It all started with an 11k Saturday in April when I did my part to stimulate the powersports economy by purchasing two new ATVs. As if the weekend couldn't get any better, a warm sunny sky on Sunday made for a great afternoon of kayaking the rushing Branch River. This is what it must feel like to be a high roller. "We spent eleven thousand dollars shopping Saturday, and then went kayaking on Sunday." A line best delivered with your nose held high and spoken in your most pompous voice.
A week passes and I'm driving a shiny black gem of a motorcycle from the Triumph dealer to my sister's house, the proud owner of her first new motorcycle. Very tasteful and elegant, the new Triumph Bonneville is a classic motorcycle with timeless style. Proof that you can have function and form. Looks retro, goes neuvo. Well done sis'. Keep it shiny side up and between the ditches.
My next ride was a new Can-Am Outlander Max XT 650 purchased by fellow riding mate Tim Sobel, who was kind enough to bring it over for a test drive. Who would've guessed riding two up could be so comfortable? With abundant power on tap to briskly transport two adults, bumps smoothed out by the well tuned suspension, and pleasant sounds emitted from the exhaust that can only be created by a proper V-twin, this is a well rounded package. Downsides: As pleasant as the exhaust sounds to me, it may be a bit loud for sensitive ears that consider this noise, power steering would be nice as low speed steering is stiff riding two-up, and initial belt engagement could be smoother under load-further hindered by a stiff throttle. Overall, an ATV where...
When I threw a leg over an ATV for the first time, a Yamaha 350 Warrier of unknown vintage, manual shifting quads were the norm-excluding 3 wheelers of course. Automatic quads were practically unheard of, or I wasn't paying any attention to them, and utility quads were still infants. Besides, who wanted an automatic? Save them for snowmobiles and wood paneled station wagons.
Eventually, I rode a semi-automatic Honda ATV and realized that shifting without a clutch was a beautiful thing, as were sporty utility quads. Function and fun how could it get any better?
Fast forward to present and semi-automatic quads are right up there with carbureted ATVs; disappearing fast and gaining speed.
For many years, I swore off the idea of owning an automatic ATV for various reasons. Thanks to advances in modern CVT technology, gone are the days of automatics that slipped belts at the sight of water or smoked them in low speed high load situations. CVTs have come a long way since my 1973 Suzuki Fury snowmobile.
The romance of foot shifting a utility ATV fades when traded for convenience, such as pawing playfully at the water like a kitten, hoping to strike the shifter without turning your boot into a fish bowl. Wearing boots that aren't warm enough so you can still shift, then losing all feeling in your toes and not being able to shift. Missed gears accompanied by noises that conjure visions of shiny parts in a smoldering heap. Dealing with shifter toe and ankle at the end of a long day because you operated the shift lever 750 times. I could go on.
I applaud Honda for automatics that still shift, albeit with more moving parts that require additional electronics and cost. Who knows where such persistence will lead them. Kudos also to manufacturers that provide either option and let the consumer decide.
Personally, I'm done foot shifting ATVs. My left foot has retired and is looking forward to riding with bunny slippers, not that I'd recommend it for safety reasons...you might get beat up.
4-day Atv Trek Through Michigan's U.p. I resurected this post and moved it here for continued enjoyment. Additional photos have been added and a video will be uploaded soon with brief footage of our ride. Currently, I'm booking rooms for round two of our Western Yooper Trek where we will travel farther and explore deeper. Cheers, -Keith D.K.
The IRM.
When passionate about ATV riding, the only cure is more riding. What's better than a day ride? Multiple days riding! Throw in a few destinations...scenic waterfalls, the mysterious Paulding lights, railroad trestles 100 feet off the ground, and you've got yourself a genuine Upper Michigan adventure. Day 1. Four of us started our four day journey leaving at noon from Keyes Lake Campground (Florence County, Wisconsin) on a sticky 85 degree Wednesday. A few short sections of trail and road routes brought us to a trestle on a railroad grade that crosses the Brule River border into Upper Michigan. On the Michigan side, the railroad grade becomes narrow and more heavily wooded as we head towards Iron River.
This is my first time trail riding with the Bosski 800AL expedition wagon in tow, so I take up sweep position (rear) in the group. Its presence is immediately known, requiring more precise shifting and slowing acceleration. I don't mind because it's keeping me out of the rolling dust storm ahead, but the hot weather has me concerned for for the life of my quad. For the first time in 6500 miles, I appreciate the temperature light on my trusty Suzuki Eiger and wonder if today is the day it turns on.
Towards the outskirts of Caspian, I spot a plastic socket holder with one lone socket, lost by some unfortunate soul on the trail. Being the gear head of the group, I figure it may be the one socket we need later so I stop to pick it up. Sockets, like deer, usually travel together and kicking around in the dirt turns up 3 more! Before I leave, I take a mental picture of the area and vow to stop here again on the way back.
We stop for a break and late lunch in the pleasant town of Iron River. "Cute" as my wife calls it. The Main Street Cafe is located a few blocks east of the trail, and even has a rear alley type entrance fit for dirty ATVers. The menu is overwhelming, complete with "101 burgers". My brother-in-law Keith has a burger topped with what appears to be a small pizza, probably containing more energy than the fuel in our tanks. I settle for a sinfully delicious...
"I just can't understand the mindset of being out to enjoy nature on an inherently loud, exhaust-fuming machine."
" ATV noise and fumes deter other uses and severely disrupts wildlife."
" gas-guzzling, carbon-emitting and otherwise just noisy and obnoxious machines."
" when you give these renegades an inch they take a mile literally."
I could copy and paste quotes here all day long about the negativity and biased views against ATVs. How about if I refer to us as a bunch of dumb #!* rednecks? If attacking the machine doesn't work, attacking the rider is next. Makes you angry doesn't it?
Frankly, I'm fed up with being diplomatic to these mentally disturbed quad haters. The "we can work together" logic is a waste of time with someone that bases their decisions on emotion and garbage the media calls news or facts. Our choice for dealing with them is reason or force, but you can't reason with the unreasonable.
These hypocrites accuse ATVs as being "gas-guzzling, carbon-emitting and otherwise just noisy and obnoxious machines" that "disturb wildlife", yet fully support replacing an ATV trail with a train that we don't need, want, or can afford. They claim we take over public land, yet our ATV trails account for less than 1% of the available public land in this state. ATVs carry invasive species: so do automobiles, wildlife, hiking boots, and tourists. ATVs waste fuel: so does driving to your cabin in Vilas County. Every theory they have against ATVs is full of holes, even though they claim "scientific proof." Never mind the term scientific proof is an oxymoron.
Here's where the mentally disturbed part comes in; these haters love to see rogue ATV riders, damaged wetlands, and ATV related deaths. What they hate the most is seeing an ATV used responsibly. They'd rather see you tear up a hiking trail than witness an ATV used to plant trees or rescue an injured hiker. They'd rather read about a child injured in an ATV accident than witness the joy of a youngster learning to ride. You think I'm making this up? Try to find 15 positive ATV stories in any major media publication. They'll say it's because there are few instances of such positive action, but the fact is portraying positive ATV use extinguishes the fire they're trying to fuel. Don't kid yourself; they won't be satisfied until ATVs are banned or only allowed on private property.
To clarify, I'm not suggesting conversationalists or environmentalists all feel this way because they don't. I'm talking about those that hate ATVs and motorized recreation. Many nature loving individuals enjoy ATVs for...
Finding ATV luggage that fits well and provides the needed storage space can be downright frustrating, often resulting in learning the hard way. I'm happy to say the Kolpin cases shown here fit perfectly and provide room to spare.
These Kolpin hard-sided cases benefit by being truly water proof, extremely durable, securely mounted, and have the ability to be locked. With the exception of being in a downpour while transported at highway speed, water entry has never been a problem. Nor has dust.
Mounted to the front and rear racks of a Suzuki Eiger, fitment is perfect. The boxes are secured with two u-bolts to the racks. To equalize stress from the u-bolts, I made small aluminum plates seen in the photo below. Because of the exposed bolts and the hard bottomed case, I cut a piece of one inch thick bedding foam to shape and placed it in the boxes to prevent damage to precious cargo.
There are also molded areas on either end of the boxes where a bungee or small strap can be used for mounting, although the boxes slide around when only straps/bungees are used, which makes it practically impossible to mount securely on top of a fuel pack.
Enough room is available that I could easily pack for multiple day excursions, granted you're not trying to bring the kitchen sink.
...
Summer Dreams Soon our summer riding season will be upon us. Long days in the saddle, watching nature zip past with a warm breeze in my face, exploring unknown areas, wrapped up by gazing at a star filled sky while sitting next to a campfire. Good company, good food. My kind of living.
Like the broken up ice floating down our river, the last few weeks have slipped past planning rides, plotting routes, and doing my part to stimulate the economy by purchasing new quads. Not to mention spring cleaning chores, which this year include prepping quads and a few motorcycles for sale.
Weve got a lot of exciting ATV rides planned in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan that Ill be happy to share with you. Our riding adventures are my favorite subject to write about so be sure to check in periodically for the latest updates and photos.
Until then, Ill be straightening tie downs and organizing riding gear while dreaming about the next ride, if I can make time to sleep!
Any ATV ride is better than the alternative of not riding, but some rides are better than others. Soup up your riding adventures by trying out some of the following tips.
-Leave enough time to explore, take breaks, and relax. Riding just to watch the odometer turn is uninspiring. Ride enough to be satisfied, but not so much that you can't wait to get off.
-If you have the option, ride the rough trails first when you're fresh and alert. Save the smooth stuff for the end of the day when you'll enjoy it more. Your fellow riders will thank you; and so will your body.
-Eat well while on the trail. A cold sandwich from the gas station eaten curbside won't suffice. Find a cozy diner or barstool where real food is served. Make eating your destination and something to look forward to.
-Leave time for getting lost. What you discover may be well worth it. Besides, if time is on your side, you're not lost you're exploring.
-Be prepared. Inclement weather, flat tires, and getting stuck are part of the adventure. Overcoming these obstacles will make the ride more memorable.
-Dinner and a movie anyone? Bring movies and a portable DVD player. Invite fellow riders over for a popcorn and a scary movie.
You're riding down a damp gravel ATV route when a riding mate behind you suddenly pulls over and stops, flashing his head lights to indicate some sort of trouble. You quickly slow down, do a u-turn and ride back. By this time, another member of your group has also stopped. Once back to them, you perform another u-turn so that everyone is facing the same direction on the same side of the route and not congesting any traffic that might pass.
Thankfully, it's only a flat tire and you have a repair kit. Besides, you were ready for a break any way and you're not on a schedule, so you take your time and chat before pulling out your tools.
Here comes that traffic you prepared for-a lone pick-up truck. It drives past you about twenty feet before locking up the brakes and slamming it in reverse, never a good sign. He backs up eerily past all your quads, then stops and rolls down the window.
He angrily asks, "Where's your registration numbers?"
What?
"I want your registration numbers."
Why?
"You were doing donuts on the road (he points to my tracks where I turned around) and I'm sick of you guys tearing up this road."
Obviously he is mighty upset, but he is also clearly mistaken. Now he's got you revved up, bouncing off the rev limiter, ready to dump the clutch and give 'er hell. What do you do?
I wish this was a joke, but this is a true story that happened to me a few years ago and similar situations have happened since. Promoting a positive image of ATV riders is very important to me because I know we're under constant scrutiny, so I do my best to follow the rules and take pride in riding responsibly. So when some bigot tries to pull a fast one on me, I'm rightfully angered. To make matters worse, on temper scale of 1-10 (1 being no temper, 10 being highly destructive) I rate somewhere around a 15.
All this happened pretty fast so I'm trying to think of what he may have seen. Maybe he saw my two u-turns from a distance and to him it looked like donuts. The gravel road is damp so my tires left tracks where I turned around, especially that inside rear that...
Universal joints (U-joints) require periodic inspection to prevent expensive repairs and trail side break downs. Not sure where to find them or what signs of trouble to look for? Read on.
U-joints are found in the drive shafts (also called propeller shafts or prop shafts for short), or what ATV manufacturers usually call the secondary drive. The secondary drive consists of the components that transfer power from the engine to the front and/or rear differentials (also called bevel drives). The amount and placement of universal joints in the drive shafts varies from manufacturer and model of ATV.
Constant velocity (CV) joints are not the same as u-joints. CV joints are located in the half shafts (commonly called axle shafts) that transfer power from the bevel drive to the wheel. It is important to note that CV joint is a generic term and covers various types of constant velocity joints. The outer type of CV joint (located closest to the wheel) used on ATVs are often the Rzeppa joint design while the inner CV joints (located closest to the bevel drive) are often a plunging tripod joint design.
Wish you could see what a trail looked like before you ride it? You can with Google maps!
Okay, so this isnt as cool as being able to see the future like Nicolas Cage in the movie Next, but it does help when plotting an ATV excursion and trying to minimize dull routes.
Go to the Google home page and select Maps from the upper left corner of the screen. As an example, type in Dunbar WI and press enter. What you see is a standard road map until you select Satellite. Zoom in as far in as you can and youll be able to pick out the railroad grade, trails, and our favorite businesses. In satellite view, hover the mouse pointer over the satellite tab to select or deselect the Show labels feature. Select the Terrain feature to see a topography map.
With a trail map and Google maps, I look at various trails and routes to see which ones look better to ride, before Im melting my tires on a paved road for 10 boring miles.
To further impress fellow riders with your navigational skills, right click on the map at an intersection or other point of interest and select Whats here?. Presto! Youre rewarded with GPS coordinates. While helpful for riding Wisconsin trails, this is necessary for exploring Upper Michigan, unless you want to run out of fuel and get help from that nice feller that plays a banjo real well.
