ATV Trails at Brushy Mountain Motor Sports Park

The Brushy Mountain Motor Sports Park can be found in Alexander County, North Carolina. This park is friendly to ATV riders, Motorcycle riders, and UTV riders and has been in business for several years. Most of the trails are marked one way which keeps riders from playing chicken head-on which is very nice. Motorcycle riders who are looking for tight trails are sure to feel at home here because they have many trails designated just for them.

This park was chosen for it rave reviews online, and because we needed an honest to goodness proving ground for the new Linhai-Yamaha 400 4x4 ATV. We quickly unloaded and went over to the sign in station to pay the fee and sign the liability waivers that I like to call the "Not our fault if you get hurt or die" papers. The attendants quickly came over to check out our brand new Linhai Big Horn ATV, and to make sure we had all the proper safety equipment like helmets, riding boots, and gloves.

Now that the formalities were out of the way, a push of a button later the engine started with a throaty growl and I pointed the brand new ATV that had never seen mud before up the mountain trail. The trail started off with a couple jumps and quick turns up a moderate incline, but it was plenty wide enough not to feel threatened very much. The trails were still peppered with large mud holes from the early spring rain and my riding partners behind me will agree that I made sure they wore as much of it as I could spray on them if they got too close to my ATV.

Further up the trails, the conditions quickly changed from Beginner level to white and orange DANGER signs around every turn. Steep hill climbs combined with very rocky terrain put my new ride to the test and I quickly engaged the four wheel drive. It seemed to be powering along pretty well right up until I came around a blind uphill turn where another rider was stuck right in the middle of the trail.

You must understand that this section of the trail was not a place to stop because of the degree of incline, and my Linhai ATV once stopped on the mountainside, stalled, then started rolling rapidly down the hill despite the brakes being fully applied. I jumped off just in time before is rolled right off the side and continued until a tree stopped it 20 feet off the trail. After several hours we got it back on the trail and I cursed myself for being too cheap to add on the winch option. I was really excited when it cranked back up with one push of the button, and the only damage was the left rear plastic fender was broken and the rear metal rack was bent pretty bad.

When I got back to the entrance, I broke out the wrench and proceeded to add a portion of my brand new ATV to the totem pole. I ordered a new fender and a winch for it that night and plan to ride there again very soon.

Recapture your youth with an ATV. If your heart cannot handle the excitement, ride your ATVs somewhere easier instead.

What is an ATV?

An ATV is an all-terrain vehicle that usually has either three or four wheels that travel on low pressure. There are many different types designed for racing, recreation, hunting, ranching, emergency services, industrial services, the military, and other uses.

All-terrain vehicles are measured in cubic centimeters (cc). They can range in size from over 1000cc to as small as 50cc. They can have as many as eight wheels or as few as three wheels. One of the most popular types of all-terrain vehicle is the utility vehicle. Utility vehicles generally have short travel suspension, a large motor, and accessories that are intended for hunting. These types of vehicles are often used in the agriculture and ranching industries.

Another popular type of ATV is the sport ATV. Sport ATVs are generally lightweight and have lots of suspension. The reason is that sport ATVs are intended to handle jumps, bumps, and turns. They can range in size from 250 cc to 700cc. Sport ATVs are often used in off-road racing. They usually have four wheels and can be modified with different types of accessories to enhance driving performance.

Side by side ATVs, also known as SxS or Rhino ATVs, are also popular vehicles. Side by side ATVs offer the same suspension as sport ATVs but with a much larger engine. They are lightweight and can carry several passengers as well as cargo. Side by side ATVs are often found in rural communities and are sometimes used as pit vehicles in races to provide versatile mobility and transportation. They are also used in the fire and rescue industries.

Children's ATVs are also growing in popularity. These ATVs are smaller and usually range in size from 50cc to 110cc. Children's ATVs, which are also known as youth ATVs, have little or no suspension, limited power, and an automatic transmission. They are designed to accommodate children of less than 100 pounds. ATVs can be fun for the whole family to enjoy.

Along with riding off road vehicles, Joseph enjoys working in his gardens. One of his favorite gardening websites is Garden Harvest Supply which offers flowering plants like Heuchera and Begonia for sale.

ATV and UTV Accidents Continue to Cause Litigation Over Injury and Death

With the first successful personal injury litigation case against Yamaha and Rhino UTV completed, this verdict will have broad implications on the hundreds of other pending lawsuits, including several in Orange County, California.

The accident associated with this litigation occurred when the UTV Mr. Roger Mc Taggart was driving rolled over at low speeds and then trapping his legs under the vehicle. He sustained serious and permanent injuries.

This verdict awarded Roger and Glenda Mc Taggart (both plaintiffs) $317,000 for both current and future medical expenses. In addition to the medical expenses, the jury found that the company was negligent and Yamaha's Rhino design was defective and that the vehicle had safety problems.

Currently there are hundreds of pending lawsuits against Yamaha at this time. Over sixteen million Americans now ride all-terrain vehicles and their popularity is at an all-time high. However as with all sports that grows quickly, accident can happen and manufacturers can rush product to the consumers without testing them thoroughly.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's 2008 Annual Report of All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV)-related Deaths and Injuries, over 135,100 people were treated in emergency rooms due to ATV accidents and over one quarter of them were children.

Additionally, 410 deaths have occurred. There are many reasons for these accidents but the primary factors are lack of developmental skills and parent supervision.

If you choose to participate in this type of sporting activity, children should always wear protective equipment and ride age-appropriate vehicles.

ATV's are classified into three groups; Y-6 for ages 6-11, Y-12 for 12-15 year olds and the adult version. The main difference is the size of their engine and the maximum speeds. Over 90% of the youth accidents occur when a youth is operating an adult ATV.

The manufacturers place placards of minimum age requirements for a reason. The key to safe driving is parental supervision.

California's state laws regarding ATV operations are some of the strictest in the nation, due to the fact that we have the highest death rate in the country. State law requires that operators on public lands wear a helmet at all times. Additionally, No one under 18 years of age can operate an ATV unless they have a safety certificate or are with an adult with one.

Attending a safety training program can decrease the risk of personal injuries tremendously.. In fact, no one under the age of 18 is allowed to operate an ATV without possessing a safety certificate. For an ATV training course near you, visit http://www.atvsafety.gov/state/california.html.

Additional Safety Tips from the ATV Safety Institute are:

* Always wear a helmet and other protective gear; goggles, boots and jackets.

* Never ride on public roads where another vehicle could hit you.

* Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

* Never carry a passenger while driving an ATV.

* Ride an ATV that's right for your age.

* Supervise riders younger than 16, ATVs are not toys.

* Ride only on designated trails and at a safe speed

James Ballidis is a California injury lawyer and the author of several books on managing your recovery after a physical injury. For more articles on personal injury, or if you wish to obtain a copy of his books, please review the articles of this California injury attorney. If you need help because you were injured in an accident, please call us at (866) 981-5596.

Youth ATV tracks

Youths need constant adventure and they also need a change of scenery once in a while. This is especially true when it comes to ATV tracks. Even adults will tire of the same ATV track after a while, much less a youth with a lot of enthusiasm, drive and need for adrenalin rush. There's nothing like going on different ATV tracks but as we all know, finding the right Youth ATV tracks for your kids can be a little trickier than you'll like.

Most Youth ATV tracks are constructed within or around lush forestation areas which provides families with alternate entertainment. Those who likes ATV riding can go riding while the rest of the non-ATV fans can go do...something else, like camping, bird watching, fishing (if there's a pond nearby) and perhaps even go horse-riding if there's a ranch within the area. Surprisingly, youths like nature more than we would have assumed but maybe that's because of the Youth ATV track.

Before you embark on an adventure to an ATV track, remember to remind your kids that they have to keep to the rules of the ATV track. The rules are often stricter than that of a normal ATV track and it's for a good reason too. One of the most important rules for most Youth ATV tracks is that kids should always stay on the track and resist the temptation to veer off course! This rule is in place for the safety purpose of the kids on the track. Veering off track on a personal adventure can put themselves or other people there in danger. On top of the going off the track could endanger the wildlife around the area too. Now, as we all know, construction of Youth ATV tracks is limited because many people feel that these tracks destroy nature. Destroying parts of the forest or woods around the Youth ATV track could very well spell TROUBLE.

It's easy for youths to get carried away when they're enjoying themselves, so, they need quite a bit of reminding. They need to realize that they are not the only ones using the Youth ATV track and they will need to be considerate at all times. There are many other families who are out there to have a good time as well. As parents, we should always show our kids how to practice common courtesy when on the track.

Like we said, it's easy for kids to get carried away when they're flying around the Youth ATV track - remind them that the ATV track is NOT a race track. In any case, kids should not be allowed to speed on the tracks because they may not be experienced enough to handle the speed or know what to do during an emergency. And besides, they may not be familiar with the ATV track yet, therefore, speeding through the Youth ATV track is not a good idea at all.

Give your kids the basics about using Youth ATV tracks before you bring them there - it's best to do it at home...and not wait until you're there. By the time they're there, they're so excited that everything you say would have flown past their heads, anyway.

Marsha Maung is an ATV enthusiast enthusiastically promoting ATV riding as a sport and family activity! She runs and is one of the staff for one of the hottest and fastest-growing ATV sites right now...http://www.atv4kids.com Upload and share pictures, articles, views, advice, reviews, ideas, tips and tricks to ATV riding with other ATV enthusiasts through ATVspace, [http://www.atv4kids.com/atvspace]

I Want To Buy A Kids ATV Quad For My Child But Is It Safe?

This is the tough question that parents must face when purchasing a kids youth ATV.
Is it safe for my child to ride an ATV? Like anything else there are certain risks involved and elements of danger. A bicycle is dangerous and can cause injury, a skateboard, a trampoline and even walking to school. Parents tell their children to ride a helmet when riding a bike and staying on the bike path and away from cars. This is how parents manage risk and minimize injury The same approach needs to be followed with ATV riding.

First, buy an appropriate sized ATV. Extreme Motor Sales has ATV's from 50cc - 110cc for youth ATVs. All too often parent's want to buy an ATV that is too powerful and too large for children. The reason they give?, "I want him or her to grow into that ATV so I don't have to buy another so soon". Extreme Motor Sales' ATV's are so reasonably priced that you can purchase a 50cc ATV for $600.00. Allow your child to learn how to ride on a size appropriate ATV or Dirt Bike and once they have mastered the mechanics for safe ATV quad riding ,move them up in size. Small ATV's hold their resale value and you will be able to recoup those costs while keeping your child safe. Most ATV's come with fantastic safety features to keep your child safe while learning to ride such as throttle limiters or governors', which is a small screw attached to the throttle box that allows you to limit the speed of the quad ATV. Tighten the screw down and the ATV can be slowed down to a maximum of 5 MPH, loosen it to increase the speed as the child becomes more experienced. Also available are ATVs with remote controls, the remote allows you to start, stop and set an audible alarm on the ATV. If the child is driving towards a dangerous area and you want them to stop, you don't have to yell or chase them down, just hit the stop button also known as remote kill switch and the engine shuts off and the ATV comes to a gradual stop. Another safety feature are foot wells, which are foot guards that connect from the front wheel fender to the rear wheel fender, that prevent children from putting their feet down and getting tangled in with the wheels. Remember the old 3-wheelers, they only had foot pegs, and if you put your foot down the rear wheel could and did run over them causing injury. Not the case any more.

Next, think safety gear. Use a recommended, quality dot, Department of Transportation approved helmet. Our dot youth helmets start at $60.00. Often heard...."What is the cheapest ATV helmet that you have?" Don't make the same mistake, spend the money on a good helmet now and keep your child safe forever. You can get complete gear packages including helmet, goggles, chest protector, boots, jersey, pants and gloves for $299.99. Extreme Motor Sales has the RSVP program, which is Ride Safely Value Program that gives you an extra 10% off youth gear purchases when purchasing a youth ATV. Purchase the safety gear and enforce the rules of wearing safety gear while riding or no riding at all. If you do not reinforce the importance of safety then your child will not either.

Finally, an ATV is not a babysitter or a way to keep your child busy while you do other things. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. There is no substitute for adult supervision to keep children safe while riding. Do not allow kids to ride passengers at any time. If you are not familiar with proper ATV riding there are local groups that provide ATV safety courses.

Ride Safe, Ride Smart and Ride Forever.

Parent's, ATV quad riding is a great self-esteem booster, a healthy way to exercise and a great leverage tool for say keeping grades up. We at http://www.ExtremeMotorSales.com believe that ATVriding is a sport that all children and families can and should enjoy.

The Snowmobile Manufacturer Now Known Equally As Well For Its ATV Brand

The snowmobile is a wondrous machine. It serves its purpose for utility reasons and it most certainly serves its purpose as a recreational vehicle for wintertime fun. The snowmobile is one of those vehicles where riders and owners become brand loyal and down-right competitive when it comes to defending their favorite sled. Arctic Cat, officially named Arctic Industries Inc. of Thief River Falls, MN has been in the business of manufacturing snowmobiles since the 1960's.

Their innovative designs have struck a nerve with snowmobilers in the United States, Canada, and in many other snow covered regions around the world ever since their inception. They are among the very few elite sled manufacturers that still exist and thrive today. Arctic Industries knows the ups and downs of the snowmobile industry too well however. The weather is a major factor in snowmobile sales and that actually makes their main product, the snowmobile, a somewhat regional item. In the United States for example, the snowmobile market is limited to the snow belt, the most northern portion of the country.

Arctic Industries made a strategic decision to expand its business model. Since the snowmobile market is limited by region and weather, they decided to try their hand a personal watercraft. They introduced the Tigershark PWC as a remedy for seasonal production and sales. Although their heart was in the right place, their presence in the watercraft industry was short-lived. The next logical step is into the ATV market. This is where the tale gets interesting.

The Arctic Cat ATV model line made its debut in 2004 with utility, sport, and youth ATV's. Their initial offering was well rounded. Their 4x4 ATV's feature a host of advanced technology including fully independent front and rear suspension, advanced hydraulic disc brakes, long travel suspension with high ground clearance, automatic transmissions as well as high-low range transmission design, 2WD and 4WD shaft drive, locking differentials, electronic fuel injection. They introduced their version of the 2X4 sport atv back in 2004 as well.

The DVX 400 was merely a Suzuki Quadracer (LTZ400) ATV clad in Arctic Cat green and black with the Cat logo. The DVX held its own in the 2WD race and trail market. The combination of the utility models which have been competitively priced, and the sport atv's now produced in smaller, more economical versions, Arctic Cat is a force to be reckoned with. One thing is for sure, the Arctic Cat ATV line is diverse, reliable, and in the process of developing a loyal following as it did with it decades old snowmobile line.

Chet maintains an Arctic Cat ATV site dedicated to the Arctic Cat DVX model line. Info on all the DVX models including the DVX 50, 90, 250, 300, and DVX 400. Post pics, get the latest advice on mods, or purchase DVX atv parts.

Youth ATV is Generating lots of Popularity

The popularity of ATV has been rising so astoundingly that many ATV manufacturers have placed importance of developing smaller versions of their current models and designing new models to cater for a new ATV market we regard as the Youth ATV market.

Youth ATV is a unique market...although its smaller, the specifications, requirements and as well as features on Youth ATV is often more stringent and extensive than normal adult-sized ATV. Only last year, there are more and more companies offering Youth ATV with the increasing number of 4-stroke engine Youth ATV as compared to full-sized ones. The leader of Youth ATV remains to be Honda and Yamaha...however, other ATV manufacturers are quickly catching up, offering more defined and youth-enhanced ATVs to consumers.

With so many companies competing for a comparatively small market, the industry for Youth ATV is slowly maturing. As with other types of businesses, after a period of stiff competition and neck-to-neck battles, the strong ones will survive. Some people see if as the concept of 'natural selection'. If the manufacturer of Youth ATV is open to ideas, is consistently improving its line of Youth ATVs, and is keen on moving forward with the trend, it will survive. The less popular ones will either move on to something else or disappear altogether. So, it's safe to assume that for the next few years, we'll see very low prices for Youth ATV while the market matures but over time, the price for Youth ATV will slowly stabilize like the market for Full-Sized ATVs.

Safety features, not surprisingly, sits comfortably at the top of the list of priorities when it comes to Youth ATV. Lacking in physical skill and control over their ATV, Youth ATV needs to be packed with many different safety features that will allow their parents to control the ATV whenever Youths are in trouble. The more safety features it has, the better-selling the Youth ATV will be. Is it of any surprise to you that this is so?

Like human beings, the Youth ATV market will go through many developmental stages too...from infancy, toddlerhood to childhood...and then they reach maturity. The comparison makes perfect sense if you look at it closely. Right now, the Youth ATV market is going through a developmental stage where the industry is tweaking itself to find a footing. Over time, as it matures, we will be able to enjoy Youth ATV of optimal technology, quality, performance and improved features.

Marsha Maung is an ATV enthusiast enthusiastically promoting ATV riding as a sport and family activity! She runs and is one of the staff for one of the hottest and fastest-growing ATV sites right now...http://www.atv4kids.com. Upload and share pictures, articles, views, advice, reviews, ideas, tips and tricks to ATV riding with other ATV enthusiasts through ATVspace, [http://www.atv4kids.com/atvspace].