2002 Yamaha Motorsports VK 540 lll Owners Manual - Page 33

ESU00273 RIDING YOUR SNOWMOBILE GETTING TO KNOW YOUR SNOWMOBILE A snowmobile is a rider active vehicle, and your riding position and your balance are the two basic factors of maneuvering your snowmobile. Riding your snowmobile requires skills acquired through practice over a period of time. Take the time to learn the basic techniques well before attempting more difficult maneuvers. Riding your new snowmobile can be a very enjoyable activity, providing you with hours of pleasure. But it is essential to familiarize yourself with the operation of the snowmobile to achieve the skill necessary to enjoy riding safely. Before you begin to ride, be sure you have read this Owner's Manual completely and understand the operation of the controls. Pay particular attention to the safety information on page 3-1 ~ 3-3. Please read all warning and caution labels on your snowmobile. Also read the Snowmobiler's Safety Handbook originally supplied with your machine. LEARNING TO RIDE YOUR SNOWMOBILE Before you ride, always perform the pre-operation checks listed on page 8-1 ~ 8-3. The short time spent checking the condition of the machine will be rewarded with added safety and a more reliable snowmobile. Always wear the proper clothing for both warmth and to help protect you from injury if an accident occurs. Become familiar with this snowmobile at slow speeds, even if you are an experienced operator. Do not attempt to operate at maximum performance until you are totally familiar with the machine's handling and performance characteristics. The beginning operator should select a large, flat area to become familiar with the snowmobile. Make sure that this area is free of obstacles and other traffic. You should practice control of the throttle and brake, and master turning techniques in this area before trying more difficult terrain. 7-3