We went on a ride with a couple from Oklahoma
(flat) on their new Rubicons. Our mutual friend rides his Foreman like a Banshee. My DS is really dialed in, and Skyler's Raptor is rockin' as well.
These Rubys only had 300 miles on them, and oh jeez did these guys ride slow. So we said no problem, we'll just wait for you at each intersection or fork in the trail. Well He was even slower than She. And then,,, you guessed it,
He loses control going about 40 on a straight stretch of well graded county road, rolls the Ruby 3 times, trashing it bad, and breaks his collarbone! No Helmets, riding over their heads, even at that speed. Riding beyond your ability with no helmet. I didn't see the wreck, but he obviously got squirrly and couldn't control the slide he put himself into. We had just met these folks, and were getting scowls for our fast riding style. Their way was obviously more politically correct and environmentally responsible, as was their trip to the emergency room.
My 12 year old on his Raptor, wearing full coverage helmet, pushing the limits of adhesion and the laws of physics on every turn is a safer rider than these mature "grown-ups" riding without helmets and the neccessary experience to ride safely. Beginners beware. Beginners are so much more likely to have a serious accident.
As much as I like the ability of my Sportsman to go where no sport quad can go. It is boring compared to the adrenaline rush of the DS and Raptor. We'll never go back. And I don't think we'll be riding with neophyte utility types anymore either. They're too dangerous.

 

I hear what you're saying, but I wouldn't completely discredit the utilities. A group of us were riding a while back and I decided to give the Raptor a rest and ride the in-laws Prairie 400 and was constantly breathing down the neck of the lead Raptor on the tight trails. The straight-aways changed the story however. I do agree that the agressive riding style did feel more dangerous on the utilities.