ATV Sport articles from October 2004

ATV Sport archives from October 2004

ATV manufacturers to continue support in 2005.(all terrain vehicles)(Editorial)
October 1, 2004... As I gazed at Yamaha Motor Corporation's 2005 Sport ATVs product brochure, I was shocked to see a racing photo of Jeremiah Jones on the front cover and Kory Ellis on the back cover. In the same photo as Jones, I see Doug Gust, John Natalie,...

BRP.(WHAT'S UP)(Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. is now known as BRP. The company's new logo combines the old-look Bombardier gear with the new BRP insignia. In August 2003, Bombardier announced an agreement to sell its recreational products segment...

ITP/ATVA postseason banquet and voting.(WHAT'S UP)
October 1, 2004... Sharon Taylor of Baldwin Motorsports has announced the date for the 2004 ITP/ATVA GNC Nationals postseason banquet. The event will again be held at the Drawbridge Inn in Fort Mitchell, Ky. The banquet doors are scheduled to open at 5 p.m.,...

Polaris 50th Celebration hits Roseau.(WHAT'S UP)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Thousands of outdoor recreation enthusiasts gathered June 18-20, in Roseau, Minn., for the regional Polaris 50th Anniversary Celebration. Fifth years ago a Roseau farm equipment and metal shop incorporated as Polaris Industries. Within two...

White moves to Ramsey Winch.(WHAT'S UP)(Jim White )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Former Kawasaki "Team Green" racing legend Jim White has left Kenda and is the new ATV sales manager for Ramsey Winch. "The last four years I have enjoyed the challenge at Kenda helping to increase sales numbers, develop new product and also...

Digger and Dozer[TM].(WHAT'S UP)
October 1, 2004... Visit www.DougGust.com for more cartoons and coloring book. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [c] 2004 Eddy Graphic Design, Inc. Written by Paul Eddy ...

'Ride of Your Life' winner.(WHAT'S UP)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Jim Boatwright of Andover, Minn., won the right to take an ATV ride he won't soon forget. Nationally, more than 23,000 entries were submitted for Polaris' "Ride of Your Life Sweepstakes." Boatwright, the grand-prize winner of the contest, eamed...

The Outdoor Channel.(WHAT'S UP)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... As one of the top-rated shows on the "Outdoor Channel," ATV Sport TV is in the running for the Golden Moose Award Fan Favorite program. In April during its first-ever month of programming, ATV Sport TV was the highest-rated program on the...

Traveling man.(WHAT'S UP)
October 1, 2004... Penland Brothers Racing cofounder Morris Penland has hit the road as part of cooperative agreement with Safari Motorsports and Jay Gobel. Penland travels the country to attend local dirt bike and ATV races selling Maxxis Tires, PBR products,...

www.atvaddiction.com.(Web Corner)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The more than 2,300 registered users keep atvaddiction.com's chat room informative and interesting. To join the discussion forum, a user name and password is required. It only takes a few minutes to register, and best of all, it's free. Its...

www.atvsafety.org.(Web Corner)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Keeping up with current safety issues and regulations is always recommended, and www.atvsafety.org makes it a much easier task. The Web site is hosted by the All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute (ASI), a not-for-profit division of the Specialty...

www.atvoutdoors.net.(Web Corner)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Here at ATV Sport we like things that are free--especially when its a cool site like atvoutdoors.net. This Web site features a forum aimed at ATV enthusiasts. All it requires is that the user completes a short registration form. Once we...

www.bikebandit.com.(Web Corner)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... We stumbled across this Web site after searching for new ATV accessories and aftermarket parts. At bikebandit.com there are replacement parts for both motorcycles and quads. It carries parts for Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki...

AMA praises proposal to re-write roadless rules.(WHAT'S UP)(American Motorcyclist Association)
October 1, 2004... The American Motorcyclist Association applauded an announcement made July 12, by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman that may give off-highway motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle riders a new opportunity to protect multiple-use recreation...

USA KYMCO Cup Challenge.(WHAT'S UP)
October 1, 2004... The KYMCO Cup Challenge was held July 4, during the 2004 KYMCO ATV Bluegrass National at Daniel Boone MX Park in London, Ky. Approximately 3,500 spectators watched the KYMCO Cup Challenge, a race featuring KYMCO Mongoose ATVs ridden by 10 ATV...

Rox Speed FX block risers.(HOT PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2004... These block risers, made for Yamaha YFZ and Honda 450R models, allow the stock bars to be raised the maximum amount without having to replace or extend the front brake line or cables. The risers come with longer 8mm bolts and washers to...

VHT Clear Brake caliper paint.(HOT PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2004... When applied to bare calipers, VHT Gloss Clear Brake paint claims to retain the factory fresh metal look, protect against the elements and make brake cleaning easier. The paint can also be an overcoat to brake caliper color. PJH claims the...

Moose trailerable cover.(HOT PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2004... The heavy-duty nylon straps and elastic shock cord in the hem of the trailerable cover from Moose keeps ATVs clean and safe on the move or in the shed. It's made from 600-denier, vinyl-backed, UV-treated polyester that is water resistant. Moose...

Toybox trailer double power bunk.(HOT PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2004... The Thor California double power bunk system for toybox trailers raises and lowers at a touch of a button. It claims an 800-pound capacity per bed and automatically locks the lower bunk into place at any height. The patented Secure-Trac...

Samplex Inc. Colortune.(HOT PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... This carburetor, fuel-injection tool has a high-temperature glass window to allow the user to look into the engine as it is running and observe the combustion flame. Samplex says Colortune takes advantage of the principal that different...

ITP Holeshot MXR4.(HOT PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Holeshot MXR4 rear tires have a new specially formulated tread compound to deliver longer tire life. The MXR4s are designed specifically for race-ready 450cc four-strokes. ITP claims the stiffened knob and reinforced carcass work with the...

Motorex semi-synthetic racing oil.(HOT PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... This high-performance, synthetic-blend four-stroke 10w/40 engine oil is specifically designed for ATVs. The Motorex racing oil claims that state-of-the-art additives protect the engine at high operating temperatures and offer the greatest...

TrailTech replacement YFZ450 flywheel.(HOT PRODUCTS)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The TrailTech replacement flywheel claims to reduce the YFZ450's tendency to stall at low speeds. The heavier flywheel smooths out the delivery of power, which makes the machine hook up better in soft terrain and pull stronger. Installation...

GYT-R for the YFZer.(PRODUCT TESTING)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2004... Outfitting a quad for racing can be tough these days. From parts availability to companies that lack follow-through, building a race quad can be an "interesting" experience. That is where Yamaha can help. Yamaha's line of GYT-R parts and...

Maxxis Razr2 with HiPer wheels.(PRODUCT TESTING)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2004... Ever since people started racing ATVs, the quest for the lightest race quad has made grown men cry. Sick of hearing that the aluminum wheel was the end achievement in ATV wheel development, HiPer decided to be different. It developed a strong...

Bell SC-X Wicked.(PRODUCT TESTING)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2004... The quality of helmets is definitely on the upswing across the board. That's great news for riders, but just makes my job tougher, which is bad news for me... kind of. While I love a quality head protector as much as the next ATVer, if all...

J & T Products 12-volt water temp gauge.(PRODUCT TESTING)
October 1, 2004... J & T Products sent us this gauge for our Polaris Predator. One of the tricky parts about installing this unit on our Predator, because of the Polaris' plastic design, was finding an ideal location on the quad. We eventually settled for a flat...

Raptor boy.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I really enjoy reading ATV Sport. I have a 2003 Yamaha 660R Raptor. Here is a picture of my son on it. He already enjoys ATVs, and I am sure he will enjoy ATV Sport also. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bill Hunt Warsaw, Ind.

Remembering Moore.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I just read the Joy Ride column in the September ATV Sport about private land use. I wanted to thank you for the statements about Leff Moore--he definitely was a pioneer for the H.M. trail system and a great man. George Poole via the...

90cc shootout.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... My name is Brock Benavides, and I have a Yamaha Blaster that is awesome. Anyway, my family and I want ATV Sport to have a shootout among all the four-stroke and two-stroke 90cc quads. My little brother, Brent, is moving from an E-ton 50cc...

Street legal matters.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... How can I make my ATV street legal? I love to ride, but I'm restricted to only my yard. I have a Kawasaki Prairie 650 and I need to let it loose. Please help me! Gray Griffin via the Internet Gray, we wish we had a dollar for...

The unedited version.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I have been racing for about 6 years and and only got 2 once and im racing on a 90 and im getting to big for it what kidda of racing for wheller should i get? Erin via the Internet OK, we purposely didn't edit this letter for...

Making friends.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Thank you for featuring my Web site, www.3wheelerworld.com, in your September issue in the "Web Corner" section of What's Up. I did not have a subscription to ATV Sport prior to you printing that, but I will be getting one now. I will also...

Tool time.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... What type of tools and materials do you recommend carrying while out riding? Tony via the Internet We're glad you asked, Tony. We recommend carrying a tire repair kit, a small tool kit, which should contain a screwdriver and a...

Sticky subject.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I have subscribed to your magazine for more than five years and I love it more than anything. I love the tests you run. Keep up the good work. I have a 400EX with a White Brothers Exhaust, Renthal handlebars, and soon-to-come, a front...

Pow-Pow-Power Wheels.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Our daughter, Kyleigh, is 17 months old and she loves to ride her battery-operated Power Wheels around the yard. She always wears a helmet when she rides. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Marcus and Amy Barrett Kerens, W. Va.

It goes how fast?(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... My friend has a 1999 Honda 200cc ATV. He says it will go 85 MPH. I don't think it will go that fast. How fast do you think it will go? Anonymous via the Internet Well, Anonymous, unless your friend has dumped thousands of dollars...

Test rider resume.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I want to know how to be a test rider for ATV Sport. I am 6 feet tall, 16 years old and I'm a Pro-class racer in Texas. I have been riding dirt bikes and ATVs for five years. I got this idea from my parents--they think I would be a good...

Another trail source.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I just finished reading the September 2004 issue of ATV Sport. Of particular interest was the Joy Ride column, entitled "Private Land For Public OHV Use." Near the end of the article, you mention the Honda Riders Club "Where To Ride Guide"...

Drag action.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I'm sending a picture of my Banshee dragster, racing in Trumansburg, N.Y. In the race the photo was taken at, I did 5.025 in 300 feet. My dad built this quad for me. I saw the Raptor dragster in the last issue of ATV Sport. I'm glad to see...

What a drag.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I read the September 2004 issue of ATV Sport and saw the $20,000 custom Raptor dragster. This thing has all that money invested and it can only travel 300 feet in less than 5 seconds? What a waste of $20,000! I have a modified 1997 Yamaha...

Youngster exhausted.(MECHANIC TIPS)(all terrain vehicles maintenance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Q I'm 15 years old and ride a 1987 Honda 250X. I was wondering what kind of exhaust would be best? I want it to gain some speed without losing too much power. I am also hoping to buy new plastic and a graphic kit as well. Kyle Bartholow...

Looking for power.(MECHANIC TIPS)(all terrain vehicle maintenance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Q I have a 1987 Suzuki LT-250R that needs more power. I was looking to get a larger piston that is .080 (2mm) bigger than stock. Would this make any difference in acceleration and cause me to bore out the cylinder .080 more? If so, could I use...

Sputtering Kawasaki.(MECHANIC TIPS)
October 1, 2004... Q I have a 2003 Kawasaki KFX400 with a K & N filter with outerwear, a FMF titanium 4, hi flo header, stainless mid-pipe and it's re-jetted. It sputters at high RPM. I was thinking about putting in a different ignition, or should I mess with the...

Bearing bad engine.(MECHANIC TIPS)(all terrain vehicle maintenance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Q I just got a 1989 Yamaha Blaster. It's a one-time owner, and I have the original title from the dealer. For the year that it is, it's no where near in bad shape. I've had to install new brake pads and shoes, new front wheel bearings, new top...

Honda clutch swap.(MECHANIC TIPS)
October 1, 2004... Q Is it possible to put an automatic clutch in a Honda 300EX? Preferably one from another Honda. Roger via the Internet A There are a few companies making auto clutches for ATVs, but I do not believe any of them make a auto-clutch...

Grizzly cutting out.(MECHANIC TIPS)(all terrain vehicle maintenance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Q My 2002 Yamaha Grizzly 660 stalls out at high speeds in mud or while holding down the throttle when reaching 45 MPH in two-wheel drive. Is there some type of restricter that causes the motor to cut out? It is very frustrating when the motor...

Honda pipes.(MECHANIC TIPS)
October 1, 2004... Q I have a Honda 400EX and was wondering what you think would be the best set of pipes for it? The White Brothers E-Series silencer seems to be the best. I don't race on a track--mostly just with friends riding woods trails. I don't know if...

Kawasaki tires.(MECHANIC TIPS)
October 1, 2004... Q My Kawasaki KFX400 needs new tires. Which tires would be best? My front tires are currently 22 X 7-10 and my rears are 20 X 10-9. I do mostly woods trail riding and race occasionally. I would like a thicker 6-ply tire with an aggressive...

Old Suzuki needs repairs.(MECHANIC TIPS)(all terrain vehicle maintenance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Q I have a 1985 Suzuki LT-250R QuadRacer with an FMF Gold Series fatty pipe and power core silencer, full floater swingarm and some other parts. Recently--when climbing hills--I cracked the rings. Now it needs new rings, a piston, reeds and...

Trying to keep power quiet.(MECHANIC TIPS)(all terrain vehicle maintenance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Q I recently bought an Arctic Cat DVX400 and want to purchase a pipe for it. I ride it a lot in the dunes but also in the hills and desert. It needs more power while still meeting the noise requirements in Oregon. Do you know anywhere to find a...

Modifying a Prairie.(MECHANIC TIPS)(all terrain vehicle maintenance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Q I have a 2002 Kawasaki Prairie 650, and I'm interested in making it faster and working on the suspension. Can you recommend some easy HP add-ons and possibly some engine and suspension modifications? Ismael Cuevas Tucson, Ariz A...

A leg-burning question.(MECHANIC TIPS)(all terrain vehicle maintenance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Q I have a 1989 Suzuki LT160. I just got a new pipe from Jardine but the stock heat shield will not fit on it. When I ride with shorts on the heat burns my leg. Does anybody make a heat shield for it? Kyle Kellogg via the Internet ...

3-year best: Polaris upgrades its 2005 Predators.(MACHINE TEST)(Polaris Industries Inc.)(Cover Story)
October 1, 2004... Three years ago, Polaris Industries introduced its first manual-shift sport quad, the Predator 500, to positive reviews. Last year, Polaris tweaked a few components to improve the Predator 500's skills on and off the track. In the third year of...

'05, Oh Yeah!(First Look)(all terrain vehicles)
October 1, 2004... After manufacturers plunged head first into the highly profitable sport quad scene in 2004--leaving racers and ATV enthusiasts salivating--with popular machines like the Yamaha YFZ450 and Honda TRX450R made to compete with the Suzuki LT-Z400,...

'Titleating' ride: riding Gust's factory quad spoils our tester.(MACHINE TEST)(Doug Gust)(Interview)
October 1, 2004... There used to be a time when "factory" quads didn't exist. Well, last season to be exact. Now there is at least one factory quad out on the motocross track. Doug Gust walked away with the GNC motocross championship aboard a Suzuki/Yoshimura...

Taking notes: two quads made for the flat track.(PERFORMANCE PROJECT)(all terrain vehicles)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2004... In this topsy-turvey world that can be confusing more often than not, we believe in a few simple truths: wearing a white shirt while eating spaghetti is asking for trouble, there's nothing quite as invigorating as the smell of race gas and the...

To the Max: testing the Max Power Z455 play quad.(MACHINE TEST)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2004... Max Power prides itself in building top-notch powerplants for a wide variety of powersports equipment, including quads. Max Power, based in Madison, Wis., has even helped quad racing teams like Hetrick Racing with its custom engines and...

Bring the bling: powder coating products, procedures and tips.(TECHNICALLY)(all terrain vehicle maintenance)
October 1, 2004... At the race tracks around the country, we've seen vibrant pink frames, wild Candy-Apple-Red A-arms and glowing, fluorescent orange parts. Some of these customized looks are better than others, though they all succeed at making a quad stand out...

Tickled pink: Utah's Coral Pink Dunes provides unique experience and hours of fun.(GOINGPLACES)
October 1, 2004... Southern Utah is home to an atypical 3,000-acre sand dune area. We've been to many sand destinations over the years, but Utah's Coral Pink Dunes are as impressive as they are unique. This may not be America's top sand riding locale, but it's...

Cookin' with gas: GNCC pro Bryan Cook's Four-Stroke Tech YFZ450.(Hot Wheels)(Grand National Cross Country all terrain vehicle racing)
October 1, 2004... Even though his bike gives off a cocky attitude, Bryan Cook, a 24-year-old Pro-class rookie, is one of the most soft-spoken racers we've ever interviewed. His humbleness is refreshing and his professionalism is impressive. Cook started...

White lightning: Jason Luburgh's MX-racing YFZ.(Hot Wheels)
October 1, 2004... Jason Luburgh started making waves in the Pro Class back in 2001. It was the year he started showing people what he could do on a race quad. That year he took his first Pro-class podium at the final TT round of the season in Greenville, Tenn....

Dazzling Z: dedicated racer builds dream quad.(Hot Wheels)
October 1, 2004... "I may not be the fastest racer or a big name in the GNCC circuit, but feel I have designed and built a cool-looking Z440 with some pretty distinctive modifications," professed Gary Belbeck. The 38-year-old rider competes in the Vet class...

Learning curve: Joe Byrd's Honda racer.(Hot Wheels)
October 1, 2004... Round 9 of the ITP/ATVA MX Nationals at High Point marked race No. 5 for Joe Byrd's Honda TRX450R. Byrd started the season, like almost every other Pro racer, on a Yamaha YFZ450. After a few rounds of racing, and after the Honda became readily...

Trophy swap: bottleneck controversy looms large at The Patriot.(On Track)(all terrain vehicle racing)
October 1, 2004... The smell of sun-baked champagne still lingered in the air at the Virginia Motorsports Park in Petersburg, Va. Reigning Grand National Cross Country Pro-class Champion Bill Ballance had sprayed the biggest of the champagne bottles at The...

High points: Round 9 of the ITP/ATVA MX series Attacks Mt. Morris.(On Track)(all terrain vehicle racing)
October 1, 2004... Walking through the Pro pits at the High Point MX race was like a dream. There were people--little kids to grandparents--standing in line. These people weren't lined up to buy ice cream from the track vendors, and they weren't lined up for the...

Jolly good show: Englishman Ricky Tordoff heads west.(MIND PROBE)(Interview)
October 1, 2004... Call it a "British Invasion" if you want, but if you were at Red Bud and saw a cool-looking, union jack-draped race quad winning the LCQ, you saw Ricky Tordoff. We Americans can take our GNC series for granted, but among quad racers around the...