Beginner's info on ATVs in CA?

[robodeer]

I've hiked for years, but I'm not all that familiar with ATVs. Does anyone here ride ATVs? Where would I go to learn about riding legally/responsibly? BLMs website? How do you lessen environmental impact?

[blackandredwarrior]

I rode from 2003 until 2010 or so. The last few years it was once or twice a year. I preferred trails, while my friends preferred Pismo. (A fat guy on an underpowered quad in the sand isn't that fun.) I hurt my back riding and got tired of waking up on Sundays of a weekend riding trip barely able to pack up camp.

What kind of riding are you looking to do? (Trails, Dunes, desert?)

On the riding legally, it depends on where you want to ride. Any public land will require a helmet, registration ("green" (year round) or "red" (seasonal limitations)) stickers. (CA emissions Compliant quads have a 3 or C in the 6th digit of the VIN, IIRC.) A friend of mine (who raced MX and spent enough time in ERs that his wife put an end to that) used to say, "Dress for the crash, not the ride" as his adult son and buddies would go ride through the forest shirtless, in shorts, boots and helmet... Most of the forests now have travel management plans and you'll need to know where you can ride in them. Lights are required at night. Flags are usually required in dunes.

Nearly all of the major manufacturers (Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, BRP, etc.) will pay you to take the safety classes (Yamaha gave me $75, a buddy got $100 from BRP (Can-Am).) You'll get the basics. There is both classroom and riding components.

[blackandredwarrior]

ATV Association They have some stuff in the "Riding" section.

[robodeer]

Thanks man. I'm not quite sure to be honest. I was talking to a few friends about it, and it sounded like fun. Never been on dunes, but trails and desert would most likely be the case. I thought it might be fun to go camping with them at some point as well, but I'm guessing that's not all that common considering the differences between "sport" riding/ATVs and everything else.

Did you have any suggestions on brands in general? I like Yamaha (and Honda), but BRP is interesting as well. Reliability & ease of maintenance (if you DIY) would be high up on my list.

It was just a passing thought, but now I have a starting point to do a bit more research. Thanks again.

[ojisan]

For rock crawling and exploring, carrying gear and gas, get a 4WD with racks and accept the speed limitations.
More open riding and tracks are the land of the 2WD sport models.

Whatever quad you get, get one with a reverse gear.
It's easy to push a quad backwards into a corner of your garage.
Pushing and puling one backwards out of a ditch or dead-end trail is hard.

For the desert, do stay on the trails and dirt roads whenever possible.
Roads and trails go around abandoned mine shafts and similar unsafe places and things.
Cross country runs tear things up and can lead to unpleasant surprises.

Mother Nature is fairly predictable when it comes to ruts, ditches, holes and other obstacles.
If Man has been there, he'll dig a hole or trench in the strangest places.
Look before you leap in new-to-you areas.