Tires! Tires! Tires!

The importance of tires!

It seems like all I do is talk about tires! Tires this and tires that. But, they are important! Tires just may be the most important single change you can make to your ATV! No, no, make that the most important change.

So you’d think I’d know that, but I actually had to learn that lesson all over again just yesterday. It was a beautiful day and I thought I’d take a test ride. The ATV of choice was the 2010 Kawasaki Brute Force. Camo edition! This was the first real miles we put on it since the filming. During the filming we also had a new Sportsman along. Every time I got on the Brute Force I was too aware of the stiffness of the thumb throttle. It used to be that the thumb had to push two carburetors open, but now it’s only the twin fuel injection units. It just seemed too stiff to me.

Now there are several reasons that could be. It could be that I’m getting old and tired. Or it could be that I spend too much time in the seat of a UTV. But whatever the case I thought I’d just jump on the BF and take it for a little ride and see how it felt putting a few miles on it.

While there are several lessons to be learned from this let’s just focus on the one that has to do with the tires. The ride consisted of 20 or so miles of fairly easy scenic trails. I wanted to see if my thumb got used to the BF or if it did me in. Towards the end of the ride I opted to try a trail pretty well inundated with spring run-off. I figured it would be fun to splash through a little water. Unfortunately it was quickly apparent that the underside of the flowing water was more than just rocky. It had lots of sticky, gooey mud. The kind that permanently stains everything it touches as I later find out. (Note: I know this trail and often wondered why it appeared so very rutted ;-)

But I’m riding a new Brute Force with a locker! (A long time ago an old man imparted a bit of wisdom - that he no doubt learned the hard way now that look back at it). He said that 4 wheels without any traction are no better than two. Words to live by, or learn from. And better to learn from someone else than by your own adventure.

But I had a locker! Equal traction to all four wheels. And power! 750cc of twin cylinder, explosive power to those four wheels. Equally if I might add that again! The only things I lacked (as I look back on all this with a new-found wisdom) were tires with the proper traction, and the common sense to know that.

In my defense I’m a slow learner at this ‘stuck’ thing, having stuck every single test vehicle (full size and ATV) in the snow over the winter months. Most of my friends were perplexed by my actions but I referred them to the ‘other’ old adage, “you don’t know exactly were the edge is until you fall over it!”

Whatever. This is a whole new adventure. Of course I wish I had pictures but even if I would have had a camera along, I was far too covered in layers of mud (sticky, gooey mud that stains everything it touches mud!) to use it. Although the mud was not bottomless, once I stepped in over the top of my 10” boots, I knew I was in deep, ah, trouble.

A quick check of the circumstances showed me that the mud was too deep to stand in, even flowing slightly over the floorboards of the BF I used as my refuge. I had plenty of power to spins all four tires – equally I might add. The problem was that the tires didn’t do anything but spin. Just a bit more tread might have made all the difference in the world. And might have saved me an hour or more of digging and diverting water. And might have saved a good pair of khaki cargo pants and a 4x4TV shirt from being ruined!

I did get out, but it was an hour or more struggle that gave me plenty of time to think about the dangers of riding without the proper tires.

Gotta go. I think I’ll bolt on a set of Terra Cross and see what happens ;-)

Polaris to Make ATVs in MEXICO!!!!!

What the Hey!?!

Whether you love Polaris machines or hate them, you got to give them credit for being true blue! They are an American company, and their machines are designed by Americans and built by Americans.

Oh wait, I’m wrong! Polaris’ are not made in America! While that statement isn’t true yet, it looks like it’s going to be real soon.

Yes, that’s right. Check out the Latest News on our Blog or on our website for more information that Polaris is closing down their manufacturing plant right here in the good ‘ol U.S. of A. and moving ATV and UTV manufacturing to Mexico! MEXICO! Maybe that’s Polaris’ way of fighting illegal immigration;-)

They say it is for financial reasons! Whatever their reasoning it is indeed both perplexing and maddening! While the Japanese are going to great lengths to build their machines on our soil and by our citizens, Polaris leaves the country? And at this time?

The ATV business is bad, but in case you didn’t notice the whole economy is bad! But it sure ain’t going to get any better with one of our own shutting down a plant, laying off American workers and moving out of our country.

Where does Polaris think their success came from? Do they really think they build better machines, or do they simply build good machines that are proudly bought because they are “American Made?” While Polaris has a very devoted following, I think the vast majority of Polaris owners bought their Polaris ATVs because they are made right here in the U.S.A!

At least most of the Polaris owners I talk to are proud of the fact that their machines are made right here in America!

I’ve seen this argument many times with Americans getting vehemently angry over people buying a Japanese vehicle and sending their money overseas. My answer is this; Who do you care about, all the people working on the assembly line, or the corporation? I say I want Americans to benefit, and that means the workers. I’d rather buy a vehicle made on our soil by our citizens first and foremost!

I’ll continue this rant when I have a more level head, but I just couldn’t contain myself.

MADE IN AMERICA BY AMERICANS!

Call Someplace Paradise and Kiss it Goodbye. Eagles, The Last Resort.

Call Someplace Paradise and Kiss it Goodbye. Eagles, The Last Resort.

Let me introduce you to someone I met last summer in a small Utah town. You see, Kenny has the enviable lifestyle of actually living right on the Paiute Trail! I mean it, right on it! Okay, actually he stays at one of the resorts that borders the actual trail so he has to ride a side trail to reach the actual Paiute Trail. But he still can jump on his ATV in the morning and ride it to breakfast, or to the gas station, or just about anywhere for that matter. Maybe that’s why his Rubicon has somewhere over 11,000 miles on it!

Other than living on the Paiute Trail and riding all the time, he’s really a lot like the rest of us. But I get ahead of myself. I don’t really think that applies here, but I like the way it sounded. But I get ahead…..whoops, I guess we’ve already covered that.

What Kenny and I, and hopefully the rest of us all have in common is that we love this country - and we love to explore the back roads and trails of this great country. When I blogged about trail abusers, Kenny quickly let me know his pet peeve.

So in his own words:

First Doug, thanks for allowing me the opportunity to voice my opinion and express my feelings here in your blog.

I am very fortunate to live in a state that allows me to drive my 4wd truck and ride my ATV on thousands and thousands of miles through some of the most breathtaking country anywhere.

I also consider myself to be very, very fortunate to live right in the center of the greatest ATV trail system in North America — the Paiute Trail.

Without question, the single most appalling, offensive, and disturbing thing that I come across while enjoying some of mother nature’s most spectacular scenery and the greatest ATV trails is all the garbage that’s left behind by what must be the biggest ingrates there are! What makes it even worse is that we are forced to share our oxygen supply with them!

Barney Lake is one of the most scenic and picturesque places on the Paiute Trail system.  Last October my wife and I took a ride over Marysvale Peak to view this spectacular high-country lake while being surrounded by the brilliant fall color; truly a slice of heaven!

While we were at the lake’s edge eating our lunch I was just looking around. I was appalled by the amount of trash that was left behind by others.  Someone even took the time and effort to hide their empty beer bottles under some low-lying pine branches as if that made it okay.  How much more or LESS effort would it have taken to just toss the bottles in a bag and take them back home with them?

One more thing while I'm venting. I smoked for over 30 years and I always doused my butts and put them in my pocket, I carried them in, so I carried them out. I’m not dissing smokers, but PLEASE be considerate enough to take your butts home 

with you!

What is it with these people who disrespect our most sacred public lands?

Can anyone help me understand this type of behavior?

Now it’s my turn to thank you Kenny! Thanks for picking up behind the losers in this world that don’t care enough to ‘care enough.’

My own story goes like this; I was on a very little used trail high in the mountains where I often take my daughter. We call it God’s Place for it’s unbelievable beauty and incredible views. One day we headed up this small trail only to discover a couple hunters off of their ATVs and scoping for game. I’m not sure what season it was and it really doesn’t matter I guess. We rode on to a different spot with a lesser view. On our return, we noticed that the hunters were gone so we rode up to the top of the hill only to find their trash they left behind. Pudding cups, juice drinks, and a few other items were strewn about. It was disgusting. It was thoughtless. It was a crime. And it was just another example of why we should close down the backcountry to these idiots.

But wait! How do we tell the difference between those idiots and the rest of use? How can we distinguish between those of us in the choir and those dwelling in the dark alleys of morality?

I was talking to a good friend a few years back. He was a CHP (California Highway Patrolman). I don’t remember the exact subject we were talking about other than it being about idiot drivers. He commented to me that unfortunately it’s not against the law to be an idiot. It’s a sad commentary but regrettably the truth. It’s why our country is in the problem it’s in. Nobody cares. You can’t see it from my house. What’s it to you? Mind your own business! Deal with it!

While being an idiot isn’t against the law, it is against the law to shoot them. Go figure!

So here’s my solution. It’s based on a principle put forth by the comedian Gallagher a few years back. His idea for dealing with idiot drivers was to issue everyone a dart gun that shot little flags. When you saw an idiot driver you shot them with your little flag gun. When they got three flags the police would pull them over and give them a ticket.

My idea is similar. First, there has to be a responsible group to do the policing. That’s us. Then, when we see idiot behavior, or just idiots, we shoot them………………I know that part sounds great, but I was thinking maybe it should just be with a paint gun. With permanent and irremovable paint of course! When they get back to civilization, if they have more than two colors on them (or their machine), they lose their right to ride for a year.

Or how about this? What if those of us in the choir all get issued cards, red cards that show us as responsible trail users. And that gives us the right to disable any off road vehicle that we see damaging the environment or harming our privilege to ride the backcountry.

Okay, perhaps all I’ve done is use more words to get back to Kenny’s original question, “Does anyone understand what’s going on here?”

I Have Met the Enemy and He is Us

A quote from Pogo, "I have met the enemy and he is us!"

If we are to survive we must prepare for battle, and the first step is to know your enemy. Unfortunately oftentimes the most harm done can come from within.

What if Dana Walsh had been uncovered as an inside operative 2 episodes ago and dealt with accordingly? Would we even have had the next two episodes of 24?

What if we could stop the idiots that are riding their off road vehicles irresponsibly and recklessly before they give the extreme environmentalists cause to close our trails? Wouldn't the lack of their 'irresponsible freedom' be a gain for those of us that know how to tread lightly?

The answer? Get involved!

Here's the links to just a couple recent articles I came across in USA Today:
Off-roaders in search of trails
ATV drivers invade, damage roadless forests

And here's the link(s) to some organizations to link to, follow, be educated by, and donate to:
Blue Ribbon Coalition
National Off-Highway vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC)
Tread Lightly

And know thy enemy:
Responsible Trails

And the bigger enemy:
Sierra Club

I could go on but that's enough links to check out.

My point in all this. Those that want to close down our trails into this country's beautiful back country would have no ammunition if we didn't give it to them.

Please stay on the designated trails.
Ride slowly and respectfully around others.
Ride quietly.
Leave the area you ride in better than when you ride in.
And don't be afraid to tell others when they don't.
It may be you last chance to say 'anything'.

Please help spread the word.

Ride like you want to keep it.
Ride responsibly my friends.

Is There Any News That's Not Racing?

I think I might know what’s wrong in the world. No I’m not talking about the United States move towards Marxist Socialism, nor the lack of our current population’s grasp of the history of what made our country the greatest in the history of the world. No, I’m just talking about our little world of ATVs!

I’ve tried to put together a latest news section on the website and as a “Latest News Blog” that would keep everyone informed of, well, the latest news! Unfortunately I seem to have a bit of a problem finding any latest news in our industry that is not racing, or racing-product related.

You want to know who won the latest GNCC race? All the leading ATV manufacturers send out a press release. Want to know who won the latest round in any UTV racing series? Yeap, the manufacturers send that out too. How about the latest silicon-injected, all aluminum, computer-actuated performance enhancer? It’s there too.

But want to find out about any new trails just opened, cool stuff we need for trail exploring like new boxes or bags, new maps, guidebooks, GPS, software, or just about anything of value to us ‘regular’ trail riders? Well, forgetaboutit!

I’m bummed. Actually more than bummed, I’m irritated. Irritated enough that I’m going on a mission to look to find new stuff that we want to know about.

I wonder why all these ATV companies that sell so many ATVs to us to use to explore the back country on, or hunt with, or farm with, or use on our ranch or jobsite, can't find any news that we would like to read? Why aren't there new products that we would like to know about? Why aren't there any news updates on trails closures, or better yet, openings that we should know about?

I'll be contacting all the manufacturers letting them know that we want to know of this kind of new stuff. 

In the meantime, if you’re reading this and you know of something that you think we should know about, e-mail me and let me know about it.

There’s enough promotion of racing and performance, let’s start promoting recreation and exploration, camping and traveling.

Got any suggestions? E-mail me at DougMeyer@atvtv.com

Blogs and News and Info - Oh my!

Blogs are everywhere nowadays, and that's just on the ATV Television site!

If you visit our website I'm probably telling you something you've already noticed, but I'm not gonna let that get in the way of me continuing on — we've got new blogs!

Here's what's going on - or so I think.

The ATV Television site will continue to be the mother ship for all things ATV Television. All our videos will be there. All the Latest News we put up will be there. Pretty much everything as you've know it for years.

But...

We needed a place where I can be less, ah, 'politically correct' and just be myself, so-to-speak. Someplace where I can unload, step over the line occasionally, and perhaps earn your hatred (or respect;-) I'll apologize now for everything that doesn't work like I hoped and hope the rest of you find it entertaining.

The blog for ATVTV Latest News is simply another avenue to get the latest news out to you as fast and as easy for you as possible. By subscribing to our Latest News, you can have it installed right on your front page and see it right as we put it up.

Of course because all Blogs work this way you can also subscribe to the ATV Television Blog and the Paiute Trail News.

And that brings us to The Paiute Trail News. We just added this blog (to our blog collection) as a way to get more information out about one of our favorite riding areas, and one we hope to spend an overwhelming amount of time on this summer. In these strange times I've made the decision to spend more time riding this summer. I know many of you think I spend too much time riding already, but those that know me well know that I spend far more time on a computer than I do on an ATV. And now, with the industry rather slow it gives me the time to do this that I've always lacked (of course that comes with a lack of money I've always feared). Money is a good thing, but it can't buy you time.

We have plans to put together a forum for the trail where we can all share our experiences as well as (during prime riding times) the trail conditions. Plus, as some go to the forum to show us the new trails they've ridden and shown us the pictures they've taken, we can then put those trails on our list of trails to do.

But until then we'll use the Paiute Trail News as a way to get inside information out about the trail.

The Paiute Trail News may also be a way to share some additional information I come across as I continue working on the different trails for an up-coming Paiute Trail Guide.

But I get ahead of things here. Just stay tuned and hopefully something of value will follow...

Watch a Video - Shop at Amazon

Shop at Amazon - watch a new video!

I hate to even get into this but in case you didn’t know it fewer people are buying new ATVs right now. We have a lot of people to thank for this including a whole slew of folks that overextended themselves. I know of way too many people in Southern California that actually refinanced their already over-leveraged homes so they could buy $70,000.00 dune buggies and toyhouse trailers! Of course the Communist residing in the White House doesn’t seem to be helping the situation much either. But whatever the case, we’re where we are so we’ll deal with it!

The ATV industry is currently only selling about 30% of the units that they sold back in 2007 and 2008. That means that their income is down considerably, and we all know what happens when your income is down, you cut back on your spending!

I’ve lost a lot of good friends in the industry due to the cutbacks and it’s really a sad thing to see. Several big-name magazines have closed their doors. Even some websites have curtailed their operations due to the cutbacks in the industry’s advertising budgets. Basically the bottom line to all this is that if only a few people are buying new machines, why spend any ad dollars to promote sales, or even PR dollars for that matter to send out any units to test.

And this is where we too become victims of this downturn in the economy. For over 10 years our television programming has been supported by the big players in the industry – the ATV manufacturers. Their support of our television show is also what funded making all our videos available on our website and You Tube Channels. Now with the huge budget cuts in the industry we struggle to make the proverbial ends meet.

Enter the new look of the website, You Tube Channel, and even the blog. After many years of working so hard to keep our Internet content free from outside advertisers, we have finally opened our doors to their access.

So first off, please bear with us if some less-than-desirable ads sneak through. Although we (think we) have pretty good control over the advertising, because it is so new to us we still worry what might happen ;-)

Secondly, and hopefully more important is the fact that all our Internet advertising is based directly on your response to it. That means it is beneficial to us if you browse the advertising you find on our site. Not to mention that it’s a good way to find out what’s out there!

Thirdly, as part of a new type of promotional advertising we have entered into an associate agreement with Amazon.com. What this means is that any time anyone purchases anything (and that is truly anything at all!) from Amazon that is accessed through our website, we get a small cut. So any time you shop for any products on Amazon through our website you are helping to keep our videos coming. (and our groceries too!)

Thanks my friends -

Your support is greatly appreciated.

If It Was Up to Me!

If It Was Up To Me!

For years on ATV Television we would run a year-end special of “The Best of.” There we would name the best ATVs in class and the best products. We would also occasionally include a “Best of” some other items that caught my fancy – so to speak - my favorite place to ride, or my favorite trail, or even my favorite off road vehicle. But probably my favorite “Best of” that we did was to put together a list of the best parts and pieces of ATVs.

In testing so many different ATVs over the years I’m always amazed at how many incredible features on one brand of ATV or UTV are completely ignored by other manufacturers, either by oversight, or maybe by just plain stubbornness. I wonder how one ATV have such a great shifter and yet another one have a horrible, notchy shifter? And that applies to thumb throttles, 4wd systems, engine sounds, and even seats! Don’t they ride the other brand ATVs?

So, I was recently thinking once again about those best individual features and even some of the suggestions that I’ve made over the years that seem to just get shrugged off by the manufacturers. It got me to thinking, “What if the red phone rang and the design of a new model was up to me. What would I make?” Well here’s what I’d do if it were up to me.

I’d start with a layout that is 50” wide overall and has about a 75” to 80” wheelbase. That seems to be a really good size. Sure, wider is more stable, but for me, 50” wide is hugely important as it can fit on the 50” wide ATV trails that are so prevalent (and the most beautiful) on the Paiute Trail system. While wider may have some handling advantages in Moab and the sand dunes, I think the machine can be designed to handle those situations well enough.

Not only would it be about the size of a RZR, but it could also look a lot like the RZR. But my absolute favorite off road design (along with the Ford EX that the RZR is copied from) is the Meyers Manx. It’s one of those designs that I can just sit and look at. It’s also the design that I told Suzuki they should emulate for their SxS. I’m not even sure I’d put a full cage on it, but maybe rather a dual A-frame roll hoop set-up like the original Meyers Tow’d. Obviously I’d only be able to sell the thing to ‘responsible people.’ It would also have to have a folding windshield.

Out back would be the bed (look at the Manx again), but with a lockable aluminum cover over it for all-weather storage as well as a place to lash bigger items for camping.

Now comes the power. My preference would be for a slightly larger version of the Teryx 750 V-twin. Although 950cc would be best, even the 750cc version would work fine. And here’s why. Rather than run the heat-producing, power-robbing, and all-around stupid CVT transmission, my SxS would run a centrifugal clutch 5-speed like used to be on ATVs. And the short shifter would ratchet back and forward to shift through the gears. And if we really wanted to get even more trick, why not put a set of paddle shifters on the steering wheel?

Here’s another item that’s a bit off of the traditional. I think in this case, that the engine and transmission could sit in front of the driver. Behind the front axles, but in front of the driver. This not only would make a tighter and more space efficient package, but may prove to make the machine more stable. Not sure how well that would work but I’d certainly test one that way.

Next up is suspension. There’s nothing better than the trailing arm suspension found on the rear of Can Ams. That would be the perfect set-up. Compact. Long travel. No scrub or caster gain. And since that system is so good, why not put a similar system on the front as well?

Of course it would have to come with a set of tires designed to help the handling and stability, so I’d put a set of  27x8x14 radials on the front and 28x10x14’s on the back.

The drivetrain would be the proven, 2wd, 4wd, with a ratcheting front and rear locker set-up. Each locker would have its own lever. And of course we’d have high and low ranges in the transmission and a nice cable-operated hand brake for emergency and parking. Perhaps we’d even have two separate rear e-brake levers. That way they could also be used as turning brakes when the rear differential was open.

Well, dreaming is fun, but work is calling…

Stay tuned, my friends.

So, I'm not alone out here in the woods!

Thank you everyone for all your support. I apologize for not getting this up sooner but I’ve been out of internet reach for a while. Unfortunately it wasn’t because I was out for a week-long ride.

In the time since I wrote “Is it Just Me?” I received some great comments on the blog that are well worth reading and more than a few emails I thoroughly enjoyed. Here’s a sample of just some of the others of us regular folks trapped out in the “ATV world of ridiculous.”

No its not just you, Doug. I thought you were speaking directly to me. I feel 100% as you do on this subject. It’s all about marketing bull and the bottom line is big money. Let's get back to common sense. I feel that if it wasn't for ATV Television, the ATVTV Blog, trip videos, product reviews, gear to take on trips, first aid and safety gear etc. people would be at a loss. Doug, you and your crew do such a great job and we all are looking for more trip videos, great product reviews and always your ATV Blog page.

Doug, God Bless As always on a wing and a prayer.  

Girard.

Very kind words Girard. We are indeed working on more trip videos, and more focused adventure preparation stuff.

Hi Doug,

This is a follow up letter to the letter I sent responding to your frustrated blog. I get ATV.com news by email and just read a review of the 2010 Honda Rubicon.  Your review of the Razor is also there, though I saw that review on your website. I told you in the previous letter that many of us rely on you for accurate reviews and let me add the term "complete" to accurate. Just compare the review of the Honda to your review of the Razor and you will know why I am saying that. I learned almost nothing about the Honda. Could it be the writer was afraid to write anything negative therefore he didn't write much at all?

Thanks, Gary

Well Gary, it is very easy to tick off the manufacturers when you tell it like you see it! Especially if you see it different from the way they do! We rely on the manufacturers to supply us with the test units and it’s only natural that if they don’t like what you say that they’ll just not give you any more. After all, as they’ve told me, why send you anything to test if you’re just going to say negative things about it? I’ve mellowed in my reviews over the years as I’ve learned that everyone’s expectations and desires are a little different. Imagine that! Actually, as I’ve grown older and spent more time in Utah rather than Southern California I’ve learned that so much of what people look for in an ATV depends on where they ride, how they ride, and what they do with the ATV. But, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t better ATVs than others ;-)

Doug,

 I couldn't agree with you more about your recent blog post. My wife and I have ridden in Wyoming, Colorado & Utah the last two and a half years since we've taken up the sport. As older riders we spend lots of time on the trails and enjoy the low speed scenic trail rides in all the places we go. I think the problem you point to is two-fold.

 I believe most of the advertising and magazine features are aimed at the testosterone-driven crowd because that bunch will spend more money solely on their ATV or UTV emulating the hot-rodders. The trail riders I am familiar with will also spend a fair bit of discretionary money, but it is more diverse. Since we spend a lot more time on the trail in no hurry, we concentrate on long lasting reliable equipment but not all of it is focused on the ride. I've ridden with hunters, people with high-end camera gear, geocachers with GPS units, and people who spend a lot of time hiking from where their ATV can take them.

 The latter group tends to spend more on ancillary items and riding to see historical features, something the magazines seem to miss, perhaps you want to start the first publication to focus on the vacation trial riders? I believe that its a large group you mention.

 And the Bighorns? We have wide-open spaces where there is nobody for miles and miles. Sacrifice a little in the ride department for a tire that reputedly won't leave you stranded because of getting cut up on all of our sharp rock, and yet is an effective tire in most all terrain. Reputation among our friends is that it will last us several thousand miles too. That's why this year a stock size tire with that kind of reputation will be replacing the OEM tires my wife and I are running.

 Check out the websites Offroading Home and Nyrocatv. Trailriders are out here. It's a big and diverse group. We research our purchases by surfing web sites like I mentioned as well as yours and following them a lot prior to purchases.

 For a future review think "ground anchors". Used in the 4x4 community when your winch comes up short of a tree or fixed object or personal locators.

 Your site is great and I've been following it for a long time. Thanks

 Bernie

 Tires like the Bighorns are certainly known to be bullet-proof! I think I mentioned that two close friends have over 5000 miles of problem-free riding on the Bighorns. Unfortunately I struggle with wanting to spend 5000 miles of riding with that type of handling. But, as I said in the reply to Gary above here, so much depends on how and where you ride. It can also depend on what you ride as well. One of my before-mentioned friends switched from Bighorns to ACTs and would never go back. The other wouldn’t switch out his ‘Horns’ if I gave him a set of other tires for free! I respect both their opinions and neither are wrong. So what’s the answer? What you like best.

All good topics for another time.

Stay tuned as more’s coming soon.

Doug

Is It Just Me?

I need some help here!

There has been several times in the past that I have gotten depressed over the ATV (and UTV) market. I am again! I look around at the various stuff the industry sells, and at the weirdness of what the magazines cover and wonder to myself, “Am I the only, uh, ‘normal’ person out here?”

Here’s what I mean. Pick up a copy of most print magazines and the test riders pictured are wearing full-face helmets, racing jerseys and motorcycle boots. Excuse me, but do you ride like that? I’m not talking about testing race machines or being at the sand dunes shooting bowls. I’m talking about riding a utility quad through the woods! And the pictures of the action are equally out of place – in my opinion. They show big berm shots, jumps, and even wheelies! Wheelies for Pete’s sake. Now there’s how I ride my utility quad!

So then I turned to the UTV magazines. They were no closer to my reality. If picking one those mags up was your first glimpse of the UTV market, you’d think that every UTV cost over $20,000.00 and had long travel suspension with the inside of the 27” tall tires sticking well beyond the fenders. And that every owner either raced their UTV or installed 4 seats (complete with 4-point harnesses!) and pretended to race it with their kids in the back! Yeap, that’s not how I use my UTV.

Then look around at the industry itself. There’s some pretty strange stuff out there. I’ve been very close to ITP over the years and have thoroughly enjoyed many of their products. But trying to get them to make a wheel without added offset was impossible! And when I whined about why they don’t keep working on improving the ATR — possibly the best trail tire ever made, the answer was quick and to the point! “We probably sell 10 times as many mud tires as we do trail tires — nobody buys that stuff but you!” I can’t argue because when I look around at what ‘trail tire’ seems to be the most popular, I see the Bighorn. It is a big, heavy, and very hard-compound tire. Sure it wears well, but it handles like and ATR with about 50 pounds of air in it and your shocks drilled out so you’re riding around with no damping. And of course all the wheels (other than the stockers of course) stick out beyond the fenders so should you ever dare ride in snow or mud (or even wet dirt!) the tires will fling more of the trail on you than it leaves behind for the next rider!

And then there’s 14” wheels! Sure they make sense on a UTV where the weight of the thing is closer (or more even) than a dune buggy. But I have just not found any 14” wheel and tire combo that worked better on an ATV than a 12” set. They are just too stiff and too heavy!

I won’t even get into roll cages, window nets, stereo systems, lift kits, or any of the many other products not designed with me in mind.

And that brings me to the other source of information I find. It seems that nowadays many folks look to the internet forums for education, information, and direction. And there you’ll certainly find lots of input from a wide variety of riders. Perhaps too much so. While I have a couple very good friends with many, many miles on the trails that continue to provide me with valuable information, it is difficult to say the least, to sort through all the ‘posts’ on a forum and find information not weighed down with huge amounts of personal preference. It’s there that I all too often see the “This is the best because  own it” syndrome. “Sure the Outlander 800 got so hot that the plastic melted to my leg, but so what?” Or one of my favorites is a question I actually asked a RZR owner. He had 3000 miles on his RZR and I wanted to know if he’d had any problems with it so far. His answer was “None. It’s great. I’ve replaced a CV joint, I replaced the air filter cause the stocker was sanding my engine, and a rear shock went out. But other than that, it’s great! No problems!” Considering I know two ATVers (referred to above) that have over 7000 miles and 11,000 miles on their ATVs and have only changed the oil and cleaned the air filters I don’t think the RZR owner fully understood the concept of “No problems!” I would have hated to rely on his perception as a basis for my decision.

Where’s that leave me? Or us? The magazines don’t help me understand which ATV is best for exploring the trails. Most of their product reviews only focus on racing or mud products. And then even when they cover events, the pictures focus not on the trail rigs, but the ‘silly stuff’ that you wonder why it’s even there. The forums seem to be home for self-promoting chest-beaters trying to rationalize their purchase. And the industry doesn’t help us very much as they only go where the money is.

So, I realize that I’m in the minority, obviously. Every time I’ve looked around like this in the past I’ve come to the conclusion that if I didn’t cover the real world of ATVs and UTVs then who would? If I wasn’t ‘in’ the industry, and was out in the real world looking for the best ATV to go exploring the mountains and the deserts, where would I find that information? If I wanted to find out which UTV was best for doing the chores around the farm and yet could me up into the high country exploring, or scouting, where would I look?

So help me out here. I need your input. Where do you find the best information on ATVs and UTVs. Where do you find the most information on where the best places to explore are? And where’s the best place to find out what the best stuff is to take along when you explore the back country?

To help, make a comment below or send an email to me at  DougMeyer@ATVTV.COM and let me know where you find ‘your’ best information. Then I’ll put them all up here for everyone else to check out. Assuming there is anyone else out there that doesn’t wear motocross gear while racing their 70” wide UTV along the trails with their stereo blaring louder than their twin exhausts!

As always, Thanks —