I feel like an expecting father. My little baby Raptorette is supposed to be in there, full feature article. There was a teaser in the April issue. I built it And took the pictures, but they wanted to develop the 3 rolls of film so I have no idea what it is going to look like. I can only hope I got some great shots. My son Skyler was the test pilot, he did many, many jumps and powerslides for the camera. The real rider, my youngest son Ian, 5 in two weeks, wasn't "allowed" to be in the article.
Doc, DOC!! Anything yet??!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

 

It wasnt in my May issue.

 

Not sure yet but i thought that was realy kool you got in their (april) cuz you really deserved it!

 

Well geez, maybe next month eh?
........On the flip side My son Skyler made the Inside Scoop as the high flying 13 year old president of the Gila Off-Road Riding Club. ( which has been changed to the Gila Rough Riders, GRR instead of GORRC.) He wasn't all that keen on being in the mag on his little bro's Raptor 80, even as test pilot, so he's gotta be jazzed to see himself on his 660. It's all very, very good.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Why wasn't your youngest son "allowed" in the article? I saw the Raptorette in the April issue also, I could have swore it said it'll be in the May issue. Guess not.

 

Even though ATV ACTION Mag whines louder than anybody about the stupid CPSC Age Guidelines they are also under the gun, from the manufacturers, to "watch it" when it comes to putting under age kids on quads in the magazine.
.....Safety issues are also really big. We had to reshoot a bunch of pics because Skyler didn't have his chin strap fastened. And there were a bunch of really good pics we couldn't use because he didn't have goggles on. They GAVE him a nice pair of Thor boots because that was the one piece of safety equipment he didn't have.
.... The Raptor 80 is stupidly labeled as a 12 year old or older quad. (But the stock suspension is so bad it really is inappropriate for any age rider IMO). My son happens to be one of the few 13 year olds small enough to actually ride it. He's only 5' tall and weighs 90 lbs. pretty small for an eighth grader. I took the Raptor 80 and redesigned the suspension so that it would be age appropriate, and a safe and fun riding experience for my 4 year old. But ATV ACTION was definetly under the gun as far as even mentioning that this quad was re-designed and
re-built for a 4-year old rider.
.... Now that Skyler has been exposed as a 13 year old 660 Raptor rider, and the pres of his own off-road riding club, his role as a test pilot on the Raptor 80 is more clear. And I know he feels better about it, 'cause he did not want people thinking the Raptor 80 was his, supporting the contention that 13 year olds should be riding ridiculously undersized, undersuspended and underpowered mini-quads.
.....Every month ATV ACTION has numerous bits about these stupid guidelines, and the dealers are under threat from the manufacturers to follow them. It will change, but it is going to take time and effort. Till then, buy your kids what is right for them, and ignore these stupid guidelines. And hopefully, minis will improve to the point where they actually will be right for the 6-9 year old age group.
.... I'd put a 10 year old on a Trailboss, Ozark, 250EX, Recon, Kasea Skyhawk 150, Beartracker, Rally, maybe even a Blaster, depending on the kid, before I'd put him/her on any mini.