First Ride: Side By Side Preparation

If you haven’t ridden a utility vehicle (also called a UTV or side by side) before, then you’re about to have a thrilling experience unlike any other. Side by sides are rugged and tough vehicles capable of handling difficult terrain and harsh riding conditions with ease. You can take a UTV nearly anywhere, particularly in places where cars and trucks simply won’t work. Side by sides are as equally suited to job sites as they are to recreational off-roading. 

To help make sure your first ride on a UTV goes off without a hitch, Barnes Bros. Motorcycle & Off-Road has prepared this guide to side by side preparation. We’re located in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, so if you have any pre-ride maintenance concerns, bring your side by side down to us so we can service it for you!

Prepare To Get Dirty

UTV riding is dirty business -- there’s no getting around it. Don’t wear your Sunday best when you’re about to tackle a muddy creek or sandy outcropping in your side by side. Wear clothes that are made to get dirty and protect your gear by storing it in compartments or waterproof bags. Mud, dust, sand and gravel will get absolutely everywhere, so you’ll want to keep your belongings, particularly sensitive electronics, safe from damage.

Get The Right Gear

Equip yourself sufficiently when riding a UTV to keep yourself safe and protected from the hard riding conditions you’ll undergo. Side by sides are similar in operation to cars, but they lack side walls, doors and roofs that would protect you in a crash situation. This means that you should wear long sleeves, pants, ankle boots and gloves as well as a well-fitting helmet with either goggles or a face mask to keep debris out of your eyes. The best type of helmet to wear on a side by side is either a motocross helmet or a motorcycle helmet -- something that’s made explicitly for high-impact extreme riding conditions.

Make sure to carry a repair kit with tire patches on your UTV at all times, including all the screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers and other items you might need to address small issues as you ride. Also carry water, a flashlight, an emergency radio, flares, a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit stocked with medicine and bandages to address minor illnesses and injuries.

Follow Behind

When you’re new to side by side riding, it’s best that you follow behind another, more experienced person operating their own side by side who can guide you along a safe path. When following a professional guide or more experienced friend, don’t deviate from the path they give you as this could send you careening over an obstacle you didn’t see or damage the surrounding environment. Your guide will figure out the best way for you to go and determine a safe speed to maintain on your first ride, so put your trust in them and follow them at a safe distance.

Know Your Side By Side

Every side by side is different and it’s important that you know how your particular model functions. Know where lights and signals are and be aware of the size and width of your model so you aren’t trying to fit it into places it just can’t go. Some models might be more prone to tipping or rolling over than others, so use caution when riding one of these styles. Newer models are often more stable, which can be worth the investment if you want a smooth ride.

Take A Camera

In a side by side, you’ll be able to access places and view scenes that you’d never see from a highway. You’ll want to bring a camera to make sure you capture some of this natural beauty to share with the folks back home. Whenever you take a break to drink water and admire the view, snap a few photos for your Instagram feed. You can even get helmet-mounted cameras to capture video as you ride. Just make sure that you have a waterproof and shockproof place to store your camera while you ride to protect it from debris, mud and water splashes.

If you still haven’t found the side by side of your dreams yet, come down to our dealership so our staff can show you our wide array of new and used UTVs for sale. We can also answer any further questions you have about preparing for your first side by side adventure! Barnes Bros. Motorcycle & Off-Road is in Canonsburg, serving the area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.