Preparing Your ATV for Transport

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

With the holidays right around the corner many of you are gearing up for a winter vacation, and whether that means a hunting trip to Montana with the boys or a family excursion to George Washington National Forest, either way you’ll be hauling out the ole’ ATV for a little fun. As weather conditions make roads slick and travel precarious at times, it is important to adequately prepare your ATV for shipping in order to minimize the opportunity that it is damaged, an ensure that you will be compensated in the event that it is. While these steps are designed to help you prepare your ATV for a shipping company, they can also be useful if you are planning on hauling the vehicle yourself.

The first step in preparing your ATV for transport is full-body wash. As you scrub, note any existing scratches, dents, dings or other imperfections and document them with both a written account and by taking photos. Be sure to date this documentation. Next, gather any records you have of past body work that has been done to the vehicle and assemble this information into a comprehensive description of the vehicle’s current condition. When you hand over the ATV to the carrier it is a good idea to briefly go over this information with him so both parties are aware of the condition.  

[Read more]

Holiday Shopping Guide

Holiday Shopping Guide
by Scott Lukaitis

As the parts and accessory manager at Freehold Honda the holiday shopping season is upon us. Mostly due to the current economic situation it seems like people are starting their holiday shopping earlier than usual. With that in mind here are some great gift ideas that have come across my desk in the last couple of weeks.

One of the popular gifts that we have seen already this season is the Go Pro Hero Wide angle Camera At $199.99 this unit is a self contained video recording masterpiece. Used this season by the Yamaha Factory motocross team as well as many privateers the kit comes ready to use for your shot at You Tube Fame.

Another popular gift this season is the Club Brace by Leatt Brace. This helmet for your neck has become a requirement for racers and play riders alike as safety has become more and more inmportant to the riding commiunity. Leatt braces are worn by many top professional riders and at $395.00 it is money well spent.

Some less expensive holiday gifts that have been popular so far are the latest DVD’s recently released. Every year around mid-November the latest batch of Quad DVD’s hit the shelf. Quad Jockeys 2, The Fallout: Reloaded and the ever popular Huevos series, this time with the eleventh installment, are due daily. And who can forget about the latest from Travis Pastrana and his friends. Nitro Circuis 6, Thrill Billies hit the shelves this week and as they say the rest is history. Another great video from the Nitro Circuis Crew.

Another trend we are seeing this season is the gift of preventative maintence. Although unwrapping a case of oil or a box of oil filters on Christams morning isn’t as exciting as an Xbox, the thought behind keeping your quad running is a practical one.

And last but not least keep your expensive quad battery healthy all winter long with a Battery Tender.  This important piece of winter maintenance is often over looked and by doing so can cost you. Save money this spring with a little winter maintenance.

Hopefully this will help you with your holiday shopping. So take some time and stop in your local friendly ATV dealer and let them help you with your holiday shopping needs.

Happy Holidays!!!

If you would like more information on any of the items listed above please email me at parts@freeholdhonda.com or comment below with your own ideas.

A Word with the Champ: Dustin Wimmer

I recently asked Dustin Wimmer, 2008 AMA Pro Grand National Champion, if he would be willing to catch up for a few minutes about his successful 2008 racing season.  He graciously accepted and I picked his brain for a few minutes about his racing career and what life is like after winning the championship.

 

 

[Read more]

Going into hibernation, long term storage of your ATV

For most of us living in the continental US the riding season is coming to an end or at least becoming abbreviated with the changing weather. This brings up a common occurrence. What to do about storage and how to go about it? Its unfortunate that most of the offroading public just shut the fuel tap off and push it into the garage/shed and start piling the holiday decorations on to of their machine to only then try firing it up in the spring finding that (A) it doesn’t even turn over (B) turns over but does not start or (C) turns over starts but runs for only a few seconds or very poorly. Not to mention other things like flat tires, mice eating the wiring or seat and other upholstery and even broken parts that never got fixed last season. This article will try to go through a few basics for some long term storage for both those that have to store their machines for 6 months and the ones that can ride sporadically throughout the “off” season.

First we should define what long term storage is. One thing to note is the phrase “long term” can be subjective as some may consider it to be 3 months or more while others consider it to be 1 month. I am of the latter, I believe if your machine will sit more than 1 month at a time at least some precautionary steps should be taken so the machine will (A) fire the first time (B) run well and in at least an acceptable state of tune and (C) be just as reliable as if you were riding it at least once a week.

[Read more]

5th Annual ATV Fall Classic Results

Results from last weekends Fall Classic ATV event at Old Bridge Township’s Raceway Park in Old Bridge NJ

Photos from the events can be seen HERE [Read more]

Cosmetic surgery, give your machine a facelift

If you ride a Yamaha with blue plastic or a Honda with red, you know that your machine can start looking old before its time. Crashes, tree limbs, and just normal wear and tear can cause that plastic. All colors of plastics are susceptible to damage and those white spots from flexing, for some reason Yamaha’s blue plastic is the worst when it comes to this. No matter what brand and color you ride, read on for a quick and easy tip to restore your plastic to near new appearance. I actually picked this tip up from some of my fellow motorcyclists and I thought I would pass it on.

Removing flex marks (those white marks)

Tools needed: cleaner, heat gun (adjustable works best)

Clean the plastics, take the heat gun and slowly heat it from the back side. Slowly heat until the plastic is changing the color. Let it cool and you´re done. In some cases you need to treat both sides. Test the procedure on some old parts first to get a feeling for the right temperature.

How to remove scratches.

Tools needed: Sand paper (#100 - # 1000), cleaner, heat gun (adjustable works best)

Wet sand the plastics starting with the more aggressive grain first (choose the grit to match the depth of the scratches) Now finish with #1000 sand paper. Clean the plastics. Slowly heat (with the heat gun) until you see the plastic changing the color sort of like starting to melt. Let it cool down and you´re done. Always test the procedure on some old parts first to get a feeling for the right temperature to avoid inadvertently ruining your plastics.

After using these techniques it might still need a bit of “brightening” if the color has faded over time from the UV rays of the sun. A product that I have had pretty good success with is Plastic-renew. It comes as a kit, just follow the directions to bring back some of the shine and color.

Another option that can bring back to life the cosmetics of your machine would be a fresh set of graphics, preferably aftermarket as the stock graphics are pretty thin. Really who wants to keep their machine stock anyways? There are numerous places to purchase “kits” as well as companies like Decal Works can work up some nice custom graphics with your logo or design. The benefit of any graphic kit (other than a little personalization) is that most kits use every square inch of usable plastic to put a graphic on, thus covering imperfections and protection from future damage and fading.

Photo Flashback

While looking through some older galleries on my website this afternoon I thought you might enjoy a couple of my images from a couple of years ago. [Read more]

Divine Revelations

 

There are moments in life that teach us valuable lessons which, for better or worse, stick with us until the day we die.  Inevitable “ah ha” moments when our vision clears and we gain a greater understanding of why things are the way they are.

My first racing experience was one such occasion which I will recount for you in a series of revelations.  What I refer to as divine revelation may be old news to you, or perhaps basic knowledge that any self respecting ATV enthusiast should already know.  I must, however, share what I have learned as I feel it valuable and if nothing else, entertaining for you to laugh at my shortcomings. 

[Read more]

Common questions answered … well sort of

We get frequently asked questions (FAQs) all the time, just like all those performance shops and manufacturers. I’ve tried to compile a few of these to let you know our thoughts or answers. These FAQs are in no particular order, I just wrote them down as they came to mind.

Which model is your favorite?

Surprisingly, there is no straight answer. We feel it varies from person to person and depends on what type of riding they want to do, where they ride, how they ride, experience level and budget. And fortunately we don’t necessarily need to buy ATVs as we partner with the manufacturers to test their products. Yes, we try to ride every model and form an overall opinion, but even then it’s hard for us to select one model. Certain models from each maker we think have proven (or will prove) themselves are: the Raptor 700R for its versatility; the 250X and its SportClutch feature for the entry-level rider; the Renegade 800R X for its look, 4×4 and exhilarating acceleration and speed; Suzuki Z400 for its reliability and fun factor; the KTMs for their racy look and performance skills, the Arctic Cat Mud Pro 700 for its warranty and bogger makeup; Kawi’s KFX700 for its unique configuration and sound; the Polaris Outlaw 525 IRS for its comfort and ground clearance or the RZR S for sporty UTV enjoyment. Even then, each editor and freelancer (based on their size, experience and handling desires) may have their own favorite for a specific track, riding area, environment, etc. That’s why we do shootouts and comparisons and factor in everyone’s thoughts.

How do I get your job?

The first thing you need to do is stay in school. A journalism or writing major and experience at either a magazine or a newspaper are strong positives. Act and dress professional (even if you’re a kid at heart) and have a love for ATVs and off-road powersports. Other skills that are important include, photography, public speaking, Internet knowledge, public relations, marketing and a team attitude.

You have the best job in the world, right?

Most would think so, but it’s not all about riding and racing quads. We spend lots of time writing stories, proofing stories, working on design and layouts, planning, sitting in meetings, taking the advice of our bosses, traveling and being away from home and families, working on weekends and some holidays and much more. I will say the job seems really sweet when we spend more time riding, wrenching and attending racing events than it does sitting in our office on a warm sunny day!

Do you have a favorite trail or riding area?

Again, this will vary by editor and by what machine they can ride. However, we’ve been several places over the years and have a few favorites. Glamis in Southern California will always be a special place for us. Why? There’s nothing like sand riding (We don’t have a sand area in Minnesota). The Oregon Dunes are special, too. Brushy Mountain Motor Sports Park in North Carolina is a fun place to ride, too. We also, enjoy the Hatfield-McCoy trails, the Hungry Valley ORV area in California, Millville, Minnesota’s, Spring Creek motocross park, Ashtabula, Ohio’s, dirt track, the Ironman and Big Buck GNCC courses to name only a few.

Best place you’ve ever ridden?

Well, this depends on the editor. However, riding outside of Missoula, Montana, was very fun and the scenery was amazing. I’ve also ridden dirt bikes in South Africa. Although that was fun, I still wish I had an ATV during that trip. We don’t get to travel aboard too often, so most of our experiences have been in the States. However, freelancer Bill “WBGO” Lanphier has ridden in Europe many times and has always enjoyed himself. A few other times, some editor’s have hit the trails in Austria and Canada, and did testing in Japan and Taiwan. We’re still waiting for South America or Australia. We’d even “make do” with a trip to Iceland or Greenland or maybe even China.

How do you decide what to test?

We assume the person means both parts and ATVs. For parts, we test things we think our readers would want for their ATVs, including hot new parts from the INDY dealer show, or new parts for new machines. We also partner with performance shops to build project quads and test their parts. You should check out the 2009 Buyer’s Guide issue to see our test with Sonic Offroad (on newsstands Dec. 16)

For quads, it comes down to new models of course. But popular models and machines we think deserve more attention also get space in the magazine. That could be a race quad, an updated model or an aging unit we know many people own.

Are your shootout winners determined by advertising?

(Laughing) Not a chance. Give us some credit, please! This is the biggest myth in the industry. The manufacturers and readers would see right through us if we stooped so low. Our shootout winners are based on compiling our test riders’ evaluation forms/notes and opinions as well as radar numbers and other facts and figures.

Which pipe should I put on my (insert model here)?

That depends on lots of things, really. Where you ride is one factor. Decibel levels restrictions are important to us and should be for everyone. Price is always a factor (or your budget). Trust of the pipe maker is another key point. Reliability, customer service, proved performance gains all factor in, too. Plus, in the end, it’s your money and quad, so it really comes down to YOUR choice, NOT ours. But thanks for asking.

I own a (insert model here) and it’s running terrible, what’s wrong?

It could be several different things. Jetting, valve clearances, dirty air filter, electrical, EFI mapping, the driveline and so on. The most important thing for any person trying to diagnose a problem is to know every possible thing about the ATV. Plus, they need to see it, smell it, ride it and tear into it. Sure, with the right info, an educated guess can be made, but it’s still only a guess. We try to assist readers by sharing our experiences and working with professionals and companies who make the parts and can diagnose familiar problems. We also have a tech answer man (Toby Reed of Moto-Xperts.com) who attempts to answer all your questions, but even a certified and trained technician like him finds it difficult to diagnose from only words. Regardless, keep your tech questions coming because we enjoy them, as does Toby. Send all your tech questions to e-mail:wrenchthis@affinitygroup.com.

Will you sponsor me?

Magazines don’t really sponsor readers, but we do give out stickers and issues. We’ve worked with a few local racers and test riders in exchange for their assistance with product testing and machine evaluations, but we don’t consider it a sponsorship. E-mail us at atvimages and put in your request. We’ll see what we can do.

How can I get my photo in the magazine?

We know have three different areas where your photo(s) COULD run. I say “could” because printing or running them on our Web site depends on their size, quality and the rider. We can post them on this blog, at atvsport.com (in the image gallery) or in our Inbox section of ATV Sport. The No. 1 rule is you should be wearing a helmet (and try to wear boots/long sleeves and other gear, too). Size matters (don’t send in a thumbnail image). Make it clear (try to send in an image that’s in focus). Hot women in the picture help (JUST KIDDING!). Send your images to atvimages@affinitygroup.com or the old-school way, at:

Affinity Powersports Media

ATTN: ATV Sport,

6420 Sycamore Lane, Suite 100

Maple Grove, MN 55369

Who is the best ATV racer ever?

Wow, this one is always tough. Like any sport, it’s hard to compare modern ATV riders with those of the past. Why? The machines are better, the sponsorship is better, the race courses have changed and the number of champions in various circuits all makes it hard to choose. Eight-time GNC champ Gary Denton is arguably the best. Of course nine-time GNCC champion Bill Ballance should be a candidate, as his run is truly amazing. Don’t forget Barry Hawk Jr., too, who won eight straight GNCC ATV titles before switching to bikes. We have to look at the early GNCC pioneers like Tom Tokay, Chuck Delullo and Bob Sloan as they were awesome in a different era. So were some of the other early ATV MX’ers and dirt trackers like Jimmy White, Marty Hart and Dean Sundahl. Doug Gust, Tim Farr and Shane Hitt are also multi-time champions and deserve credit (let’s just say they’d be in the ATV racing hall of fame).

How do I subscribe?

You can do that the old-fashioned way by filling out a sub card from within the magazine. You can log on to atvsport.com and click on that “subscribe” link. You can also e-mail e-mail:atvs@kable.com or call (386) 246-0107 to speak with someone from customer service.

Weight Watchers, get your machine on a diet part 4

If you have been following this series you know that the ultimate goal is to shave weight to increase the machines performance whether it be on the track or the trail.

The next area of study will be with rotational weight.  Some of these tips and tricks will require some internal engine work and may not be practical for the average rider but I will touch on some of the basics.

Any item that rotates on an axis has rotational weight.  Adding and subtracting weight on these various items have positive and negative effects.  Depending on your overall performance goals, this will determine which way to go.

The flywheel is an area that gets modified quite frequently by engine tuners.  Adding weight increases tractability and the ability to resist stalling in slow, tight, technical maneuvers at the expense of being quick revving.  On the converse lightening the flywheel provides a quick responsive revving engine at the expense of loss of tractability and makes the engine easier to stall in tight technical situations.  Examples of this are evident with removable flywheel weights and inner rotor kits.

Along similar lines as the flywheel is the clutch assembly (hub, basket, plates and springs) aftermarket companies have gone to great lengths to develop lightweight but durable components to replace the typical stock cast/machined aluminum piece. For example machining from a once piece of billet gives the engineer the freedom to make an overall lighter component while still maintaining sufficient strength and wear characteristics. The same can be said for the clutch springs themselves using titanium vs. spring steel.

The other major source is the sprocket, axle, wheel and tire combo that makes up a significant portion of rotational weight. In the previous articles I discussed ways to loose a few ounces and pounds by selecting lighter parts, for more information consult those articles.

Well there you have it a very brief look at some areas to focus on if a lightweight better performing machine is your goal.

Next Page »