We'd have a good time out there Moose.

I'll have them all ready before you get here.

 

You can call me whatever you want, just don't call me late for dinner. I went from being Frank to Big Frank to Jumbo Frank, but will also answer to Polar Bear and some other names too.

Most of the times that I would need diff-lock I wouldn't be able to hold a lever in. Standing next to the quad pulling on the rear rack, while giving it the gas to get unstuck would be one of them. I've also had to winch myself out while on the throttle. As some people would say doo-doo happens. And when it does I need both hands to deal with it. Wait. What? That doesn't sound right.

It's hard to get people to to admit to the illegal acts they've committed, without committing one of your own. There are ways to make people talk, but I'm too nice of a guy to... never mind. I don't want to give anyone any ideas. Let's just say there are ways. If anyone fires a warning shot in my vicinity they should know I aim for center mass. The only warning they get is that there are plenty more where that one came from.

Environmentalists are some of the biggest hypocrites in the world. Like Al Gore "supporting the environment" while flying all over the world in his private jet, one of the least fuel efficient jets there are. And living in a 28-room mansion, with a heated pool and a separate guest house, that together uses more than 20 times the amount of energy in natural gas as the average American family. One month in 2016 he used 34 times more electricity than the national average. The electricity used each year just to heat his swimming pool in Tennessee would power six houses for a whole year. When you add the gas and electricity, his house uses more energy than every house on a few blocks in my neighborhood combined. Real supportive there, Al. Keep on conserving until there's nothing left to conserve. If I had enough cash lying around to spend $9 million on another house, I wouldn't worry too much about spending an average of over $30,000 a year in utility bills, but I wouldn't have a holier than thou attitude and preach environmentalism to the people who have a tiny fraction of my carbon footprint.

 

OK, Hi Frank. And you can call me Kenny.

I spent some time back in 2012 riding a lot of different ATVs and I liked the BF the best. Kawasaki made some significant changes in 2012 over the previous years. For me its biggest downside is its quite thirsty but I knew that when I bought it.

I get about 70 miles off 5 gallons just riding. My friends Can Am 800 Max gets 120 miles off 5 gallons. I always carry extra fuel and he never does.

Being a V-twin with a small bore and a long stroke it has gobs of low end torque, more than any other ATV I've ever ridden and that was the biggest reason I bought it.

Everything is at the bottom end. Not much for top speed so I'd guess it possibly has lower gearing than most other ATVs. I'm not into speed but for trail riding I love the instantaneous throttle response.


Yep, winching and needing to be on the throttle at the same time was when I would curse that little yellow lever the most. It also got to be a pain holding it in when you're have the hammer in deep snow or at any other time.

The Pen-Lock works great. Its provides the best of both worlds and its simple.

I can't remember a time where I was half way up or thru something when I suddenly realized I needed the front end locked.

Al Gore and the other so called environmentalists make me puke.

 

Love simple solutions like that. If I didn't need a 2-up quad the Brute was high on my list.

 

That Pen-Lock would be a must have accessory for a lot of people. Too bad it's not standard equipment.

Depending on the speed and terrain I can get somewhere around 30 miles per gallon on my 500 EFI. Good thing since the gas tank only holds 4.13 gallons according to the owner's manual. I think they advertised it as being 4.2 gallons. An older 500 H.O. carb model of mine had a 5.25 gallon tank and couldn't go much farther on the extra gallon of gas. It seems like everyone I ride with needs gas about the same time no matter what they ride or the size of their gas tank. I thought the Sportsman 1000 would guzzle gas but it's really not that bad.

 

Its the legal department that keeps that from happening.

It locks the axles tight with zero slippage so it greatly affects the steering.

It was the legal department that kept Honda from using front locking differential too.

I had sent my friend at the Forest Service questions about the dropped trees on that trail.

This was his reply,

"Kenny,

If you look at that route on the travel map, it only goes about 1/4 mile up from the Kimberly road.
We have had problems from people pushing it farther up into the drainage and into the private property.
We actually dropped all the trees to try to keep it closed off because after about 1/4 mile it is an
illegal user created route so I hope you didn't cut out the trees.
Also, it sounds like the chainsaw class has been cancelled this year.

Bryan"

So I stopped by his office yesterday morning on my way to Gooseberry to tell him in person that I removed everyone of them. That way if he wanted to put me in jail he wouldn't have to come looking for me. LOL

All is good.

 

So, you're a non-felon, felon??? I think it would have been easier to understand if they dropped one good sized tree where the 1/4 mile stops and put No Trespassing signs up. But, that's just me.

 

After leaving the Forest Ranger's office I headed back out to the Gooseberry and Great Western Trails hoping the snow had melted enough that I could finish the loop I've been wanting to do.

I can't believe how much greener it is than it was just 12 days ago.



12 days ago this is where I had to stop unable to go any farther due the the trail being buried with snow.



This 50" gate needs some minor adjusting.

You Tube

The perfect place for lunch.



I learn something new every time I go for a ride. What I learned today is that when your Hot Hands start cooling off you just take them out of your gloves and toss then on the side of the trail.

Some people are pathetic.





I cut them and dragged them off the trail as far as I could. The Forest Service will have to finish this one up.

My chainsaw has a 14" bar and was 2'3" short of cutting thru the tree. I'm still pretty impressed with it.



A little more pruning and I'm on my way.

No chainsaw and I would have had to turn around and head back the way I came, about 15 miles.

You Tube

UM - not sure what it stands for. The are building a new route and will close this one thru the stream. Many of us are sad that they are doing that.
Our Committee coughed up $40k for the new bridge.

I will tell you that I now know I need new boots. These have lost their water proof quality.



I'm up on top of the Great Western Trail contemplating my next move. What if I get over the snow and have to come back?
Well it looked like there was plenty to winch to so off I went. The snow was hard enough that I went right over the top of it.




Another place to contemplate. Oh what the hell. LOL

Sometimes when you're out by yourself you think things thru a little more carefully.



The Great Western Trail is amazing.

You Tube

It was a great day for seeing wildlife too.

You Tube

I didn't realize what I had captured in the video until I loaded it on my computer and watched it.
I think the deer was telling me that he really did give a $hit that I was there. LOL!!



It was the PERFECT day to take this ride. There was a little bit of everything which made it perfect.



And I always bring home more than I left with.



I really don't like putting my machine away dirty but that was an all day ride and it just gives me something to do today.

The End

 

Now I am.

Bryan told me people just pull the signs out and toss them to the side.

I have friends that have been riding and hiking that trail for over 40 years.

It always suck when the close one off.

 

At least the majority of your trails aren't private property. We have to deal with landowners wanting to close trails all the time. It seems like every time a new trail opens and we get better connectivity between the different clubs' trails, someone ticks off a landowner and the trail goes bye-bye. I hate it when it happens. I once worked for hours with just my son, Moose One on a section of trail. It got closed the next week because of someone disrespecting the landowner.