilled rider, your student will need a great deal of practice and continuing instruction in addition to completing these introductory steps. After all the riding techniques have been mastered, you can adjust the throttle limiter to provide higher speed capabilities in keeping with the rider’s skill and experience.
Choose a 50cc ATV should come with a special semi-automatic transmission that can start in any gear. It is recommended that you start the ATV in second or third gear with the speed limiter set to the slowest speed. Have you child ride the ATV and DO NOT have them use the foot gear shifter.
As your child learns control and basics, you should slowly increase the speed limiter to a speed that you are comfortable with. There is no need to teach the child to use the foot shifter until they are ready.
Riding the ATV in second or third gear all the time will not hurt the ATV.
It can be used similar to an automatic transmission, while it may not start out very fast, they can reach your approved speed while staying in any gear. (We do not recommend that you leave the unit in first gear using this method. We have found that third gear is optimum).
For children that have little or no experience with ATV riding, it is also recommended that you remove the gear shift lever altogether. This will prevent your child from accidentally shifting gears, which could cause an accident. You can re-install the gear shifter at a later date once you feel comfortable with your child’s ability to ride and shift gears.
ATV HISTORY:
The ATV (all-terrain vehicle), also known as three and four-wheelers, was created in Japan as a farm-to-town vehicle in rugged mountainous areas. The three-wheeled ATV proved to be a good way to travel off-roads and soon became a recreational vehicle, providing transportation to areas that cars and SUVs can`t access. Japanese manufacturers soon realized that America was a good market for the ATV.
The ATV first appeared in America in the early 70`s, it was promoted and sold as a recreational vehicle designed to provide "thrills" for the rider. This is still its primary use today. People quickly found that the ATV was a useful machine to move through places not accessible with trucks, four-wheel drives, or other vehicles. The ATV has become a popular hunting and fishing vehicle.
Honda`s US 90 was the first ATV made specifically for off-road recreation. Honda`s line of ATVs was quickly growing in usefulness and technology. Ironically, it was the ATV owners who found and invented creative new applications for the ATVs, and helped shape their growth and design over the years.
The ATV owners found that ATVs offered a wide variety of uses that even Honda engineers never fathomed. ATVs are less expensive to operate then pickup trucks or tractors, smaller and more maneuverable than either one, and possess a remarkably lighter footprint (with their low-pressure tires) that is easy on sensitive terrain. ATVs soon became vital tools in farming, ranching, industry, agriculture, fishing, hunting and means of mobility for the disabled. In many cases, ATVs do jobs that are impossible for other vehicles and 4x4s.
The 1960s: Prototyping the ATC
In 1967, American Honda asked Honda R&D Ltd. for a new product that dealers could sell when motorcycle sales were slow in the winter. The project was headed by a small group of engineers that eventually developed Honda`s first ATV, the US 90.
Two, three, four, five and even six-wheeled configurations were examined, but the three-wheel concept delivered the best results. It can deal well with snow, mud and many slippery conditions a two-wheeler can`t, while providing more maneuverability than other concepts.
The 1970s: The World`s First ATC
In1970, the US 90 sent its 7 horsepower through a dual-range four-speed gearbox with automatic clutch, and sold for $595. It was renamed the ATC90 later that year when Honda trademarked the ATC name. Honda showcased three models of ATVs with the ATC monogram on them through the `70s. The ATC70 was perfect for young riders and beginners. By the end of the decade, requests for more power turned the original ATC90 into the ATC110 in 1979.
Though the ATC was mainly a recreational vehicle through the `70s, farmers and ranchers were beginning to use the ATC as a tool to make their lives easier. Engineers followed their machines into the field, gathering data to guide the machine`s natural adaptation to a rapidly growing market.
Utility and racing were the two largest arenas for ATVs in the `80s. The popularity of utility usage was easy to understand. On the farm, a tractor cost much more to purchase and maintain, and an ATV uses 8 percent of the fuel necessary to fuel a tractor. Utility usage exploded in the `80s and ATVs became multi-purpose machines, serving both utility and recreation purposes.
The ATC185 was introduced in 1980 and became extremely popular among utility users. Rolling on larger, 25-inch tires that improved traction, the 185 featured a five-speed transmission, automatic clutch and a 180cc four-stroke single-cylinder engine that was considerably more powerful as well. In 1982 the 185 became Honda`s first utility ATV on the market.
The 1982 ATC200E, a.k.a. "Big Red", had more of everything necessary to get a host of jobs done. Its 192cc engine and five-speed dual-range gearbox cranked out more power to make chores such as hauling, towing, spraying, seeding and fertilizing easier. An electric starter made starting the day as easy as pushing a button. Dual racks and a 9.2-liter storage box made carrying equipment, tools, bales of hay and other agricultural chores quicker and easier. In 1984 Big Red added a reverse gear and its drive chain was replaced with shaft drive for extra durability and less maintenance.
In `83 the ATC200X proved that four-strokes could run with the best of them. The 200X combined a high-performance 192cc engine, five-speed gearbox and manual, motorcycle-style clutch with long-travel suspension and sporty chassis geometry that was used for racing rather than ranching.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, building ATVs to endure the stress of utility use put Honda R&D on a steep learning curve. Approaching the mid-80s, ATVs were inspected, dissected and exhaustively scrutinized with more data acquisition equipment than any other Honda product. Machines were run hour after hour, day after day for weeks, with riders wearing 50-pound instrument packs that recorded information on every aspect of the machine`s operation. As the market for utility ATVs grew, Honda`s research made it clear that the next step for ATV`s was another wheel. Then in 1984 Honda introduced the first four-wheel ATV, the TRXª200.
The market responded immediately, making 1984 Honda`s biggest sales year for ATVs. The 370,000 units delivered in 1984 remain the high water mark for Honda ATV sales, making up a full 69 percent of total ATV sales in the U.S. that year. The upswing in utility use and the introduction of the four-wheeled TRX200 was the end of three-wheeled ATVs. Four-wheelers were considered more useful by customers compared to three-wheelers.
By 1986 the money was all on four wheels in the ATV world. The Honda TRX250R made an un-matched four-wheel performance statement with a liquid-cooled 246cc two-stroke engine similar to the ATC250R`s. It was no surprise when Honda unveiled the first four-wheel-drive ATV that same year, the FourTraxª 350 4x4. Market forces were rapidly working to replace three wheels with four.
In 1984, increasing ATV sales led to an increase in ATV accidents, followed by a thorough investigation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In 1986, CPSC statistics suggested that most ATV accidents were due to improper rider behavior that ignored the distributor`s warnings. No flaws were found in the ATVs themselves.
Honda`s owner`s manuals and product warning labels stressed the importance of proper ATV operation to its customers. Through a national industry safety campaign, there was a 33 percent decline in recorded CPSC injury statistics between 1984 and 1988.
Then on April 28, 1988, the U.S. ATV distributors entered into an unprecedented 10-year agreement with the CPSC called the Final Consent Decree. Under the agreement, the ATV industry made a $100 million commitment to expand existing ATV safety programs. Free training and training incentives were offered to owners and purchasers of new ATVs. Distributors also agreed that they would no longer market three-wheeled ATVs or repurchase any unsold three-wheel models from dealer inventory.
In 1988 Honda introduced the FourTrax 300 and FourTrax 300 4x4, said to be a “revolutionary” pair of hard working Hondas that would ultimately become the most useful, most popular ATVs in history. The perfect combination of size, weight, power and capacity made the 300s sell more than 530,000 units over the next 12 years. Powered by a 282cc air-cooled, four-stroke single-cylinder engine, the FourTrax 300 sent its 20 horsepower through a five-speed transmission, automatic clutch and maintenance-free shaft drive. An ultra-low first gear helped it tow up to 850 pounds. Tough steel racks allowed it to carry up to 66 pounds in front and 132 pounds in back.
From golf courses to hog farms, hunting to hauling, nothing on wheels had ever been as useful, durable, efficient and affordable, on the job or on the weekend, as the ATV.
When asked what products had the greatest impact on their farming operations since 1967, the readers of Farm Industry News ranked the Honda ATV up there with Dekalb Biotype E Sorghum, A3127 Hybrid Soybeans and the Miller Electric Mig Welder as a landmark product of the last 25 years.
In America, having an ATV on the job makes things more efficient. In countries without our infrastructure, manpower and financial resources, ATV`s reliability and efficiency handle jobs that simply couldn`t be done before. Folks on other parts of the planet have now been discovering what American`s had discovered, and began using ATVs to perform all manners of work that is impossible, impractical or both. Honda ATVs are currently working in more than 35 different countries worldwide.
Source: ATV Connection.com
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