The story is as follows:
500 trouble free miles on the Grizz, Only one warranty concern, a busted 4wd button, and that was my fault. So, anyways, We were riding in the Dusty Trail system in Moutain WI, it was pouring all day. We ended up taking railroad grade 20 plus miles to get there, It sucked! Anyways, we are going through the woods, 20-25mph, came around a corner, up on to the burm, like I have hundreds of times before. Came down, got on it, the trail then weaved kind of to the right. I started turning, and I slid off to the side of the trail, NAiled about a 12 inch popalar. Clipped the left side up my grizz. My knee slammed off the shifter, into the plastic so hard, it dented it and the seam. I flew up, and hit my head square on the tree. Thank god I was with some buddies. I got off, and said I was alright, well, I thought I was. The adrenaline was pumping hard, I thought I was going to puke. So anyways to top it off, It was a 40 mile ride back to the truck, and to top it off, my buddies Bro-in-law, locks the keys in my new truck, while its running.. It was a bad day, and I didn't even win the powerball!

The Damage:
The grizz: The front end is smashed bad! the left half of the bumper is bent straight back. The grizz did a good job of absorbing the crash. I don't know if the frame is bent. Do you think they'll give me a new one if it is? (I mean with insurance) THe tierod is bent, plastics all fubar! I will have pics up soon.

Me: Turns out, I fractured my kneecap, and tore my ACL, That was fun! IT happend at 1pm, and I didn't get to ER untill about 9. So, I am laid up for about 4-6 weeks. I'll be on the grizz as soon as she's fixed though. Just Sloooow trail riding, and hunting, till I get healed up. Unsure how my reaction will be to spirited trail riding. Hope I don't puss out now. I love riding fast. We'll have to wait and see.

The lesson: Always, Always, Always, Always (did I say always?) WEAR A FREAKING HELMET! Mine did its job. Barely a scuff mark, and I hit hard. If I hadn't been wearing one, I would not be here to enjoy the pain of my leg... Thats a pretty profound if you think about it. I could have died at the age of 19. NO one should die on there Fourwheelers. I understand some things are inevitable, but you are plain STUPID if your not wearing a helmet. Even if you are only doing 10-20 MPH on the trail and think your a safe rider. You might as well be, BUT, there is always some other idiot, that thinks he's John Wayne's Brother and law, that flies around blind corners at MACH 5. There is no reason you shouldn't wear a helmet. NO excuses for not having one on. I strongly urge each and every one of you to wear one. Please, we don't need to lose any of our four wheeler brother because of stupidity. On that note. Everyone take care of themeselves, and thanks for listening!

Pics to come!
-Jared

 

Jared,

Sorry to here about your crash, but I'm glad to here that you will be healing soon. As far as helmets go, I never wear on but you story may get me to reconsider. Why do they have to be so awkward and hot?

Arlan

 

Arlan,
Not sure where your from, but, I have ridden with my Full face Snowmbile type helmet, in 85 degrees, sometimes even hotter, but it has some vents to get the air circulating. You do have other options such as a motocross style, or even an open face is ALOT better than nothing. Something to protect your head.. Like I said, all it takes is some other idiot to ruin your day, and possibly your life. Its your life, you decide.

-Jared

 

Ok well today Me, 250rapgae and another guy went riding and met up with some other guys at the base of a small hill. They said that about 12 more peaple would be coming down the trail so we just stayed because we where going to go riding with them. Well a couple more peaple came down the hill, small but with a rock at the top. Ok well then an older guy, around 60 or so on a foreman came to the top of the hill. He was new to riding so everyone kind of cheered him on and told him to come down. He started to come down and the thing went up onto the two front wheels and then fliped foward. It landed on the guy and pinned him at the bottum of the hill. Well everyone screamed and ran over, his son was with him and he threw the foreman off and his dad was bleeding all down the side of his face an his head. WE gave him a minute and he got back up and on his four wheeler. It turned out he was alright just some scrapes and bruises. The best oart was when one women of the riding party said,"I guess we should start carying a first aid kit with us". Me and my friends laughed and though, why not just buy helmets!!!! This guy could have gotten hurt really bad today but if he would have been wearing a helmet he could have gotten back up and kept riding. There is absolutely no reason not to wear a helmet. Now you may think I am some old guy preaching to you about this but I am only 14 and I just realize the importance of a helemt. Never leave home without it!!

 

for real

 

Ouch! I tore my ACL a few years ago and they reapired it using a Patela graph. Shop your orthopedic surgeon carefully!!!!!!!! Mine did a great job and the knee is as good as new. Please lets us know what insurance does about the frame.

 

Looking at my helmet is enough. It has dents everywhere...and even if it starts looking crappy, I prefer having a dented helmet than a dented head!
I still don't get why people need some sort of motivation to wear helmets...

 

I ride in 110 degree weather, and my helmet is great. I guess if you have a cheap helmet, with no vents in it or whatever, that might get uncomfortable. But it's still better to be uncomfortable and safe than be comfortable and risk caving in your head, or your face, or your teeth.....

 

I too have been saved by my helmet. My front tire clipped a sapling alongside the trail and I got turned head on into a large tree at full speed. Not only did the helmet save my skull, but the full-face definately saved me from a broken jaw and smashed face. My whole family won't ride without a helmet, even on bicycles, so I not only saved my own skull but maybe my kids too. Wear a helmet and think about who you also may be saving by example!