ATVConnection.com

The holidays are just around the corner, and with them comes fresh snowfall, winter riding and the holiday gift-giving season. What better gift for the ATV enthusiast in your life than a Saddlemen SaddleSkin replacement seat cover?

Saddlemen’s SaddleSkins replacement seat covers provide a way to give your machine a fresh look at an affordable price. Each SaddleSkin is built to match the fit and design of the original manufacturer’s seat.

SaddleSkins for ATV applications are offered in a variety of colors to match your quad’s style, depending on make and model. These replacement covers are made of high-quality, double-stitched vinyl with an optional “Grippy” version available for certain vehicle models. ATV SaddleSkins are also available with included replacement seat foam that is pre-bonded to the cover for an easy-to-install single piece.

Features include:

SaddleSkins are built to match your ATV’s OEM seat.
Weather-resistant vinyl stands up to years of wear and the harshest of elements.
Improve the look and comfort of your ride at an economical price.
ATV SaddleSkins also available with pre-bonded replacement high-density foam.
Fast and easy installation.
All SaddleSkins are made in the USA.

Product Details:

ATV SaddleSkins MSRP: $38.95
ATV SaddleSkin Foam & Cover Kits MSRP: $89.95
ATV SaddleSkin “Grippy” MSRP: $44.95

Saddlemen SaddleSkins are available through Parts Unlimited dealers. For a complete list of SaddleSkin vehicle applications click here.

Combine a cool concept with the time of year for giving (and receiving) and it makes sense that your ATV Connection editors are excited about this one!

Tie downs are a fact of life for ATV transportation, but finding a place to anchor your tie down’s hooks can be a pain in the tailpipe. Powertye’s got a neat solution in their complete, 1-foot E-Track Kit mounts in truck beds and trailers to provide 12 secure tie-down anchor points that firmly secure any ATV or side-by-side UTV in transit.

This 8-piece modular transportation-management system consists of two 1-foot sections of E-Track and a pair of snap-in fittings with integrated, steel O-ring hooks, complemented by four rubber end caps that give the rails a clean, professional look while keeping anything from being trapped underneath them.

Built from thick, 12-gauge steel that is zinc-plated silver to withstand the elements, each foot-long E-Track is 5 inches wide and has six evenly spaced 2-3/8-inch by 1-inch slotted anchoring points.

Weighing in at 1.6 pounds each, the tracks are simple to install in the back of pickups and enclosed trailers or on open utility trailers. Just ½-inch tall, they can be oriented horizontally or vertically on walls or floors with a half-dozen ¼-inch mounting holes along each side which are 2 inches apart vertically and 4-3/8 inches across, center-to-center. The rails can be attached with screws or bolts, even permanently welded in.

Powertye’s heavy-duty, spring-loaded O-ring hooks snap quickly and securely into any E-Track anchoring slot. Their beefy tie-down rings are 1-3/4-inch in diameter. Manufactured from high-strength steel, this integrated duo is rated to handle loads up to 6000 pounds.

To cover more area or tie in multiple vehicles, E-Track also comes in 24-, 36- and 58-inch sections, all of which can be sent via UPS without extra shipping charges. Powertye also has E-Track-specific tie downs and other hooks that snap into the rails.

But Powertye isn’t all about E-Track. True to its name, the company’s product line covers the entire spectrum of vehicle-hauling supplies: more than 30 innovative tie-downs–from 1 to 2 inches wide, 5.5 to 7 feet in length, with traditional cam buckles or ratchet systems, as well as a huge selection of other straps, soft ties, anchoring hardware and cargo nets.

When it comes to securing precious bikes, quads and side-by-sides, Powertye’s E-Track Kit and broad selection of other transportation accessories provide a firm grasp and are backed by a lifetime warranty. Please visit PowerTye.com for more information about Powertye’s comprehensive product line or call 800-659-0575.

Product Overview

• Powertye E-Track Kit
• Part Number: Powertye: 45301-KIT; Parts Unlimited: 3920-0286
• Availability: Authorized dealers worldwide and Powertye.com
• Warranty: Lifetime
• Retail Price: $32.95
Defining Features and Benefits
• 8-Piece kit contains two 1-foot sections of E-Track, a pair of snap-in o-ring hooks and four rubber end caps
• Designed for use in pickup-truck beds as well as enclosed or open trailers
• Each track has six evenly spaced anchoring points
• Can be mounted horizontally or vertically on walls or floors
• Six mounting holes along each side
• Install with steel fasteners or by welding
• Heavy-duty, spring-loaded O-ring hooks rated up to 6000 pounds
• Warranty: Lifetime
• E-Track also available in 24-, 36- and 58-inch sections
• Powertye has an extensive product line of vehicle-hauling accessories to complete any transportation job

Kawasaki isn’t playing around when it comes to their new line of 2013 Apparel; with over 130 new items added to this year’s collection alone!

We’ve been lusting after countless items from the pages of their catalog and here are a few examples of what’s caught our attention.

The Kawasaki Dragon Zip-Front hooded sweatshirt with its 80% cotton/ 20% poly construction, screen printed chest image, contrasted hood lining and drawstring action.

Or the Paddock Official Pit Shirt boasting 65% polyester/35% cotton, breathable mesh side panels, mesh lined chest and upper back, hidden front placket with snaps, single welt pocket on left chest, reflective piping on front, back, and sleeves, embroidered logos and appliqued patches on chest, back, shoulders, and sleeves.

We know a few heads that would benefit from the 2013 Striking fitted cap with its precurved visor and embroidered “K” logo.

The heavy-duty 480D polyester hex rip-stop large Gear Bag with its water-resistant base and multiple outside pockets would be perfect for filling the vacancy under our office Christmas tree. Additional features include: Shoulder and hand straps, screenprinted and embroidered logos.

Make no mistake, this is no “boys only club” either- as there’s an extensive womens (Kawi Girl) and kids section as well.

No sense taking our word for it, the entire catalog can be viewed here.

When it comes to camping via ATV, concerns of storage are often legitimate and even the most portable of tents can be a bit cumbersome to transport. A sleeping bag or blanket can be a bit easier but that still leaves you sleeping on the ground and without protection from the elements.

Enter the ATV WildBED. It’s a pretty neat concept that actually increases your ATV’s rack space when transported and then easily transforms into a bed using your machine’s racks (or the bed of your UTV).

The WildBED uses aluminum frame construction and requires no tools to assemble or take down. According to the site, complete assembly takes only 5-10 minutes and they show photos of a pair of WildBEDs attached to a single ATV (one to the front rack, another to the rear).

The units are rated to hold 300 pounds of sleeping beauty and the frame is designed to accept an optional canopy- a weather resistant tent of sorts without the hassle of clearing the ground or driving stakes.

When not being used as a bed, the height of the WildBED makes it a perfect all conditions table for prepping meals, cleaning fish, gathering around and so on.

Additional options include a backrest, which turns the bed into a recliner and a foot-pump/ air mattress designed to fit perfectly within the frame.

Since camping and ATV riding go hand-in-hand, we’re always on the lookout for those innovations designed to make the task a bit more enjoyable.

Pricing for the WildBED begins at $295 and a plethora of optional accessories are available to customize your order. They also offer an “Ultimate” package that includes the bed and all four of the accessories offered (canopy system, stirrup, backrest and air mattress with built-in foot pump) for $495. For more information or to order direct, visit the official site.

We’re big on commonly replaced parts that claim extraordinary service life. With that line of reasoning we bolted a 42-tooth Ironman ATV rear sprocket from Dirt Tricks to our Honda TRX400EX test sled and here’s what we discovered.

What Makes the Ironman Sprocket Unique?

Dirt Tricks sprockets are constructed of heat treated, nickel/chrome plated, chrome-molly steel that is 2.5 times stronger than stainless steel; and nearly 3 times stronger than 7075 aluminum.

Are They Heavier Than Aluminum?

A bit, but nothing to get excited about. A Dirt Tricks sprocket typically weighs 18- ounces versus 14-ounces for a comparable 7075 aluminum unit.

How Does Durability Compare?

While we haven’t had our test unit in action long enough to definitely report on long-term durability, we have found the Ironman to be very well constructed and take confidence in Dirt Tricks’ unconditional one-year guarantee: one of the only companies we know of that replaces sprockets for tooth wear (and not just rivet degradation or due flaws in manufacturing).

How Much Do They Cost?

$37 for fronts, $109 for rears (like the one we tested here).
Dirt Tricks also offers Regina Gold Quad Z-Ring chains for $99 as well as chain & both sprocket combos for $189

How Was The Mounting Process?

Quick and painless. The Ironman unit mated perfectly to the OEM boltholes and looked trick to boot. This is certainly a plug & play modification.

Performance:

We would be lying if we told you our testers are sensitive enough to detect changes in our ATV’s handling or performance on account of a fresh rear sprocket but that isn’t to say there isn’t solace to be found in knowing that a commonly replaced item comes with a pretty solid guarantee on wear.

We’ve been running ours for close to 40-hours of performance riding now and can detect absolutely no discernible wear of the sprocket teeth.

Conclusion:

You will pay a bit more initially for the Dirt Tricks’ heat-treated, chromoly steel, nickel plated, laser cut sprocket but suspect the investment will pay off many times over for riders with a habit of wearing out aluminum sprockets but aren’t willing to accept the usual weight penalties associated with running steel.

Dirt Tricks’ website shows photographs of very little worn sprocket teeth after 1000 hours of hard use.

Purchase Info:

Ironman ATV sprockets can be purchased directly from Dirt Tricks’ website.