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Yamaha Grizzly and Kansas Whitetail Hunt Giveaway

Yamaha Outdoors has partnered with Powderhook and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) to giveaway a new Grizzly 700 EPS 4×4 ATV and a Kansas whitetail hunt at www.powderhook.com/atv.

The winner of the online sweepstakes will receive Yamaha’s best-selling Grizzly 700 4×4 ATV with electric power steering and a 6-day archery rut hunt organized by Powderhook and NWTF and provided by Horseshoe Hill Outfitters. The semi-guided hunt will take place in Southeast Kansas during the 2015 hunting season.

“Yamaha is a leader in the outdoors through its support of conservation partners like NWTF, and its work supporting open, sustainable access to areas like those promoted by Powderhook,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS group marketing manager. “Outdoor conservation, access and responsible recreation are at the center of the partnership between these organizations.”

The NWTF, through its Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt initiative, has committed to raising $1.2 billion to conserve and enhance more than 4 million acres of essential upland wildlife habitat, create at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting, shooting and outdoor enjoyment.

Powderhook is an online community for connecting outdoorsmen and women with opportunities including leases, permissions, blind seats, rentals, charters, outfitters, hunting clubs, lodges, game preserves, public and private lands.

Enter the sweepstakes by at www.powderhook.com/atv.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., (YMUS) a leader in the motorsports market, makes the toughest, most capable and versatile ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings also include motorcycles, outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power equipment, accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of dealers in the United States. Headquartered in Cypress, Calif., since its incorporation in 1976, Yamaha also has facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia, as well as factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia.

For more information on Yamaha, visit www.yamaha-motor.com.

CAN-AM PRO JEFFREY RASTRELLI EARNS UNADILLA PODIUM

Can-Am DS 450 racer Jeffrey Rastrelli earned his first career Pro class podium by finishing third at round seven of the 2014 Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship Series held in New York. Rastrelli, also the Pro-Am class winner, and three other Can-Am DS 450 Pros secured four of the top-seven finishing spots in Pro class at Unadilla Motorsports Park in New Berlin, N.Y.

“Can-Am DS 450 racers definitely showed off their talents, winning the fastest qualifier award, grabbing the moto two holeshot and leading a portion of both Pro class motos at Unadilla in New York,” said Jeff Leclerc, Racing Project Leader, Can-Am. “Jeffrey Rastrelli continued to impress with a good starts, excellent consistency and a career-best third-place podium finish. To have four racers in the top seven is certainly an accomplishment. They all continue to push hard for the podium and deserve praise for their efforts.”

Round seven, the NYCM Insurance Northeastern ATV National, of the AMA-sanctioned Mtn. Dew ATV MX series was held at the fabulous Unadilla Motorsports facility, a natural-terrain motocross course located on the rolling hills outside of New Berlin, N.Y.

For Can-Am, the day started with JB Racing / DWT / Mtn. Dew Live Wire / Can-Am Pro Joel Hetrick earning the ATVriders.com Fastest Qualifier award aboard his DS 450 ATV. Jeffrey Rastrelli was in the spotlight all day, as the JB Racing / Cheerwine / Can-Am Pro pulled off two great starts to contend for a spot on the podium. Rastrelli ended up with his first Pro class podium finish, earning third overall at Unadilla. He started the podium chase by grabbing the second spot at the gate drop in the first moto. He later led a lap of that moto before dropping back one spot to take second. In moto two, Rastrelli started fourth and held that spot for much of the race. His 2-5 scorecard was good for third overall and helped him climb to seventh in the class point standings.

“My Can-Am was running awesome out there. I had good starts and it handled really well. I got on the podium in Pro, which I am really excited about, and I also got the win in Pro-Am on Sunday. I really couldn’t ask for a better weekend,” said Rastrelli.

BCS Performance / Can-Am DS 450 Pro Josh Creamer also had a good showing at Unadilla, earning fourth overall. He won the SSI Decals Holeshot Award in moto two on his way to a third-place finish. He matched up that finish with an earlier sixth-place run in moto one to tally his fourth, fourth-place finish of the year.

Hetrick put together a 4-7 scorecard to end up sixth overall on the day in New York. He holds sole possession of second place in the standings heading into round eight. Ronnie Higgerson, the final Can-Am DS 450 Pro competing in the Pro ranks, finished seventh with a steady 8-8 moto score. Can-Am Pros currently own second, sixth (Creamer), seventh (Rastrelli) and eighth place (Higgerson) in the class standings.

“I had a decent start in the first moto, but somehow I ended up cutting a tire and that kind of set me back a bit in the first moto,” said Creamer. “Moto two went great. I grabbed the holeshot and led for several laps. My Can-Am was running great. BCS has done a great job. The quad has so much power and the FOX shocks handled great out there.”

Can-Am racers continue their pursuit toward the Pro-Am class championship. Rastrelli notched his second victory of the year with an impressive 1-1 finish to climb to within 7 points of Higgerson, the current Pro-Am class points leader.

Higgerson, who saw his string of five straight podium finishes end, finished 15th, but is in the driver’s seat with just two rounds remaining. William Lloyd (JB Racing / Cheerwine / Can-Am), who was seventh in the Pro-Am class, recorded his second Open A class win of the year to move into the top three in the point standings.

For more information on 2014 Can-Am racing, the contingency program and all amateur racer support programs, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.

THOUGHTS ON THE 2015 HONDA RUBICON

Honda just released word it has taken the venerable Rubicon 4×4 to a new level of competitiveness. From any angle this is good news!

Almost a decade ago the Rubicon was intended to be Honda’s flagship ATV model aimed at addressing the insane popularity of the Polaris Sportsman 500.

Some say the sizzle is off the 500-class and while Honda has pulled the sheets off a vastly improved Rubicon to compete there, 500-class sales are not setting records.

The goodness in the Rubicon intro is this: It looks like Honda got the memo – if you want to win in the 500 class you better meet Polaris head-on because it pretty much owns that real estate.

So what do we think about the new Rube? We haven’t swung a leg over it yet so we can only comment on what the spec sheet says. The move to independent rear suspension is monumental – particularly when you consider Honda is last-in with this class defining feature.

A locking differential has been showing up on other Honda models and it’s a must in this segment. However, the most important info in the spec charts is a new low range sub-tranny and a standard winch mount. At last Honda owners can plow snow without risk of overheating the transmission and clutches.

On top of this it’s okay if you install a winch on the Rubicon! Nice, but long overdue.

We like the new, much more aggressive looking bodywork and it sets the Rubicon apart from the same-as styling of nearly all past Honda models.

Honda’s persistence to deliver its ATVs with gear-on-gear trannies continues. Frankly, when Honda lands a cost effective CVT we’ll stand and applaud. For now, the Rubicon will get an auto-shifter transmission or a gear-on-gear semi-auto – your choice.

We’re anxious to wring this new Honda out for your benefit but are told we’ll have to wait until this fall to get our mitts on one.

For sure Honda needs this ATV, however it also needs more SxS product as the industry radically shifts to SxS vehicles.

It’s possible North American SxS sales will exceed ATV unit volume in the near future. Honda’s new 500 Pioneer is a credible stab into an as yet unexplored SxS segment.

We hope to bring you more hands-on impressions on this vehicle in the very near future.

In the meantime, we think the new Rubicon signals Honda is getting the message.

SMITH OPTICS INTAKE SWEAT-X GOGGLES

The manner in which any good goggle is measured is by its ability to maintain a clear field of view.

The Smith Optics Intake Sweat-X goggle system has scored high marks with our crew for its performance, fit and style. Its super absorptive, F.A.T. 3-layer face foam forms a tight seal on your face and its air intake system is comprised of air louvers that you can quickly pop open to increase air-flow when needed.

The articulating outrigger system combined with the silicone-backed strap keeps the goggles positioned in place even in the muddiest of conditions.

Custom graphics, free Roll Offs system and protective goggle bag top off your purchase.

Key Features:

+ MEDIUM FIT
+ PROPRIETARY AIR INTAKE SYSTEM FOR ON-DEMAND AIRFLOW
+ NEW, SWEAT-X F.A.T. 3-LAYER FACE FOAM
+ ARTICULATING OUTRIGGER POSITIONING SYSTEM
+ CLEAR, ANTI-FOG LEXAN LENS
+ ROLL/TEAR OFFS COMPATIBLE LENS WITH IN-LENS TEAR OFFS POSTS
+ CUSTOM FRAME AND STRAP GRAPHICS
+ ULTRA-WIDE, SILICONE-BACKED STRAP
+ ROLL OFFS INCLUDED
+ PROTECTIVE GOGGLE BAG INCLUDED
+ UTILIZES FUEL LENSES

For more information on Smith Optics’ full line of motorsport goggles visit SmithOptics.com

TEST RIDE: 2014 Polaris Sportsman ACE

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DirtTrax Television Co-Host Luke Lester gets another perspective of the 32 horsepower single-seater 2014 Polaris Sportsman ACE from a guest rider.

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Get a ton more information about the ACE at the following links:

+ FIRST LOOK: POLARIS SPORTSMAN ACE

+ POLARIS SPORTSMAN ACE: QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Can-Am Maverick on ITP Mammoth Mayhems

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DirtTrax TV Co-Host AJ Lester equips our 2014 Can-Am Maverick X rs with a set of ITP Mammoth Mayhem mudders and churns the muck skywards!

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IS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF?

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One thing guaranteed to get our readers and viewers (you) spun out is when we make comments about how good some of the Chinese-built SxSs and ATVs are getting.

Here’s our response to those commenters who like to categorize anything made off-shore as junk.

Some of us DirtTrax staffers are old enough to remember what is was like back in the day when the Japanese invasion hit the North American motorcycle industry.

There was a lot of hate back then, too and names like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki were regarded with a certain amount of scorn.

We know it’s hard to believe today considering how all those names have become icons of quality and have left the North American, British and European markets digging to match them in quality – but it’s true.

There was a time when motorcycle names like BSA, Triumph and Norton held nearly all the focus of enthusiasts and the “Asian Invasion” of those Japanese brands was held in disdain.

We think it’s the same “deja-vu all over again” situation with the Chinese off-road OEMs and wouldn’t have believed it ourselves until we had a chance to put some of CFMoto’s products to the test recently.

We think there’s genuine potential for this company’s ATVs and SxSs to make big steps forward in the marketplace. We’ve spoken to a number of CFMoto North American dealers and they are extremely proud of the product, its reliability and its performance.

If you go back in history, this is exactly what happened with the Japanese motorcycles of the 60’s and 70’s. The quality and performance of those products simply overwhelmed the buying public and left it with no choice but to respect it.

Maybe history is repeating itself.

Innovation Marks Honda’s 2015 New-Model Expansion

Whether you enjoy riding on the street or off-road, this latest introduction of new models from Honda gives you more choices than ever.

Honda’s engineering prowess paves the way with a new street bike plus some new and returning popular ATVs join the lineup.

“This release really broadens our 2015 product line, especially on the ATV side,” said Lee Edmunds, Manager of Motorcycle Marketing Communications. “In addition to the most-popular selling, straight-axle swingarm-equipped Rancher and Foreman ATVs, our Rubicon family of ATVs is now also equipped with Independent Rear Suspension [IRS] to suit a wider range of riders and give the ATVs even more recreation capability. The new-generation Rancher Automatic DCT also has IRS for 2015, plus other new features shared throughout the Rancher and Foreman lines. We now have a complete line of IRS-equipped ATVs and a complete line of swingarm/axle ATVs to fit whatever need our customers have. There’s also the new CB300F thatÂ’s a really fun and affordable option for beginners and experienced street riders.”

FourTrax Foreman Rubicon Series

For years, the Rubicon name anchored a well-respected position in the lineup of Honda’s high-end full-sized ATVs. Now that reputation grows with the introduction of our all-new Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) system in the full-size class. With this new chassis design, the Rubicon offers more fun and comfort than ever, and it’s still able to tackle just about any task at hand.

It’s easy to spot the all-new look of these machines, and they all incorporate features that can both work hard and play hard in the real world. The new dual-shock IRS system combines increased suspension travel and chassis-tuning capabilities for superb handling plus all-day ride comfort. Beneath the new, aggressive look, the beauty runs deep. The long list of new features includes: new, longer-travel suspension front and rear with spring preload adjustability; increased ground clearance; rear disc brake; new, higher-wattage headlight; new handlebar grip design; new Maxxis tires with a more aggressive tread pattern for improved traction; roomier ergonomics plus a thick, plush seat for improved comfort; and a redesigned Electric Power Steering (EPS) system for reduced steering effort and less kickback.

There’s also a full front differential lock for added traction when the going gets tough; speed override function for increased wheel speed in severe conditions; increased towing and hauling capacities; a new steel rack with flat plates for easier packing; a new, easy-to-use reverse gear selector and parking brake lever; and a sturdy full-coverage front bumper featuring integrated mounts for an accessory winch.

Packing a powerful 500-class engine, the Rubicon comes with two exclusive transmission options for its class, with a choice of either a five-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed Automatic Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).

The DCT model incorporates a new drive/low-range sub-transmission that lowers the final-drive gear ratio for added versatility. The Rubicon is available with or without EPS, and there is a new Deluxe package that includes custom-style aluminum wheels, special decals, and special painted suspension components. With a full line of Honda Accessories on hand—including more new accessories for 2015—the multiple options now available make the Rubicon more versatile than ever. Price: TBD; Availability: Fall

FourTrax Foreman Series

The popular Foreman family also returns in 2015 with its swingarm rear suspension system. This rugged, full-sized workhorse remains exceptionally affordable for its class, and is available with a manual transmission or Honda’s renowned Electric Shift Program (ESP®) for push-button shifting, with the option of EPS. All versions incorporate the new one-lever engagement system for actuating Reverse gear or the parking brake. Price: Starting at $7099; Availability: Fall

FourTrax Rancher Series

For 2015, the Rancher Automatic DCT incorporates IRS, and there’s more suspension travel at both ends—2.2 inches more in back—plus a new chassis, more ground clearance, a larger, more comfortable seat, larger front disc brakes for added stopping power, a new, larger rear carrier with flat plates for packing and tie-down convenience, and a new easy-to-engage reverse lever, and it’s also available with an improved EPS system.

The Rancher Automatic DCT is powered by a rugged 420cc engine, and features a five-speed automatic DCT with improved shift program and shaft drive that’s virtually maintenance-free. Brighter headlights, increased electrical output, more fuel capacity, a larger, softer seat, and a new digital meter package are just a few features that add even more value to the Rancher Automatic DCT. A full line of Honda accessories will be available to complement these models. Price: TBD; Availability: Fall

The rest of the Rancher series with swingarm rear suspension systems also returns for 2015, now equipped with Honda’s new, easy-actuation reverse lever. The wealth of driveline options includes 2WD and 4WD models, manual transmissions, ESP for push-button shifting and automatic DCT. Price: Starting at $5199; Availability: Fall

TRX90X

The TRX90X has been a great starting point for thousands of ATV riders. An exceptionally smooth power delivery and great handling are backed by HondaÂ’s renowned quality and reliability.

Electric starting makes it easy to get going, and the durable automatic clutch, four-speed transmission, refined suspension system, sealed drum brakes and sporty styling combine to make the TRX90X a great place to start discovering the world of off-road riding. Price: $2999; Availability: Fall

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. was established in 1959 and is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and side-by-sides in the U.S. The American Honda Motorcycle Division is responsible for the sales, marketing, and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers.

For more information on Honda products, go to powersports.honda.com.

TEST RIDE: 2014 Can Am Maverick Xrs

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DirtTrax Television Co-Host Luke Lester evaluates Can-Am’s 2014 Maverick 1000 X rs.

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HOW MUCH IS MADE IN AMERICA?

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We hear you when you say you’d only buy stuff that’s been made in North America. Not a bad plan at all – but what does it really mean?

In the same breath those stalwart “made in America” voices are praising the Japanese brands and crowing about how good their quality is.

There’s a pretty strong argument for that kind of support for Japanese off-road vehicles, especially considering how many of them are being assembled on North American soil in factories manned by North American workers.

This is all good and it’s an excellent strategy for creating and sustaining NA jobs. We wholeheartedly agree with and support this.

Here’s where it gets murky. There’s a significant trend, not only in the off-road biz but in the North American auto industry, to build parts, components and even whole vehicles off-shore or in Mexico.

Frankly, we can’t think of a single product name, Japanese included, that uses all of its parts sourced from its home country. Whole engines, whole transmissions, instruments and 4-wheel drive packs – even upholstery and body panels – are coming from Taiwan, mainland China, Mexico and Korea – and they’re being used on vehicles we have always held as being “purely American”.

You can argue this is a bad thing and should be curbed, but are you going to pay the extra invoice when those “outside North America” prices are tallied? We’re dead certain the prices wouldn’t be lower and guess what… you ain’t gonna wanna pay more for the cool stuff that’s rolling off the assembly lines – from wherever!

It’s time to open our eyes and our minds to the real meaning of “Made in America”!