Getting the nod from our staff to build a quad worthy of featuring in ATV Rider Magazine is not exactly an easy task (more like daunting), as we are always in search for the best of the best and are not exactly easy to impress. For starters, this person must possess a vision that captures our attention, and that's difficult as we've pretty much seen it all, or at least we think we have. Secondly, whomever we entrust with this responsibility must have the creative ability for custom design as we want more than anything to deliver a level of wow factor that would stop anyone who can appreciate a work of custom-built art in their tracks, even if it's a segment of the sport that generally doesn't interest them. Lastly, we've got to feel good about their ability to follow through, and that one alone eliminates the majority of candidates. Unfortunately, the end result is often quite the disappointment, but every once in a while all of the stars align and something inspirational is born. You know the type! On one hand, you're just itching to throw a leg over and rip as it looks so trick, but on the other hand, it's so unique that you'd hate to scratch and tarnish it by doing so. It's the kind that's so impressive that it could easily go home with the winning trophy from even a National-level Show 'N Shine.
"On one hand, you're just...
"On one hand, you're just itching to throw a leg over and rip as it looks so trick, but on the other hand, it's so unique that you'd hate to scratch and tarnish it by doing so."
Somehow both you and I (that's right, you too) were fortunate enough to meet such a person, who could capture our attention long enough to impress our staff with a vision, bring that vision to fruition, follow through on even the most minute details and take home the honors of winning a Show 'N Shine at a renowned National event. A couple of years ago I met Matt Pate, best known for creating and managing Team I-45 Racing, which is well stocked with names such as Seth Russell and Kale Sanders. The team left such a memorable impression with me due to their professionalism, coordinated factory team appearance, readiness at races and the ability to win in the pit, that Matt seemed the perfect candidate for taking on the task of building a mud machine worthy of being on our cover. After a few days wrestling with ideas in the think tank, Matt proposed a vision that has taken off in larger ways than we ever imagined originally. His vision was to build "Renegade One," and no, not an official off-road transport for President Obama. Instead of me explaining Renegade One from head to toe, I felt it best that Matt write about the ins and outs of this incredible build in his own words. Here's what he had to say.
"In November 2009, when I was asked if I would be interested in creating a vision and building it into reality, the first thing that came to mind was a one-of-a-kind machine. I wanted this machine to turn heads from the visual standpoint, to possess a vicious race-winning motor and to incorporate modifications not ever seen before in the mud racing community. To get such a finish (and better yet, the respect of the racing community) I knew I had to start with a bike that needed no help turning heads right off the showroom floor. So I went to one of Can-Am's largest dealers, I-45 Sales, and picked out a brand-new 2010 Renegade 800Xxc. This unit comes out of the box with enough horsepower to make the most advanced riders grin with joy after their first ride and also has modern advancements such as power steering.
These Cycra hand guards work...
These Cycra hand guards work with Flexx bars help keep a good bit of mud from dowsing your hands.
Running this lift along with...
Running this lift along with massive tires would just not be possible without the beefy strength and durability of Gorilla axles.
Mud Industries produces the...
Mud Industries produces the sickest-looking snorkels in the business, not to mention that they are vital for going deep.
Custom switches add that extra...
Custom switches add that extra bling factor to the overall looks and craftsmanship of the build.
"As soon as we uncrated the bike it was wheeled into the shop to begin its transformation into a beast. All the plastics were removed and the motor's top end was pulled to be sent off for a little TLC. I chose to work with After Midnight Racing to help turn this already powerful motor into one that absolutely screams. After speaking with Glenn at AMR and picking his brain for direction, I decided to go with his new 916cc Can-Am kit. He assured me this motor would give my bike the horsepower it needed to back up its looks. Being that this build was going to have to be impressive, skipping the powerful thrust unleashed by nitrous was not an option. I called Nitrous Express about their new Proton V-twin system for ATVs to give it a run, which turned out to be an impressive system.
"While the motor was off and getting an overhaul I made a drive to Aqua Print Grafix to explain my vision and brainstorm with them about giving the bike its visual appeal. After I felt they understood what I was looking for I left it to them to work their magic. The dipping process these guys use looks absolutely amazing when it's finished as it creates a vibrant and shiny polished look. Those guys did an amazing job as they took what I was looking for and added their own personal touches to really bring Renegade One to life.
The custom paint and graphics...
The custom paint and graphics designed by Aqua Print Grafix are durable and are really what creates such a unique look for Renegade One.
"Being left with only a rolling chassis to work with I knew we had to get the stance of the bike up in the air. With a reputation of being one of if not the best in the business, I contacted Scott Michelle with Custom ATV of Shreveport (CATVOS). He's developed one of the most unbelievable Renegade 6-inch lifts, which would fit this build to perfection. I made it clear to Scott that I really wanted to keep the power steering and sway bar control features that are incorporated into the new Renegade Xxc, and he began putting his design skills to work and working his magic on the rolling chassis.
"With all the power and the extra lift this machine would now possess, I needed to upgrade certain parts to better handle the added strains and stresses. I contacted Gorilla Axle to provide me with the heavy-duty axles that would be necessary to handle our new lift. And to put the traction to the ground we also ordered a set of 30x9 Gorilla Silverback tires to give the bike the aggressive bite and traction in the nasty muddy water of East Texas.
The Nitrous Express system...
The Nitrous Express system and the custom BradAssDesigns paint job pack a powerful punch both visually and with performance.
"Playing in the deep mud and water absolutely requires snorkels so that the machine can breathe under water. Mud Industries creates unique-looking snorkels, so I asked them to build me a custom snorkel that would see upward and allow more airflow to feed the new monster motor. They built a custom dual-intake system and relocated the factory crankcase vent line to the other side of the airbox, which allows cleaner air and less chance of getting the muddy water into the oil. They also installed a K&N filter with an Outerwears using a polished turbo tube to increase the air velocity going into the throttle body. But we didn't stop with our air mods at that point, as we installed a new Quadworx air intake that increases the flow even more with its advanced design. This alone adds an additional 3 horsepower. With this much airflow coming in we had to have a way to get it out. For that I contacted Looney Tuned Exhaust which offers a true dual setup for the Can-Am and is arguably one of the best power-producing pipes for the Can-Am motor. This exhaust puts out that incredible chest-thumping deep tone we have all come to love from the V-twins. With all these mods in place, the air and fuel mixture had to be properly set. Dynojet supplied their new Power Commander 5 and Autotune, and our friends at 3P (Pit Proven Performance) helped us get this beast dialed in."
And The Results Are?
Before Matt would allow me to throw a leg over Renegade One for a little test time of my own, he wanted to enter it into the Show 'N Shine at the Mud Nationals. Yes, it actually won and was later invited to show at Can-Am's annual dealer meeting. I guess winning that competition is all I really need to say when speaking of its fit, finish and overall beauty. From a performance standpoint, I was blown away by its swift and crisp output of power as I hammered down through even the deepest of pits. I was also impressed with its ability to handle both in and out of the pit due to the CATVOS lift design. In the pit, the front did not float nearly as badly as I would have thought and was very easily controlled with a little body English and feathering of the throttle. On the trail, I felt as if it had great stability (almost like a sport quad), and I could whip it around without extra effort. Overall, Matt not only met the expectations of our staff, but exceeded them as well. Matt, thanks for running yourself ragged, it was certainly worth it for us.
Parts Chart
After Midnight Racing: www.aftermidnightracing.com; 330/347-6800
916 big-bore kit, X2 cams, valve springs, valve seals: $1,800
BradAssDesigns: www.bradassdesigns.com3; 817/528-3607
Custom airbrush work: $1,400; helmet: $650; nitrous bottle: $350; rear plate: $400
DWT Wheels: www.dwtracing.com; 760/758-5560
Diablo (4) 14x6 Black Chrome wheels: $198 ea.
Dynojet Research:www.dynojet.com
Power Commander V $369.95; AutoTune $259.99
Gorilla Axle: www.gorilla-axle.com; 318/345-8186
30x9-14 Silverback tires (4): $128.70 ea.; Silverback lift axles (4): $436.25 ea.
Looney Tuned Exhaust: www.lteracing.com; 707/485-7438
Renegade 800 dual exhaust: $770.49
ODI Grips: www.odigrips.com; 951/786-4755
Rogue clamp-on grips with custom etching: $23.95
Maximum Billet levers allow...
Maximum Billet levers allow your fingers to remain in position when all of your controls become slippery.
In addition to Maximum Billet's...
In addition to Maximum Billet's sweet levers, its billet gas cap is just one of the other details that make Renegade One a unique work of art.
ODI's custom-etched clamp-on...
ODI's custom-etched clamp-on grips are an absolute must for tackling wet and slippery terrains.
Looney Tuned Exhaust is one...
Looney Tuned Exhaust is one of the best power-producing exhausts for the Renegade while looking good doing so.