ATV & SXS - UTV Product Reviews

Whether you’re headed to the dunes, woods, motocross track, or the deer camp, you’ll almost certainly have to haul your ATV or Side x Side to get there. That means your best trail buddy will be riding in the back of your truck or trailer, and getting it loaded can be a sketchy maneuver fraught with the possibility of disaster.

There are millions of older model ATVs and early Side x Sides still on the trail and ready for another decade of action.  Like an older truck, though, after long and faithful service even the best of machines will require a little massaging, and some parts are known to be prone to failure. Ignition and electrical problems always pop up unexpectedly with no warning, they’re often difficult to diagnose, and they’re never cheap to fix.

As much as I love my iPhone, I do have to question the idea of making a phone out of such breakable materials. Somehow the people at Apple must have much grippier skin than the average off-road magazine editor, and they apparently don’t ever drop their phones. Unless you live in some kind of a bubble, you’re eventually going to drop your phone and it could potentially get a bit ugly. (Read as expensive). It’s a must to have some kind of protection.

There’s no such thing as having too many tools. Whether that means having an extra set of cheap screwdrivers, or having that ultra-important, irreplaceable tool in the box, more is always better. One tool that has recently hit the market is the RM Stator Portable Power Bank, and we consider it to be one of those on our short list of very important tools.

The stock OEM tires that came on your machine are a compromise. Manufacturers base their tire decisions on many factors such as ride quality, handling, tread patterns, thickness & overall weight, and finally, price. The problem is, the tires that work well for jobs around the farm in Iowa probably aren’t the best choice for forest riding in Oregon, the mule deer hunter in Montana, Arizona desert riding, or the Louisiana swamp rider. Just like with your boots, one size does not fit all.

We’ve bolted on all kinds of parts to our ATVs and Side x Sides through the years, usually in the quest for better handling, more power, or just to add a little bling. Sometimes the parts worked, and sometimes they didn’t, but recently we added a part that doesn’t make us go any faster or look any hotter, yet it’s one of the most well-designed and well-built accessories we’ve ever tried.

Lead acid batteries aren't what they used to be. Before restrictions on the use of lead in many consumer products, we rarely replaced our powersports batteries. When we did, they would seemingly start a tractor in the dead of winter.Just like your glory days on the high-school football team, those days are long gone. There is an excellent alternative though; lithium-Iron batteries from Shorai.

At first glance most goggles seem pretty similar, and many riders don’t look for anything more than the ability to keep grit from the trail or track out of their eyes as their primary concern. If it fits in their helmet and doesn’t make everything in front of the bike look like a carnival house of mirrors, they’re good to go! Experienced riders want something much better however. Try a couple different goggle types and you’ll quickly come to appreciate the differences between brands. Recently we tried an all-new goggle technology and the performance is eye opening.

Lifted vehicles always get people’s attention and they’re common in the off-road world. Jeeps are lifted, trucks are lifted and so are ATVs & Side x Sides. There are two big reasons for lifting your ride; a macho, ready for anything style, and trail function. Lifting a vehicle gets about as much attention as anything else you can do, and huge tires, bead lock wheels, and a custom paint job always draws a crowd, especially when combined with a throaty sounding exhaust. It’s performance that counts most though.

Of all the ATV and UTV accessories, covers have one of the most important jobs but get the least amount of attention. They’re practically the Rodney Dan-gerfield of the powersports world. A good cover can make a huge difference in protecting your machine from everything from pesky birds, to road salt, and even sun fade. Recently we tried a cover called the GUARDIAN from DOWCO which, in our eyes, paints the impression of an armed sentry standing watch over our machine, ready to fend off all attackers.