About charlie

I started riding when I bought my first ATV, a new '95 Yamaha Timberwolf, at age 14. Now enjoy it as a family and friends affair. My ride: 2014 Honda Rancher 4x4 DCT, RAM Mounts Aqua Box Pro, No Limit Wheels, Maxxis Bighorn 2.0. charlie(at)weekendatv.com

PREVIEW: 2014 Yamaha ATV and Side X Side Lineup

Posted on July 26, 2013 by charlie

It’s that time of year again. The riding season is in full swing and manufacturers are making their announcements for the new year’s models. Yamaha has released their 2014 utility lineup to include an all-new side x side and a few subtle changes to the Grizzly 700 ATV.

2014 Yamaha Viking FI 4×4 EPS. Yamaha stock photo.

The biggest news in Yamaha’s ORV line is the introduction of the Viking FI 4×4 EPS Side by Side. The days of the Rhino are over with the Viking staking its claim as the exclusive Yamaha Side X Side. The Viking is powered by the newly improved 686cc engine that has been very successful. It uses Yamaha’s Ultramatic transmission and benefits from engine braking in 4WD and reverse. The Viking has a cargo capacity of 600 pounds in its dump bed and a ground clearance of 11.8 inches with steel skid plates.

Perhaps the most notable feature of the Viking is the seating for 3 people. The center seat is set back slightly to help accomodate all three without sacrificing comfort. Even with the added seat, the Viking is only 61.8 inches wide compared to 56.6 inches on last year’s Rhino. All three seats include 3-point seat belts making the Viking the perfect family side x side without being stretched into a dirt limo. The Viking will hit showrooms in Realtree AP HD in August 2013 at $13,249. As the hunting season rush calms down, the Hunter Green ($12,499 MSRP), Steel Blue and Red ($12,699 MSRP) models will arrive in September 2013. Both Steel Blue and Red include soft-top roofs.

2014 Yamaha Viking FI 4×4 EPS. Yamaha stock photo.

The ATV lineup for 2014 remains very similar to last year. The only change to the Utility line is in the Grizzly 700. The 700 gains low end, mid range and top end performance thanks to a new cylinder head and enhanced engine settings. The compression ratio has also been raised from 9.1:2 to 10.0:1 with the help of a new piston shape. Yamaha also advertises longer front and rear suspension settings and improved steering for better rider comfort. In addition, the EPS models have updated EPS settings for comfort’s sake. Cosmetically the Grizzly 700 also has new graphics on the fuel tank. The Grizzly 700 continues to be offered in three models, FI 4×4 Auto, FI 4×4 Auto EPS and FI 4×4 Auto EPS Special Edition.

Removed, so far, from last year’s roster are the Grizzly 125 Automatic and Grizzly 300 Automatic models. This makes the Grizzly 350 4×4 Auto the entry level system. Yamaha does continue to offer the Grizzly 450 4×4 in EPS and non-EPS. The Grizzly 550 FI Auto 4×4 is the smallest model with fuel injection and also available in EPS and non-EPS. These models are unchanged.

2014 Yamaha ATV Grizzly 450

To see more details of the 2014 Yamaha ATV and Side X Side lineup check out the Yamaha website at: http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/

Interview: Corry Weller

Posted on July 17, 2013 by charlie

There are few people whose hobbies and way of making a living are one in the same. Most people are just working for the weekend. Few get to enjoy every day like it’s Saturday. Corry Weller is one of those lucky souls. She began racing quads in 2001, followed by short-course UTV racing in 2007. In 2010 she became the winningest female in short-course history and won the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series SR1 Championship in 2011. In 2012 she added Pro 4 truck racing to her repertoire and again, has been very successful. We recently caught up to the incredibly friendly champion between races.

WATV: What ATVs or UTVs do you own?
CW: Right now I own a 2009 Yamaha YFZ450R and a Yamaha SR1 race Rhino (a custom race Rhino with an R1 streetbike motor in it that I race when I’m not racing my truck!) Yamaha actually just came on board as a sponsor, so it looks like I will also be getting a brand new Yamaha Viking to use as a pit vehicle!

WATV: Where is your favorite recreational place to ride?
CW: That’s easy! I am a dune girl…..I love the dunes at Glamis in CA. When race season is over, dune season begins, so it’s a great way to spend my off-season!

WATV: What are your hobbies outside of motorsports?
CW: Oh wow….I don’t really have any!! Pretty much everything I do involves motorsports. I do like Crossfit, if you can call that a hobby? I do that to stay in shape for racing……and I love to read when I have the time. It helps me de-stress.

WATV: What was your last traffic ticket?
CW: Oooo….that’s a tough one. I used to get a lot of speeding tickets when I was in college, until I calmed down a bit after I had kids. I think it was for turning right on an off-ramp, when there was a sign I couldn’t see that said “no right turn on red”. The officer and I chatted about racing for about 20 minutes that day…..

WATV: How did you get into motorsports?
CW: On a whim, actually. I never raced anything growing up…..in 2001 I decided I wanted to learn to race MX, so I bought a quad and found a track here that allowed quads, and started riding. I was hooked instantly, and have been racing ever since that day!

WATV: Describe a typical day in the life of Corry Weller.
CW: Oh, well….it’s not really glamorous. I wake up around 5:30am, go to Crossfit, eat a quick breakfast and spend some time on my computer catching up on e-mails, paying bills, reconciling my sponsor account, social media, etc. Then I head to the shop and order parts, work on the truck, etc. I do alot of parts running, too….seems I’m always driving around picking up parts that we need for whatever we are working on that day. Usually we are at the shop till around 7 or 8, but some days I get to go get my nails done, or do some non-work related stuff, but that’s pretty rare. Come home, eat dinner, do some more social media and either read, watch some TV to unwind, or just go to bed. That’s on our non-race weeks/weekends…..those times are MUCH crazier!

WATV: What is your must have ATV or UTV accessory?
CW: When I buy a quad, the first two things I like to buy are nerf bars and an exhaust. For the UTV it would be intake and exhaust.

WATV: When you and your hubby (champion racer Jason Weller) are going somewhere together, who drives?
CW: Oh, that’s sort of a sore subject, haha! He likes to drive…..I think it’s a “man thing”, because before I met him I ALWAYS drove everywhere! I am good at driving just about anything, big trucks, motorhomes, towing fifth-wheels, etc…..but if we are going together, he likes to drive. It’s hard for me, because I am sort of a control freak, but I’m getting better at being in the passenger seat.

WATV: What is your personal (highway) vehicle?
CW: I have a 2012 Chevy Silverado crew cab. Not exactly the best gas mileage, but I need a pickup for all the parts running and race stuff we do.

WATV: Most exciting racing experience?
CW: Hmmmm….I have a number of those! But the best lately have been whenever I make the podium in the Pro 4 class. Nothing better than seeing your whole team, your sponsors, and all those fans SO happy!! 🙂

WATV: What’s in your music playlist?
CW: I have a mix of stuff, actually. Rihanna, Eminem, Skrillex, KillSwitch Engage, Imagine Dragons, alot of current stuff….I like any music that is motivating. I work out with music and sometimes I race/ride with it, too…..so I’m a huge music person.

WATV: What is your favorite product at WellerRacing.com?
CW: I love our SR1 drive kits. They are made really well, they are super beefy and hold up to alot of abuse. So much of it is billet, and it’s just a really well made kit. Our most popular seller is our Rhino fuel kits, though! Those things sell like crazy!!!

WATV: What would your superhero name be?
CW: HAHA I have no idea! Something that has to do with speed, I would hope…..

WATV: Your own soapbox, anything you want to say to your fans?
CW: Just that I have the best fans ever!! I am not sure if my fans realize how much their support means…..there are days when things don’t go so well, and a fan or two can say the nicest things, and your whole day is so much better!! So, THANK YOU!!

Corry, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy race schedule and good luck in the future.

To follow Corry check out http://corryweller.com/.

REVIEW: Shorai LFX Batteries

Posted on July 8, 2013 by charlie

One area of the powersports industry that has seen a lot of change lately is batteries. Battery technology was developed in the mid-1800s and remained relatively unchanged until the mid-1990s when university researchers developed lithium batteries. Lithium ferrous phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are a perfect fit to the rugged uses found in the powersports industry. Several companies have been producing LiFePO4 batteries over the last few years including LFX Batteries by Shorai.

Like other LiFePO4 technology batteries, Shorai LFX Batteries hold many advantages over lead-acid units. First off, they are about 80% lighter on average helping to easily remove weight from your ride. There are also no harmful chemicals in a LiFePO4 battery making them safer and allowing them to be mounted in any position, including upside-down. Another great benefit is that they have a longer maintenence-free lifespan. A lead-acid battery constantly degrades while sitting idle. LiFePO4 batteries lose only a small percentage over an entire year. Good luck finding a lead-acid battery that will crank after sitting for a year.

We decided to try out Shorai LFX Batteries ourselves by upgrading our Polaris Hawkeye 300. The old lead-acid battery had just recently failed us and it was a great chance to upgrade during our spring maintenance. Shorai produces some 20 different battery models in their LFX line. Shorai’s website has a battery finder that allows you to select your powersports vehicle and see the appropriate battery selection. Our application called for the LFX14A5-BS12. With an MSRP of $159.95 it’s on par with most other similar LiFePO4 offerings.

Our battery arrived by mail packed in its retail box, tucked in by foam shims. It also contained a manual, two sets or terminal screws and a collection of Shorai stickers. The physical dimensions of the battery were very similar to the OEM lead-acid battery we removed. Our OEM battery was 6.5″H x 5.25″L x 3.5W while our Shorai measures are 6.3″H x 5.28″L x 3.15″W. This actually makes Shorai LFX Batteries larger than most other LiFePO4 batteries we have seen though they are still perfect for your OEM swap. If there is any spare room in your battery compartment, the included foam shims can be cut and placed inside the compartment for a solid fit.

As far as weight is concerned, there is a big difference between lead-acid and LiFePO4 batteries. Our LFX battery weighs in at only 2.31 pounds compared to our 10.4 pound lead-acid rock. Racers looking to gain a little speed will have a hard time finding an easier or cheaper way to lose 8 pounds. But don’t let the lightweight fool you. This battery still produces 210 cold cranking amps (CCA).

Perhaps one of our favorite things about the Shorai LFX Batteries is the terminal posts. The posts are designed in an “L” shape and have locations to simultaneously use 2 sets of terminal screws. This makes it easy to add accessories without stacking. We placed our winch leads on one set of terminal screws and the Polaris’s electronics on the other.

Shorai LFX Batteries ship charged and ready for your ride. While they generally don’t need to be maintained you can use traditional battery chargers as long as they do not use automatic desulfation mode. Shorai does produce its own charger that is designed to balance each individual cell and can increase the life of the LFX battery.

Shorai LFX Batteries have a 3 year warranty. That’s longer than the entire life span of a lead-acid battery and much more than the warranty period. Ours has performed great so far. We will provide updates here if we see any performance changes and also to let you know exactly how long our Shorai LFX Battery lasts. To locate your own Shorai LFX Battery check out their website at http://www.shoraipower.com/.

REVIEW: Ballistic EVO2 Performance Batteries

Posted on July 4, 2013 by charlie

So you’re all set for a weekend on the trails. Your buddies are packed and headed over to load you up. You step out to crank up your ride. A turn of the key and your mighty beast should respond with a roar, but instead you just get a disheartening ‘click’. There is a good chance you are suffering from a dead battery.

It’s an annual affair for most. Traditional lead-acid batteries have a life span of about a year and a half to two at best. But the powersports industry has had a growing trend of lithium batteries like the Ballistic EVO2 Performance Batteries. Lithium ferrous phosphate, aka LiFePO4, is based on technology developed by researchers at the University of Texas in 1996. The end result is a smaller, lighter, safer, maintenance-free, longer-lasting battery.

We decided to upgrade the battery in our Yamaha Big Bear 250. The battery finder on Ballistic’s website recommended the 8-cell unit for normal environments or the 12-cell for primarily cold areas or units with lots of accessories. With most of our riding taking place in the southeast US we picked up the 8-cell (P/N 100-011). The battery puts out 13.6 volts and 275 burst cranking amps. It is designed to work in temperatures from 0-140 degrees F. Inside the package was our battery, foam material for shipping and installing, and a few Ballistic stickers.

Our new battery came in at a mere 4.5″L x 2.5″W x 4.25″H and 1.7 pounds compared to our OEM battery at 5.25″L x 3.5″W x 7″H and 10.4 pounds. That’s a savings of almost 9 pounds making this the easiest and least expensive way to shed weight off your ATV and potentially gain a little speed. Since the Ballistic EVO2 Performance Batteries are also a great deal smaller than their OEM counterparts they risk bouncing around inside the battery compartment. To resolve this simply use the foam packaging that the battery came with. It trims easily with a serrated blade and helps secure the battery in place.

Ballistic batteries come with a Battery Management System (BMS) port on top. While not necessary, a charger is available from Ballistic that helps balance each cell on the battery to extend the life of the battery even further. A standard trickle charger can be used as long as it has auto-shutoff to prevent over charging. Ballistic EVO2 Performance Batteries ship at 70% of their charge, more than enough for a good start. Put to its first test it did not disappoint and has been running great during its first week. They are claimed to only lose 10% of their charge during a static year compared to as much as 1% per day for lead-acid batteries.

Ballistic EVO2 Performance Batteries come with a 3 year warranty and are made right here in the USA. LiFePO4 batteries do have a higher price than lead-acid batteries. The MSRP on the 8-cell Ballistic is $169.95, about 3 times the cost of an equivalent lead-acid battery. However, the features and convenience make it a great option. We’ll provide updates here during the life of our battery, but don’t count on that being anytime soon. To find your own Ballistic EVO2 Performance Battery check out their website at http://www.ballisticparts.com/.

PREVIEW: 2014 Can-Am Side-X-Side and ATV Lineup

Posted on June 12, 2013 by charlie

Can-Am recently announced their 2014 models. So far, the focus for 2014 seems to be the Side-X-Side line as no changes for the 2013 Can-Am ATVs have been released (check out the 2013 details here). What Can-Am did add this year are 5 new Side-X-Side models, perfecting and diversifying the Maverick and Commander package.

2014 Can-Am Side-X-Side Maverick X xc DPS

The trail-ready 2014 Can-Am Maverick X xc DPS. Photo courtesy of BRP.

Perhaps the biggest news is the smallest model. The 2014 Can-Am Side-X-Side lineup includes the new Maverick X xc DPS. A narrowed-down version of the Maverick, this 60-inch wide creature lets you take the Maverick to the trails, a blessing for east coast riders. The Maverick X xc DPS includes Can-Am’s Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering (DPS), Visco-Lok QE auto-locking front differential and 12-inch aluminum beadlock wheels. The ride is softened by FOX PODIUM X Performance 2.0 HPG Piggyback shocks. All of this for an MSRP of $18,299 in your choice of the traditional yellow/black or a new white/red/black scheme.

The 2014 Can-Am Maverick X xc DPS. Photo courtesy of BRP.

Also new to the Maverick line is the Maverick X rs DPS. Based on the current Maverick X rs, it adds the Can-Am Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering (DPS) and Visco-Lok QE auto-locking front differential. It too can be had in yellow/black or white/red/black for an MSRP of $18,799.

2014 Can-Am Side-X-Side Maverick X rs DPS

The 2014 Can-Am Maverick X rs DPS. Photo courtesy of BRP.

Can-Am added 4 seats of family fun to the Maverick with the Maverick MAX and Maverick MAX X rs DPS. The MAX is a stretched version of the Maverick and is already available at dealers. The Maverick MAX provides the most passenger room of any Side-X-Side on the market. Powered by the same 101-hp Rotax V-Twin engine as the 2 seat Maverick, the MAX centralizes the engine to provide balance on the longer wheelbase. MSRP on the Maverick MAX is $18,299. The Maverick MAX X rs DPS is the family sized version of the new Maverick X xc DPS getting the same Dynamic Power Steering and the auto-locking front differential treatment. With it you’ll also get upgraded to FOX PODIUM X Performance RC2.5 HPG Piggyback shocks and a price tag of $20,799.

Can-Am didn’t forget about the Commander either. The Commander XT-P adds to the XT package with mudguards, a heavy duty front bumper, Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering (DPS), Visco-Lok QE auto-locking front differential, FOX PODIUM X Performance RC2.0 HPG Piggyback shocks and a 4,000-lb WARN winch. This trail beast starts at $17,299.

UPDATE: Check out the newly released 2014 Can-Am Maverick X mr here.

For more information on these and the full line of Can-Am off-road vehicles check out http://www.canamoffroad.com/.

REVIEW: Eagle Eye Lights HID Kit

Posted on February 4, 2013 by charlie

A continuously growing trend in the offroad industry is upgraded lighting including HID lamps. HID stands for High Intensity Discharge. The HID bulbs create an arc which heats up metal salts inside to the point where they become plasma. This plasma greatly increases the intensity of the light and allows for reduced power consumption while on. Ballasts are used to get the arc started and then maintain the proper amount of power for the remaining run time. HID lighting is much more durable in offroad conditions since the arc replaces the fragile filament found in halogen bulbs. And despite the idea of turning metal salt into plasma, HID lights actually run much cooler and use less power than halogen.

Southern California’s Eagle Eye Lights has been manufacturing offroad lighting solutions since the 1990’s. They have halogen, HID and LED packages. Their HID options include Plug-N-Play HID conversion kits for most popular ATVs and UTVs. They recently sent us their HIDYGRIZZ2 headlight conversion kit to try out.

Half the kit, this is what your factory light and wiring harness is replaced with.

The HIDYGRIZZ2 kit is designed for 2007-2013 Yamaha Grizzly 550 and 700 models. It features two HID Xenon bulbs with 35 watt ballasts. Mounting hardware and Plug-N-Play wiring harnesses are included. Installation is touted to take about 20 minutes. The bulbs have a 2000+ hour life expectancy and put out 6,000 Kelvin (K). Kelvin is the color hue of the light. For comparison, a 55 watt halogen bulb produces 2300K, which gives it the yellowish color. Daylight is about 4300K. The 6,000K of Eagle Eye Lights provides for the best color option without sacrificing output.

Getting to the factory wiring harness and feeding the replacement required some panel removal.

We conducted our install on a 2012 Yamaha Grizzly 550. While we can’t speak to the Grizzly 700, we can say that the 20 minute install on a 550 is not likely to happen. The instructions are fairly vague from what we would have expected. It’s pretty much just remove the rubber boot, switch out the headlights and plug in the various wiring harnesses while mounting the ballast somewhere. We found that the wiring harness connection was under the dash and required the removal of the front rack and dash for the installation. All of the connections are solid, waterproof connections and truly plug-n-play. The kit included two mounting brackets for the ballasts. Again, there were no instructions as to where the ballasts should be mounted so we modified one bracket to hold both ballasts and mounted it on the bar that holds down the battery. There is a nice void there that gave plenty of room for the ballasts and slack wiring.

Our ballasts and extra wiring tucked into the void beside the battery. It’s the clean parts!

Once the installation was completed we fired up the lights. There is a very noticeable difference in the color of the light. It is more natural and requires less eye strain. There is also an increase in the visible range provided by the upgraded lights.

Before: Yamaha factory halogen lights.

After: Eagle Eye Lights HID Kit. Notice the trees in the distance are much more visible.

The instructions recommend upgrading the factory headlight fuse from 15 AMPs to 20 AMPs. The reason is for the increased amount of power required to start-up the ballasts. It can result in one or both lights not powering up. We confirmed this experience in our own tests where we saw only one light power up without the upgraded fuse.

Bottom line, these lights are an excellent addition. If you commonly ride at night, an Eagle Eye Lights HID Kit would be a perfect add-on and provide for a safer ride. While the installation may take a little longer on your particular ride, it is still one of the easier installations you’ll probably ever do. The kits range from $99 to $199; our test kit lists for $179. For more information on Eagle Eye Lights and what they have for your ATV or side-by-side, see their website at http://www.eagleeyelights.com/ and check back with us for future reviews of their lights.

Trail Review: Stony Lonesome OHV Park – Bremen, AL

Posted on January 7, 2013 by charlie

Attention County Commissions of North America: take note of the great efforts made by Cullman County. Cullman County is a moderately sized county between Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama, and is perfectly divided by Interstate 65. In 2007 the County Commission sought to increase tourist revenue, wanting to hold on to visitors who were stopping for little more than fuel and food as they passed through. Enter Stony Lonesome OHV Park.

The county set 1,456 acres of land aside to become an OHV paradise. Today the park caters to ATVs, side-by-sides, Jeeps, rock crawlers, dirt bikes, horseback riding and even hikers.There are over 70 miles of trails, each rated and well-marked for difficulty, direction of travel and vehicle restrictions.

The trails themselves are incredibly scenic, climbing through the foothills of the Appalachian mountains and along the banks of Dorsey and Stony Lonesome Creeks providing for some pretty steep climbs. Trails are rated as Easiest, Advanced and Extreme. Each of the trails branch off from a couple of main roads that cut through the property. The main roads are two-way with one-way trails branching off. Most of the trails come back a few yards away. Throughout the park there are call boxes with map information. There are also a few helicopter landing zones, just in case.

There are some muddy locations and even trails marked as being muddy, but don’t mistake Stony Lonesome for a mud park. Even after heavy rain before our rides I only got water up to my foot pegs on a stock Grizzly 350 and only got stuck once when I bottomed out in ruts on an Advanced trail. The Easiest trails are nice joy rides. Advanced trails get into steeper climbs and deeper ruts, a trend that continues into the Extreme trails.

Stony Lonesome has a nice park office on a hill overlooking the entrance. Check-in and check-out is required for all riders, including those staying overnight. No riding is allowed at night, ending an hour before dark. The park is open Thursday through Monday, closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Quiet time starts at 10pm in the camping area. It’s a very social atmosphere until then.

Like any respectable park, Stony Lonesome offers several lodging options including RV hookups and cabins. For $40 per night your cabin will sleep 4 and is equipped with a 3/4 bathroom, heating and A/C units, a microwave and a refrigerator. For $95 per night you can get a two bedroom unit with a dining room and a kitchen. A bathhouse is also located at the campground. Also a bargain are the riding fees which are only $10 per day for motorized vehicles from dirt bikes to Jeeps. Additional riders are only $5 with those aged 5 and under riding for free. This makes Stony Lonesome half the price of many lesser parks! Helmets are required at all times on open motorized vehicles. They are available for sale or rent in the office. As for riding double they recommend you follow the manufacturers guidelines but there are no requirements, riding double is acceptable.

Their office has wireless Internet access and a small eating area. Cell phone coverage was impressive throughout the park. Dodge City is at the I-65 exit and has fuel and a few eating options. Another 10 minutes north you’ll find the city of Cullman with most anything you could need. Like any riding trip call before you haul: 256.287.1133. You can also visit them on the web at http://www.stonylonesomeohv.us/ and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/stonylonesomeohv. While you’re at it, call your county commission and tell them to check it out. If you build it, riders will come!

Stony Lonesome OHV Park - Bremen, AL

REVIEW: RAM Mounts X-Grip

Posted on October 30, 2012 by charlie

Chances are you have some type of device mounted on your windshield or dash. GPS, radar detectors, performance tuners and mobile phones are common, as are the rings left on the windshield from the suction cups. Some of these devices don’t include a mount requiring you to pay $30+ for $3 worth of molded plastic and suction cup. Others come with a mount that is difficult to replace or you end up trying some imported knock-off that breaks a week later. There just never has been a perfect solution for everything. At least that was my impression before RAM Mounts sent us their X-Grip.

The X-Grip may be universal, but don’t say it in the same breath as any other mount. Out of the box you can feel it’s quality, by its weight alone. There is as much, if not more, metal in the X-Grip as there is plastic. If you accidentally drop it it won’t shatter into a dozen pieces. If anything it might chip the asphalt where it landed. These are the people who make nearly bomb-proof center consoles for police cars after all. Don’t let the heavy-weight quality worry you though, the suction cup and other mounts don’t fail, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

The X-Grip has two spring-loaded arms that are joined in the center to make an X shape. You can easily put in your device and it is held tightly by the rubber pads on each end of the X’s “feet”. The minimalism of the feet mean you’ll easily be able to access buttons and plugs around the device. The X-Grip’s size is perfect for smart phones in the Apple iPhone range, we also tested it with a TomTom One GPS and SCT Livewire, though the Livewire fit was snug. It was also a good size for our Garmin eTrex GPS. The feet can go as small as 0.875 inches and as large as 3.25 inches. The depth measures 0.875 inches as well.

The back of the X-Grip features the RAM Mounts ball mount. This attaches to an included arm with sockets on both ends. This gives you an endless amount of articulating to place your devices exactly where you want it to be. This arm has a handle in the middle that tightens the grip on both ends. Once you tighten it down it’s not going to move at all. Not even if you try a one-handed adjustment while heading down the road so make sure it’s where you want it in your pre-flight check.

The final piece of the X-Grip depends on your needs. Our unit came with a suction cup mount, but there are mounts for rails, handlebars, cup holders, adhesive mounts, clamp mounts, screw-in mounts and even a mount for your motorcycle’s brake/clutch reservoir. While suction cups are often known the fail the secure clamp on this mount never had us worrying despite some abusive roads on our road trips. The RAM ball mounts make it easy to move the X-Grip (or other RAM Mounts products) between settings. Our X-Grip moved easily from our truck windshield to our ATV handlebars in place of our RAM Mounts Aqua Box allowing us to swap a handle bar mounted iPhone for a handheld GPS.

If you have already bought into how incredible RAM Mounts systems are then adding the X-Grip will only set you back another $22.84 (Part number RAM-HOL-UN7BU). If you don’t have any mounts then a X-Grip set starts at $30.41 with an adhesive mount and goes as high as $65.13 with a cup holder mount. Considering the replacement mount for my busted TomTom One is $24.95 the X-Grip is a deal. And chances are it will work on the next device you get too. Interested in carrying a tablet or Apple iPad? They have an X-Grip for that too!

For more details or to order a Made in America X-Grip for yourself check out RAM Mounts at http://www.rammount.com/NewProducts/RAMxgripmount/tabid/4515/Default.aspx.

REVIEW: Bubba Rope Lil’ Bubba Recovery Rope

Posted on October 23, 2012 by charlie

There are two vital lessons to off-roading that are often learned the hard way. Don’t do any serious riding alone and always, ALWAYS bring a tow rope. Over the past couple of weeks we have put the Lil’ Bubba recovery rope by Bubba Rope to the test and it is certainly one of the best ropes money can buy.

Bubba Rope tow ropes are considered “snatch ropes” because they will stretch and are designed to not just pull, but jerk a stuck vehicle free. This can be especially helpful to overcome the suction effect that mud can have. The elastic also makes the recovery effort smoother for passengers and the vehicles themselves. All Bubba Ropes are made of 100% double braided nylon with a urethane polymer coating. The large loops on both ends are commercially spliced and seized. The ends are then dipped in a high performance elastic polymer coating, a process Bubba Rope calls “Gator-ize.” This coating helps to protect the heavily used loop ends.

The Lil’ Bubba recovery rope is 1/2″ thick and 20 feet long. It has a breaking strength of an insane 7,400 pounds! That’s way more than enough to get your ATV or side-by-side out of anything. Bubba Ropes have their capacity and other necessary information printed on a label that is attached directly to the rope. Bubba Ropes are also resistant to UV, water and abrasives that are harmful to most tow straps.

We were able to find several testing opportunities for our Lil’ Bubba. Combined with a shackle, the Lil’ Bubba was easier to use than a standard tow strap. The kinetic energy produced from the jerking motion easily pulled our full-sized ATVs out of the muck. Clean up is as easy as rinsing it off, though don’t expect it to ever look quite as clean as new.

Bubba Ropes come with a strap and a mesh duffel bag for easy carry. MSRP on a Lil’ Bubba is $69.00. The loops, or eyes, of the rope are available in yellow by default. For an extra $20 you can get them in black, orange, green, blue or red. If you tend to get bigger objects stuck they have a rope for that too. Bubba Ropes are available in several diameters and lengths with breaking strengths up to 131,500 pounds.

We’ve all seen the remains of broken ropes and straps around mud holes. Having a Bubba Rope means you won’t have to worry about whether or not you are prepared.

For more details or to purchase see: http://www.bubbarope.com

REVIEW: Moto-Gate Original and Mini

Posted on September 26, 2012 by charlie

There is no doubt about it, truck beds have been getting smaller. Many trucks are becoming less about hauling capacity and more about being a family vehicle. The increase in cab length has led manufacturers to shorten many truck beds. Closing your tailgate after loading your ATV is becoming nearly impossible with many trucks. This is especially a concern if you need to secure other gear in the bed, like fuel packs, ramps and gear bags. Professional freestyle motocross rider Lance Coury felt the same concerns when he started hauling dirtbikes in his truck. That’s when he developed the Moto-Gate.

The design is really quite simple. It’s based on a net made of nylon webbing stretched between two tie-down straps. The Moto-Gate Original measures 17 inches by 54 inches. It is secured by straps on each side that adjust from 10 inches to 39 inches long allowing you to reach most any tie point in your truck bed. For smaller trucks the Moto-Gate Mini measures 12 inches by 36 inches with the same 10 to 39 inches of strap adjustment. The end of the straps have rubber coated hooks and the straps are adjusted by weather resistant, spring-loaded cam locks. The Moto-Gate takes less than a minute to install.

The Moto-Gate takes all the worry out of losing your gear on a haul. In particular, we found it to be a great way to keep ramps in place rather than trying to awkwardly tie them down. It also removes any fear of losing fuel cans or other gear.

If you aren’t sold on the Moto-Gate yet, consider that the possible uses expand well beyond hauling your ATV, side by side or dirtbike. Stretched between the four corners of your truck bed, the Moto-Gate can help keep loads from blowing out. The Mini even makes a good tie down system for the bed of a side-by-side.

Moto-Gate Tie Downs. Moto-Gate Stock Photo.

While testing out the Moto-Gate we also had a chance to try out the Moto-Gate Tie-Down straps. The six foot straps are great, especially if you are hooking up alone because one end has a carabiner instead of a traditional hook. The other end is specially designed with the offroader in mind giving you the choice of a nylon loop or a hook. The tie-downs feature the same spring loaded cam locks found on the Moto-Gate.

The Moto-Gate is one of those items you look at and say “why didn’t I think of that?”. To that we say thank you to Lance for creating this must-have accessory. The Moto-Gate Original and Mini carry an MSRP of $59.95 each. The Moto-Gate Tie-Downs can be had for $29.95 a pair. Both products have found a permanent place on our toolbox. For more details about Moto-Gate products or to make a purchase, check them out at http://www.moto-gate.com. KTM fans can find a KTM branded version of the Moto-Gate through their product line.

WeekendATV.com

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Author Archives: charlie

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