Get the latest auto industry news and car information

“Hey John – would you be interested in riding in an underground mine this spring?” We get a lot of strange phone calls at the office, but seeing that this one came from a credible source and the calendar didn’t read April 1, we were willing to give it the benefit of the doubt.

The call was from Justin Dawes, the ATV communications guru for Kawasaki. It seems he and fellow adventurous motorhead Jon Rall, also of Kawasaki, had a trick up their sleeve. They had caught the scent of a unique riding destination in west-central Pennsylvania called the Mines & Meadows Resort and thought it would be an excellent destination in which they could feature the capabilities of the company’s Brute Force 750 4×4.

Frankly, the 54 miles of above-ground trails are reason enough to visit the Mines & Meadows Resort, as the varied terrain, featuring hillclimbs, rock crawls and mud pits, provides challenges for seasoned riders but other easy trails with gentle, sweeping turns let anybody come and give it a shot. Continue reading ‘Review of ATV Cave Ride at Mines & Meadows Resort’ »

Following these tips will prolong the life of your synthetic winch rope.

Since too much abrasion can damage or weaken your synthetic winch cable, protect your rope from rubbing against sharp objects or edges. If the winch rope angles over a rock, prevent the rope from chafing with a protective sleeve or heavy blanket. Use a tree strap when anchoring to trees or other objects or when dragging logs or brush. Be aware of any points where the rope may contact sharp edges on your vehicle, such as in off angle pulls, and provide extra protection from chafing where needed. Continue reading ‘Synthetic Winch Rope Tips’ »

As parents, you want nothing but the best for your kids. You wish to get the most fashionable clothes, the most nutritious foods, and probably the safest toys there is. This goes true in buying mini quad ATV, you should never settle with less if you want to ensure that your kids are protected from possible trouble created by wrongly manufactured tool.

Among the features that you should not fail to check is its heavy duty wheels so that you will have something that can endure both on and off road tracks. In case you are not very sure about the product to give your youngster, it would be safe to go with something that is selling like pancakes in the market, and don’t fail to ask the store owner about the specific kind of mini quad ATV that you can get.

Furthermore, when buying, you need to consider the space where you intend to keep the mini quad ATV for you to be able to pick the right dimension. This factor is a necessity particularly if your family loves to hike or stroll for a nature trip. For sure, you will be able to get the one in the right dimension and specification that you prefer, with lots of manufacturers of ATV as of these days. Continue reading ‘Mini Quad – Buying Guide For a Mini Quad ATV’ »

Did you know that an ATV can be used for hunting, fishing, recreational riding, camping, plowing snow, gardening, farming … the list goes on and on. All you need to have is the right ATV accessories and your ATV can become anything you want!

For work, or for play, the right ATV accessories can make your next adventure or task much more enjoyable. There are many types of accessories available, but most share a similar purpose – to haul gear or riders comfortably, conveniently and safely. Gear grips, such as Rhino Grips, help to securely transport fishing poles, firearms, shovels while drop racks and cargo boxes fit larger gear that you may need haul such as 5 gallon buckets, tools or feed bags. ATV Rear Loungers are a great addition when riding with a passenger or needing to store helmets and riding gear. For those times when you want to venture far off the beaten path there are even ATV fuel packs that allow you to bring additional fuel on your ride. There are even heated seat covers and gear mitts to help keep you warm when riding or working during the winter months. Continue reading ‘Get the Most Out of Your ATV With the Right Accessories’ »

When you think of go carts you tend to think of only the little four wheeled carts that run around a track at places you tend to vacation. Beach hot spots always have family friendly activities such as miniature golf and of course the always popular go cart tracks. This is one kind of go carting that we all have tried and love but there are also off road go karts that are much larger and very powerful to say the least. You can also take to a whole other level by actually racing in a circuit with racing carts given you have the talent and some knowledge of the sport.

It typically starts at a young age for most kids. You see that motorized cart while on vacation and then you want one of your own. I know that is how I started. I lived in a family friendly neighborhood that was accessible to woods with trails so we always had dirt bikes and four wheelers running through the neighborhood. Eventually a couple of kids got a go cart and I followed soon after. It was a blast and had I pursued it more I could have started racing at a young age. That is where most kids get into the sport and several Nascar drivers got started that same way and now make a living at driving. Go cart racing is very popular and there are circuits all over the world that you can take part in. Continue reading ‘Go Carts Can Be Off Road OR Street Friendly’ »

When you were a kid growing up you loved to go on vacation to the beach and ride the go karts with the family. Something about driving before you are old enough to drive a car is really appealing especially for young boys. Anything motorized is always appealing at any age. But go carts are not just for kids and they get bigger and faster all the time. They are basically considered an all terrain vehicle to some people. You can buy a street racing go cart or you can get an off road go kart as well.

The size and design of the kart determines whether it is made for off road duties or street racing. The off road go karts are made to handle very rough terrain like a 4 wheeler. It is an off road buggy with massive tires and heavy duty running gear to withstand tough bumps. The size of the kart is also much larger and thus the engine has to be bigger to handle the heavier workload. Now this kind of riding is safe and dangerous at the same time. The roll cage is usually very heavy duty and larger so you have a safer ride as long as a helmet and seatbelts are worn. Continue reading ‘Go Karts Are Not Just For Your Kids Anymore’ »

Finding ATV riding trails for public use can be challenging, particularly if you want to take an out-of-state trip and make a vacation out of your pastime. Use this helpful guide to find public trails across the United States, or learn useful, region-specific tips to make riding more comfortable and fun for you. Continue reading ‘Find a Great ATV Trail by Region’ »

All year round, people make the trek to northern Michigan to enjoy their dirt bikes, snowmobiles and four wheelers in a relaxing wilderness setting. Each and every weekend, you can see countless trucks and RVs towing their off road vehicles up the northbound freeways. There are a number of excellent destinations depending on the type of trip you’re looking for. No matter where you go, expect to be out in the middle of nowhere with very limited amenities. Be prepared for the adventure of a lifetime.

Right in the heart of northern Michigan, Mio is nestled in the middle of the massive Huron National Forest. The nearest major freeway is about an hour away from this quaint small town. Although accommodations in the area are somewhat limited, Mio has a number of restaurants, fueling stations, and bars to offer visitors. There’s a large chain supermarket that carries just about anything you could need. A vast network of well-groomed ATV trails encompasses the entire area. Trips of any length are easy to accommodate. Many thrill seekers will venture out into the forest and camp overnight out in the middle of nowhere. There is a wide variety of different terrain to explore and navigate. During the winter months, snowmobiles are extremely popular. Other popular activities in the area include fishing, hiking, canoeing, and kayaking. Equipment rentals are available from a number of local businesses. Check with the local visitor’s center for guidelines and restrictions regarding ATV use and camping. Continue reading ‘ATV Riders Enjoy Northern Michigan’ »

Anyone doubting KYMCO’s committment to the off-road powersports market only needs to peruse the company’s fast-growing lineup.

KYMCO has steadily refined its all-terrain products and broadened its offerings with each model year. The Taiwanese company’s recent efforts included the so-so MXU 500 utility quad for 2007 and revamped 2008 Mongoose 250 and 300 sport quads. Continue reading ‘Review of KYMCO's 2008 ATV, UTV Lineup’ »

There are different types of Mini Quad ATV engine sizes for the different age brackets of children. The smaller engine sizes, of course, were designated for the use of younger children, due to less developed motor skills, and giving a more powerful mini ATV to a young child will definitely be disastrous. The mini ATV’s with larger engines were designed for older children, and for those more experienced young riders. Continue reading ‘The Different Types of Mini Quad ATV's For Different Ages’ »