Honda TRX450R - Abused

EK USA Ratchet Cat TiedownsIt's a circus around here every time we try to load up to go ride. Our cramped underground parking garage offers only dim lighting and a very low ceiling height, so we usually load upstairs. Above ground, cars are constantly zooming around the blind corners of our tight parking lot, so we have to watch our backs as we load to keep from getting clipped by a Hyundai.

Enter EK USA's Ratchet Cat tiedown straps. You're probably thinking, "How much is there to say about tiedowns? They either work or they don't." The problem is most of the time they don't work. Picture this scenario: You're anxious to catch a couple of hours of ride time, but you're just starting to load up and it's already 1:45 p.m. By the time you get to your spot and unload, it'll probably be close to 4:00, but you're bound and determined to ride no matter what! You manage to get your ATV onto the trailer but struggle to get your ratchet straps opened and untangled. You pull on that tiny release lever as it painfully digs into your fingers, and try to wiggle the mechanism loose. Every time you use the things, it seems like they've been mysteriously glued together. Cussing ensues, but as much as you hate ratchet straps, you have to admit that they do pull down harder than any nonratcheting tiedown ever could, so you reluctantly continue to fool with them. Sound familiar?

The only difference between EK's Ratchet Cats and other ratcheting tiedowns is the Ratchet Cats' handles are larger and rubber-coated. However, these two small changes make all the difference in the world. First of all, the handle is actually big enough for a man-size index and middle finger to be wrapped around it. Second, the larger-than-normal release handle is also coated in rubber, a welcome addition that is especially appreciated during winter. Never again will we have to pull over to do quick roadside tiedown adjustments with bare, chapped hands as the cold metal painfully digs into our skin.

Available in 18 color combinations, the Ratchet Cats retail for $39.99 per pair. That sounds expensive, but I once got taken for $20 for a regular pair of cheesy tiedowns at Target in an emergency, and they were less than half as good as the Ratchet Cats. When you consider it that way, the price of the Ratchet Cats seems about right. The available bright color combinations are cool-looking, but they did get filthy after the first use, so my favorite would have to be plain ol' black. The plastic-coated hooks seem nice at first but the coating eventually tears with enough use, just like every other tiedown you've used. I'd like to see some type of hard powdercoating on the hooks. However, the Ratchet Cats use a "soft loop" option in which the strap forms a loop and hooks back onto itself, so the only thing tugging on your expensive handlebar is the strap material itself and not a hook, thus preventing any potential scratches.

In summary, these straps just plain work, and won't test your patience when you're antsy to get out of Dodge and go ride. Try a pair of Ratchet Cats and you'll wonder why you ever put up with the painful, anti-ergonomic handles of other ratchet straps all those years.-Brian Purtymun

Sony ATV Offroad Fury 4 Video GameThere has been a lot less productivity coming from me at the office lately. I can't quite put my finger on what it is. Maybe it's some leftover "Maana Syndrome" from our trip to Baja. Or maybe it's this new PlayStation 2 video game that I've been so absorbed in lately-ATV Offroad Fury 4 from Sony Computer Entertainment. For starters, there are more than 70 tracks on which to race your ATV, dirt bike, truck or buggy. If that sounds like a lot, well, it is, not to mention there's a track editor so you can build your own designs and then race on them. Spanning five continents and covering several different styles of racing, there's something here for everyone, from freestyle to motocross to point-to-point desert racing.

The Training Mode is a fast and fun way to dive in and get the feel of the controls. Once you graduate from there, you can play in Classic Mode, which is perfect for a quick arcade-style race. For a simulation-style gaming experience, you can play in Story Mode, in which you assume the role of an up-and-coming racer who must work his or her way through the ranks of the circuit. As you become more successful, you'll be able to purchase upgrades for your ride, as well as win sponsorships from various companies.

I especially liked the Freestyle Mode, which produces some painful-looking, yet hilarious crashes. Some of the different camera angles in ATV Offroad Fury 4 provide an awesome sense of speed, and preloading the suspension before a big jump is critical to perfect landings and maintaining your flow around the track, as is slipping the clutch to rocket out of tight corners. The artificial intelligence is well done. The competition is fierce but still crashes once in a while, so it's not impossible to make a last-lap comeback and snag the win. Small touches like this really make the game seem more realistic, and you can tell the programmers did their homework when creating this game.

Soundwise, I found ATV Offroad Fury 4 to be a disappointment. The two-stroke engines whine like a weed whacker, while a 650-horsepower trophy truck sounds similar to the Jetsons' flying car. Also, when taking the checkered flag in a supercross race with a stadium full of people, I was expecting to be drowned by cheers. Instead, I got an occasional whistle. What gives?

As for the soundtrack, it can be hit or miss. Most of the songs are from bands you've probably never heard of and include mostly hard-core rock, metal and hip-hop artists. One song can be kind of catchy, while the next one will be terrible and feature lots of hollering and screaming, which distracts when you're banging bars. Thankfully, the music is easily turned off. The graphics could have been a bit sharper, but at least they're as bright and colorful as one of Bill Cosby's sweaters.

For only $39.99, ATV Offroad Fury 4 provides enough replay value to keep you entertained for weeks and weeks. If your ATV is in the shop or foul weather has you staying home, this game is the next best thing to riding-except, of course, for reading ATV Rider.-Brian Purtymun