Getting serious about ATVs

The course teaches you how to tow, tie a load, and how to stay shiny side up.

City folk might be surprised to learn that Honda sold more motorcycles and ATVs than it did cars last year, with 7121 to 5853. It sold 3261 ATVs, of which most were multi-purpose, or farm, rather than sport or youth machines. Honda may come second to Suzuki in two-wheeled sales, but it's king of the ATV hill.

This year Honda's biggest-seller is the TRX350FM - a 350cc four-wheel-drive manual machine. It sells for $11,995, and comes with a free ATV helmet and 20-hour course providing NZQA accreditation. That seems like overkill until you see that in the decade to 1999, ACC says 3921 people needed hospital treatment because of ATV-related events.

Studies in the United States and Britain suggest 42 per cent of ATV-related deaths and 64 per cent of head injuries could be prevented by wearing a helmet - an adjustable, lightweight, one-size-fits all affair that's eschewed by too many New Zealanders.

It's easy to assume that because it's got four wheels, the thing's safe. But park this 238kg machine on a side slope and you'll find even a weakling can easily lift the uphill wheels. Get it wrong, and it's not a laughing matter. "Don't think it'll hurt?" asks our trainer. "You lie down, and I'll drop it on you."

Er, no thanks.

Training ensures you can play to an ATV's strengths, and overcome its weaknesses. That you know what and when you can tow, how to tie a load, and how to stay shiny side up. Get it right, and this TRX will prove a weekday workhorse which is capable of a weekend trail ride.

This machine's a clutchless manual, with a foot gear-change, two handlebar-mounted brake levers plus the footbrake, and a nifty safety reverse button to prevent inadvertent rearward motion. Footboards and flexible guards keep feet and legs from contacting those grippy tyres, and cargo racks carry 30kg and 60kg loads front and rear.

The modest power comes via front and rear driveshafts, with a front torque-sensitive diff to ease steering effort. The steering is an eye-opener. Forget sitting like a sack of potatoes and tugging at those bars - sit straight and she responds slowly to the tiller; shift your weight and she'll fairly spin round.

Children are too small to adequately control the bikes and that's why there are age restrictions. Passengers, too, restrict movement and aren't recommended.

Soon our class is reversing up slopes, turning on slopes, learning smooth use of the thumb throttle and when to change up from this TRX's ultra-low first. We're also learning how to read the terrain. Look to see you can ride the next bit safely, select the right gear and line - then do it. Don't stop part-way, sudden starts and stops on slopes can be fatal.

It's those fatalities Honda's hoping to reduce by offering a free course with each machine.