Movie Review, Xgames 3D the Movie

 

I thought I would mix it up and try something different, a motorsports themed movie review.  Now I am no film expert or critic, but if it is a documentary type film about anything moto or mechanical in nature I tend to go see it, the History channel is my friend.  I thought it might be somewhat appropriate as most ATV’ers are adrenaline junkies and tend to watch or be fans of other action sports-even if they don’t have 4 wheels (excluding rally cars) or engines.  X games currently does not feature ATV’s in any of its events (maybe in the future it might) but being ATV’ers are usually included in the action sports genre “The Movie” is supposed to appeal to a broader audience, keywords being supposed to.  Read on…

 

I saw it. I can sum it up in one word or sound rather… “Meh” It is a logical sequel (although its not billed as such) to 2002’s “Ultimate X” sort of like a “Where are they now”. Oh, its got the action and some behind the scenes stuff with some 3D thrown in, but all that doesn’t make up for the lack of insight, direction, or information. I would say that the movie was only 60% 3D and 40% regular film. The in and out of the 3D kinda ruined the effect for me and really this movie didn’t need to be in 3D. The 3D effect did some weird things with the depth of field, in some scenes of Pastrana’s rally car, it looks more like a toy car next to the trees in the foreground. Or another weird scene is with Shawn White’s interview (dual sport athlete, skate and snowboard) , the desk lamps in the background (probably 5-10 feet behind him) look almost the same size as him. I also would furthermore say that only about 30% of the footage was “new” footage the rest was stuff was from the TV broadcast and now runs/ran on ESPN’s classix. The cinematography was on par with other action sports films, but lacking substance.  And as some of the recent Hollywood films have shown us is that huge special effects and CGI graphics don’t make up for lack of story.  I was expecting a documentary similar in style to 2001’s Dogtown and Z-Boys (skateboarding documentary) only being about X-games and the athletes it (sort of) profiled.  With Dogtown and Z-boys, even if you don’t know anything about skateboarding you can enjoy it, you would “get-it” by the end of the film.  With Xgames 3D, if you know nothing about the action sports genre you will leave the theater not knowing any more than you did going in. (I believe) Non-adrenaline junkies would not really enjoy it and be down right bored.  I have to admit, by the 3rd “act” I was like “Is it over yet” and this is coming from a  fan of Xgames.  Basically the movie cannot decide if it wants to be a documentary or just another forgettable action sports film.  It is an OK movie and I will probably buy it if it makes it to DVD, but it is no epic documentary film like I was expecting.  I am still looking for that one off road/moto documentry that can top On Any Sunday  (1971 Bruce Brown) and Dust to Glory  (2005 Dana Brown) but it just seems like all others fall short in some way.

If your an X games fan you will want to go see this, if not wait for the DVD (if it comes to DVD) to be in rental stores and I would put it far down on your NetFlix que.

The Maine Attraction

I’ve got nothing against cities, but I think rural areas usually make for a better vacation. Even though I grew up in the countryside and really enjoy the rural lifestyle, I live in a city and have been a resident of Minneapolis for nine years now. Luckily, I get to spend a lot of time in some of the country’s most rural places through my ATV Mag travels, some naturally spectacular areas. I just returned from one destination that really had an impact on me – Maine’s isolated northwestern edge near Jackman.

Flying into Portland, Maine was spectacular, with all the tiny islands, big bridges and old buildings really painting a nice postcard to see through the plane’s window. One of my close friend’s, Meghan Howard, lived here for a year for school, so I had a list of places to check out, mostly down by the waterfront. Portland is the lobster capital of the world, after all.

After grabbing my rental car, I drove into downtown, walked by the water and grabbed a cup of lobster bisque, but then realized the time and knew I had to get on the road for Jackman.

The drive up was also a picturesque experience, with all of rural Maine’s tiny churches, small town charm, rushing rivers. After two hours things started getting really rural north of Augusta, with signs warning motorists of moose crossings.

Pretty soon my four-lane freeway was a two-lane highway, winding along through the trees with very few houses and even fewer towns. My destination was the Brown Moose Motel in Jackman, where I would meet up with Kevin Cavanaugh of Maxx’s ATV Rentals the next morning to do some riding.

Breakfast was found (every day) at the Mama Bear’s Den cafe across the street, and the riding Kevin and his sons-in-law Nigel and Mike showed me, was unique and spectacular. Most trails were wide paths abandoned from logging use, but some were very tight and technical, crossing many rivers with cool names like Penobscot. [Read more]

Tips for selling your ATV quick

 

Invariably in this economy with unemployment at all time highs some ATV’ers will need to sell their ATV.  Whether it be purely for financial reasons (can’t make the payments), needing to downsize/up size, or just getting rid of that “spare” machine that the wife or kids don’t ride anymore.  What follows is some tips on how to get that ATV sold quickly so you can move on-what ever the reason might be.

 

Cosmetics

Alright if everyone was perfect their machines would be in near immaculate condition, but in reality all machines will have some blemishes or problems.  The key is to set the buyer at ease (by the appearance) that there are no major issues possibly plaguing the machine.  It has been proven that a well kept exterior on a car/truck can increase its ability to sell quickly for top dollar than one that has had its exterior neglected but is still a solid, reliable vehicle.  The same will apply to your ATV, the old adage “Do not judge a book by its cover” does not apply as potential buyers WILL judge your ATV by its initial appearance.

 

 

What to do: Remove any “custom” graphics or other personalizing items like stickers, numbers ect…  Light scratches can be taken out easily by reading one of my other articles Give your Machine a face lift .  Replace any broken plastic or torn seat covers.  It may cost some on the front end but it will reap benefits on the bottom line in getting all of your asking price as well as the selling in a timely manner. 

Mechanical condition:

Light oil/grease leaks should be thoroughly cleaned.  Major oil leaks should be fixed IF it is financially available to do so.  If the machine is well used and it is apparent that your asking price reflects this don’t bother, just be honest with your buyer.  Fix any obvious broken or worn parts.  DO NOT list your machine in this manner.  Here are some examples of what NOT to do.  Photos withheld for anonymity.

1980 GT 80 – Need it gone – $270

Seriously, need it gone. It’s complete, it used to run before I started messing with it. I have all of the parts.
It leaks a little oil, the tubes in the tires may need to be replaced. It won’t take a lot to get it running again.

The buyer is thinking: Ok, so if it used to run before You started messing with it, what else is wrong with it?  If it will not take a lot to get it running again-then why don’t You have it running and sell it as a running bike?  This seller could probably get a few more dollars and it sold quicker if it was a running bike,   especially because it is a small starter type bike for a child.  Or how about this next one

1994 Yamaha Moto 4 350cc $1300

Good condition, lots of power for hauling that deer out of the woods!  Has racks front and back for hauling good tires.  Needs break lever and kill switch and could use new hand grip gas shut off leaks but I priced all this at Yamaha dealer $50 fixes it.  Hate to see it go.

The buyer is thinking: Ok, if $50 and a simple carb clean will fix it up like new, then why didn’t You spend the $50 and keep riding it?  Better yet why would I pay your asking price if it is (assumable) in non running or safe operable condition.  The red flags are easy to see in this listing.  For one thing the price is too high for such an old machine, but not only that it needs some work before the new owner can even ride it.  If the seller lowers the price a bit, fixes the minor issues (if it is true that all it needs is a carb clean) list it as a fully functional running ATV he will could get close to his original asking price.

As you can see you don’t need to do a complete overhaul of the engine but if the ATV is in decent shape but just not running you can increase the potential for getting top dollar with a running, mechanically sound ATV.

The listing:

This should be a no brainier, but as the examples above and below illustrate spelling and grammar project to your potential buyer your level of intelligence which also gives the buyer a preconceived notion of how diligent the seller might have been with maintenance and repairs.  Obscene spelling and grammar errors can turn a buyer away and click on someone elses ad, even if your machine is the best condition and lowest price.  Below is an example of this.

cr 250 – $550

run great call will trad for a hours trailer call casey @ ###-###-#### no emals thanks

OR

screamin yamaha viagra!!!! – $1350

bad a$$ 82 yamaha virago 750cc v-twin bike. bike looks newer than 82. bike is loud, has lots of stuff done to it, new carbs,carb boots,oil change,k&n air filter,after market mirrors, rear tail light, and blinkers, which one is broken, but the tail light has blinkers in it, so you dotn need the other blinkers. has almost new dunlop tires wit about 300 miles on them. motor crashers, new front fender, new vinyl for seat. bike has original tool set also. bike is really really loud with cobra pipes. loudest one out of the whole pack. this bike is great for a begginer, or a woman, or really any one. 29,000 miles but tha dont stop it. has a little starter problem, starter on ebay is $20 or you can just tap the starter to start, and it starts every time. one great bike. willing to trade for a nice tuck. please call me ###-###-####, i dont check my emails often.

I have a hard time taking these ads seriously enough to even contemplate contacting the seller, even though both of these bikes look “OK” in the photos they provided.  Your listing should be short and sweet and to the point.  No need to write a novel as this will turn buyers off as well.  Telling them every detail in an ad can also raise suspicion that there is something majorly wrong and your trying to draw attention away by talking about all the little meaningless details.  On the converse a six word sentence and contact info doesn’t “hook” the buyer enough to even consider contacting for an appointment to see the machine.  The best ads tell the buyer accurately what is being sold and one or two distinguishing features as well as plenty of contact info.  And most importantly it is formatted correctly with correct spelling and grammar.

 

 

Setting your price:

Setting the asking price is quite subjective.  The value can vary greatly from geographical area, demand or popularity for that type of machine in that area, and how many other machines are for sale in your area.  Of course it goes without saying that the condition of the machine is probably the most defining factor.  The best advice I can give is to research your machine’s popularity and what other people are asking for their machines that are similar in nature.  The key is not to try to “chase” the market with an overly high price that you just end up having to keep reducing to even get a nibble of a buyer.  It may be hopefully to ask friends what they would pay for your machine, usually they can give you an insight on what is a fair price that will generate some interest.  Be modest, face it your not going to get new price for a used machine.  ATV’s are considered luxury items and are NOT investments.  If your trying to get out from underneath a loan/lien on the ATV you first will need permission from the lien holder to sell and it is rare to get the exact price that you owe on the machine, so take that in to account when pricing so you don’t overprice just to cover your loan/lien.

A word about upgrades and aftermarket parts.  Just because you put a $800 exhaust system on your machine does not mean you added $800 worth of value to said machine.  with things like this it is always better to sell the exhaust separate if you want some of your $800 back.  Buyers usually want to personalize the machine to their tastes, not buy someone else’s idea of the “perfect” machine.  Aftermarket parts are very taste specific in some cases.  The best approach is to return the machine to as close to stock as possible leaving a blank slate for the buyer.

 

This is not a comprehensive list of everything you should do when selling your machine, I just wanted to touch the high points.  Remember clean it up, fix it up, and price it right and your buyer will come.

 

Your gas can and you, fuel can storage and safety

It may seem somewhat pointless to talk about fuel safety as it relates to ATV’s as most people intend to be careful with storage and dispensing fuel in their ATV.  The shocker might be that most of us (including me from time to time) break some of the simple safety rules when it applies to transportation and storage.

First lets examine the container.  It may become a shocker (it did to me the first time I researched for a better/proper container) that many of the inexpensive containers sold at your local hardware store, discount retailer, or auto parts stores DO NOT meet DOT (Department of Transportation) standards for transportation in any vehicle.  Most containers only conform to current CARB and EPA standards that mostly deal with out gassing and leakage while in storage.  These standards have little to do with the actually quality of the can and it’s ability to store the fuel for extended periods of time.  With storing fuel the key to success (and not wasting money) is keeping the lighter more evaporative elements of the fuel from evaporating.  This is where safety and performance go hand in hand, less evaporation in storage will equal a safer storage of the fuel and performance.

[Read more]

Improve Your Race Results

As promised I’m bringing you more information about dietary sports supplements that will help your riding. 

I must admit I’m reluctant to tell everyone about this product for fear my fellow competitors will start to use it; costing me my competitive edge.  Yep, I think it’s that good.

Neuro FX is one of MotoXnutrition (MXN) newer products designed by Christian Chambers, a supplement expert and avid ATV rider out of Washington state. Initially I was skeptical about a supplement that was supposed to help my performance via improved brain & nervous system function.  I mean, I had never heard of one that really worked.  I decided I would first test Neuro at work because my job as a Clinical Dietitian can be a brain drainer.  Anyway, at days end I won’t tell you it made me Albert Einstein but I definitely noticed an improvement in my ability to problem solve and stay focused.  Great, but I still didn’t see how that translating to riding on the trail or track.  A couple weeks later I was racing motocross, and was not able to keep pace with the frontrunners.  I still had a race later that day so decided it was time to test out Neuro FX.  After taking Neuro I finished noticeably better but wasn’t quite ready to give credit to a supplement.  A few weeks later, I found myself in a similar situation.  After a sub par 1^st moto, I took Neuro FX, and wound up about three or four positions higher in the 2^nd moto.  It then occurred to me “this stuff really seems to help”!  The testing phase was officially over and I’ve been using Neuro for about 6 months with pretty consistently improved results.

Does It Just Work In Motocross?

A friend of mine is an employee of one of my sponsors, Cycle Gear, and is an avid amateur motorcycle road racer.  Like many of us he was looking for something to improve his performance.  I suggested he give Neuro a try.  I saw him later that month and he was stoked.  He told me, on a good weekend of racing he might hit the lower rung of the podium one time but after taking neuro he got two 3rds, a 2^nd, and a 1^st place; by far his best effort.  I’d guess it did help him and probably would in other sports or physical activities that require mental alertness, a cool head, and quick reflexes. 

Ok, so how’s it work?

MXN says Neuro FX is a “natural cognitive formula” combining compounds that help blood circulation and provide more neurotransmitters (send nerve signals) to better support the brain & nerves.  Neuro also contains Bacopa, an herb used in India for thousands of years to improve mental focus and calming to give a performance edge instead of performance anxiety.   Neuro also contains ginko, ALA, MSM, and some B vitamins to further assist neurotransmitters and energy.

How Do I use it?

Suggested use is only for people 19years or older.  Instructions say take 2 capsules one to two times daily, preferably on an empty stomach, and not within 4 hours prior to sleep (I guess that means it could keep you awake).  I always suggest starting with a lower dose and moving up to the recommended amount if you aren’t seeing the desired effects.  A bottle contains 90 capsules and was priced at 29.99 + shipping on MXN’s website motoxnutrition.com.  The people at MXN are great and can answer other questions you might have. 

Word to the wise – taking more than recommended will not make it work better.   Always observe warning labels prior to using.