2WD Respect
Dec 3, 2000 | 01:24 PM
#1
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Pro Rider
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In the last month or so, I've had the opportunity to do some trail riding with a 400ex. I have to tell you, I'm impressed! I've been sorely mistaken about the capabilities of a 2WD Sport machine on mountain trails! It just blows me away the stuff that bike gets over!
Rick
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Rick
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Dec 5, 2000 | 04:32 PM
#3
Trailblazer
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 27
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I always want someone with 4wd and a winch with me when I ride, but I'll take the 2wd thank you. (Unfortunatly I don't know anyone with a winch)
I go through more on an old 2wd 110 ATV then the others do in their new 400 4wd ATVs. I look at quicksand and think "Lets have some fun". They look at the same thing and remember digging to find the handelbars, and then a much longer dig to get out. I might get stuck, but I float on quicksand (not water unfortunatly), and so worst case is they toss me a rope.
And When the going gets tough, guess who leads the pack? The light 2wd because if I get stuck I'm easy to get out, if I don't get stuck they won't. (And when I get stuck they can decide if it is something they can get through, or not based on how I get stuck)
Everyone I ride with thinkgs I'm nuts, but those 4wds are boring. At the end of the day I'm beat, but I have a big grin on my face. They don't need the hot tub, but they didn't have as much fun either.
Let them laugh as they toss me a tow rope, laughing at me is the most fun they get. I can take it.
I go through more on an old 2wd 110 ATV then the others do in their new 400 4wd ATVs. I look at quicksand and think "Lets have some fun". They look at the same thing and remember digging to find the handelbars, and then a much longer dig to get out. I might get stuck, but I float on quicksand (not water unfortunatly), and so worst case is they toss me a rope.
And When the going gets tough, guess who leads the pack? The light 2wd because if I get stuck I'm easy to get out, if I don't get stuck they won't. (And when I get stuck they can decide if it is something they can get through, or not based on how I get stuck)
Everyone I ride with thinkgs I'm nuts, but those 4wds are boring. At the end of the day I'm beat, but I have a big grin on my face. They don't need the hot tub, but they didn't have as much fun either.
Let them laugh as they toss me a tow rope, laughing at me is the most fun they get. I can take it.
Dec 5, 2000 | 05:15 PM
#4
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bluGill,
Your absolutly right about everything you said. In our group the 400ex went first. The first time I went with this particular 400ex, it was me, and then 6 sport bikes. 3 Banshees, 1 Raptor, and 2 400ex's. That was also the first time that I had ever gone riding with only sport bikes. Usually I ride with mostly 4x4's, and then maybe a sport bike or two.
These guys wanted to ride the bike trails. Which are steep, narrow, and rocky. I generally avoid those trails. As much as I like my Grizzly, its too big and heavy to ride the bike trails. But I went along. Those sport bikes proceded to just kill me on those bike trails. I was seriously humbled. That was the first time.
This last time I went, it was me, 1 400ex, 1 Grizzly, and a 350 Bigbear. The 400ex lead the way. Your right about watching how he did, to see how I should attck a certain rough spot. It also accured to me that the main reason I did so poorly the first time was rider inexperience(me). This time around I was right on the 400ex the whole time. It was the other guys that wouldn't go up certain hills and tried to find an easier way around. This time I was able to get up some of the nastier stuff in one try, and the 400ex had to try more then once. But even still, the hills he went up looked so easy for him, I made the same hills, but I had to work for it. I don't know what it looked like from the outside, but from where I was sitting it was not that easy! The bike trail loop that we took was 10.5 miles, so when we were done we all when back to the truck and relaxed for while. Then we decided to go do some of the trails that I normally ride on. Which have alot more, ruts, mud, and water. On this one trail there is a spot where the road had washed out due to an underground spring near by. Its a near vertical 4' drop into the wash out, into about 2' of water and about 4"-6" of soft mud on the bottom. then its about 3' wide, and a 4' near vertical climb out. I went first and made it, I had gone through it before and knew I could. The other Grizzly went next, I had to winch him out. Then the Bigbear went, I had to winch him out also. The other bikes were bone stock, tires and all. I have the 27" Titan 589's on my Griz. Then the 400ex turns around and tries to jump this washout with a 25yd run at it. It knocked the wind out of him and wrentched his wrist pretty good, and he still didn't make it. But that took guts! So I winched him out, and it didn't hurt the bike at all. That was a pretty heavy impact, and to have done it and not gotten any damage says alot about how well made that 400ex is.
Rick
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Your absolutly right about everything you said. In our group the 400ex went first. The first time I went with this particular 400ex, it was me, and then 6 sport bikes. 3 Banshees, 1 Raptor, and 2 400ex's. That was also the first time that I had ever gone riding with only sport bikes. Usually I ride with mostly 4x4's, and then maybe a sport bike or two.
These guys wanted to ride the bike trails. Which are steep, narrow, and rocky. I generally avoid those trails. As much as I like my Grizzly, its too big and heavy to ride the bike trails. But I went along. Those sport bikes proceded to just kill me on those bike trails. I was seriously humbled. That was the first time.
This last time I went, it was me, 1 400ex, 1 Grizzly, and a 350 Bigbear. The 400ex lead the way. Your right about watching how he did, to see how I should attck a certain rough spot. It also accured to me that the main reason I did so poorly the first time was rider inexperience(me). This time around I was right on the 400ex the whole time. It was the other guys that wouldn't go up certain hills and tried to find an easier way around. This time I was able to get up some of the nastier stuff in one try, and the 400ex had to try more then once. But even still, the hills he went up looked so easy for him, I made the same hills, but I had to work for it. I don't know what it looked like from the outside, but from where I was sitting it was not that easy! The bike trail loop that we took was 10.5 miles, so when we were done we all when back to the truck and relaxed for while. Then we decided to go do some of the trails that I normally ride on. Which have alot more, ruts, mud, and water. On this one trail there is a spot where the road had washed out due to an underground spring near by. Its a near vertical 4' drop into the wash out, into about 2' of water and about 4"-6" of soft mud on the bottom. then its about 3' wide, and a 4' near vertical climb out. I went first and made it, I had gone through it before and knew I could. The other Grizzly went next, I had to winch him out. Then the Bigbear went, I had to winch him out also. The other bikes were bone stock, tires and all. I have the 27" Titan 589's on my Griz. Then the 400ex turns around and tries to jump this washout with a 25yd run at it. It knocked the wind out of him and wrentched his wrist pretty good, and he still didn't make it. But that took guts! So I winched him out, and it didn't hurt the bike at all. That was a pretty heavy impact, and to have done it and not gotten any damage says alot about how well made that 400ex is.
Rick
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THIS POST EDITED BY THE MODERATOR:
The ATV Connection Forum Guidelines prohibit profanity, whether used directly, indirectly, euphemistically, or in a thinly veiled fashion. You have placed your Forum posting PRIVILEGES at risk. Continued use of foul language WILL result in disciplinary sanctions up to and including TERMINATION of your posting privileges.
This is your second warning. Please refrain from any further use of profane language. Thank you for your cooperation in helping to make the ATV Connection Forum a suitable site for the whole family.
Moderators log all instances of foul language. Three strikes and you're out.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
ATVBBS
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Dec 5, 2000 | 05:17 PM
#5
Trailblazer
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Your right. 2 wheels pulling and a little common sense will take you to alot of places. My dad used to say (while 4 wheeling in jeeps) when I was a kid; "go into the woods in 2 wheel drive, that way you know you can get out in 4 wheel drive". There's probibly some merit to that. I still like the feel of all 4 wheels pulling, and yes it is easier and takes less skill to go in 4wd where you are going in 2wd, but that's the way I like it. Nice and easy!!! BTW why do they put seats on 2wd machines? Don't you guys spend most of your time leaning over the handle bars to keep from flipping over backwards?
Dec 5, 2000 | 09:35 PM
#7
Pro Rider
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,275
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My friend Brian and I rode a trailhead here in Michigan earlier this summer[42 miles].He was on a 300ex,me on my Xplorer.Brian had to get off his quad and push himself out of mud/water about 4 times on this trailhead,me,not once.
When we finished and were loaded to head home,Brian radio me on the CB and said ''Well,at least I did'nt get stuck''
I responded
''Well at least I never had to get off my quad and push''
Brian said,
You got a point there,
Bill
When we finished and were loaded to head home,Brian radio me on the CB and said ''Well,at least I did'nt get stuck''
I responded
''Well at least I never had to get off my quad and push''
Brian said,
You got a point there,
Bill
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Dec 6, 2000 | 12:45 AM
#9
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Bill,
Its funny that you mention that the guy on the 300ex stated that he didn't get stuck. The guy on the 400ex did get stuck a couple of times, but everytime he wanted to turn around he had to get off and pull.
Rick
Its funny that you mention that the guy on the 300ex stated that he didn't get stuck. The guy on the 400ex did get stuck a couple of times, but everytime he wanted to turn around he had to get off and pull.
Rick
Dec 6, 2000 | 12:29 PM
#10
Trailblazer
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 27
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They put seats on the 2wd drive machines so that we can sit for the last 100 feet home (up the driveway) and look nice in all the pictures. Seats also come in handy when eating lunch on the trail.
Accually I don't spend most of my time leaning over the front handel bars. Up steep hill I have to. (a 110 doesn't have enough acceleration, but bigger machines might need leaning on starts too) I do however stand up, because my knees are better shock absorbers then anything else. The 4wd drive models I've rode are a little better, but you still end up standing a lot. (except on a Polaris, but the smooth ride is the only thing I liked about the Polaris)
Accually I don't spend most of my time leaning over the front handel bars. Up steep hill I have to. (a 110 doesn't have enough acceleration, but bigger machines might need leaning on starts too) I do however stand up, because my knees are better shock absorbers then anything else. The 4wd drive models I've rode are a little better, but you still end up standing a lot. (except on a Polaris, but the smooth ride is the only thing I liked about the Polaris)