Side-By-Side Beginner Riding Tips

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Owning a side-by-side gives you the chance to explore the world on your own terms. You can go off-road riding on nature trails, beaches, open fields and in mudding areas, and you can take anywhere from one to five other people with you, depending on your model. However, if you’re new to side-by-side riding, there are some things you’ll need to be aware of in order to stay safe and keep your passengers in one piece.

Car Corral Polaris®, with locations in Flora and Carmi, is your Illinois side-by-side dealer. Below, you’ll find some helpful tips for beginning side-by-side riders to follow for safety.

1. Wear the Right Safety Gear

Safety gear is crucial when you’re riding an off-road vehicle like a side-by-side. Just because you’ve got a seatbelt and a steering wheel doesn’t mean that your side-by-side is just like your car: you still have mostly open air around you and you’re also not riding down a smooth paved road.

Wear a well-fitting helmet designed for extreme sports riding like a motocross or motorcycle helmet. If your helmet doesn’t have a face mask, wear goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris, branches and dust. Dress in long sleeves and pants made from a sturdy material and wear ankle boots with good tread. Make sure that long hair is tied up out of the way and that none of your clothes are loose or have danging parts like cords or strings that could get caught on something. Wear a pair of riding gloves to give your hands more grip on the steering wheel.

2. Put In Some Practice

Practicing with your side-by-side in a big, empty field will help you to feel more confident and comfortable when it comes time to attempt an off-roading area. Most trails and off-road vehicle parks will have bumpy and uneven surfaces with lots of turns, which can be daunting to the beginning rider. That’s why riding over a flat, open area for the first few times you ride your side-by-side will help. You can practice turning, accelerating, braking and reversing at your own comfort level until you feel like you’re ready to attempt a simple trail.

3. Bring Necessary Supplies

You should never head out on your side-by-side without packing for the day. You need to have some supplies on hand for safety and comfort. Some items you’ll want to bring include:

First-aid kit that’s stocked with bandages, medications, ointments and other medical needs
Repair kit with tools to tune up your side-by-side
Tire patch kit or spare tire with air compressor to address a flat
Food and water
Rain gear like a poncho or waterproof jacket
Emergency radio to signal for help
Cell phone with charger

4. Always Ride Sober & Alert

It should go without saying, but you should never ride a side-by-side if you’re anything less than stone-cold sober and fully aware. Riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol will slow your response time, make you more likely to take risks and potentially cause a serious accident or injury to you or other people around you. Wait until after you’re done riding before you crack open a cold one.

By the same turn, you don’t want to ride your side-by-side if you’re very fatigued or sick. Sure, you might have been excited for that weekend adventure, but if you’ve got a cold or a headache, it’s best to take a rain check and ride another day so that you have all your faculties.

5. Follow All Posted Rules

Any time you enter a trail or riding area, it’s crucial that you follow the posted rules and regulations of that riding area. This includes respecting off-limits regions as well as following speed limits and general usage guidelines. Give other riders plenty of space if they have had to stop by the side of the trail, and if you can help them with a flat tire or other issue, do so! Also, avoid going off any established trail as this can do damage to the wildlife in the area as well as putting you at risk of hitting some object you wouldn’t be able to see.

We hope these tips help you to stay safe on your side-by-side. If you’re looking for the perfect off-road vehicle, visit one of our Illinois dealerships in Flora or Carmi today to take a look at the new and used side-by-sides we have in stock. Car Corral Polaris® proudly serves all our customers throughout the state of Illinois.