2012 Yamaha Motorsports Big Bear 400 4x4 IRS Owners Manual - Page 69
2012 Yamaha Motorsports Big Bear 400 4x4 IRS Manual
Page 69 highlights
Select a large, flat area off-road to become familiar with your ATV. Make sure that this area is free of obstacles and other riders. You should practice control of the throttle, brakes, shifting procedures, and turning techniques in this area before trying more difficult terrain. Set the parking brake and follow the instruction on page 6-1 to start the engine. Once it has warmed up you are ready to begin riding your ATV. As you get on the ATV, be sure not to accidentally move the shift pedal. With the engine idling, lift the shift pedal to the 1st gear position and then release the parking brake. Apply the throttle slowly and smoothly. The centrifugal clutch will engage and you will start to accelerate. Once the ATV has attained adequate speed, release the throttle and lift the shift pedal to the 2nd gear position. Release the shift pedal and apply the throttle smoothly. WARNING! If the throttle is applied too abruptly or if the throttle is not released during shifting, or if the shift pedal is not released before applying the throttle, the front wheels may lift off the ground, resulting in a loss of directional control. [EWB02631] NOTICE: Do not shift gears without releasing the throttle. Damage to the engine or drive train may occur. [ECB01071] 7-12 Use this same procedure as you move into the higher gears. Be sure to coordinate the use of the throttle and shift pedal properly. Avoid higher speeds until you are thoroughly familiar with the operation of your ATV. When slowing down or stopping, release the throttle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. As you slow down, shift to a lower gear. Be sure that the engine has sufficiently slowed before engaging a lower gear. Improper use of the brakes or shifting can cause the tires to lose traction, reducing control and increasing the possibility of an accident. TURNING YOUR ATV EWB01771 7 WARNING Always follow proper procedures for turning as described in this Owner's Manual. Practice turning at low speeds before attempting to turn at faster speeds. Do not turn at speeds too fast for your skills or the conditions. ATV could go out of control, causing a collision or overturn. To achieve maximum traction while riding off-road, the two rear wheels turn together at the same speed. Therefore, unless the wheel on the inside of the turn is allowed to slip or lose some traction,