Aloha! Yeah, you read that correctly! As I write this month's column, I sit here dazzled by the huge, curling waves and the enormous amounts of natural beauty that swirls all around me on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. You're not going to believe all the great things we have in store for you this month. But before we dive deeper into our location and this month's feature stories, let's click it in reverse and look back to a promise made in our December 2007 issue. Here's what I said: "Over the next few months, you're going to notice major changes to the ATVR package. My new staff and I vow to grab your attention and create an entertaining escape from the mundane realities of life. We want to make you guys feel as if you're on the adventures with us, spark new ideas for your own ventures and entertain you through adrenaline-filled exploration. We want you to tear out the pages and hang them on the walls of your room or garage, just like I used to do when I was growing up." So as you flip through the pages of this issue of ATVR, hopefully you'll notice that we are delivering on our promises. But it doesn't stop here! We have plenty of fresh, new ideas and exciting changes that we'll be throwing your way over the next few months and throughout 2008. I think it's going to be an amazing year for ATV Rider Magazine and for you the readers who make what we do possible.
Now, back to Hawaii. Our staff photographer Adam Campbell and I set off on a mission to explore one of the most beautiful places on this planet aboard ATVs and side-by-sides. We chose Kauai, Hawaii, for its extreme vegetation, junglelike atmosphere and to step away from the ordinary touristy hot spots that most people limit themselves to while visiting the islands. Let's just put this island in perspective. There have been countless movies filmed on Kauai, such as scenes from Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones just to name a few. That's because of the island's unique scenery and enormous tropical vegetation. We wanted to capture the real Hawaii, you know, the areas way back into the countrysides that most people will never get the chance to experience. So what better way to do this than by ATV? After all, that is our passion!
I must say that exploring the island of Kauai was absolutely amazing and breathtaking on so many levels. We met great people, ate extremely interesting food, saw massive waves for the first time and even surfed for a couple of hours. But the best part of it all-and most memorable for me-was experiencing some of the best riding that I've ever done in my life. It was by far the most unique terrain, remote location and exotic wilderness that I've ever ridden in. At times, Adam and I would just stop and say, "Wow, it's hard to fathom that this type of beauty really exists!" It was as if we had been teleported to another world in another time. At times, we even waited for a prehistoric dinosaur, such as a huge T-rex to pop its head around the corner. There's nothing that I can even think of to compare riding on this island, but I can say for a fact that it was an experience of a lifetime. And just as it was magical for us, it can be for you as well. We'll share with you ideas on how to set up your next adventure to Hawaii. You're certainly not going to want to pass up on this one.
But Hawaii isn't the only great story in this issue. Is your garage or basement full of old quad parts that have been piling up over the past few years? We know how it goes, as you buy a new set of aftermarket tires and rims and pull off the stockers. Or you replace your stock exhaust for a few extra ponies. Believe it or not, those old parts that are lying around the garage collecting dust could be extra money in your pocket. Well, we'll share with you everything you'll need to know to move those parts and line your pockets with some fast cash.
Also in this issue, we put in some much-needed track time on a variety of ATV models. First off, we understand that the Suzuki LT-R450 is for the most part ready to race right out of the box. But we feel there are still a handful of tweaks and modifications that it needs in order to come to life and to be transformed into a true track race-ready machine. Campbell and Allen Knowles did the research and the wrenching to perfect this machine, all for fewer than $2000. We'll show you how they did it and on what level it performed. We also pulled out a machine that's been around for quite a few years but has incorporated several great new features for 2008, the Honda 400EX. It was time to revisit the trusty ole 400EX and test out its newest features, such as reverse and its fresh, new shape. And lastly, we gave Yamaha's newest version of the Grizzly 700 FI EPS a workout that it won't soon forget. We wanted to dive in and learn more about its innovative power steering system and its electronic fuel injection. We think you'll be pleased with our findings. Hope you enjoy!