Take control, adjust your controls that is

Want to make your ATV experience more enjoyable?  Want to increase your ability to go those long rides with less fatigue in your arms?  Want to do all this for free?  Of course you do!  Adjust your controls my friend.

It seems so elementary but many people fail to do this after buying their machine.  Whether it s a new machine or a used one, adjusting the controls to fit your particular body and riding style will surely help you enjoy your riding that new machine even more. Here is how to do it.

First off think about your natural riding position. Do you sit most of the time your riding or do you stand most of the time? Put both index fingers straight out to rest on the levers. Adjust the clutch (where applicable) and brake levers to make as straight of a line from your finger up through your wrist, hand and arm. If your a standing is what you do most of the time make sure your in the “attack” position.

The wrong way

The right way

Adjusting your levers is somewhat subjective but a general rule of thumb is you should never have to reach way up or way down to pull in either lever.

What do I own? The key to getting correct parts…the first time.

This is part one of a multi-part series, “From the Parts Counter” Our goal with this series is to help you deal more accurately and effectively with your local dealers parts and accessory department.

Photo Courtesy Scott Lukaitis

As a long time parts and accessory department manager in the motorcycle business one of the biggest pet peeves we all have is when the customer (you) doesn’t know what they own.

[Read more]

Cedar Run OHV trail at Harlan County Lake

With the grand opening come and gone the new trail system is now fully open. Me and my team had a rare opportunity to help fund, organize and participate in the grand opening (May 1, 2010) of this expanded trail system. The trail now encompasses 470 acres of US Army Corp. of Engineer ground just south of Harlan County Lake in south central Nebraska. The two nearby towns Alma and Republican City should see an increase in tourism that will boost the local economy. Businesses large and small donated “seed” money to get the project off the ground. Major donors were people, organizations, and businesses that donated $200 or more to the project.

Our part in the big event consisted of organizing and running a “scavenger hunt” for all that attended. It was a lot of work but turned to be a fun weekend with good weather.

[Read more]

Bringing new riders into the sport

From time to time we all run into or meet new people that are eager to get into the sport, and because most of us are thrilled to share the joys of the sport we all know and love, we are more than happy to introduce and teach the “new blood” all there is to know about riding ATV and motorcycles.  Problem is we as the unofficial mentor of this new rider tend to get overzealous and over-estimate the new riders abilities (from our own excitement).  Over estimating this new riders abilities can either present a less than desirable outcome and in some cases present a dangerous situation for this “newb”.  Below are some considerations to keep in mind when introducing a new rider to the sport for the very first time. [Read more]

Grand Opening of Nebraska’s Cedar Run Offroad Trail

Harlan County Lake
Republican City, NE
Date: Saturday May 1, 2010

Courtesy of ATVMagBlog.com’s Jon Rhodig and the Harlan County Tourism Board comes word of the grand opening of the Cedar Run ATV/Motorcycle Trail in south central Nebraska.

Come join in on the days festivities for the grand opening of this new trail system.  Free admission, win prizes!

The event will start off with the Nebraska Off-Highway Vehicle Association (NOHVA) sponsoring a noon lunch at the trail for businesses and individuals who donated to the project, contractors who helped build the trails and trail head amenities, project partners, and NOHVA members and guests.
The public is invited to join in the general festivities set to begin at 1:00 p.m., with Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy and other state, federal and local officials scheduled to speak at that time. At 1:30 p.m., trainers certified by the national ATV Safety Institute will give a presentation on safe riding behavior and proper protective gear.

At 2:00 p.m. a scavenger hunt fun-ride through the new trail system, with prizes to be given away for winners and participants. This event is being sponsored by Team MGR, one of the project’s major donors. Members of Team MGR include Jon Rhodig, Katie Rhodig, Chris Flodine, Derek Hinrichs, and Nicole Hinrichs.

Some prizes donated by

ATV Magazine

Rocky Mountain ATV/MC

Decal Works

DT1 filters

There is no registration cost for this or any other of the day’s events.

Helmets are required at this event.

Below is a video depicting the trail before the new construction.

Chain gang, does it need replaced?

As spring rolls around and the weather for most of us starts showing signs of becoming moderate, we start getting the itch to ride more frequently it is time to get that machine out of storage.  Now if you have followed my previous tips on how to put your machine away for those winter months, you probably already have check your chain and put a good coating of some sort of rust preventative spray on it.  But you may have not checked it closely for wear, or put off replacing it because “Its in winter storage, I will do that later”.  Well later is here and no one wants to be stranded, DNF’ed or inconvenienced on the first ride or race out after the off season with a broken or sloppy chain.

Now obviously this only applies to those of us with chain final drive ATV (primarily sport ATVs and older Utes). There are only 2 basic types of chain – standard and o-ring (also x-ring but it is similar to o-ring).

Standard Chain

A good visual inspection will tell you a lot.  If the chain’s rollers and side plates are extensively rusted as in there is absolutely no shiny metal showing, throw it out.  If there is only slight surface rust you will need to remove it to check it out further.  After removing the chain fold it over on itself in half.  If you can lay the ends side by side the rollers and side plates are worn out and the chain is nearing it’s useful life.  Also if there is missing rollers it is time for a new one.  You can also measure a new chain and compare that to your old chain’s measurements and replace when the old chain stretches 2% over the new chain.

O-ring and X-ring Chain

Basically the same things apply to these types of chains, except since they contain little neoprene or rubber O-rings to seal in  the lubricant for the roller bearings it requires a more scrutinizing.  If the chain checks out on all the above criteria, but O-rings are missing, cracked, torn, or just generally worn to the point that the lubricant can be seen leaking past them, the chain should be replaced soon.

As with both types of chains it is almost mandatory to replace the sprockets along with the chain to maximize the life of all the components.  Running a new chain on old sprockets drastically shortens the life of the new chain’s rollers.  So with the new ridding season upon us don’t overlook one of the most overlooked parts on a chain driven machine – the chain.

Action Alert! CPSC to develop rules for SxS's

Action Alert!  Side by Side owners and enthusiasts need to stand up and be heard.  Now I don’t have a huge interest in (ROVs) Side by Sides but here is a link to a preformed response that will be sent to the Office of the Secretary, CPSC. Personalize the message all you want. The Americans for Responsible Recreational Access (ARRA) have made it easy to take just a minute or two to voice your opinion.  Follow this link to the Americans for Responsible Recreational Access (ARRA) Link to personalize your message

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.

Back to the old stomping grounds

As this holiday weekend approaches a lot of us will be celebrating our freedom to vacation when and where we choose by traveling to that hallowed riding spot that we have some eternal connection with.  For many the reason may be because it is with in a 5 minute drive from the house, a scenic place with good camping or in my case its the place where I grew up riding that WAS less than a 5 minute drive from my house, now that has stretched out to a 6 hour drive.

Back in the 80's this place held an annual harescramble

The place I am talking about is in Harlan County Nebraska at a little place developed by the US Army Corp. of Engineers in the early 80′s.  My memories of this place start back when my dad raced a few hare scrambles put on by a local racer that organizes motocross races in the same area.  The place had nearly perfect terrain for a hare scramble.  The terrain had hills, trees, and mud.  The hare scrambles were always fun to watch, and maybe that was mostly because my dad was in it.  As a matter of fact my dad was always racing on the oldest bike there a 1974 Yamaha SC500. Remember this was in the 80′s!  After a few years of hare scrambles the place would be nearly defunct as in it would be only ridden by locals such as us.  Even big holiday weekends would turn out less than 10 or so riders for the entire weekend.  The trail was never maintained at all during the entire time period that we rode it. 

[Read more]

Youth ATV/Motorcycle ban, GET INVOLVED!

Mandating mercury filled light bulbs in our homes, banning anti-drug activities. Is this the government of the future?

Show your disgust with the current law! Get involved by following the link below. With out going into great detail a couple of major forums have gotten together and are organizing demonstrations on the steps of every state capitols. Click the link below for information on how to be involved in letting your voice be heard! The future of our sport depends on it.

http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=745460

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