One look at the CST Abuzz and the aggressive tread pattern should clue you in that these tires mean business. So you’ve never heard of CST? Cheng Shin Tire, or CST, is the same company famous for the Maxxis tire brand known all over the world. Don’t believe us? Look closely at your favorite Maxxis tire and you’ll see Cheng Shin printed on it!

From the September/October 2011 issue of ATV Rider Magazine

From the September/October 2011 issue of ATV Rider Magazine

From the September/October 2011 issue of ATV Rider Magazine

When it comes time to beef up the performance of your Polaris RZR, there’s no better or easier way on the planet to make horsepower than by adding a turbo. For the last few years, several companies in the turbo game have entered the market. However, none produce a kit that installs as easily or provides as much reliability as the turbo offered by MCX-USA. Take one trip to Glamis and you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting someone rocking a turbo on their rig. In my neck of the woods in heavenly Appalachia, though, turbos on side-by-sides aren’t nearly as prevalent. The main reason is that running an intercooled turbo in the mud creates a different set of challenges than running one in the dunes. Dependent upon your wheeling locale, MCX-USA or Complete Performance has you covered if a turbo is at the top of your wish list!

Each year we attend the biggest event of the mud riding season, the High Lifter ATV Mud Nationals in Jacksonville, Texas. At this event we will see many products that make the fun of mud riding possible. With the invention of things like huge tires and lifts the once-nonexistent industry has soared to new heights. With bigger tires and suspension that’s tweaked for deep bogging the engine also needs some additional modifications to hold it all together. In no particular order, we name a few items that many mudders consider essential to really enjoy the art of muddin’.

A tow strap is one of those items that many riders feel is an absolute must-have on an ATV or SxS but, for various reasons, choose not to carry. First off, a general lack of storage space, and second, dealing with it after you've used it in wet or muddy conditions. After pulling people who are stuck in a swamp filled with stagnant water, the last thing I've ever wanted to do was wind up a strap and stow it with the rest of my gear or anything else I have in my storage. Tiger Tail has realized this and bestowed upon the world its Tiger Tail AT/UT self-retracting tow strap.

I am very particular about wearing goggles that fit my face properly. There's nothing more annoying than a goggle that doesn't quite fit and passes dirt through gaps where the foam doesn't touch your face or puts uncomfortable pressure on the bridge of your nose. When I got my hands on Oakley's Mayhem MX goggle I was excited to try it because I've always been a fan of the fit. The fact that this goggle comes with a removable nose guard, spare tinted lens and pack of laminated tear-offs for $75 makes it an even better bargain. With new goggle in hand I went to the local motocross track for a test drive.

Despite having more leg injuries than most war veterans, I've avoided knee braces throughout my entire injury-filled off-road career. The thought of wearing knee braces while riding or racing has always somewhat turned me off; after all, they look bulky, uncomfortable and seem like they would impede mobility, not to mention they're expensive and require a ton of insurance red tape in order to be fitted. I honestly never guessed I'd be wearing knee braces, but a return to motocross and a fear of further injury did wonders for opening my mind to the idea of seeking out good knee protection. Researching braces was a bit frustrating, and more than one manufacturer required medical insurance and a doctor's prescription. The problem is, most doctors are so micromanaged by the insurance companies that they can't write you a scrip until you've actually destroyed your knee. Preventative medicine is out of pocket for the most part. An over-the-counter brace would have to do, so the research turned me toward EVS. As vain as it may sound, it was the look of the EVS Web knee brace that first got me curious; I'm a sucker for carbon fiber, and the Web is not only constructed of the sweetest carbon fiber I've seen, it is styled like a futuristic hot rod. Sizing was fairly easy and only required a thigh and calf measurement, pretty much squashing the myth about needing a doctor or custom brace.

Dubach Racing
Raptor 125 Complete Exhaust System

Price: $499

If you're looking to shave two pounds of weight and increase the power from the nimble Raptor 125, simply add on one of these systems.

www.dubachracing.com

951/808-1114
877/382-2241

If you want to score some points with your "Tender Roni" during the cold winter months in the Salt Belt, be sure to Tweet her friends and let them know that she "looks finer than a new set of snow tires"! If you want to score bragging rights with your riding buddies during the winter, check out Kenda's Snow Mad tire. It's a common misconception that sport quads and snow don't get along. Long story short, your sport quad's snow prowess is almost completely dependent on the type of tires you choose. For those who battle snow for several months out of the year, bucking up for a set of Kenda Snow Mads might be your ticket to supreme snow-topia.

When my first set of Forma boots arrived on my doorstep, I was pretty stoked; they looked cool, felt light and made me want to ride. The stars aligned (for once) that weekend, and I found myself at the local MX track with nothing to do but ride. I pounded a few laps in order to get comfortable with the track, came in to the pits and pulled out my new Forma Dominator Comp boots. Visually, they look pretty sweet and comparable to most other boots in their lower $300 price range; the chrome and gold accents looked a bit blingin', but overall they're good-looking boots. Everything from the leather and synthetic material upper to the steel toecap and suede leather heat protector looked top-notch.

Stock tires are sufficient for a while but often lack performance for a variety of terrains and conditions and puncture easily due to low-cost construction. It's not unusual for me to puncture new stock meats in their first 10 miles, but I surprisingly traversed 100 miles before blowing my Polaris Ranger's right rear. My replacement set needed to possess a higher ply rating for improved durability and a slightly more aggressive lug pattern, all while maintaining a comfortable ride. I chose a newer tire named TrailFinder, which met my requirements perfectly.

From the November/December issue of ATV Rider Magazine

I'm extremely passionate about two subjects: all things off-road and my Apple iPad. So you can imagine how stoked I was that Bike Bandit released a special iPad app that paired my two main interests. This app allows you to view schematics of any ATV and motorcycle, will tell you if Bike Bandit has that part in stock, how much the product will cost, the part number and makes it available to order right from your iPad or iPhone. This complete setup is downloadable for free, and the schematics page can be a huge benefit when you're wrenching and need help with the individual parts.

EKS GOX Limited Goggle

It's hard to say that the shock Mike Hallock of Exit Suspension developed for the Can-Am Outlander is merely just a good shock because its abilities and performance enhancements stretch far beyond good. Mike has a great sense for listening to racers, converting their information into usable knowledge and applying that knowledge to create a formidable shock that is second to none. The first set of Exit shocks that he developed and we tested was very good. But the thing is, races are the testing grounds for the everyday rider, and Mike listened to our feedback and tweaked things to perfection. Many companies seem to have lost sight of that, but not Mike. Oftentimes racers get their shocks dialed in to perfection, but after sending them off for a rebuild, the shocks come back well off the mark.

FMF Racing Factory 4.1 Titanium Exhaust System
Bolting the 4.1 system up to our Suzuki LT-R450 was like Romeo and Juliet: They were meant for each other. This system mounted up without having to use any shims, spacers or Lou Ferrigno-like muscle to manhandle into place. Nope, every bolt hole lined up perfectly. This system is titanium and weighs as light as a feather, saving a few unneeded pounds. Coupled with a stainless steel header pipe, it was mounted and ready to go in no time at all. Speaking of the header pipe, the boys over at FMF Racing have developed theirs slightly different from the competition. The FMF system incorporates a 4- to 5-inch expanded section of the header pipe called the PowerBomb. The PowerBomb not only increases the velocity of the exhaust gases but also provides some exhaust damping to help lower the sound output. I know sound output is a big concern at most parks, but traditional methods tend to restrict the flow of exhaust thus reducing overall power output. Not this system!

Utility ATVs require certain modifications that are just plain and simply necessary for protecting your ride from the rigors and damage inflicted by harsh off-road conditions. The problem is the additional protective gear adds unwanted weight to machinery that's already tipping the scales off the showroom floor. After bolting on aluminum skid plates, bumpers, beadlock wheels, a winch or any of the other hundreds of aftermarket components available, an appointment with Jenny Craig seems like a more responsible decision than hitting the trails. Too much weight can be the worst enemy to the performance and handling of your machine. When the stock tires on my Can-Am Outlander 800 began balding, I started researching a tire that would have the same or similar weight as the stockers, additional puncture-resistance qualities and a more aggressive trail-grabbing style of tread. At first glance, the Bighorn 2.0 appeared to be what I was looking for. The tread has great all-terrain styling with large lugs that are spaced well for propelling through and cleaning out mud. This Bighorn 2.0 is almost identical to the original Bighorn with the exception of a Weight Watchers diet and slight modifications to the tread.

Arai Helmets
VX-Pro3 Akira Red Helmet
Price: $659.95

EPI Performance
RZR S And RZR 4 Performance Clutch Kits

Price: Starting at $179.99

When we tested our Polaris RZR 4 back in our May/June, one area of performance we felt needed to be addressed was the clutching. To maximize the full potential of the 760cc twin-cylinder engine we noted that clutch modifications would definitely be needed. EPI Performance must have felt the same way since it has done its testing and released a performance clutch kit for the RZR 4 and the RZR S so the engine's rpm will always be in the sweet spot of making power while keeping your vehicle going forward.

EPI Performance
www.epiperformance.com
218/829-6036

EVS Sports
RS-8 Knee Brace
Price: Single, $199; pair, $349