Now to the question. Mindz, I've seen the heat shield stuff you talked about and it looks good despite the price. As for the rear fenders getting hot, i put a strip of heat tape from dennis kirk on mine. it helped a lot. I could tell today after a 20 mile ride. It is still hot, but not so hot that it burns you. I guess warm would be the term. In other words, you could stand to rest your leg on it if you were the passenger. My muffler is turning color a bit too. Thats just the way they are. The paint burns off and they get a little rusty color.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

The major cause of death in motorcycle and ATV accidents is head injuries. Some recommend wearing helmets as a safety measure, reducing the probability of death or serious injury. No one on the topic so far suggests otherwise.

Although no safety instructor, I can think of a couple of reasons why shorts and tennis shoes may increase the risk of injury.

The major non-fatal serious injuries in ATVing are foot/ankle/leg injuries (according to the ATV Safety Institute). ATV's, unlike motorcycles, mount rear tires outboard of the riders' legs. During accidents, the rear tires often literally run over riders' feet/ankles/legs. Some recommend wearing adequate over-ankle boots as a safety measure, reducing the probability of serious foot/ankle/leg injuries. Low-top shoes and "sneakers/tennis/running" shoes cannot provide the protection of sturdy boots.

Shorts and short-sleeve shirts obviously give less protection than garments covering more skin, but consequent injuries aren't likely life-threatening. Gloves, even "you have to pick a pocket or two" cut-finger gloves, offer considerable protection from cuts and scrapes.

Eye protection of some sort, at least tempered sunglasses or corrective glasses, reduce the risk of eye injury, even when riding alone.

Instead of dictating fashion, Dill's post shared his own experience in suffering the consequences of not wearing protective clothing.

Everyone has the right to choose whatever protective clothing and equiment he wears, if any, and the responsibility of accepting the consequences of his choice. Whatever your choice, I wish you safe, accident- and injury-free riding.

Tree Farmer

 

Andy, Ben asked,

"give me one good reason why i shouldnt wear shorts and tennis shoes in the 105*
heat"

You may consider my response off-topic; you may be correct; however, I attempted an answer to his question.

You posted a safety comment on this topic yourself, stating you sometimes don't wear eye protection; although this comment doesn't address directly the subject of the initiating post (heat), no one takes you to task for an "off-topic" remark. I think eye protection worthwhile even while riding alone as a countermeasure against bugs, vision-obscuring dust, tree branches, and the occasional flying stone kicked up by the occasional machine met by chance on the trail. Further, should you fall, glasses, or much better, goggles, may protect your eyeballs as you plow a furrow in the gravel with your nose. I don't call you stupid because you choose not to wear eye protection; still, I believe eye protection lowers the probability of eye injury sufficiently justifying its wear. I pray you have no eye injury, even if you willfully reject protection; but, should you suffer so, save your money for our airline tickets to buy your white cane and Alpo for your German shepherd.

Finally, regarding foot/ankle/leg injuries, I agree with you; your Arctic Cat's rear wheels will not likely run over your feet, while you're sitting upright on the saddle, that is. Should you spill and fall from your machine, however, I'm not so sure. You may fall on the ground with your feet and legs in the direct path of your moving machine's spinning rear wheels (I hope not, certainly, but many ATV riders have found themselves in this position, with disastrous results). Boots, anyway, like helmets, provide their major protection in crash scenarios.

Again, I don't call you stupid for rejecting protective clothing and equipment; however, wearing protection doesn't make someone stupid either.

Tree Farmer

 

Highlifter.com carries "Heat Tape"

 

the reason I bring it up is because when you do get hurt (and if you ride like me you will eventually do something) when you're wearing shorts, your gonna be hurting..and bad. I know from personal experience (crashed a dirtbike at 70+ mph wearing jeans and a tshirt and helmet) and I was hurt pretty bad. So when someone has to come scrape you off the pavement, it makes the sport look bad, very very bad. And yes, even in 100 degree heat you WILL catch me wearing safety gear, as I was out at the Silver Lake sand dunes located near Mears, Michigan this summer in 100 degree heat wearing pants, a t shirt (yea it was hot) riding boots, gloves, a helmet, and yes goggles. And yea, you may say that it isn't as important because you ride a utility machine, and you have a point there, or if your a farmer and are just crusing around the farm or something, but for any kind of trail riding etc you should have at least some type of protection. And if you don't want your leg to get burned, wear some pants, and go a little faster. And as far as your flaming towards me for bringing this up, well so be it, but its MY opinion, and the opinion of almost everybody else I have ever ridden with.

my .02

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Pete Clyne, 1988 TRX250R http://www.parkrapids.net/pete

 

Everyone understands the importance of safety measures and equipment I believe. The main thing that happened here was that Dill came in and made a suggestive comment about it. Mindz wasn't looking for a lecture when he posted, he simply wanted to know if anyone knew a way to reduce the heat. Dill could have just let the daily safety lesson slide. We all understand the importance of the comment whether we follow the reccomendations or not. Its just that people for the most part review the threads they make hoping for an answer to their question rather than someone scolding them for an off topic safety measure.

I can see easily how the boot thing is important. I doubt I ever run over my leg on my 500 though, because my feet don't even come close to reaching the ground while sitting on it. As for the goggles thing, the reason I said alone was because if I'm riding behind someone, I hate getting dusted. I personally understand the importance of safety equipment, but truthfully I am a safety measure nightmare. Don't want a lesson on it either. I never speak about safety here because usually I get a ton of people telling me how stupid I am. Then that leads to me getting ticked off for being called stupid and I probably get kicked off the forum for whatever vulgar measures that I would reply back with in a fit of rage. Its best to leave it alone I think, and let somebody else preach about it. Don't take this bad Tree Farmer. I'm not making a target post at you or anything like that. I'm just trying to give some explanation to my previous post and to others that may have posted in reply to Dill.

No Harm, No Foul

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

Dill,
Wearing pants does not solve my heat proublm in mid summer. Im not going to ride faster because the land is to rough. Im not goin to kill my self for the sake of my leg.But all i asked for was how to cover up my mufflers pipe with sumthn that is in-expensive and dosent cost much money. In regards to tree farmer i agree with wearing the right gear..During the winter i have a helmet, goggels, heavy work boots,gloves, long pants and shirts. But im not goin to wear something that will kill me by heat stroke. Well if anyone has used the heat sheild from high lifter let me know....im thinking about dishing out the dough for it if it works good.


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~Arctic-Cat 500 4x4~ Http://users.pcnow.net/mindz ICQ - 8968820

 

Tree Farmer, I didn't call you for being off topic. I said that Dill posted off topic, which was actually when the thread was two posts long. He was already changing the subject with only 1 other reply being made. This wasn't what Mindz wanted to hear. It also changed the subject for a lot of future posts such as the one I am making now. This doesn't help Mindz out any now does it. As for your recommedations for me, save your breath. I don't care. I also don't care what you post in reply to this if it has to do with a safety lecture. I don't wear goggles, I don't wear a helmet and never will no matter what anyone says or how much they say it, ( I don't promote other people not to either), I will wear shorts if the mood strikes me, I drive on pavement, I drive as fast as the bike will go, I ride with passengers, and they don't wear protection either, I wear nikes when riding, and I even ride in the dark sometimes by the light of the moon. These are things that I personally do, and I don't preach to others to do the same. I don't tell people that they don't need helmets or eye protection or boots or anything like that. They can live their own life the way they want to. I just don't really care for others telling me how I should live mine. I can care less how many people reply telling me otherwise or about any advisement on safety that I may recieve. The point that I stated in my posts was keep the safety talk in its own place. Don't screw up somebodys attempt to get information by ******* them with no-no's and crap. As for the Alpo money, I'll bet anyone here $5,000 to a dollar at 20:1 odds that I never sustain a major injury while on a quad. I'm not an idiot, I just know my limitations, and I'm not paranoid about every little precaution. Give the lesson for life bit a rest and lets talk about something that is actually interesting.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

Andy, I'd never tell you what to wear or lecture you!

You certainly don't have to wear a helmet, eye protection, boots, gloves, or even clothes if you don't want to.

However, I WILL post my own opinions and ideas on the Forum.

If you're free to say, "I don't wear eye protection," I certainly feel free saying, "I DO wear eye protection," even why.

I understand you to say you believe accidents happen only to others, not you; thus, you've no need for protective equipment and clothing, since you're protected by your skill and judgment. You may be right. You're fully entitled to your opinion and belief, shared by many others I think, before their own accidents.

My own choice, wearing protective equipment and clothing, intends no personal offense toward you. I've crashed too many times to ignore protective precautions. I'm definitely not immune from the probability and possibility of accidents.

You offer twenty-to-one (20:1) odds you never get hurt, eh? Hmmmmmm. Twenty-to-one. While I sincerely hope you enjoy an injury-free ATV riding career, gimme a dollar's worth of that action!

Tree Farmer



[This message has been edited by Tree Farmer (edited 08-31-1999).]

 

well, before I wash my hands of this I just have to say that the ignorance here is beyond me. You're right Andy, you'll NEVER crash, because that happens to other people. Well, I just hope you don't get hurt too bad. Goodbye