Hello all,

I'm new to ATVs and this forum. I just got a great new job and held off about 6 months before splurging. I bought an 06 rancher 4X4. I rode for the first time today and had a blast. I tipped it once when I got a little too confident. I tipped it at basically 0 mph when an uneven dip launched me into a tree at very low speeds. It got almost 90 degrees, but I was able to stop it and right the vehicle. the shuttoff worked fine though. I stayed slow and got pretty used to it. 2 questions

I'm pretty mechanically inclined. What are the routine things you guys do to keep it running well, and how often. My rear breaks weren't even working on my first ride. I didn't notice it originally because I was keeping it slow and able to break enough with just releasing the throttle. Turns out the cables had not been adjusted properly. Tips on adjusting those in the future.

2nd question is how long it normally takes (different for everyone) to feel truely competant at least at a basic level on the 4 wheeler. The trails I rode weren't too difficult but they wound through the woods with tight squeezes through trees often. Also there is often very uneven dips from right to left that tend to launch you in the direction of the deepest dip.

Mark

 

oil change every 600 miles, as far as the brakes there are tightning screws behind the right rear tire for foot and hand rear brake, as for the front you remove the red pin and tighten rotator till brakes lock up, then take back three clicks, check it. if fluid is goldish looking change it, it has water in it.

 

Sence your bike is new after 100 miles you need to change the oil and oil filter after that its bout 500 miles or so. Clean air filter after every ride if its dirty. I changed my differential oil at bout 1000 miles probly should do it same time as you do the 500 mile oil change. Read the honda manual it tells you wat type to run in it. On trails ranchers do great i ride them every weekend after a while you get used to wat your bike can and wont do and can avoid stuff you know you cant do like trying fit thru small places i usualy make my own path just run over trees and make it that way. When climbing hills id run it up them in 2nd dont use first if you dont have to unless you stop on middle of a hill then slowly give it power in first gear, Avoid changing gears on hills if possable. You will be surpised how far a rancher will go i have took mine every were the quads and bigger bikes went, Now with the mudlites i climb hills alot easyer to all 4 tires diging in hills i might spin on with stock tires i just cruise up. On rear brakes a rock or tree can knock those adjustments loose just tighten them up like other guy said i had a small 90cc run into me and it knocked mine loose couple twist and their back you have 2 to tighten 1 is your foot brake for rear one is your hand brake for rear. Keep a check on your fluid for front brakes also theirs 2 screws to take out and top comes off wanna keep that full cause its a pain if you let it run dry or get water in it.

 

Good advice on hill climbing and 2nd gear. I was hitting this jump last week that was at least a 30 foot drop down, then 30 feet of vertical back up the other side, not much of a lip on it so I was only catching like 1 foot of air. Would go blasting down into the ditch in 5th gear WFO, then shift to 4th as I came to the top of the far side.

It would be nice to have more horses and less weight. Guess that's why I need to get ahold of a sport quad for such Tom-foolery.

 

1st question - depends on if you use your hand brake or foot brake more for the rear. I use the foot pedal more and have it adjusted accordingly.

2nd question - those uneven dips and hill climbing serve up the most trepidation in my book. I've ridden TONS for work, pulling a trailer through some of the roughest stuff one can imagine but only rode once or twice on mine recreationally. Give yourself 600-1000 miles and i'm sure you'll be feeling very confident.

 

As far as maintenance goes, look in your owner's manual for the maintenance schedule. You should be adjusting your valves, changing your oil, adjusting brakes, cleaning air filter, etc according to the schedule. The first service at 100 miles/20 hours is the most important, don't skip it.