2004 Polaris Sportsman 400 Owners Manual - Page 61

2004 Polaris Sportsman 400 Manual

Page 61 highlights

OPERATION Driving Safely Making Turns Your ATV is equipped with a solid rear axle, which drives both rear wheels equally at all times. This means that the wheel on the outside of the turn must travel a greater distance than the inside wheel when turning and the inside tire must slip traction slightly. To turn, steer in the direction of the turn, leaning your upper body to the inside of the turn while supporting your weight on the outer footrest. This technique alters the balance of traction between the rear wheels, allowing the turn to be made smoothly. The same leaning technique should be used for turning in reverse. NOTE: Practice making turns at slow speeds before attempting to turn at faster speeds. WARNING Turning at sharp angles or at excessive speeds can result in vehicle overturn and lead to serious injury. Avoid turning at sharp angles. Never turn at high speeds. 58

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58
OPERATION
DrivingSafely
MakingTurns
YourATVisequippedwitha
solidrearaxle,whichdrives
bothrearwheelsequallyatall
times. Thismeansthatthe
wheelontheoutsideofthe
turnmusttravelagreater
distancethantheinsidewheel
whenturningandtheinside
tiremustsliptractionslightly.
Toturn,steerinthedirection
oftheturn,leaningyourupper
bodytotheinsideoftheturn
whilesupportingyourweight
ontheouterfootrest. This
techniquealtersthebalanceof
tractionbetweentherear
wheels,allowingtheturntobe
madesmoothly. Thesame
leaningtechniqueshouldbeusedforturninginreverse.
NOTE:
Practicemakingturnsatslowspeedsbeforeattemptingtoturn
atfasterspeeds.
WARNING
Turningatsharpanglesoratexcessivespeedscanresultin
vehicleoverturnandleadtoseriousinjury. Avoidturningat
sharpangles. Neverturnathighspeeds.