A New Danger on the Trails

[El Camexican]

They started showing up on the double track trails here about a year ago. “They” are Polaris Racers and CanAm Commanders and I’m sure some Chinese wannabees. You’d see one or two over the weekend back then. Today I saw no less than 20.

I know we all have to share the road, but these things take up more than what is available here most of the time. I’m used to coming around a corner on a narrow trail and seeing 3 ton trucks, quads, bikes, VW buggies and even converted school buses, but of all the aforementioned the only ones that travel over 20mph into corners are the bikes and quads and they don’t take up the whole road. 60 feet of distance between me and a 3 ton truck gives both of us enough time to stop, but a Racer doing 40mph sideways is another story.

Many of the Commanders I saw today were literally flying over terrain that I don’t think I could keep up to them on with my bike and there was a trail of beer cans behind many of them.

Last time out one almost forced my buddy off the side of a mountain and after the near miss almost tipped in front of me. The guy was literally on his right front wheel with the rear left 3 feet in the air 30’ feet in front of me. It was a bowel cleansing moment for all involved.

I reiterate, we all have to share the road, but if any of you drive these monstrosities I hope you’re allowing for oncoming traffic when you slide them around blind corners. For those of you who have to share the trails with them, watch out, they will win every time if you kiss bumpers on anything smaller than a Jeep.

[Dirtcrasher]

That stinks!! One of those machines with Mr. Awesome Driver might end up taking some guys out!

Those things need one very large area JUST for them. But, if thats what they love, we gotta respect their vehicle choice as well. Unfortunately, we share terrain.

They go very fast, and like to everywhere; And, it's fun! but you can't have people or ATV's around them or it's suicide.

That's why if I ever get to the dunes, all I could safely do is follow Kasey :lol:

Dunes don't seem to be too safe for inexperienced riders of the area...

[RIDE-RED 250r]

We are seeing a huge surge in side-x-side popularity up here in Tug Hill as well. Most of what we ride offers plenty of room but there are a few who just aren't riding right that push it too fast on some of the more narrow roads. Meeting folks like that has the same effect on me...

Don't get me wrong, I think they are great fro some people..I see alot more older folks out enjoying off-roading since the UTV has come out. But some of the younger crowd just push things beyond being reasonable. I love to go fast, but some roads just aren't suitable to high speed due to being narrow with blind hills and curves that don't allow room for 2 riders to pass when 1 is sideways and not keeping right.

In all fairness though, I see just as many riding 4x4 ATV's that push it a bit much and have narrowly missed me or others in my group as well...

All we can do is set an example and try to make up for others who haven't a clue... Kind of like riding a street bike and sharing the road with people driving autos that probably shouldn't be.

[atc007]

I called on a Polaris 5 seater { aftermarket rear seat} up in NY a few weeks ago. I was speechless talking with him.. A few of his buddies have the Polaris.. SIX of his buddies have new Mavericks, 2 and 4 seaters, a few have commanders. And ALL of them trailer up and travel to ride!! I though the sled industry was nuts back in the 90's! $20000 for TWO sleds, all the gear and a nice trailer. And usually a new Suburban to yank it all North 6 hours.. These guys are dropping $20000 on a ONE stock buggy, Then slapping another $6000 into it to get it where they or their egos WANT it. THEN the trailers and tow rigs.. I personally have a 06 Rhino for the farm LOVE it. Have had the RZR , could not stand it. Just me. The 4 seater mavericks are literally bigger than a Colorado. I know, I saw one sitting side x side at the Can am dealer awhile back. ANYHOW. I was thinking ,while listening to this guy go on and ON about their rides. .. It's gotta be a real hoot to meet this freakin convoy of behemoths charging down the trail at you ... Be careful out there. That's all I've got for ya. Thanx for the headsup for trail riders.

[El Camexican]

Yea the price of those things is nuts. Unfortunately Monterrey has no shortage of people that can afford them and many of those same people have grown up with a sense of entitlement that makes them think that not only do they own the road, but that everyone else should GTF out of their way.

I'm seriously thinking about changing my riding patterns. I hope to trailer further out and do more single track riding when possible. The darn thing is that after hurricane Alex most of the trails were inaccessible if you didn't have a bike, so we were alone in a lot of areas. That was in 2010, but over the past couple years the governments has replaced and extended paved roads so that areas that once took 30 minutes of fairly skilled bike riding to get to is now a 10 minute truck ride with side X side in tow. There are now bikes, quads, side x sides, mountain bikes and hikers all spread out on what once were formerly desolate trails. The government has also sent bulldozers to open up some of the washed out secondary roads that lead to small mountain villages, so that's making the towns accessible to Pemex officials who can get from town to town with out backtracking and they're shutting down the places where we were buying our fuel. We road 180 miles after trailering 30 miles. We were only able to buy store bought gas once, so if that source dries up I won't have to worry about sharing trails with side x sides...

One good thing is that we usually hit the trails well before 8:00am when the drinkers are still sleeping, but when we're coming back they are headed our way.

[6speedthumper]

I ride out at Hatfield 2-3 times a year, and there are side x sides everywhere. To date, I have not had one issue with anyone out there. Many of the folks I see have their youngsters with them, and keep to a fairly reasonable pace. Only twice have I had any problems with other riders out there. The first time was almost two years ago. It was a group of big as$ heavy 4x4 quads, and they were drinking. The second time was just back in May, and that had to do with 2 dirt bikers that flew past our group (7 of us), narrowly missing my dad and a couple others behind me. When I say narrowly missed, I mean if my dad had farted it would have blown this dickhead off the mountain. We were all pretty pis$ed at that.

So far the blind curve issues I've had is with the younger crowd on sport quads that think everything is their own private track. Now, I do ride like a bat out of hell a good portion of the time, but, I ALWAYS wait to blast through a blind curve until I'm nearly through it, and can confirm there is no oncoming traffic. I always stay to the right, as well. There has not been a time when I have not led our group (no one else can follow a damn map) so there comes a lot of responsibilities with being the point man.

[350for350]

It's idiots like these that are causing our riding areas to be closed down. My "local" riding area is about an hour from where I grew up. When I first started going there in 1997, it was almost all bikes there. Sure there was a Blaster, Banshee, or Warrior on the trails, but the few quads mostly stayed in the parking lots. I was the oddball out riding my 4x4 quad on the trails anywhere it would fit. Within 5 years, it was the opposite. Very few bikes. Back then, it was very relaxed with no real rules. The parking lots are gravel and you could just park anywhere and camp. It was great! Then people started using it as a party place. A lot of cars came out for a few hours and then left. Most people were gone by midnight. Some would ride quads around the campers like it was their personal race track all night long. Now there's a gate that is closed from 10pm to 8am. No camping. Park Rangers and the local sheriff's department both have regular patrols. Pretty strict rules. Most of the quads are big bore 4x4's now. They stick mostly to the bottom areas to play mud bog. You used to be able to ride a dirt bike through most of the mud holes, but not now. These days, I just stick to my bike and avoid all mud holes. It wouldn't surprise me if they start charging a fee to ride there. There aren't too many public riding areas in Kansas and these inconsiderate aholes just make it worse for the rest of us. It happens everywhere.

[350for350]

Forgot to mention that the best thing is that there is a rule of 50" wide so most utv's won't fit between the steel posts that you have to go through to get to the trails.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

I ride out at Hatfield 2-3 times a year, and there are side x sides everywhere. To date, I have not had one issue with anyone out there. Many of the folks I see have their youngsters with them, and keep to a fairly reasonable pace. Only twice have I had any problems with other riders out there. The first time was almost two years ago. It was a group of big as$ heavy 4x4 quads, and they were drinking. The second time was just back in May, and that had to do with 2 dirt bikers that flew past our group (7 of us), narrowly missing my dad and a couple others behind me. When I say narrowly missed, I mean if my dad had farted it would have blown this dickhead off the mountain. We were all pretty pis$ed at that.

So far the blind curve issues I've had is with the younger crowd on sport quads that think everything is their own private track. Now, I do ride like a bat out of hell a good portion of the time, but, I ALWAYS wait to blast through a blind curve until I'm nearly through it, and can confirm there is no oncoming traffic. I always stay to the right, as well. There has not been a time when I have not led our group (no one else can follow a damn map) so there comes a lot of responsibilities with being the point man.


My friend you aren't lying about that! First couple of years on The Tug, I led my group most of the time...but now most of the family know their way around and I seldom lead now. I just play around at the back of the pack mostly

[pantera1975]

Sound just like Wisconsin. Drinking and ATVing in Wisconsin+ DNR= to much paper work

[6speedthumper]

My friend you aren't lying about that! First couple of years on The Tug, I led my group most of the time...but now most of the family know their way around and I seldom lead now. I just play around at the back of the pack mostly

You lucky duck!!! Someday I hope to be right where you are. At the back of the pack playing around! Must be nice. Ever since our first trip there in May 2012, I've led every trip. That's six trips thus far. Seven come October. On the bright side, I don't get cover in dust, dirt, grit, and sand!

[redsox]

its not the machine, its the rider. i think they're cool, and i'd like to have one. i get it. they're wide, and fast, and people suck,, generally. but couldn't the entitled mountain bike hippies say all the same things about trikes? dangerous,, too fast,, bad for the trails,, gonna take one of us out,,,etc,, etc,, problem is the rich horseback people can say the same for the mountain bikers. pretty soon, everything is banned. people like different things. its always gonna be that way. my guess is the a-hole in the rzr would be just as much an a-hole on a quad, trike, dirtbike, mountain bike, or in the saddle. bottom line is you gotta be safe and treat others with respect. no matter what you drive. my 2 cents El. also, the rzr's look cool and go fast :D

[slashfan7964]

Yup I saw a pair of side by sides a few weeks ago when I was out on the trails with a buddy, we had to take it kinda slow at 40mph down the old railroad bed because of the bumps and all that and they blew us away. I was out on the trails this past Saturday evening and didn't see anything though.

I just hate how big they are.

[atc300r]

In 09 I went on the Snirt run (Tughill) and there were a few sidexsides. 010 I went and they were everywhere.At first the only trail legal side x side was the polaris Razr they met the legal size. Last year they changed the law and now those huge 4-5 seaters are leagal. A local politician went in his huge suv I mean side x side and he help get the law passed.

[bkm]

These things alongs with the Eviro Nazis have ruined the state park I used to love to ride at. I have lost all enthusiasm to trail/play ride anymore. I've set my bike up to be a dedicated racer and when they get around to screwing up racing for the second time I guess it will be time to either sell it or stick it in the corner again.

[6speedthumper]

its not the machine, its the rider. i think they're cool, and i'd like to have one. i get it. they're wide, and fast, and people suck,, generally. but couldn't the entitled mountain bike hippies say all the same things about trikes? dangerous,, too fast,, bad for the trails,, gonna take one of us out,,,etc,, etc,, problem is the rich horseback people can say the same for the mountain bikers. pretty soon, everything is banned. people like different things. its always gonna be that way. my guess is the a-hole in the rzr would be just as much an a-hole on a quad, trike, dirtbike, mountain bike, or in the saddle. bottom line is you gotta be safe and treat others with respect. no matter what you drive. my 2 cents El. also, the rzr's look cool and go fast :D


I ride horses as well, although I'm not rich, and certainly not a stuck up hunter/jumper, or dressage pansy. But, I will say this; in a certain respect horse people have a little more room to make a complaint. Yes, whenever there is someone riding dangerously, be it showing off or riding fast, or other, anyone can get hurt. However, a horse WILL spook at certain things where as a piece of machinery won't. Now, my horses generally don't. They're used to quads, trikes, trucks and skid steers roaming our property. I also take the time out to train my horses and de-sensitize them to many things so they are safe. That being said, a horse is a fight or flight animal, and when you get some dopey trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotr ailpro that flies past you, especially from behind, or does something just totally stupid, a horse will most likely spook and as a result the horse's rider stands a far greater chance of injury then a rider of an off road vehicle. Then there is the horse getting hurt as well. I've read stories, and have known people, that a horse was spooked by someone, they fled (flight instinct) and the horse ran out into a road to get away from what they view as a danger, and have gotten hit by a car. In the case of animals, horses or other, EVERYONE should be considerate, maybe overly so, to them and yield the right of way. Far more can go wrong when an animal is involved. But, yes, in general, one form of out door activity will usually complain about another.

[Dirtcrasher]

its not the machine, its the rider. i think they're cool, and i'd like to have one. i get it. they're wide, and fast, and people suck,, generally. but couldn't the entitled mountain bike hippies say all the same things about trikes? dangerous,, too fast,, bad for the trails,, gonna take one of us out,,,etc,, etc,, problem is the rich horseback people can say the same for the mountain bikers. pretty soon, everything is banned. people like different things. its always gonna be that way. my guess is the a-hole in the rzr would be just as much an a-hole on a quad, trike, dirtbike, mountain bike, or in the saddle. bottom line is you gotta be safe and treat others with respect. no matter what you drive. my 2 cents El. also, the rzr's look cool and go fast :D

One time, a few years back, my buddy Ross I worked with was on the RR tracks and could see some people up ahead on horses. He shut his gas off, layed his 250F down and sat to have a smoke. When they came buy they totally scolded him and HIS CHOICE of sport. They got 50' away and he proceeded to fly by them pinned on a wheelie.

Maybe not the best retaliation for the horses but those 2 people said "you can't ride on the track beds, who do you think you are!!" when he was trying to be respectful, so he took matters into his own hands.....

[slashfan7964]

but couldn't the entitled mountain bike hippies say all the same things about trikes? dangerous,, too fast,, bad for the trails,, gonna take one of us out,,,etc,, etc,,

Absolutely. And they do, to this day. Ignorance for our machines is never going to go away.

Matter of fact I was hearing it this past Saturday when I was out riding. A lot of my friends love three wheelers, the know they are stupid fast and that they can make it through a lot of crap. 200X's, 250SX's and Big Reds are popular here, and most of them have some kind of seat time at least on a Big Red or an SX, but they know that X's and R's are mean machines that are not to be screwed with in a race. But then one of them started saying oh I bet my Can Am would blow it away on the trails and handle like trash on them, saying that some of the trails they ride I would they'd be waiting for me. I had to look at him like "wat" and I shook my head saying, "you really have no idea do you. They ain't just fast in a straight line, they are trail machines. Have fun keeping up". I just thought "man, you haven't been a on a proper three wheeler haha".

[200x350xtriz250]

I have a 2008 RZR and love it! I don't get too crazy - wife wouldn't let me even if I wanted too. Best option for safety is 1 way trails but that is up to whoever owns/runs the trails. That won't solve everything but it does help. I came face to face with a Jeep out on the trails once...didn't crap for a week. :)

[6speedthumper]

One time, a few years back, my buddy Ross I worked with was on the RR tracks and could see some people up ahead on horses. He shut his gas off, layed his 250F down and sat to have a smoke. When they came buy they totally scolded him and HIS CHOICE of sport. They got 50' away and he proceeded to fly by them pinned on a wheelie.

Maybe not the best retaliation for the horses but those 2 people said "you can't ride on the track beds, who do you think you are!!" when he was trying to be respectful, so he took matters into his own hands.....

That really sucks, man! I can't stand other horse people that feel their sh*t don't stink. I won't lie, MANY horse people are off their damn rockers, and I don't associate with them. If it were me, I'd have thanked your friend for being so considerate. Heck, I'd have probably talked to him about his bike! If someone wants to stop their car on a back road and let me ride by, that is great. But, they don't have to. All they need to do is slow down to a safe speed and drive past, leaving me plenty of room.

[justin4]

I too came across the trail danger in the form of a k5 blazer. He missed me by 5 feet. Nellis dunes/apex. Dumont seams to be more civil . The rails run where they run and the smaller 3/4 wheeled bikes have there space. Just be safe and keep your heads on a swivel .

[fabiodriven]

I personally haven't had many run-ins with them but it has happened, nothing crazy though. However the scenario has crossed my mind many times. What I do know is those things move the fork out and it's amazing what they can do. I've often wondered what it would be like to see one coming at you full bore and I'm not interested in finding out. I don't like them but I'm a triker. That's how I like to roll.

The biggest problem with these machines is similar to the problems snowmobiles have from time to time- Their ease of operation. Any nitwit can ride a sled or drive a side by side. All they have to know is how to press a gas pedal and viola! You see them every day on the road, you're just not used to seeing them in the woods.

[6speedthumper]

The biggest problem with these machines is similar to the problems snowmobiles have from time to time- Their ease of operation. Any nitwit an ride a sled or drive a side by side. All they have to know is how to press a gas pedal and viola! You see them every day on the road, you're just not used to seeing them in the woods.

Ain't this the f'n truth!!!

[El Camexican]

There are a few things I slow down, stop or even shut off for:

Hikers
Mountain bikers
Horse and Donkey riders

But that just me. The same guys that blast past an anchored canoe in a 200HP boat pinned out also ride bikes, quads and even (gulp) trikes.

My main issue with these things is width coupled with speed. I can avoid a quad, or a slow moving jeep. What I can’t do is avoid a 64” wide 1,200# buggy doing 25MPH+ on a 70” wide cliff side trail.

This old video gives you an idea of what kind of roads we encounter a lot. This one is pretty straight and we aren’t racing, but many have a blind corner every couple minutes. Yes we’re riding side by side in this 3 year old video. We don’t do it anymore.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qls3XNc56Qs

[El Camexican]

The biggest problem with these machines is similar to the problems snowmobiles have from time to time- Their ease of operation. Any nitwit an ride a sled or drive a side by side. All they have to know is how to press a gas pedal and viola!

Yep, just add "Has room for a beer cooler" and you've got all the bases covered for a potential problem.

[badass350x]

Beautiful riding area in that old video El,, those roads look better then the one's I drive my truck on here in town!:beer

[C.J]

The sxs's are ruining my few riding areas as well. I was out on my zook last November and was coming down one of the trails I upkeep and I've got a nice big sweeper of a turn right? A turn that (I thought) only I would blaze into. I was WRONG. Needless to say, my zook and I went as hard as we could into a briar thicket to avoid being eaten by a Commander. And the 32" Outlaws he was running destroyed my trail! I made sure to fell a few trees on the other end of the trail but went back a few weeks later and my perfectly groomed sweeper was a mud pit. Pissed me off. Side-by-sides are cool, but the owners/drivers are 9/10 times a complete douche that has no care for his fellow powersport enthusiasts.

[DohcBikes]

Your thread reminded me of this vehicle. Wait till the SXS guys get a hold of a WRX.....;)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHM9bh-qlec

I always enjoy your ride videos!! Ride safe :beer:

[El Camexican]

Your thread reminded me of this vehicle. Wait till the SXS guys get a hold of a WRX.....;)

I always enjoy your ride videos!! Ride safe :beer:

Those tracks sound like 4 600cc jap bikes running down the road. Maybe I should get one and terrorize all the Side X Sid guys?:twisted:

I've got hours of GoPro ride videos, but I don't know how to edit them to compile the good stuff. That and I seem to forget to wear it whenever I plan to crash.

[6speedthumper]

Just wait until the day something new, and cool, comes out and all the azshole side by side drivers start complaining about THOSE drivers/riders/users! lol