Wednesday, March 11, 2015

JUST PURCHASED THE NEW HIGH LIFTER EDITION RZR 1000

Alright folks I finally broke down and bought the new HIGH LIFTER EDITION POLARIS RZR 1000 and I absolutely love it. I purchased this machine brand new from a dealership local to Tennessee for the best price I could find around. Battle Creek Powersports located in Jasper,TN 37347 was my dealership of choice, they have a huge selection of UTV's and for the lowest price I could find. The sales manager and rest of the crew are great down to Earth people and easy to deal with, I never felt rushed or pushed into buying the product I purchased and took my time browsing around. In the next couple of months I plan to buy a wrecked UTV and build myself for racing and just all around rough riding so look forward to me posting on this build as soon as I find the right machine. Back to the HL Edition, this past weekend I took it out for it's first official trail ride and it was amazing I cleared huge fallen trees with no problem crawled through huge pits that swallowed my previous XP 900 with ease. The High Lifter's awesome 29.5" Outlaw 2 tires worked great I went through the deepest mud I could find and did so in 2 wheel drive this thing is an absolute monster. The stock features on this ride are 29.5" Outlaw 2 mud tires, 4500 Lb Polaris Pro Hd winch, High Lifter Archer front and rear radius bars, front bumper, upgraded reverse chain, rear view mirror, gear reduction kit, full doors with graphics, and snorkels. For the price you could not buy a new RZR 1000 and put these upgrades on it and come out ahead unless you just got an amazing deal.


  UPGRADES

   As far as upgrades so far that I have done to the machine goes first thing you would want to purchase for any of them is a wind shield and a roof in my opinion. I say this simply because if you are out riding and it decides to rain you won't get completely soaked and the windshield will keep you from getting wind burnt, dirt and mud in your eyes and keep the cold out somewhat if it is cold.  I also purchased thicker plastic skid plates, the reason I went with plastic is because I previously had some metal skids on my 900 and in the rocks once they get caught they are gone or destroyed with plastic it usually glides over obstacles a lot better and doesn't hang up as easily. I also purchased some back up lights which I think they need to make stock on these machines in my opinion because who doesn't love night rides? Also one of the best safety upgrades I got was a set of 5 point harnesses these things will keep you nice and secure inside your machine during most any situation and are not that expensive considering they could potentially save your life. I also went ahead and got the MTX audio system with dual sound bars and sub woofer, I have not installed this yet but I will let everyone know how it sounds.


FUTURE UPGRADES

   In the future I plan on putting a rear wind shield in to help with mud and dust. And a  set of extended fender flares to help keep the mud out of the cab. A rear bumper and extended cage to protect the rear and engine. A spare tire carrier just in case I have a blow out on the trail or bust a tire off the rim. Some bead lock rims just to be on the safe side in case I bust more than one tire.  Probably get a set of door nets to help keep the big chunks of mud out. Later down the road I will get a set of all around rims and tires because the Outlaw 2's are so aggressive which are great for mud just not really anything else, they will definitely aerate your lawn. I might also get a performance exhaust because the High Lifter just looks mean but still has that stock sound.


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MAKING A UTV/ SIDE BY SIDE STREET LEGAL

In my state you need DOT approved tires, front and rear bumpers, a working speedometer, rear view or side mirrors,and working brake lights, and although not required I would suggest a wind shield. You have to make sure you have insurance and your vehicle is properly registered and tagged. In my state the vehicle is required to be governed down and is only allowed on road with a speed limit of 45 MPH or less, although you are allowed to cross major highways. On my personal unit I went ahead and had a signal kit installed equipped with left and right turn signals and hazard lights. To most law enforcement these vehicles are so new that the laws aren't really known as well as they are with other motorized vehicles so they really aren't sure what to think when they see one on the road, I have been followed several times but never pulled over I guess mainly out of curiosity. If you do plan on riding at night make sure and have a license plate light and working head lights. I would also recommend an exhaust that is not excessively loud so you don't get a noise violation, most muffler manufacturers can provide a Db level for any exhaust they sell. Just remember folks check your local laws and regulations before you jump on your UTV and head out on the road because that part you could be missing could cost less than the ticket you get. I also found out that you can get a UTV classified as a dune buggy which is not as limited as the other class. With this you can ride on most major highways still no interstate travel. And I don't think you have to govern it down in this class.
www.rideutvs.com

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UTV TIRE GUIDE

With all the different types of tires out many people have questions to which is the best suited for them and their riding style. Depending on the type of riding you do there are several amazing tires out there. My personal favorite for mud riding would have to be the terminators by Super ATV these tires are just gnarly and super aggressive mud tires. But if your not looking for that and just looking for a great all around tire then here is a list of the top all around tires out there and some of their specs.
TirePlyWeightMounted HeightMounted Width
Maxxis Bighorn6 Ply30 lbs.29 1/8"10"
GBC Kanati Mongrel8 Ply33.3 lbs.30 1/8"9 3/8"
ITP Ultra Cross8 Ply34 lbs.29 1/4"9 1/4"
ITP Baja Cross8 Ply34.4 lbs.29 1/4"9 1/2"
STI Roctane XD8 Ply39 lbs.31"10"

Also if you have a setup like I did and your UTV is all street legal then you may be interested in some DOT approved tires which they make to fit the 14" rims found on some UTV's. I know Super Swamper has a set and BFG also. 

PLACES TO RIDE & TRAIL MANNERS

Where to ride

As many of you know UTV riding trails are limited in some states, countries, regions etc... My home state is one of which has been limited due to large scale timber cutting and hunting land leases. There are not very many areas to ride in my immediate area now due to this fact. The only areas that are available to ride close are family land and some areas that have been ridden for years but are now being divided up into separate tracts of land which some are being gated and posted no trespassing so riding trips are now more difficult to plan. I would personally like to see more photos and videos of safe riding areas despite where they are knowing these locations is great for some people since they may be in that area. As soon as I do more research I will be posting some major riding areas and try to cover a majority of the states. My personal favorite that is close to me is Windrock in Oliver Springs, TN. Here is the address for this park Windrock Park Trailhead 912 Windrock Road Oliver Springs, TN 37840.This is a privately owned park for recreational vehicles of all types. 



Trail manners and maintenance 

During a lot of my rides on all trails and even my own personal private property I use for riding I have came across a lot of trash laying around that could have simply been taken care of by carrying a trash bag or by simply putting your empty water or soda containers back into your cooler. When land owners see all this waste left behind by riders and passers by this is when the land is posted with no trespassing signs and in the end the fun is ruined for everyone because of a few who neglected this privilege. So long story short please dispose of your waste properly and do us all a favor that love to ride or just love the environment in general. Another suggestion for all of us is to perform regular vehicle maintenance before hitting the trails. So check your tire pressure, check for leaks, and check your fluid levels. And depending on the type of riding you are doing or area make sure your vital areas are well protected on your machine.



Safety gear

As we all know not everyone will choose to wear a helmet or protective gear while riding. But before hitting the trails, especially if you are going to a new riding area be sure and check the locations requirements to ride there. Some areas require helmets, for the vehicle to be registered and for a flag of a certain length to be mounted for visibility. Also make sure you are aware of the weather forecast and always be prepared because mother nature is never predictable. Make sure and dress for the occasion especially if you are planning on staying a few days, always bring back up gear and clothing. And one very important safety tip always stay hydrated and bring food that can be kept dry and last for a couple of days, no one likes to eat a two day old soggy tuna fish sandwich. Also be sure and be aware of your surroundings riding trails may not be marked at all especially on private grounds that are not public parks, it is so easy to get turned around or on the wrong path during a night ride I myself know this personally. There are several GPS apps available that are free to download for smart phones if you don't already have a trail GPS. Remember to always be cautious of other riders because we all use the trails, so survey the area closely and listen for other riders off road catastrophes are very common and can usually be prevented with some safety. As always be safe and happy riding.



 /http://www.windrockpark.com
http://www.trailsheaven.com



www.rideutvs.com

Sunday, January 25, 2015

New 2015 UTV's

NEW UNITS THIS YEAR

Alright folks this weekend I stopped in at a local dealership and checked out the all new Arctic Cat Wildcat Sport 700, and might I say this is a very nice looking unit. Here are the specs...
Power plant= 700cc fuel injected inline twin 4 stroke
HP= 60+HP
Transmission= Rapid response clutch with selectable H/L/R/P
Fuel Capacity= 7.4 Gal
Front Suspension= 12.2" dual A-arms
Rear Suspension= 12.6" dual A-arms
Dry Weight=1054
Wheelbase=84.6"
2WD/4WD=Selectable 2WD/4WD with locking front differential
PROS
Along with the list of specs the base model sport cost is  ($13,399) which comes with steel wheels and JRi ECX-1 shocks and the option of lime green or red. The Sport XT  ($13,999) comes with cast-aluminum wheels, automotive style paint, and color matched suspension arms. It is available in Viper Blue or Vibrant Red Metallic. The Sport Limited EPS ($15,699) features electric power steering, Elka Stage 5 Shocks with dual-speed compression and rebound adjustability, full aluminum doors, an under hood storage box, automotive style paint, and color matched suspension arms. It is available in White Metallic and Matte Black. All the sport models are 60" wide, offer a 300 pound payload in the rear cargo area, 2" receiver, and 1,500 pound towing capacity. They come stock with 26" Carlisle Trail Pro tires, dual piston caliper hydraulic brakes, and high-back bucket seats. 

CONS
The things that I noticed most as I walked around and sat inside this machine as far as negatives go are non adjustable seats, not a lot of storage inside the machine, and the price is a little steep for only a 700 cc machine. I was also informed by the dealer that the motor is not an Arctic Cat motor that it is a Kymco motor, I have not done a whole lot of research on Kymco but I have noticed that they have a whole new line up of UTV's in the market this year. 

Looks and Styling
In this department hands down the Arctic Cat Wildcat 700 Sport has got the look. It features nice graphics, automotive style paint, nice solid body with built in rock sliders, nice solid roll cage, and super easy access to cleaning. Also despite the seats not being adjustable they are nice and plush and there is a descent amount of legroom available. And the ground clearance is a respectable 13" which is plenty to get around in the rough stuff. 


YAMAHA'S NEW UNIT
As we all got the exciting news that yamaha was coming out with a new UTV and all the rumors spread about how amazing it was going to be.... Then it finally comes out and I have to say I'm not very impressed with Yamaha's all new 700 Wolverine even the name is not original since they already have an ATV out that has been around for years called the Wolverine. To me this thing just looks like a smaller version of the Rhino. My local dealership says they should be getting some of these units in around the April time frame so I will have more info on them as soon as they arrive and I do my own walk around. 


2015CAN-AMS NEW TURBO MAVERICK 1000 X DS VS 2015 Polaris RZR XP 1000 EPS                           As I sat here this weekend reading over the shootout article of the all NEW TURBO MAVERICK 1000 X DS VS The Polaris RZR XP 1000 EPS I noticed a few key things that stuck out on the comparison between the two. The Can-Am comes stock with bead locks and 28" Maxxis Big Horns, front 15" travel Fox shocks and rear 16" travel Fox shocks. While the Polaris does not have bead locks it instead has cast aluminum wheels with stock 29" Maxxis Big Horns which give it that extra half inch of ground clearance over the Can-am, Front shocks are Walker Evans with 16" travel, Rear shocks are Walker Evans with 18" travel. The ride of the Polaris is said to be a much smoother ride where as the Can Am has 121Hp compared to the Polaris's 101 Hp. While the Can-am weighs in at 20 pounds more than the Polaris  it also has half an inch less ground clearance at 13" where the RZR has 13.5 given the larger tires. The Can-am does have some nice high tech features including 2 different keys one which limits the speed to 47 MPH compared to it's 82 MPH with the normal key, it also features a mode select to go from sport and eco mode. Also another great feature of the can am is the steering mode selection which the Polaris does not have. Both machines top out at 82 Mph and both have a lot of different features. The polaris comes stock with half doors while the Can am comes with nets. In the end the Can am has the hp and interior mode select features and stock bead locks while the polaris has the plusher ride half doors and larger stock tires. All in all these are both great machines and I think for me to decide I would have to test drive them both.