The Handbook of Indiana Off-Road Vehicle Laws Indiana Department of Natural Resources logo

Pre-Ride Inspection

  • Nothing spoils an outing faster than mechanical problems. In some cases, malfunctioning equipment also can cause injuries.
  • Consult your owner’s manual for items that may need to be lubricated, tightened, adjusted, aligned, or checked for wear.
Always Make a Pre-Ride Inspection

Key items include:

  • Throttle
  • Foot shifter
  • Brakes
  • Drive chain or drive shaft
  • Steering system
  • Spark plugs
  • Lights
  • Engine stop switch
  • Clutch

Tires

Because ATV tires are relatively small and take a lot of punishment, maintaining correct tire pressure is critical.

  • Check the tire pressure before each trip.
  • Use a low-pressure gauge because ATV tire pressure is too low for standard auto tire gauges to read accurately.
    • Tire pressure must be equal on the right and left sides; otherwise, the vehicle will pull to one side.
    • Under-inflated tires can cause wheel damage.
    • Over-inflation may damage tires on bumpy rides.
    • Under- or over-inflated tires may change the handling characteristics of your ATV.
  • Check for damage that could cause air leaks.

Routine Maintenance

Off-road riding puts a strain on your ATV, so it’s important to perform the scheduled maintenance recommended in your owner’s manual. You can avoid a breakdown and possible injury.

Indiana Department
of Natural Resources
Introduction
It's the Law!
ATV Basics
Snowmobile Basics
Off-Road Basics
Other Resources

Printable PDF of Indiana Off-Road Vehicle Handbook
Printable PDF Version
of Handbook

< Back to Previous Page Table of Contents Go to Next Page >
 
Online offroad vehicle safety handbook last modified: November 29, 2007
Send mail to with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Review Offroad Ed's privacy policy.