AJ Lester installs a Barker’s exhaust on our Polaris RZR S and reviews the benefits to this system, highlighted of course by some serious air under all four tires.
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As ATVers, trail access is the lifeblood of what we do. Ask anyone that rides regularly whether they’d like to see more trails open up that they could ride on and I’m sure you’d get an emphatic YES as your response.
However, there are detractors working against us that would like to limit our access to trails and riding areas so I’d like to share a concept with our riding fraternity that can help improve our reputation and could lead to more access to riding areas.
The Off Road Power industry’s responsible use campaign labeled “TREAD Lightly” is a national non-profit organization committed to promoting responsible participation in many forms of outdoor recreation including ATVing and is supported and endorsed by all the big seven OEMs.
If you want to be a part of the solution go to the Tread Lightly web site and read up on what you can do to make a difference. This isn’t about everyone else except you – it’s about every single one of us that rides and enjoys ATVs.
Always remember that trails can be closed as a result of just one thoughtless action so be a leader in your group and respect where you ride. We need to ensure our ATV trails are there for generations to come and that will only happen if all of us learn to TREAD Lightly.
Visit www.treadlightly.org for more.
I’m a big fan of ATVs and have hauled a substantial number of moose and deer out of the bush with them over the past 30 years.
Looking back, I’m amazed at the loads weÂ’ve been able to carry through some of the dirtiest holes to get our game out instead of having to drag it or quarter it and pack it out to camp. Honestly though, I cannot imagine life at the camp without having the use of a side by side!
Does this mean the tried and true ATV has fallen out of favor with me? Absolutely not, but over the course of a calendar year I will put more miles on an ATV than a SxS because where I live, a UTV is not road legal. On the other hand, ATVs, with certain restrictions, are. I don’t agree but I grudgingly accept it.
The sales of SxS vehicles are growing rapidly and the more I use them, the more I find the versatility of a UTV meets the requirements of my lifestyle. We’re seeing a wide spectrum of specific duties from the Polaris Ranger HD with its multi-use accessories and even electric powered UTVs are becoming popular for the simple reason theyÂ’re so quiet.
One of my favorites is the amphibious Argo, and while not a traditional UTV, it’s been around for many years and is continually being refined. The rubber track kit transforms the Argo into a 4-season workhorse. Being amphibious makes the Argo a very popular choice for many a hunt camp as they will get you in and out of otherwise inaccessible places. What truly amazes me is the toughness and long life of an Argo. TheyÂ’re like the Energizer bunny; they never quit.
Lately, I’ve been leaning more towards using our UTV press units at the camp because of the ways they make my recreation time more enjoyable. Working on trails in and around the camp is much easier because I don’t have to use an ATV trailer all the time and because there’s less need to continually secure equipment with bungee cords.
The roll bars make carrying brush and liming saws a breeze and they also make a great boat rack for our 14-foot square stern Sportspal Canoe. Their wide-box cargo capacity makes getting gear into camp an easier task and UTV dump boxes make quick work of minor trail repairs. Besides all that, getting those Whitetails back to the hanging pole at camp is a much easier task.
UTVs have been a homerun with the older (cough) hunters in camp and with Brogan’s daughters who feel they’re more user-friendly to operate because they’re so similar to driving a car. With the cargo box, the girls don’t have to fasten their packs down, either.
I’ve heard some complaints about people who doubt the capabilities of a SxS: “They won’t go where my ATV will go!” Others claim they’re too wide. For the record, we have had to widen a few of our trails marginally but so far I have yet to find anywhere a SxS has been at a disadvantage.
The last couple of seasons we’ve experienced above average snowfall in bow season and, in my opinion, the UTVs have handled the snow better. Last winter we installed a set of Camoplast tracks on our Polaris HD and groomed snowmobile trails with it. One thing is for certain, in adverse winter conditions, side by sides are a warmer ride and with all the enclosed cab options available they can be made downright cozy.
Oh, and besides all of this, camp owners will find a UTV makes a great vehicle for visits after a day of hunting. It’s perfect for those times when you head out to another camp to tell those big buck stories.
While you’re en-route you can get your stories, lies and excuses straight with your buddy riding beside you. As you can tell, IÂ’m a big fan!
I wonder if, back when Kawasaki first introduced the Mule, the company had any idea of how far this segment would expand.
AJ Lester and a passenger take Can-Am’s Outlander Max XTP for a rip and underline the key features to this feature-loaded ATV.
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The ATV business always seems to land on its feet. Despite the deepest economic recession in 30 years, the ATV segment has an ace card in the recreational powersports industry.
Among all other powersport vehicles including motorcycles, snowmobiles, watercraft, boats and RVÂ’s, the UTV segment of the ATV industry has come through the recession with sales momentum intact.
We, along with a ton of industry insiders are looking closely at what’s behind the SxS success story. There are some contradictions at play here – not the least of which is this reality: UTVs, without exception, carry the highest suggested list prices in the ATV industry. Simply put, they aren’t cheap.
In fact, the higher prices of these vehicles may be a big reason they continue to sell strong in a bad economy. Obviously, the demographic group still buying new side by sides has been less impacted by job losses, mortgage crunches and cutbacks. These people can afford the higher MSRPs of SxS vehicles and their buying power has not been undermined by the recession.
Another reality of the SXS biz is this: amazing practicality. Okay, we’ve spoken many times on these pages of how an ATV is the ultimate off-road-work-play vehicle.
We’re not backing off on this conviction, however, we’re going to update it with this statement: If an ATV is a practical multi-purpose purchase, then a UTV is a multi-purpose practical purchase times two.
Look at what you can do with a side by side for a few grand more than an ATV. The ability to carry three people in many models and even more in some four-place versions eliminates purchasing multiple ATVs.
The ability to carry big payloads in the box is unequalled in the off-road world right now. The flexibility to perform yard work, job site work, hunt camp chores and trail rides all in one vehicle is incomparable. Throw in the ability to plow snow with a 6-foot blade and you can actually justify getting rid of the pick-up truck.
Their versatility boggles the mind. For sure, SxS vehicles are not cheap, however, take one look at next year’s prices and it looks like the UTV market is going to do nothing but grow.
In a conversation about three years ago, Matt Homan, Vice President of Polaris’ Off-Road Division, commented he would not be surprised if one day the UTV business actually exceeded the ATV biz in unit sales volume. I like Matt, he’s smart and insightful but when he made this statement I took it with a large grain of salt, given he had just been put in charge of Polaris Ranger business.
Today, with SxS sales still climbing, new segments of the UTV market emerging and more manufacturers coming into the game, Homan is looking more like a visionary than I thought. His prediction is getting closer to reality daily.
If you haven’t experienced the fun and versatility of a UTV, we hope you decide to pursue a test ride sometime soon. Once you experience it, there’s no turning back.
Two Can-Am DS 450 racers on pro podium in Minnesota
Team Motoworks / Can-Am teammates Chad Wienen and John Natalie raced to the Pro-class podium at Round 6 of the AMA ATV Motocross National championship this past weekend at Spring Creek MX near Millville, Minnesota.
Chad Wienen powered his Can-Am DS 450 ATV to second overall in the Pro 450 class finishing second in both motos. Fellow DS 450 racer, John Natalie put in two solid motos finishing third overall in the class.
“This was an extremely successful weekend of motocross racing for the Motoworks team,” says Jimmie O’Dell, Racing Manager for Can-Am ATVs at BRP. “Both Chad and John looked tough on the roughest track we’ve seen this year. With this result, we are even closer to our goal of winning a pro motocross championship for BRP.”
In the amateur classes, the Henry brothers of Petersburg, Virginia continued their championship runs in the 4-Stroke B and Production A classes aboard DS 450 ATVs.
Cole Henry is currently leading the Production A South Championship and with his overall win in the class at Spring Creek, he now leads the Production A North Championship. His brother, Chase Henry, is also leading both the North and South 4-Stroke B championships with his overall class win this weekend. Chase also leads the 450 B North Championship after taking third overall at Spring Creek.
The next round in the AMA ATV Motocross Championship will be June 19-20 at Muddy Creek Raceway near Blountville, Tennessee. For more information on Can-Am racing, the entire 2010 schedule, the 2010 contingency program and DS 450 amateur racer support program, please visit www.can-amxteam.com.
Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Josh Creamer claimed his third victory in a row at Muddy Creek in Blountville, Tennessee, on Sunday.
No stranger to the top spot on the podium, Creamer’s 2-2 moto finishes earned him the overall and more valuable championship points to keep him on top of the AMA ATV Motocross series.
Back-to-back champion Dustin Wimmer raced his way to the win in the second moto and took third place overall, and he’s firmly in second place in overall points.
“It feels pretty awesome to win three in a row,” Creamer said after the race. “It went well for me this weekend, and I didn’t have the best of luck after a rough practice earlier in the week, but we still pulled it out and IÂ’m really happy right now.”
Dustin Wimmer and his QuadRacer R450 set the pace for the day with the fastest qualifying time Sunday morning. At the drop of the gate in the first moto, Wimmer was looking for a win. As he carved his way toward the front of the pack, another racer lost his engine mid-air and hampered Wimmer’s race effort. After the incident, Wimmer regrouped and led a charge, making it up to seventh place by the end of the moto.
“I’m sore right now,” Wimmer said after the race, “but other than that it’s just bad luck again.”
Creamer’s Moto 1 was a different story as he methodically passed other racers to put himself in second place, where he stayed until the end of the moto. Though this is Creamer’s first year aboard the QuadRacer R450, it’s clear that he’s extremely comfortable with his race quad.
The QuadRacer R450’s immediate throttle response along with the light weight of the machine make it easy to maneuver on the track and around competitors; Creamer has been making a habit of getting to the front of the pack at every race so far in 2010.
“I didn’t know if I was going to be able to pull off being so successful in my first year on the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team, but I was hoping this is how it would go,” Creamer said. “The QuadRacer R450 is great and it’s no wonder this bike has multiple championships already. As long as the rider puts in the work, the machine is dialed in and ready to race.”
In Moto 2, Wimmer was even hungrier for the win and wanted to make up for the first moto. With the drop of the gate, Wimmer pushed the throttle of his R450 and took off. He was a man on a mission, and showed the other racers and the crowd that he’s the champion for a reason.
Wimmer used the torque his QuadRacer R450 has on tap to push his way past everyone else on the track until he saw the finish line. Wimmer easily took the second moto win at Muddy Creek, making it his fifth moto win of the season, and he took third overall for the day. Wimmer is now only 20 points out of the lead in the championship.
“I went into Moto 2 and I was really angry,” Wimmer said. “I felt like I had the win in Moto 1, like that win was mine, but I just had bad luck again this weekend. I just capitalized on Moto 2 and now we have to move forward. I’m looking forward to Pleasure Valley because it’s wide open, and it fits my style of riding.”
Creamer took the holeshot in Moto 2, and battled to keep his position. Despite his teammate passing him, Creamer wasn’t about to let anyone else by. He held on to his second-place position until the end of the moto, and found himself in the winner’s circle at the end of the day.
His 2-2 moto finishes put him on top of the podium, where heÂ’s been more often than not in the 2010 season. Creamer is leading the series with 313 points and shows no signs of slowing down.
Round 8 of the AMA ATV Motocross Championship takes place at Pleasure Valley Raceway in Armagh, Pennsylvania, on July 3-4.
Best-in-class horsepower, ride and utility are featured on new models
John Deere recently unleashed its most performance-driven Gator utility vehicles yet. Targeted toward the true outdoor adventurist, the 2011 lineup of Crossover Utility Vehicles (XUV) is packed with advanced features that deliver an unparalleled balance between work and recreation.
“Headlining the 2011 XUV models will be the brand new Gator XUV 825i – the fastest and most powerful Gator ever produced,” said David Gigandet, tactical marketing manager, utility vehicles. “Anyone with a sense of adventure and a love of the outdoors will enjoy putting its best-in-class advanced engine system to the test.”
Boasting 50 HP, it is the highest-powered engine in its class with superior low-end torque for taking on even the toughest tasks, trails, and terrain. Horsepower is delivered by an 815cc, liquid cooled, inline 3-cylinder engine featuring 4 valves per cylinder, dual overhead cams and electronic fuel injection.
“And, the 825i can travel at speeds up to 44 mph,” emphasized Gigandet. “This is the fastest Gator we’ve ever built and this is an example of the commitment we’ve made to provide top-of-the-line XUVs for the outdoor enthusiast.”
All the new Gator XUV models have a completely re-designed front and rear independent suspension system that delivers a superior ride through rough terrain.
The new models are designed for less body roll and superior side-hill stability with either no-load or maximum cargo. Also, all the models sport an entirely new braking system that improves stopping performance over previous models.
“John Deere has a long heritage in the utility vehicle category with the Gator as a tried and true workhorse,” said Gigandet. “With the introduction of the 2011 XUV, the new Gator line-up now delivers the innovation and top performance consumers desire, as well as the best in class utility, reliability and quality we’re known for.”
The Gator XUV also features 1500 lbs. of towing and 1400 lbs. of payload capacity. The all-new hybrid metal and composite cargo box offers 16.4 cu. ft. of capacity, the most in its class, and an available factory installed spray-in bed liner with 20 integrated tie downs to help keep cargo in place.
The sides of this cargo box are removable as well, giving the user a flat bed thatÂ’s easy to load and unload from any side.
All Gator XUV models are available in one of three different finishes: olive and black, Realtree Hardwoods HD Camo or traditional John Deere green and yellow.
In addition to the XUV 825i, John Deere also offers the 625i and the 855D to round out its full line of crossover utility vehicles. Here are the basic specifications for those two models:
– Gator XUV 625i
– Gas EFI
– 617cc, liquid cooled V-twin engine
– 23 HP engine
– 30 mph top speed
– Gator XUV 855D
– Diesel
– 854cc, liquid cooled 3 cylinder engine
– 25 HP
– 35 mph top speed
– Now with full clutch enclosure
Visit your local John Deere dealer or check out the Web link at www.JohnDeere.com/Gator to learn more.
The Rockstar Makita Suzuki ATV team enjoyed another dominant weekend of racing at Round 6 of the AMA ATV Motocross Championship in Millville, MN.
Josh Creamer went 1-1 en route to his fourth win of the season, while teammate and defending champion Dustin Wimmer finished fourth overall with 3-4 moto scores.
“This weekend was awesome,” Creamer said after the race. “It couldn’t have gone any better. We were all on an even playing field at this track, and I finally got a good holeshot and got out front both motos and rode two smart races.”
Heavy rain canceled Friday practice, but it didn’t slow the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team during qualifying, with Wimmer and Creamer logging the two fastest lap times. Wimmer got the fastest qualifier award, and he and Creamer got to choose their gate positions first. When the gate dropped for moto one, it was Creamer making the most of his gate pick, securing the holeshot aboard his Suzuki QuadRacer R450 and never looking back. As Creamer checked out at the front, teammate Wimmer was working his way forward from a strong top-five start. After a race-long battle, Wimmer was able to fight his way on to the podium, finishing in third.
Moto two saw Creamer again take the holeshot. After a brief challenge from the competition, Creamer prevailed, opening up another big lead on his way to a perfect overall finish. His QuadRacer R450 was setup perfectly for the challenging track, and his results prove it.
“The track was really rough, but we nailed our setup and our Fox Shoxs were working great this weekend,” Creamer said. “The power of the QuadRacer R450 was great, and there was plenty of traction because they got a lot of rain this week before the race. The track kinda fell apart at the end, but the QuadRacer R450 handled it really well.”
Teammate Wimmer again started in the top five, where he stayed the entire race, finishing a strong and consistent fourth. His 3-4 finishes were good enough for fourth overall. “We didn’t get the results we were looking for this weekend,” Wimmer said, “but we’ll get back to work this week and come back ready for Muddy Creek.”
Team Rockstar Makita Suzuki and the QuadRacer R450 lead the championship standings with Creamer in first, 15 points ahead of two-time champion Wimmer in second. “It’s a great feeling leading, but I’ve got to keep my head on straight because we still have a lot of racing left,” Creamer said. “It’s motocross and anything can happen.”
Muddy Creek Raceway in Blountville, TN, is the next stop of the AMA ATV Motocross Championship, which takes place June 19-20.
Afterburn is a new high performance radial ATV tire from GBC Motorsports that delivers uncompromised traction in both mixed and hard packed terrains.
With its aggressive tread design, Afterburn promotes superior straight line and high speed cornering capabilities and its radial carcass construction allows an optimum smooth ride.
Check out all of GBC’s quality tires at www.greenball.com
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