Recreational

Whether above ground or a half mile beneath the surface, mining is a tough business. It's dusty, loud, and dangerous, but a vital part of our countries energy chain, and that's not going to change anytime soon. As long as we keep using electricity, we'll need mines to help keep the river of energy flowing, but in the case of surface mining there is a concern even after the energy is extracted. Like the early morning fog that silently drifts between the mountain tops and through the valleys, the question has always been what to do with the area once the mining is completed.

Most ATV owners use their ATV to do a little work around the farm or yard, to get back to the hunting stand, or for weekend recreation exploring a leafy forest trail. Maximum pulling power and top speed are not a high priority, but handling, performance and reliability is. While big bore ATVs are typically seen as those offering 700cc's or more, there are many excellent mid sized utility atvs ranging from 450 to 650cc's providing more than enough power for the vast majority of consumers, and with the features they desire.

The Honda Off-Road people like to say, "Adventure isn't paved." We couldn't agree more, and in the history of ATVs, we can safely say no other company has played a bigger supporting role in off-road adventure than Honda. They were leaders with ATVs right from the beginning, and although the competition has become extremely good, with some specific models even passing those in the Red Rider’s lineup, Honda is still the major player today.

It's been over 5 years since the speculation, supposed sightings, and internet conjuring began. Loyal Can-Am fans and Side x Side enthusiasts riding every other brand have been waiting to see the latest innovative off road machine designed by the high performance crew from Valcourt, Quebec. While a few speculated that any new model would surely be designed only for utilitarian work, permanently resigned to construction or farm duty, those who studied the Can-Am design philosophy across their other product lines expected nothing less than cutting edge performance.

Every so often while exploring a new ride area, we’ll stumble onto a vehicle we haven’t seen before. Then again, sometimes it stumbles onto us. Such was the case when a charismatic character called “Tinley Park Dave” clattered by us at the Badlands Ride area in Indiana. With World War II helmet slung low on his head, unfastened strap swinging in the breeze, heavy work gloves on the stick, and dark shades and heavy work coat completing the image, we managed to flag down General Dave’s one man invasion force. This guy had a story, and we were eager to hear it!

Most manufacturers have nightmares about extra unaccounted passengers on any vehicle they build. For years, the rule of thumb with ATVs was "one seat and one set of pegs equals one rider only." A trip to almost any riding area more than illustrated the real world practice of people riding double, however, and although we ALWAYS follow proper safety practices and do everything we can to encourage others to do so as well, we could see the point of riding double in some cases. It was only natural to take your significant other along for an enjoyable day of exploration.

Of all the ATVs that offer power steering, none have benefited more than the 2010 Arctic Cats. When the Cat crew announced that several of their 2010 utility ATVs were going to feature variable assist power steering, they were almost a little apologetic about not introducing it a year ago, but they wanted extra time to develop the system as a package and not as a simple “me-too” add on. It was worth the wait.

Without a doubt, ATVs have greatly expanded the acceptance of off-road recreation.  For many riders that were either uncomfortable with the sometimes schizophrenic nature of a dirt bike, or did not want to be confined inside the cab of a vehicle, ATVs were the perfect choice for outdoor fun and exploration.  Entire families could ride into areas too remote to be seen on foot and experience nature first hand, and they could do it safely at their own pace.

Let's face it, finding extra money in the budget for our toys got a lot harder in the past year. By no means does this mean we will go without (I believe in some circles they call this an addiction), but it does mean that we are going to research our purchases better and make them do more for us. Here is our story...

It’s easy to overlook the smaller displacement models in a manufacturer’s ATV lineup.  It’s the big bore models equipped with the latest bells and whistles that get the lion’s share of attention, but the fact is many ATV owners don’t necessarily need or want a 70 horsepower, 70+ mph capable ATV to simply tow a trailer around the yard or cruise through the woods on a weekend trail ride.  They look for reliability, “rideability,” comfort, and price (not always in that order), and we’ve found one ATV that fits the bill.