ATV Sport Tech Questions
July 28, 2008
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Z Sprocket
Q. I just installed a 13-tooth front sprocket on my 2007 Suzuki Z400. When I went to put the retainer on, the bolt holes didn’t line up. I put one of the bolts in one of the holes and left it for now. Is there something made to make up for changing sprockets? If so, where could I find one? If not, would leaving it with just one bolt be a problem?
Anonymous, via the Internet
A.All aftermarket counter sprockets that I have installed in the past on LT-Z400s have had both holes for the retainer bolts and aligned easily, as long as you rotate the retainer in the slot on the countershaft. I would double-check that the retainer is on correctly and not installed backwards. I do not recommend running just one bolt with the retainer. Also, always use Loc-Tite on the bolts and torque to factory specs.
- Toby
LT-R450 Concerns
Q. I want to get a steering stabilizer for my 2008 R450. What is the reason that the Elka System 3 is around $500 and the other [rod like] kind is $150. Also do you think that the new non-oil air filters work as good as others?
I am also getting the [Yosh] Cherry Bomb. Can I keep it on even when I have the spark arrestor in or does it have to come out?
Caleb Keller No. 33
A.There are so many different companies that are now offering stabilizers; I wouldn’t even know where to start in comparisons. I would start by looking at your budget and decide how much adjustability you will need for the particular riding conditions. I do highly recommend a stabilizer for the LT-R; it is the best handling upgrade you can buy.
I have not had a chance to do any testing with the new non-oil air filters, but I do know they are getting great reviews.
The Cherry Bomb is a good upgrade for the EFI on the LT-R. You can use it with the spark arrestor in or out, but only with the air box lid off whenever it is plugged in.
- Toby
Bent Axle
Q. I have a 2007 TRX450R with a bent axle. Is an axle from an ‘06 the same as the one for the ‘07? Their part numbers are the same, except for the last three numbers (000 vs. 600).
Anonymous, via the Internet
A.The 2006 Honda TRX450R axle will fit in the 2007-2008 TRX450R. There could be a couple of different reasons that the part numbers are different: axles ordered or purchased from a different vendor than the prior year, slightly different material used, etc. It doesn’t take much of a change in a part for the manufacturers to change the part numbers.
- Toby
Toby Reed graduated from Orlando’s Motorcycle Mechanic’s Institute. He owns Moto-Xperts and is the new “Wrench This” answer man for ATV Sport. If you have any technical questions for Reed, e-mail him at toby@moto-xperts.com. For more info on Moto-Xperts, check out www.moto-xperts.com.
Fundamentals of Mud
July 28, 2008
For every group out there, there’s always a sub-sect taking things to the absolute limit. Religion has Tammy Faye Bakker, sportsmen have Ted Nugent and ATV riding has its mud bog fanatics.
Sure, you may like to stop and fool around if you encounter a trailside mud hole, but you’re still a small-timer as far as the experts are concerned. Mud riding is serious business that requires some of the wildest mods in the sport.
Without the proper equipment, inexperienced mudders will run themselves ragged trying to rescue buried quads. Fried electricals, a wet air intake and a flooded CVT will be the cherry on top of mud-filled boots.
Dare to prepare
Depending on how often you’ll be riding in deep mud, lift kits, heavy-duty cooling, mud tires and chassis protection are a few of the modifications that will pay for themselves in fun.
Mud tires should be the first things on your list, if you’re serious. They’re a compromise out on the trail, but are essential to pull your quad through any self respecting puddle of mud.
The engine will also need a boost to power through the deep stuff. Swap out that stock exhaust, rejet your ATV’s carburetor and add a snorkel kit to keep the engine in fresh air. If you’re really hardcore, a raised, higher flow radiator will keep your ATV running cooler and longer.
The chassis is where the real fun begins. Lift kits and under body protection go a long way toward that mini-monster truck look that makes mud quads look so good.
Troubleshooting ATV Engine Problems
July 27, 2008
It happens every holiday season. You jam a bunch of food in your face, you feel bloated and you start to sputter before the night closes in. Once again, you’ve clogged up your system. Thankfully, it usually only takes a good night’s sleep and a little exercise to get your body up and running at peak efficiency again. Too bad keeping that precious ATV running at its top level isn’t as easy.
Just like your body, an ATV can get clogged up with all sorts of junk that makes it run completely out of whack. It’s going to take a lot more than exercising your ATV’s engine and letting it rest overnight to cure its issues. Most often tough starting, inconsistent idle and a sputtering engine are a direct result of poor maintenance. But don’t fret, it’s not too late to get your ATV running at peak efficiency again.
We’ve assembled several troubleshooting steps you should work through if your ATV’s engine and idle are hesitating like its driver after a holiday binge.
ATV Steering Stabilizers
July 24, 2008
Some argue adding a steering stabilizer to your ATV is one of the best suspension upgrades you can make. Why? Because the bolt-on device can vastly reduce bump-steer and jarring lateral handlebar movements. The end result is a better handling ATV and far less fatigue for you.
Stabilizers, or dampers, come in three basic designs, a single stick-type piston with mount, a double stabilizer arm and a rotary-type bar or stem mount with an adjustable dial/setting.
Here’s a list of stabilizers for your quad, their benefits, pricing and where to get them.
Welcome To Deer Country
July 24, 2008
In certain parts of the country there’s one tradition that empties schools, closes stores and, in some cases, brings factory assembly lines grinding to a halt once every autumn - deer season.
For those who haven’t lived in deer country, the side effects of deer season may be hard to grasp. For the workers at the world headquarters of Polaris and Arctic Cat, which are both located near the Canadian border in northern Minnesota, the outdoor tradition is so deeply ingrained into everyday life that portions of the ATV, snowmobile and UTV manufacturing process at both companies are put on hold until after the annual hunt.
At Polaris, with manufacturing headquarters 20 minutes south of Canada in Roseau, Minn., the manufacturing lines are shut down for the first Monday of the Minnesota deer-hunting season. It gives many of the 2,000 workers a three-day weekend at the shack and, over the years, has become a local holiday on a big scale.
Polaris engineers kick off the festivities the preceding Friday with a game feed. Deer, moose, elk, bear, duck, geese and, occasionally, more exotic game dishes like turtle or raccoon, make their way into the office where photos, strategies and discussion of the upcoming hunt officially begins.
Mitchell Johnson, director of the Roseau Technology Center, said he hasn’t been in the office during hunting season in the last 20 years. He added that the unique northern Minnesota lifestyle has become an integral part of the company’s branding.
“We kind of think of Polaris Roseau as being the heart of the company,” he said. “The essence of what we have here, I think, translates to people around the world.”
At this point is has to be. Polaris, founded in 1954 as a company that built farm products and snowmobiles, has grown into an international powersports company that’s held on to its rural roots as a corporate identity.
Less than two hours down the road in Thief River Falls, Minn., many of the 1,500 employees at Arctic Cat’s world headquarters also value their time off to hunt. Cat’s assembly lines don’t officially shut down, but a large number of employees use vacation time during the peak of the hunting season.
Kale Wainer, a Media Relations Specialist at Arctic Cat, said the company supports the employees’ hobbies, because they typically involve ATVs and snowmobiles.
“Ninety-seven percent of our employees use our product on a daily basis for recreational riding, hunting, farming or fishing,” Wainer said. “It’s a cycle that only makes our product lines stronger.”
To prove his point, Wainer used the example of Jeff Lane, ATV accessory product manager at the company. Lane uses the company’s ATVs and SpeedPoint accessories throughout the year to cultivate food plots for deer. Then, starting in mid-September when bow season opens, he begins hunting and doesn’t stop until the end of the year.
Throughout his 200 acres of recreational land, he has five heated tree houses, some with TV, to accommodate himself, his wife and two young children who like to tag along.
“Some people have cabins at a lake,” Wainer said. “Some Arctic Cat employees have hunting land where they spend the majority of their summer preparing for one week of rifle hunting. Why? It’s just plain fun.”
Twice As Nice
July 24, 2008
Man, times certainly have changed. Remember the late 1980s and early ’90s? If you were a young 6-year-old tyke with a Power Wheels you were the coolest kid on the block. Not anymore. The neighborhood’s top dogs now ride quality youth ATVs.
Sure, plastic Power Wheels are a great learning tool for 2- to 5-year-olds, but an electric powered ride can’t compare to the ping of a two-stroke engine and the smell of exhaust to an enthusiastic 6-year-old. We recently met with Over The Edge Racing, which had two tricked-out Apex Pro MX ATVs loaded to the hilt with aftermarket accessories and bling.
Cole Olson and Dylan Kloss have a lot of envious friends when they hit the trails aboard their Apex quads. Olson, who thumps on a 70cc Pro MX, and Kloss on his 90cc Pro MX can’t tame their excitement when out riding. The two brothers would ride all day if they could buy their own gas!
About Apex
Based in Chandler, Ariz., Apex Motor USA manufactures what it claims to be the most advanced mini ATVs available. While companies like Cobra may disagree, the Apex youth quads do come pretty trick right from the box.
Kloss and Olson kept many of the components on their quads stock due to that very reason. The front A-arms, swingarm (with OTER gussets), two-stroke engine and pipe all come race-ready stock. Over The Edge Racing gusseted the swingarm for added durability because both brothers race cross country.
All Pro MX Apex quads have a CVT with HP clutch assembly, which means young riders don’t need to worry about shifting when they encounter obstacles on the trail. Both modified ATVs came with custom clutching to meet their powerband demands. A 21mm Mikuni carburetor feeds fuel to the 69cc engine, while a larger 24mm Mikuni carb is installed in the 89cc Apex quad. Both carburetors are stock.
Over The Edge Racing is known for its fondness of orange plastics - a team signature - and Apex delivered with bodywork that matched the adult ATVs on the team. Stock Apex ATVs are available with red, blue, black or orange plastics.
Modifying Mania
While stock is good for the average rider or beginning racer, Olson and Kloss wanted an edge. That’s where Jason White comes in. White is known for gaining that edge, and sometimes he goes over. We guess that’s how he developed his shop name Over The Edge Racing!
The brothers’ Apex quads were stripped to the bare frame and White went to work on a custom gusset kit for both the 70 and 90. After adding gussets to strengthen the chassis, White had the frame powder coated a candy lollipop blue color. Since youth ATVs have less ground clearance, they are subject to harsher hits during a race. But after several cross country races, White says the gussets have held up to the abuse both riders have put the quads through. “We haven’t seen much in terms of stress on the chassis,” he said.
Up front, a set of Yamaha tierods and spindles were added for durability in woods racing conditions. White retained the stock A-arms because they offer plenty of width for both riders’ machines. However, the suspension got an upgrade.
Olson’s Pro MX 70 features Works Performance Pro G Series emulsion shocks that come sans piggyback reservoirs. Kloss’ Apex 90 has the upgraded Works Performance Black Widow shocks that are fully rebuildable with piggyback reservoirs. “We couldn’t get the valving in the Black Widow’s light enough for Cole,” White said. “We decided to make a switch to the Pro Gs, which have worked out really well for him. Both suspension setups have a lot of travel. I don’t think either of the brothers have bottomed out the suspension during a ride.”
To aid in rider comfort, a set of Fasst Flexx handlebars were bolted on to both Apex ATVs. The Flexx bars are in high demand for youth quads and White said he was lucky just to get two sets of bars. Spider grips and PowerMadd handguards completed the handlebar package.
White said the stock engine is plenty powerful, so he stayed away from mods when it wasn’t necessary. “These engines are very stout stock,” he said. White swapped the stock air filter for a UNI filter to help the quads breathe a little better.
A Sidewinder chain turns on stock sprockets for both quads.
Bolt-On Accessories
With the Apex quads new to the youth scene, there aren’t a ton of aftermarket bolt-on accessories available yet. But AC Racing does make a host of parts. The nerfbars, footpegs and heel guards are custom from AC Racing, along with the bumper and grab bar. Of course, White powder coated the bolt-on parts to match the frame and make them more durable.
While the Apex quads come from the factory with quality aftermarket tires and wheels, White opted for Maxxis Razr2s front and back. The 21 x 7-10 Razr2s are bolted on the front Yamaha hubs on both quads, and highly sought after 18 x 10-8 Razrs rest on Honda hubs rear. “I had a guy come into my shop who saw the rear tires and offered to buy them right then,” White said. “I guess they are pretty popular and hard to get.”
All four Maxxis tires on each Apex quad are mounted on OMF Performance scalloped beadlocks with reinforcing ring rims. Naturally, White powder coated those orange to match the plastic. The brake pedal and kickstarter also are highlighted by the orange powder coat.
Do The Kids Like It?
Even in near 100-degree temperatures, we couldn’t peel Olson and Kloss off their quads. By the smile on their faces, it’s obvious how much they enjoy riding their Apex quads. Olson has been riding for one year and already looks like a veteran thanks to days full of endless riding.
And his brother, who has been riding for four years, provides plenty of encouragement. At every turn and jump, Olson fights to keep up with older brother Kloss aboard their two-stroke-powered fun.
After two hours of riding and chasing each other around like hyper dogs, one would think they would run out of energy. Nope, just gas!
Post Your Own Videos on ATVmagonline.com
July 21, 2008
We are excited to announce that we have taken the viral video leap and are now accepting “user submitted videos” on ATVmagonline.com and eventually on all of the Affinity Media sites. The feature is now live on www.atvmagonline.magnify.net and ready to be put to use. Go to the home page and follow prompts to upload YOUR videos!!!
Another benefit of the feature is that you are capable of searching 10 of the biggest video search engines powered by YouTube, Yahoo Video, Google Video, Metacafe and 6 other video websites. If you find something you want on our site, select it and once it is approved, it will be live.
Any offensive or inappropriate videos will not be published.
BRP Wraps Up Two GNCC 4×4 Championships
July 21, 2008
With a sweep of the morning 4×4 classes, Can-Am Outlander ATVs wrapped up two championships and have one more within grasp. At the Mountain Ridge GNCC, Team Warnert Racing/Can-Am’s Clifton Beasley won his ninth race in a row on his Outlander 500 ATV and remained unbeaten in the class to win the 4×4 Lites championship.
In the same race session, Can-Am X-Team racer Bryan Buckhannon also continued his perfect record by winning 4×4 Open class on his Outlander 800 and also wrapped up a class championship. Buckhannon finished in front of Team Warnert/Can-Am Outlander 800 ATV racer Scott Kilby. In the 4×4 Limited class, Michael Swift of Team Warnert Racing/Can Am won the class by more than six minutes and needs one more win to wrap up the 4×4 Limited class championship.
Canada Encourages ATV Use, Ignites Controversy
July 21, 2008
You don’t hear this one every day. According to reports in various Canadian publications, Nova Scotia’s Office of Health Promotion and Protection purchased 66 youth ATVs for $230,000 to train children under the age of 16 in an effort to curb unsafe practices in the province.
Nova Scotia’s government also kicked in $10,000 toward a $250,000 ATV distributor-funded program to study whether riding an ATV is good for your health.
Department of Health Promotion and Protection spokesman Glen Friel said there isn’t much information available on the health benefits of ATV riding.
The machine purchases, and study money, has ignited a firestorm of criticism about the use of funds across the province.
Office of Health Promotion spread the love around and bought 19 machines from Can-Am, 18 from Yamaha, 18 from Suzuki and 11 from Arctic Cat.
Manufacturers gave the province discounts totaling $100,000 on the ATVs and trailers, and no commissions were paid to Nova Scotia dealers.
Customized UTV For The Ultimate Hunt
July 21, 2008
Each autumn we trek a few hours north to our hunting camp nestled in the pines, birch and oaks. It’s become a ritual, and for the youngest, a rite of passage. Hunting camp has its traditions: delicious goose beer sticks, witty comments, cribbage, stories and aging ATVs. Over the last several years, we’ve bucked tradition by bringing a different off-road toy. The tired, old ATVs get a little rest for one weekend.
