ATV, UTV, & Side-x-Side Articles

Part 1 of 2 – Trail Day

The top speeds of ATVs and Side-x-Sides are constantly improving to the point where it’s quite possible to “outrun” your headlights. To that end, the timing couldn’t be better for a company to come out with a new HID (High Intensity Discharge) technology that would eliminate that particular problem. In response, the folks at Welch Allyn Lighting Products have introduced Sōlarc NGX, a new lighting technology aimed at the off-road market.

AUSA is a company with a clearly international flavor. Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, it markets its all-terrain multi-service vehicles in over 70 countries through 225 distributors. The firm has been certified with the prestigious ISO 9001 standard for manufacturing, which designates it as a top-level company in implementing quality assurance systems in machine design, purchasing management, production and customer support. Established in 1956, AUSA gained off-road legitimacy through manufacturing rough-terrain construction vehicles like concrete mixers, forklifts and payloaders.

Kawasaki’s Teryx RUV (Recreational Utility Vehicle) has exterior dimensions that fall between most mid- and full-size UTVs and is priced lower than both the Rhino and RZR (quite an achievement, considering what you’re getting). The exterior is a fusion of Prowler, Rhino and RZR themes. Other than the V-Twin, the Teryx breaks no new technological ground for Side-x-Side’s, but Kawasaki also got very little wrong with it. The hood looks eerily similar to the Rhino, but the body design is clean and well-proportioned without any notable missteps.

“Dang it! It snowed again!!!” How many times have you heard--or said--that?

Description / Competition 

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the words “Big Red”?

Although we'll admit that we enjoy an inherently dangerous sport, we must also admit that safety is one of our greatest concerns. Everybody knowingly assumes a risk each time they throw a leg over a machine and fire it up, and because of that, they should never ride without the proper safety gear. While we may not always ride with full motocross gear, we always make sure to wear what we consider the "essentials": a helmet, goggles, long-sleeved shirt, full-length pants and boots, which have been longtime standards as the minimum safety equipment necessary for any type of riding.

When riders pull their chairs up to the campfire or cabin table and begin a rousing discussion of Honda ATVs, the conversation invariably turns to reliability. Honda ATVs have been the gold standard for engine and chassis reliability, and riders who have been disappointed by them are far and few between. We have two Honda three-wheelers that we grew up on, both of which are old enough to buy a drink anywhere and one of which has now reached the quarter-century mark.

This new offering for 2009 includes a 14-horsepower gas Vanguard engine in four-wheel drive or two-wheel drive options. The HUV 4414 includes the same features as Husqvarna full-size models, seats two and has a bed load capacity of 400 pounds.

Other prominent features are 4-wheel hydraulic disc brakes, engine braking, true 4WD, 25-inch tires, 4-wheel independent suspension and a certified ROPS. The 14HP (480cc) Vanguard V-Twin has a governed top speed of 25MPH. All of this for an amazingly low price.

MSRP & Specs coming soon!