DIRTBIKE AND ATV SAFETY TIPS

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DIRTBIKE AND ATV SAFETY TIPS
Slides by SSgt. John Grucella
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JUST A WORD
All, I created this briefing to save commanders
a bit of grief when having to explain the dangers
of riding dirt-bikes and ATVs. The fact is that
many commanders have little to no experience when
it comes to riding off-highway vehicles. This is
also designed to familiarize commanders with the
different types of equipment and techniques that
their troops use during their off duty time.
Motorcycling and ATV riding are rapidly growing
in popularity. With the growth comes new
un-experienced riders at the tracks and local
riding areas. With the lack of experience you
will notice many unsafe acts resulting in
accidents caused by new rider ignorance. It is
your duty to correct them before they injure
themselves or someone else. I hope this briefing
informs or at least reiterates the importance of
doing the right thing while riding your dirt-bike
or ATV. These slides are based off of twenty plus
years of experience in competitive racing and
riding for fun on both dirt-bikes and ATVs. See
you at the track!, SSgt. John Grucella 26
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CONTENTS

• BEFORE YOU RIDE
• PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
• RULES OF THE TRACK AND TRAIL
• RIDING TECHNIQUES

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BEFORE YOU RIDE

• As an Air Force member you must inform your
  commander of your activity and receive a high
  risk activity briefing. (This prevents any Line
  of Duty issues.)
• Perform some Personal Risk Management of your
  activities.
• Perform a pre-ride inspection on your bike

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RISK TOTAL_________


This is an example of the Operational/Personal
Risk Management (ORM/PRM) table required for all
18 ASOG personnel to complete prior to doing High
Risk Activities. An ORM form will be completed
and turned in to the shop safety rep prior to
every time you participate in a high risk
activity!
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PRE-RIDE INSPECTION

• Check your fuel and other fluid levels
• Check your controls ensure throttle does not
  stick, the clutch, brake, and shift levers are
  secure, and grips are firmly in place
• Check cables (throttle, brake lines) for free
  movement and no leaks
• Check tire pressure
• Check chain and sprockets for wear and tension
• Do a quick final once-over of bolts, fasteners,
  and spokes
• NOTE Refer to your owners manual for specific
  settings and adjustments. Most of these items can
  be checked the night before riding along with a
  quick re-check immediately before the ride. This
  is also applicable for street bikes too!

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PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• MINIMUM
• HELMET
• GOGGLES
• LONG SLEEVE SHIRT
• GLOVES
• LONG PANTS (SHOULD BE DURABLE)
• OVER-ANKLE BOOTS (MILITARY, CONSTRUCTION OR
  RIDING BOOTS)
• KNEE AND SHIN PROTECTION RECOMMENDED
• NOTE THE ITEMS LISTED ABOVE ARE MANDATORY FOR
  
  ANY TYPE OF OFF-HIGHWAY
  RIDING!

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PROTECTIVE EQUPMENT CONT.

• MAX PROTECTION / COMPETITION
• Many manufacturers design equipment specially for
  riding and racing.
• HELMET
• GOGGLES
• LONG SLEEVED JERSEY
• GLOVES
• RIDING PANTS
• KNEE/SHIN GUARDS OR KNEE BRACES
• RIDING BOOTS
• ROOST DEFLECTOR (CHEST PROTECTOR)

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PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
GOGGLES
HELMET
GLOVES
JERSEY
RIDING PANTS
KNEE/SHIN GUARD
RIDING BOOTS
ROOST SHIELD
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PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT DEFINED

• HELMET This is by far the most important piece
  of equipment. The Air Force requires a minimum of
  DOT approved however, helmets are not put
  through a test to meet DOT standards. A helmet
  that has a SNELL M2000 rating far exceeds that of
  the DOT.
• RIDING BOOTS The second most important piece of
  equipment you could buy protects the ankles,
  shins, and feet.
• KNEE/SHIN GUARDS Protects the knees and shins
  from impact injuries
• JERSEY Long sleeved jersey provides protection
  and usually has ventilation characteristics
• RIDING PANTS Provides a great deal more
  protection than a pair of jeans

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PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT DEFINED
6. GOGGLES Obviously protects the eyes from
flying debris and dust you can
also purchase tinted ones for sunlight 7. GLOVES
Provide protection from blisters and flying
debris 8. ROOST GUARD Provides protection from
roost (debris thrown up from other bikes and low
hanging branches on trails) The Roost Shield will
not prevent injuries from impacts such as broken
ribs, collar bones, or dislocated shoulders. They
are only designed to shield rider from small
rocks and other debris. NOTE The riding
equipment defined is the most protection you can
get. It is expensive and not required for
recreational riding or tooling around. It is
highly recommended that you wear all the above
equipment when riding competitively or practicing
for competition with the exception of the roost
shield. However, if you have all the equipment
WEAR IT!
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RULES OF THE TRACK AND TRAIL

• ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET AND EQUIPMENT
• DONT DRINK AND RIDE
• KNOW YOUR CAPABILITIES IN COMPETION IT IS
  EXPECTED TO PUSH THE LIMITS IN ORDER TO PROGRESS
  AND GET BETTER OR FASTER. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE
  BETWEEN PUSHING THE EDGE AND RIDING OVER YOUR
  HEAD OR OUTSIDE OF YOUR CAPABILITIES
• FOLLOW THE POSTED RULES AT THE TRACK OR RIDING
  AREA
• WORK UP TO NEW OBSTACLES. IF YOU ARE UNSURE ASK
  MORE EXPERIENCED RIDERS FOR TIPS
• BE AWARE OF THE INHERENT RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH
  RIDING EVERYTIME YOU THROW YOUR LEG OVER THE
  BIKE.
• ALWAYS RIDE WITH A BUDDY OR AT LEAST BRIEF
  SOMEBODY WHERE YOU WILL BE RIDING. CELL PHONES
  ARE GOOD TOO.

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RIDING TIPS
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BASICS

• NOW THAT WEVE COVERED THE RULES, PRE-RIDE
  INSPECTION, AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ITS TIME TO
  HIT THE TRACK OR TRAIL. HERES SOME TIPS TO HELP
  YOU KEEP THE PLASTIC SIDE UP.
• FIRST THINGS FIRST! BODY POSITION IS THE
  CORNERSTONE OF RIDING TECHNIQUE. THERE IS TWO
  BASIC BODY POSITIONS WELL COVER
• NEUTRAL
• ATTACK
• NOTE BOTH POSITIONS ARE VARIATED BY
  STANDING OR SITTING

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NEUTRAL
AS PICTURED THESE RIDERS ARE IN THE NEUTRAL
RIDING POSITION. NOTICE THAT THEY ARE CENTERED ON
THE BIKE, THIS ALLOWS THE BIKE TO ROCK BENEATH
THE RIDER WITHOUT BUCKING HIM OFF. IN MORE
TREACHEROUS TERRAIN YOU CAN MODIFY THIS BY SIMPLY
STANDING UP. THIS POSITION ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO
REACT TO WHAT THE BIKE IS DOING OR GOING TO DO.
ALSO NOTICE THAT THEIR ELBOWS ARE UP FOR BETTER
CONTROL.
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ATTACK
THE ATTACK POSITION IS A MODIFIED NEUTRAL
POSITION HOWEVER NOTICE THAT MORE WEIGHT IS
TRANSFERRED OVER THE HANDLEBARS. THIS PREVENTS
THE FRONT END FROM COMING UP OR LOOPING OUT
NOTICE THE ELBOWS ARE UP AND KNEES ARE SLIGHTLY
BENT TO ABSORB IMPACTS. THIS POSITION IS USED TO
PREPARE FOR AN OBSTACLE OR TO SMOOTH OUT ROUGH
SECTIONS OF THE COURSE. THIS POSITION ALSO ALLOWS
YOU TO ADJUST YOUR WEIGHT TO THE FRONT OR REAR OF
THE BIKE TO ACCOMIDATE DIFFERENT OBSTACLES.
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CORNERING
ON ATVS YOU WANT TO LEAN TO THE INSIDE OF THE
TURN THIS WILL COUNTER THE ATV FROM ROLLING OVER,
KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE PEGS TO PREVENT GETTING
THEM SUCKED UP BY THE BACK TIRE AS YOU EXIT THE
CORNER SHIFT WEIGHT BACK TO THE CENTER ON
DIRT-BIKES YOU WANT TO GET YOUR INSIDE LEG UP AND
TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE BIKE WITH THE KNEE
SLIGHTLY BENT WHILE APPLYING YOUR WEIGHT TO THE
OUTSIDE FOOT PEG. AVOID DRAGGING YOUR FOOT BEHIND
YOU THIS CAN RESULT IN RIPPING YOU OFF THE BIKE.
WITH THE LEG EXTENDED OUT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS
DROP IT AND IT WILL PROP YOU BACK UP LIKE A
KICKSTAND
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JUMPING
KNOW THAT YOU WILL NOT BE A PRO OVER NIGHT, IT
TAKES A LOT OF PRACTICE AND PRECISE
TECHNIQUE. THIS IS DEFINITELY WHERE KNOWING YOUR
LIMITS WILL COME IN HANDY AND THE BEST TIP I CAN
GIVE ANYBODY IS TO START SMALL AND WORK YOUR WAY
UP. DO EACH JUMP INDIVIDUALLY BEFORE STRINGING
THEM TOGETHER IF YOURE UNSURE DONT ATTEMPT
IT ASK OTHER RIDERS THAT ARE JUMPING CERTAIN
OBSTACLES THE RIGHT QUESTIONS IE WHAT GEAR? HOW
MUCH THROTTLE? IT IS ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO WATCH
THEM HIT IT A FEW TIMES AND TRY TO PACE THEM OFF
OF IT. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THEIR BODY POSITION
AND THE BIKES ATTITUDE FROM TAKE OFF TO
LANDING REMEMBER.. SPEED DISTANCE RAMP
TAKEOFF AND SUSPENSION LOAD ALTITUDE AND BIKE
PITCH WHILE AIRBORNE
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If you see me at one of the local tracks or
trails please say hello. Ill be more than happy
to help you out with any questions. E-mail
john.grucella_at_shaw.af.mil Most of the pictures
in this briefing were downloaded from the
internet or are personal pictures of mine.
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FINAL TIP
BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN!
THE END