This message sponsored by Mother Nature

The weather is strange in the Midwest.  This morning we were digging out of our first major snow storm of the year, and I followed the weather reports in earnest as I planned my little road trip.

Deciding the high road would skirt the storm’s remnants, I warmed up the duramax diesel as I loaded the 30-foot featherlite with my precious cargo.  The ice was evaporating beneath me as I left Rapid City.

Leaving the beautiful Black Hills I am so familiar with, I was soon treated to an outstanding view of the Big Horn Mountains rising up in the distance.  The sun was peeking through the dark clouds between the peaks, and as I traversed the prairie I couldn’t help but think how the mountains looked dramatically like an oasis in a desert, each hilltop casting long shadows on the surrounding terrain.  I longed to leave this concrete ribbon and go ride in this new found playground!

As the purple mountains rose before me, the blizzard on its peaks resembled silver flames swirling up through the dark clouds.  And I swear I saw the face of God there. 

The desire to pull over and unload the Mattracks/ITP-equipped Polaris Ranger I was hauling was overwhelming.  With the Curtis cab it sported, the swirling blizzard wouldn’t faze me…  the Kolpin fuel tanks would give me the range to climb this peak…  Dakota Digital instruments would keep me informed on the health of the PowerMadd Trask-tuned Custom Performance K&N breathing powerplant… the Kal-Gard lubricants wouldn’t fail me… and with SuperTrapp-enhanced performance, I knew I could conquer it with this Legend Air Suspension-equipped machine!

But I am on my way to SEMA in Las Vegas with the Dirt Vendors Tour.  And while the sponsors I just mentioned appreciate the abilities of this incredible machine as much as I do, they really need it at the show.  My name is Troy Hall, and after 20 years in the Air Force I am now working in the off-road industry.  I am also President of a club—the Off-Road Riders Association.  A thousand members strong, we are a grass-roots organization dedicated to ensuring a positive future for off highway vehicles.  I have been invited to SEMA by the BlueRibbon Coalition, an organization dedicated to preserving our Natural Resources FOR the public instead of FROM the public.  Without the work of BRC, I couldn’t even dream of accessing our public lands in this way. 

I have been invited to write for atvmagblog.com by Tom Kaiser after he came out and rode with ORA board member Tim Grosz and I, and wrote an outstanding article on the experience in ATVmag.  I am very excited to be here, and while I promise not all my reports will include such blatant name dropping for industry, let’s face it—they all are essential to our form of recreation.  For example, Yamaha just granted my club nearly ten grand to help us buy a much needed trailer to organize our educational materials and help us travel to the many events we attend.  If I had it now, I wouldn’t be pulling this borrowed rig from Legend Air Suspension (whom I work for) to SEMA. 

Yes, that was another shameless plug.

So reluctantly I press on, the drone of I-90 beneath me only partially improved by the tunes on the ipod (not a sponsor—but I am a big fan).  And even though I have long desired to attend the show I would soon be at, I couldn’t help but wonder if I would see anything there as good as this off-road paradise I am looking at outside the window. 

A few moments ago I crossed the Great Divide.  I guess that means it’s all downhill from here.  If you can’t be at SEMA this year, do me a favor and go out and ride!  And report about it here.  Really, I want to hear about it.  I envy you!

Troy Hall

SxS debate, CPSC to Regulate ROV Utility Vehicles

ROV (Recreational Offroad Vehicle), Side by Side, SxS – how ever you want to say it you know what I am talking about.  The CPSC is at it again, conjuring up rules and regulations concerning these machines.  I have read the entire CPSC memo and here are my opinions on the bullet points presented in the memo.  The regulations center primarily around the “questionable” stability of these machines, as tested using two tests used to evaluate stability and handling characteristics of automobiles and trucks.lateral stability tests (SSF) static stability factor, vehicle handling test (SAE J266, dealing with under steering and over steering).  The CPSC also made recommendations on passenger retention systems and  as well as  technology to encourage use,  I am assuming they mean starter interlock devices and 4 point harnesses. [Read more]

All-New ATVMagOnline.com

Looking for even more ATV content in a more organized, modern format? Of course you are – and that’s why we’ve unveiled the all-new ATVMagOnline.com – ATV Magazine’s brand-new web site. While the design is a big change, the real differences lie in the content organization and the integration of our blog site, photo galleries and new navigation tabs to keep things like how-to, destination, racing and event coverage all in separate, searchable categories.

Looking for information on a specific quad? You can read all of our reviews, comparison stories and even access our annual Buyer’s Guide information about any ATV on the market one of two ways:

1. Type the name of the ATV in the search bar at the top of the site. For example, type “Suzuki King Quad 750″ and you’ll see all the recent stories we’ve done on the King Quad, as well as buyer’s guide information with specs, our opinions and pricing information.
2. Mouse over the ATV tab, go to Manufaturer, choose a maker and you’ll see every story related to that brand – all the stories, product tests, build projects and the buyer’s guide specs.

The goal is to make it easier to research, buy or sell your quad, and to make it easy to find your favorite stories in the mag. [Read more]

Quick Tip: Fixing a carburetor float

OK I know more and more ATV’s are coming equipped with EFI (electronic fuel injection), but the overwhelming majority of used machines in service still have carburetors.  The purpose of a carburetor float is to maintain the proper amount of fuel in the carburetor bowl for both the pilot circuit and main jet to draw fuel into the venturi from.  If you are experiencing fuel flowing out the overflow tubes (usually running out under the machine) its a good chance your float is sinking.  The chief reason the float sinks is that it over time it can get a pin hole leak, most commonly it happens around the solder joint where the float arm attach’s on a brass float, on a plastic float it happens where the brass arm is pressed onto the float bodies.  Either way the float bodies sink thus leaving the needle valve open letting unrestricted fuel into the bowl flooding the carburetor and in some cases running fuel straight into the cylinder washing down into the crankcase-”not good”.  What do you do?  Well if the float is still available from the OEM that is one route, although in some cases the part is obsolete.

 

Over the years working on vintage bikes I have come across a trick to fix obsolete floats or save money buying sometimes expensive OEM or NOS-OEM floats.  I have found a product called POR-15 (Paint Over Rust formula 15)   I actually stumbled across this “miss-application” by accident while using the product for rust prevention/elimination while doing automotive restorations.  I had been spraying panels and fender wells with the stuff and after trying to clean up recently dried POR-15 I found that all the solvents I tried would not dissolve this stuff including gasoline.  Well after ruining a spray gun, it got me thinking of a current motorcycle project I was working on (1973 Kawasaki 350 triple) that needed all 3 floats replaced and since the bike is somewhat rare and nearly all carburetor parts are obsolete, I dipped the floats into the POR-15 let it dry completely and then put them in a can with some gasoline overnight.  Sure enough the floats, floated and the POR-15 was intact and still hard.

 

The quick fix

 

So long story short, if your in need of a quick fix for a sinking float that is either very expensive or not available, try POR-15.  Note: the manufacture does not whats so ever claim this as an application nor recommend that its product be used in this manor, nor warranties it for this purpose. Use at your own risk.

For more information about POR-15 CLICK HERE

Asian 450cc ATVs and motorcycles?

I saw this posted over on a pit bike/mini bike forum that has some forums dedicated to the Asian pit bikes.  There are reports of spy photos of the Asians trying to enter into the lucrative ‘big bike” market, more specifically the 450cc class.  Doing a bit of searching there apparently is a 450cc water cooled ATV out in the midst as well.  Below are some photos lifted from www.planetminis.com.  The motor appears to share some design characteristics with Honda’s Uni-cam design.  Very little info is known at this time, but apparently they have been spotted in Australia of all places.  I bring this here as things like this intrigue me as it appears that the Asians are getting more serious about entering the performance market.  Only time will tell if their designs will be met with good reception.  I personally think its generally good as it gives the consumer more choices as well as more competition.  Its obvious that the Asian market of ATVs and motorcycles will take a while to gain the momentum and recognition, similar to what Japan did/had to do in through the 60’s.  The Asian manufactures (mostly American companies using Asian manufacturing plants) have steadily gained momentum in the mini/pit bike market bringing some pretty high quality stuff at very reasonable prices.  Anyways for your enjoyment here are some photos of what could be coming from Asian in the near future.