Please be careful when you try out your New Raptor
in the desert. The alloy A-arms might fold up.
Or you might exceed some parameter we haven't heard of yet.

Flyin' Ryan

 

atvinstructor, from your username I've wondered; are you a certified ATV instructor for the ATV Safety Institute?

Tree Farmer

 

And if you are indeed an "ATV Instructor", didn't you just violate the very safety precepts you ostensibily "teach" in class?

What a great way to impress your neighbors with your maturity. And convince non-riders that ATVs should be restricted or banned because they are really accidents just waiting to happen.

You need look no further than the mirror for one of the million reasons the Government forced the "Consent Decree" on the manufacturers ten years ago. Wasn't 10 years of stasis and "bold new graphics" enough for you?

Congratulations! You're now the envy of every 13-year old punk, and punk wannabe, who logs on to this web site.

Thanks again for providing a crystal clear example of the reason so much anti-ATV sentiment exists among the non-riding public. It'll take a thousand Honda "Stupid Hurts" commercials to erase the damage you did to the image of ATVs in just a few seconds. Just ask the neighbor who called the cops what they think about ATVs. Ten years from now they'll still likely remember this stupid stunt. Good job!

Army Man

 

And I'm happy to finally meet someone who makes no mistakes! Truelly and awesome spectacle to see! I hope you don't cast the first stone at me cause it might hurt with all that rightousness behind it.
I just hope, armyman, that while your are truelly perfect, you can have more mercy on us common folk, and try to understand that we're struggling everyday to do something that comes naturally to you.

Later,

Jason

 

Rottwolf, I didn't read where Armyman claimed he was perfect, nor was free from mistakes.

Rather, I interpreted his point as, regarding atvinstructor's post, was, borrowing a schoolground expression, "Are you braggin' or complainin'?"

I did not detect any suggestion of any "mistakes made" in atvinstructor's post; instead, he seems to boast of his new quad's ability to pull wheelies on a public street, inciting the neighbors to call the cops, even (chortle, chortle) mistaking the Raptor for a motorcycle.

The question raised, I think is: does riding wheelies on the street win friends and influence people regarding ATVing? Not among atvinstructor's neighbors, apparently, who were annoyed enough by the unsafe and illegal practice to call the cops. If not, why do it; and if one must do it, why boast of it?

Tree Farmer

 

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!

 

rottwolf,

My degree of perfection, or lack thereof, is not the issue. Responsible behavior is the issue.

Mr. "ATV Instructor" acted in a grossly irresponsible fashion. His actions are especially reprehensible because not only "should he know better", but as an "ATV Instructor" (if indeed he is one) he DOES know better.

Mr. "ATV Instructor" also acted illegally by riding on the road and driving recklessly while doing so. Here in Pennsylvania ATVs are not street legal, and any kind of "wheelie" on a motorcycle is considered reckless driving. Both of which will get you a citation and can cause you to lose your driving license for up to a year.

Just north of me in Moraine State Park they are currently building a new trail for public enjoyment. It is not an ATV trail. It is a "Butterfly" trail. They have hired a botanist to plant plants along the trail that attract butterflys. They are also actively working to ban ATVs.

Until you experience first hand the revulsion the "butterfly trail" types have for ATVs under even the best of circumstances, you would do well to reserve your sarcasm for those trying to eliminate places to ride, instead of lavishing it on those trying to preserve places to ride while trying to undo the perceptual damage caused by just such thoughtless acts as that performed by Mr. "ATV Instructor".

Your sarcastic reply to my post implies tacit approval of Mr. ATV Instructor's actions. How unfortunate, because it is only by recognizing, and condemning, irresponsibile behavior within our own ranks that we have any chance of persuading the ambivalent non-rider that we are the good guys we say we are. And that we are deserving of their support in our fight to keep open public places to ride.

The reality of the situation is that three million ATVers don't represent enough political power to get it done on our own. We need the non-rider on our side. Do you really think that after the stunt pulled by Mr. "ATV Instructor", his neighbors will have a favorable view of ATVs, ATV riders, or the expenditure of public money (their tax dollars) to support them?

I suggest you seriously rethink your position.

Army Man

 

He isn't throwing stones and he isn't saying he is a saint. He is telling everybody that irresponsible actions have complications that affect our sport. He is completely correct.
When I read the part about riding wheelies on the street, I got the mental image of the high school punk who rides a warrior up and down the streets in our neighborhood, completely ignoring the 25mph speed limit and blowing through stop signs. No helmet, no shirt, shorts and tennis shoes are his normal riding gear. Got another neighbor with a YZ426 who does the same thing. If it is annoying to me(and I ride) what do the other neighbors think about it?
Before you jump on me for being perfect, I do have a perfect record for wearing riding gear and acting responsible when I am on my machine. I talk to my neighbors and let them know that if I do something to bother them, let me know and I will immediatly stop.
By the way Army Man, are you currently serving?

 

It sounded to me like he was sitting in judgement on another man. In my opinion NO other man is so much better than I, that he can or should sit in judgement on me! Or anyone else. We ALL make errors in judgement. Its called being human.