Clearly the slow economy has effected traffic here in the forum! For most folks, OHV's aren't a necessity, so I guess it's one of those things that get easily dropped when money gets tight.

I don't know about quads, but new dirt bike sales are down 30% (but dual-sport sales have been increasing the last few years). Most folks will be trying to keep their old rides running longer, and this is reflected by the fact that the aftermarket industry is doing surprisingly well.

 

Yep. if you're smart...its bills before toys. Glad mine is paid off!! Sure know I can't afford a new bike right now...but I see a 500 efi in my future!!

 

yeah , i see a lot of atv forums have kinda slowed [ traffic ]

 

One would think with everyone saving pennies, that they would be hitting the forums more often.

 

I find riding to be one of the least expensive forms of recreation that I can persue! I can ride my local hills anytime, and although it is technically not legal, nobody really bothers to enforce it. Plus, I have a huge national forest within about a 30 minute drive, so riding makes the most sense to me. And, with the dual-sport dirt bikes, I can cruise around and get 70 mpg!

 

Seeing that every time we go, we're the only ones that have quads, so I bear the total expense. They may pitch in for food or camping, but the cost of gas, for towing the trailer they like to stay, and the fuel used for the trails, falls on me. Plus I don't think they realize it's not just fire up the quads and they're ready. Maintenance, cleaning up afterwards seem to be my responsibility. Let's not even mention the black holding tank. Seems like no is around when it needs to be emptied, and I know I didn't fill it all by myself.

I don't think it's the economy that's kept us off the trail as much as it is my patience.

 

I hear ya Scooter, I qiut riding with a family member due to simular reasons. I'm always having to put gas in his machine or fix it before we could go ride. Now I just tell him that i'm going riding at a certian time, and if he isnt at my house ready to roll...I take off. I know its kind of mean, but money is tight, I can't afford to finance his fun.

 

The buddies I ride with always chip in so fuel, food, and other costs to come out even. Often even help with the dumping and the flushing.

For me, most decent ATV riding places are $100 in diesel away, so I don't get to go as often as I would like. I usually only go when I can spend several days...

This has me thinking about getting a dual-sport again. I'd get to use it a lot more.

Started out thinking 3k for a used KLR... Then started reading about better brakes/suspension on the last couple years and got to thinking new KLR.

Then I got to looking at used R1200GS Adventure... always wanted one. Looked up local dealers, several have new ones with the premium option package in stock...

I guess my brain took baby steps to somehow go from 3K bike to considering 20K new one. Not sure how that happens.

A couple years ago, those were a put down a deposit and wait (and pay full retail) kind of deal...

Traffic has also dropped off on RV sites, but the I think I've seen more RV's on the road this spring than most. I think people are taking advantage of the drop in gas prices, and maybe not going as far from home.