Zakazim, in my case I don't think the bodyguard stuff would have worked. It rolled over onto its left side and the top right of the dump box hit a tree that was on my left when I went slowly by. I think the bodyguard would probably be decent for small branches. Maybe try starting a new post and seeing what peoples experiences with the bodyguard are like. For me, it would make the gates we have on our trails too tight. If I remember right, it makes the total quad width about 51". Very tight for our gates here in New England.

 

I was thinking about getting it too but the trails are 50" here. There aren't gates on most of them but the trails themselves are narrow. If you've never rolled it or hit a tree you haven't really been four-wheeling yet.

 

I have had my sportsman on its side on several occasions and wedged against giant fallen pines when trying to squeeze by. The plastic is outstanding compared to my Kawasaki. It's scratched on the edges of the finders but not torn. The only ATV I actually completely lost was my Honda 300ex. I was coming down a mountain trail trying to ketch up with my brother-in-law and went into a corner to fast. Tried to slow down before I went into it but there was no way, the ATV just skidded and bounced over these layers of domed smooth rocks before going air born of a long drop. The rack pack hit a tree and launched me like a slingshot over the top of some large jagged rocks, through saplings and ended up with my back against a big pine tree about 20ft from the top of the take off point. I laid there and listened to my ATV tumble and crash through trees to the bottom where there was a creek. Some how I had no broken bones or internal bleeding...was just bruised up really bad. I couldn't believe it. Later on the hard part was explaining to my wife, in a very abstract manor, what had happened.

The Honda had a very bent rack pack and the back of the frame was broken but she started up and I was able to ride her out of the forest and get back to the truck...a testament to Honda's workmanship. This was one of those "life flashes before your eyes" events. The whole episode showed me that there are guardian angels and God decided it wasn't my time to go. There is no way I should have made it through that wreck without being killed or at least seriously injured. I ride past that spot on occasion and shake my head because I still can't believe it and no...I don't go around that corner at a high speed anymore.

 

Man, Mile High, that's quite a story. It's testament that God is out there watching over those willing to be watched over. I talked to a guy we had met one year up in Claremont, NH. His name is Bob. We got caught in a nasty, raise the rivers fast, continual downpour and were drying out under a covered bridge for a few minutes. A guy came up and talked with us for a few minutes and then pinned his Sportsman 800's throttle. He was out of sight in a few seconds. His friend said, "Bob likes to go fast." We were unloading our quads the following spring and a guy came up with his two buddies and asked if they could ride with us. We said, "Sure can", and off we all went. While stopping for lunch near a nice pond he started telling stories. We realized it was the guy we kind of met last year. I asked him why he was riding a Grizzly 700. (Nothing against them. Just curious) He told us he went to the Hatfield/McCoy trails last year and was climbing a 45 slope when the quad started to tip backwards. He bailed, and the quad rolled end over end down the 1/4 mile or so of hillside that he had just climbed. He had insurance.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] He was a character. We were playing in some deep mud/waterholes and he decided to sit on the racks and go back and forth. I was waiting for him to dip the front end in just enough that we could claim he had an IBM, but he managed to keep his pants mostly dry. What a hoot. It was a fun day. I hope to run into him again.

 

Yea, there is no other explanation how I got through that one unscathed. I didn't have time to bail or nothing. Flew of that drop sideways and fate was completely out of my hands. We may make a mistake (like that accident), but God will put his hands in it and make things turn out OK. End up standing back and scratching your head wandering how we got out of that one. When I knew there was no way to stop I thought I was a dead man but I honestly believe God decided different that day and intervened. I wouldn't say I was lucky. I would say I was divinely protected.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Mile High

... explaining to my wife, in a very abstract manor...

</end quote></div>

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Moose,
Right there with you. A buddy and I were riding, he was driving a new Teryx and i was on my '04 ATP 500 HO, ran up a nasty hill, he made it, I didn't. Had it flat out in low range and the front end got light and bouncy and crabbed over into a big rock, well that gave the front end the traction it needed to head for the clouds. One second I am up on the bars running the hill, next second the front box is right in my face, I jumped off, it fell on me anyway (that felt great) then did several endos down the hill, got a nice scar from where the bar punched my shoulder. Did a ton of plastic damage, both boxes were crashed and the right front rim and maybe strut tower need to be replaced. Me and my buddy righted the bike, I let it back down the hill with the winch and reseated the right front tire with starting fluid and rode it out of the park.
SNAFU with the shop and insurance company left it totaled, I thought about buying it for salvage value and fixing it but that would have left me with about 8K in a four year old, well used bike, didn't make sense so now I am looking at X2s. Rode a 800 EFI on Tuesday, I'm in love all over again.
Q

 

QBall, if you get the X2 you'll like it. You may find the front end a little softer than the ATP though. I got heavy duty springs for mine. Feels alot better now. The rest of the ride is nicer than the ATP but won't power slide quite as well as the ATP does.

 

Moose
Well, I got a helluva deal on a Brand New '08 Sportsman 800 EFI, I was really holding out for the 800 X2 but there was going to be nearly a 2K price difference and I just couldn't convince myself that the X2 was going to be worth the extra dough though in all honesty I prefer it to the Sportsman in most respects. My brother ended up buying the ATP and it's in my shed right now waiting for us to get cracking on repairs. I cut him a break on the salvage price so the ATP will be there when I need that 400LB capicity bed. He lives like 300 feet down the road, pule he's got an old Big Boss 6x6 with twice the bed capicity of the ATP and Dad's got a Ranger so we're pretty well set on utility stuff. Best thing is I'll get to fix it. I love working on ATVs almost as much as I like riding them.
FYI I had EPI HD springs on the ATP to firm it up a bit. Between the winch/ mount/ fairlead/ and brushguard the stock variable rate springs on the ATP were too soft, those EPIs make a lot of difference.
Q

 

Qball, sounds like a good idea to buy the regular Sportsman. It's seems like you all have the utility end of things covered. I like the new 6x6 with the 800 and IRS. I can't imagine that much could stop it other than tight corners.