New from TPR - Tether kill switch mount

End the struggle to find handlebar space...

Every racer knows you need a tether kill switch to compete on an ATV, whether your chosen race discipline is motocross, cross country, hill climbing or flat track. Most every race-sanctioning body requires a functioning kill switch on your quad before you can line up at the gate. But this requirement comes with two difficulties: Wiring the kill switch into your quad's wiring harness and finding space on your handlebars to mount it.

Thanks to Tarantula Performance Racing, quad riders have a new tether kill switch mounting bracket for easy installation on your ATV's handlebars. The bracket eliminates the need to awkwardly arrange or squeeze together your handguard mounts and levers just to find space for the tether.

TPR's new Tether Kill Switch Mount bolts directly into place where the stock parking brake lever mounts on top of the stock clutch lever. Currently, the bracket is available for most Yamaha sport models and fits the YFZ450R, YFZ450, Raptor 700 and Raptor 250. The bracket fits most tether-style ATV kill switches and is shown with the GYT-R plug-and-play lanyard for the Yamaha YFZ450R.

This new tether kill switch mount is constructed of stainless steel and is ribbed at the bend for extra strength. The bracket is laser cut to ensure a precise fit and features a powder coated finish for excellent durability. MSRP for the bracket is $17.95. Contact TPR at 330-273-3456 to order yours today.

Stay tuned for our next YFZR Build Tip, as this week we'll take you through a step-by-step installation of a GYT-R plug-and-play lanyard with the Tarantula Performance Racing tether mount on the TPR project YFZ450R.

2010 KFX450R Sport

Kawasaki has built a race ready and motocross friendly ATV that can be prepped with little more than fuel and a clean air filter before being dropped onto the starting grid. From the technology in the frame to the power ripping through the exhaust the Kawasaki KFX450R has made its statement on the sport ATV market with it some atv parts . Just in case you’ve forgotten, let us refresh your memory.

Starting with the frame we notice several key items that seem to bring Kawsaki into the game of MX/XC ATV racing. It seems that Kawasaki has taken notice of aftermarket 250r frames. More rake and better steering and handling geometry is what most guess is the benefit of having the lower A-arms come together in the middle of the lower frame.

ATV MX Round One - Millcreek results

Wimmer wins season opener

Yoshimura/Suzuki rider Dustin Wimmer claimed the season opener of the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship in Alabama Sunday with a convincing 1-1 moto score to take the overall.

The results are somewhat unsurprising, as the top four finishers are the only remaining true factory racers with Chad Wienen, Josh Creamer, John Natalie and Josh Upperman rounding out the top five overall. 

One of the surprises is actually Joe Byrd, who finished in eighth place overall behind Yamaha's Thomas Brown and Walsh Racecraft-backed Jeremy Lawson.

Click here for complete results, and check out ATVRiders.com for photos from the pro motos, pro practice and the weekend's other races.

ATV MX Round One - practice lap times

The first pro ATV motocross race of the 2010 season kicks off in less than an hour, and Saturday's pro practice lap times give some insight into how the first two pro motos of the year could wrap up. It's not surprising defending champion Yoshimura/Suzuki rider Dustin Wimmer turned in the fastest lap at Millcreek in Alabama Saturday. Here's how the rest of the pro ATV class transponders registered:

1. 1 Dustin Wimmer 01:51.454

2. 44 Chad Wienen 01:52.953
3. 13 John Natalie Jr 01:53.855
4. 20 Josh Upperman 01:54.355
5. 16 Jeremy Lawson 01:54.357
6. 40 Cody Gibson 01:54.375
7. 22 Cody Miller 01:54.649
8. 62 Jeremie Warnia 01:54.725
9. 9 Josh Creamer 01:55.009
10. 7 Joe Byrd 01:55.096
11. 84 Thomas Brown 01:55.474

12. 123 Nick Denoble 01:57.041
13. 99 Patrick Brown 01:57.501
14. 708 Harold Goodman 01:57.521
15. 111 Nate Morello 01:59.732
16. 18 Josh Grant 02:00.538
17. 12 Keith Little 02:01.079
18. 11 Shane Cochran 02:03.040
19. 10 Greg Gee No Data

I can practically smell the sweet scent of race fuel in the air as the 2010 season is finally underway!

ATV MX 2010 Analysis - Jeremiah Jones

ATV racing legend and former Suzuki factory rider Jeremiah Jones breaks down the 2010 national motocross season with a preview and analysis recorded Saturday (March 27) with AMA ATV MX announcer Rodney Tomblin.

Click on the link to hear Jones break down the 2010 season and give an update on his work as marketing director with Team Mushin Racing.

Tomblin and Jones have a frank discussion about the state of the industry, how far we've come since the dark decade of the 1990s and how those storm clouds may be kept at bay by - no surprise here - through the efforts of aftermarket teams like Mushin Racing, Baldwin Motorsports, Walsh Racecraft and others.

"I started racing pro in 98, and I can remember back in the day just hoping we would have a privateer team like we have with Mushin now," Jones tells Tomblin. "Realistically, there's not really any other team out here as privateer as we are and putting as much into it as we are. Back in the day, there wasn't a lot of this ... so you basically had to do it on your own.

Jones and Tomblin recognize the major losses, like this year's absence of Kawasaki, but they also see the silver lining with teams such as Suzuki and Can-Am sticking around, as well as helping support some of the privateer efforts.

"Hopefully these manufacturers will stick around," Jones said. "It's looking pretty good (even) with the economy the way it is."

Check out the interview at ATVMotocross.com

2010 KTM 525 XC

The KTM Enduro flagship sets new standards in the cross-country sector. With extremely high performance and perfect handling, the 525 XC is the ideal candidate for demanding trails or dune adventures. Brutal power and standard-fit racing equipment ensure that this ATV takes the lead in the favour of the quad fan from the start.

2010 Raptor 700R SE

Yamaha Raptor 700R SE took place at the Imperial Sand Dunes of Glamis, California. After three days of riding the sandy expanse it got us thinking that Yamaha has a knack for developing iconic powersports machinery. Look at the list for proof: FZR100, V MAX, R1, Banshee and of particular interest to this review, the dune-consuming Raptor Special Edition.

The Raptor is billed by YAMAHA as the top-selling Sport ATV in the history of mankind, and it should come as no surprise since this big-bore 4-stroke seems to have been around since the Mesozoic Era. And like the reptile whose namesake it bears, it features a scary combination of agility and outright power wrapped in a unique and menacing-looking package. Packs of these bikes can be seen lurking on every dune from Glamis to Sand Hollow, often times nesting under the covered awnings of weekend warrior trailers while their owners revel in the never-ending fun riding at the dunes.

We know these atvs rock but every once in a while everything seems to fall into place and after a couple days of rain, the sand was moist, traction was at a premium and Raptor 700R SE was looking resplendent in its Special Edition white, red and black livery. But there’s more to the machine than just good looks, so let’s peel back the shiny exterior and see at what makes this bike such a hot commodity.

The power supply of the Raptor is a liquid-cooled 686cc SOHC, fuel-injected 4-stroke. Even in stock trim this ATV has great low to mid-range power capable of climbing any hill whether in the dirt or on the sand. It definitely goes good and never let me down despite being completely stock. You can tell the Yamaha is choked down too – it builds power in a linear manner, not really explosive but it breaks the tires loose with ease, so sliding is a cinch and its got the low end to haul even the heaviest loads up the big hills.

Over the years the outright hype heaped upon the Raptor has focused on its massive power but we implore you not to get the wrong idea, it’s not a trophy truck. It is an ATV with loads of potential. In stock trim the oval-shaped muffler and shiny exhaust look trick but it restricts the power output as part of the EPA-compliant nature of any off-road vehicle sold these days. Yet it still is impressive. Toss on an aftermarket pipe and header and this bike will really come alive. The uncorked version is the Raptor everyone raves about and it’s only a few hundred bucks and a trip to the GYTR catalog away from showing its true colors.

ATV MX - Countdown to round one

RipItUpFilms posted another great video on YouTube of rookie pro Cody Gibson getting ready to take on the pro class aboard his Mushin Racing LTR450. I hope RipItUp doesn't get offended by us sharing the content, but they make such great vids of the pro quad racers! And I couldn't resist sharing this vid because they used one of my favorite bands, Zox, for the soundtrack. You've got to respect someone who can rock out on a violin, and the chorus is fitting. We'll be waiting to see how Gibson does in his pro debut at Alabama this weekend.





If you're not following them on YouTube already, check out RipItUpFilms for more great ATV racing videos.

Borich wins at Steele Creek

Yoshimura Suzuki's Borich extends points lead

Chris Borich extended his points lead in the 2010 Can-Am GNCC championship chase Saturday with a win over Yamaha's Taylor Kiser at the FMF Steele Creek cross-country national. The Morgantown, North Carolina race is the third this year and marks the second win for Borich, who is the 2009 defending champ.

Click on the link to read the full race report and see photos from GNCC Racing's Shan Moore.

Borich holds a five point lead over Kiser (85 to 80), with Yamaha's Bill Ballance in third at 58 points. Can-Am's Adam McGill sits fourth with 47, while FRE/KTM's Brian Cook rounds out the top five with 44 points.

ATV Motocross Returns for 2010

A winter's worth of preparation and angst will boil over this week as round one of the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV National Motocross Championship kicks off at Millcreek raceway in Alabama.

The 2010 season is sure to look a lot different from last year, as The Great Recession continues to takes its toll on the sport. We'll also see some new faces, like rookie pro Cody Gibson, in the big show as old faces like the legend Doug Gust exit stage left into retirement and, hopefully, not into obscurity.

Racers who enjoyed factory support last year, including Pat Brown and Jeremy Lawson, will be on new machines for 2010 competing as privateers, though they won't be racing without help from the aftermarket. Lawson has returned to his Suzuki roots, and Brown will compete on a Honda. Suspension builders and engine tuners kept the sport alive during the 1990s, when the factories tucked tail and ran after the feds slapped them with CPSC rules stopping the manufacture of three wheelers and leading to the short-lived demise of sport quads.

Thankfully, Suzuki and Can-Am are still in the mix with factory rigs and paid riders. But the continued absence of Honda, with Kawasaki having bailed this year and Yamaha's dwindled support in the ATV motocross ranks, will surely give the nationals weekends a different feel.

Another positive note is the continued strength of the amateur ranks. The new crop of young riders continues to grow, and several hungry young guns wil roll into Alabama this coming weekend ready to compete for a title in 2010.

Riders like Hunter Skladzien, pictured at right on his DRR at an Ohio indoor race last month, are competing this year on finely tuned youth ATVs thanks to support from aftermarket companies like ATV Four Play and Capital Powder Coating. It's good to know no matter what happens behind the scenes with big sponsors, young riders will keep getting older and preparing for the day when the gate will drop and unleash them on their first pro moto.

The anticipation for this season to begin is likely mixed with a lot of anxiety for many pros and amateurs alike. I expect we're going to see a lot of separation in the pro motos. The big dogs like Chad Wienen, Dustin Wimmer and Josh Creamer, who are still getting paid to train and race on factory tuned quads, are likely to separate themselves from those who have been forced to return to their roots and privateer programs. Both groups are sure to create some interesting position battles as the 2010 season gets underway.

Uncertainty may loom for some, but the state of the sport is sure to create intense motos. What dramatic battles will unfold at Millcreek this weekend?

The moment we've all been waiting months for will arrive in just a few short days. Who will show up prepared? Who will leave disappointed? How will the story of the 2010 season begin? The answers to those questions will begin to reveal themselves in Alabama on Saturday and Sunday, as the roar of race quads arrives on the heels of springtime in the south. Here's to a new season of ATV motocross - here at last!

GNCC Round One - ATVs

It's mid March, and already two rounds of GNCC racing are in the books. Defending ATV XC1 champion Chris Borich looks to be off to a good start to repeat with another title, but don't count out Yamaha rider Taylor Kiser just yet. And no one's more unpredictable than newly acquired Can-Am rider Adam McGill.

Borich won the first round, and Kiser won round two. Both riders are tied for first place in the points standings heading into the FMF Steele Creek round three race this weekend in Morgantown, North Carolina.

If you missed it, check out this video report of the ATV XC action at River Ranch round one in Florida. Just one more week, and the ATV Motocross Nationals season kicks off in Alabama!

Random Pics - Scene Girl

I just thought I would share some of the finished photos from our shoot with Holly Winchester, an Exposed Closing model, for Miss January 2010 ATVScene Girl. Holly was only up for less than her full month at ATVScene.com, so I thought I would give her some extra exposure.

A special thanks goes out to SEKrell Photography. They did an amazing job on the photos and during the shoot.

I've also posted some behind-the-scenes shots from the shoot. Click on the photos to get the larger image if you want to download it for your desktop. Enjoy.

Spring's on its Way!

Rumble on the Ridge ATV ride

We're less than a month away from the first Rumble on the Ridge trail ride of the year in southeastern Ohio. The ride, organized by the Shortcreek Sportsman's Club in Adena, Ohio, features close to 30 miles of trails open to the public just three times a year in April, June and September.

The first ride, set for April 10, is guaranteed to be dust-free! The first ride of the year is usually a sloppy one, but no one really seems to care after spending a long Midwest winter couped up inside just waiting to roll their quad out of the garage.

On a good weather weekend, about 3,000 people have shown up to hit the rolling trails spread out over the club's 3,000 acres. The trails are always well groomed, wide and very clearly marked. And the club's members always do a great job of organizing the rides, providing hearty breakfasts and lunches at the clubhouse and in general helping everyone have a good time.

Avoid the Saturday crowds and show up Friday ready to camp. Take the time to check out the vendor booths or cruise the demo ride on a new Yamaha or Can-Am.

If you've never attended a Rumble on the Ridge ride, then you've got to make the trip at least once. The trails are a welcome sight with all the recent trail closings.

The trail snakes over hills and down through valleys, crosses Short Creek a few times and has some wide open sections as well. It's a good ride for experienced sport quad owners, utility riders and UTV owners.

For details on the ride, check out their Web site.

New Page - classifieds

Check out the new "For Sale" page of the blog. Click on the link at the top of the blog to check out the parts posted so far.

Parts on the page are mostly new, stock YFZ450R parts right now, but check back for updates as we post new parts and quads for sale.

You can also click here to go to the for sale page. Prices are negotiable, so send questions and offers via e-mail to carahdras@hotmail.com.

Rumors confirmed - Gust out for 2010

A Legend Retires

ATV motocross racing legend and multiple outdoor nationals champion "Digger" Doug Gust has finally confirmed what we all hoped was not true. The long-time Suzuki rider is calling it quits this year after more than 20 years of dominating the sport of ATV motocross.

ATVRiders.com ran an interview with Gust today mostly focusing on his 2009 season results and some changes to his home and riding complex in Wisconsin. But he does answer the most critical question: What are you doing for the 2010 season? Gust essentially said Suzuki couldn't afford to keep him on now that they're going for younger blood with Josh Creamer joining defending champ Dustin Wimmer, so Gust opted to retire.

We had a feeling that news was coming, as back in January word was starting to spread about Doug's fate for 2010. Doug also told ATVRiders he'll likely focus more on running some riding schools this year, which we reported here in January when we took a look at which ATV pro class riders would be changing teams this season. Be sure to check out the ATVRiders videos with the interview. They've got some really cool behind the scenes footage of Doug's playground and some track time with the champ.

Gust's impact on the sport of ATV motocross is undeniable. To say, as a racer, he helped create a new future for the sport would be an understatement.

The 43-year-old who made a living as an excavator turned pro in 1988, and he's helped bring the sport a long way since then. He promoted ATV racing with early starring roles in the first few Huevos quad videos from Wes Miller. Those vids are classic and feature some truly iconic shots of Gust jumping over the extended lift bed of one of his massive dump trucks at his private track.

Doug took home championships in 2003 and 2004 in the ATV nationals and he won the inaugural WPSA Super Quad Pro 450 title in 2006. In 2004 he claimed the title on a Suzuki Z400, beating out a pro class full of 450cc quads. In 2006, Suzuki unveiled arguably the first factory built, race-ready ATV in the LTR450, which Gust had a huge hand in developing. Today, it's one of the most popular and best performing quads on the race track. Just ask back-to-back champ Dustin Wimmer.

I never thought watching Doug rip around Unadilla last year that it would be the last time I watched him in person contend in the pro class.

In the second pro moto, he stayed behind eventual winner, Chad Wienen, and fought off John Natalie until a last-corner pass on the last lap by John moved Doug to a hard-fought third place finish.

Doug and John have had some epic battles through the years, and the clean racing they put on during that moto is the kind of racing that makes the big show enjoyable for the fans. It was one hell of a race, and it proved that even at 42 Gust could still school guys half his age.

Check out this profile of Doug at Yoshimura. A link to his Web site is posted at the right of our site under the pro atv racer banner.

Doug remains a fan favorite, and I think many of us will be saddened not to see him line up when the 2010 season kicks off in Alabama later this month. I think I can speak for a lot of people when I say thanks for the memories and all you've done for the sport throughout the years. At least we can rest assured knowing Doug will be jumping off into the sunset. Good luck in the permanent off-season!

Support those who made the sport possible. Sign up for a riding school hosted by Doug Gust this season and learn what it takes to be a champion. Click on the link to his Web site at the right of this page to learn more about Doug's riding school.

TPR sponsorships still available

Looking for a Sponsor? Look no further!

ATV racers looking for a sponsor for 2010 can still apply with Tarantula Performance Racing. TPR sponsors a number of national and local riders competing in all quad racing disciplines.

TPR is offering limited sponsorship contracts for racers in all disciplines of ATV competition on the local, regional and national levels. Those disciplines include motocross, cross country, desert, flat track,   endurocross and other forms of quad racing.

Products and services available from TPR include frame gusset kits and installation, MX-Series front bumpers and the new Race Safer Pro nerf bar line.

Contact Tarantula Performance Racing via e-mail to obtain a sponsorship application at tpr_inc@yahoo.com. The 2010 season is closing in fast, so get your applications in today!

Tarantula Performance Racing is a family owned company specializing in custom ATV parts and accessories. All of TPR’s products are manufactured in the U.S.A. at their Hinckley, Ohio headquarters. To see more of their products, including the new Race Safer Pro nerf bar and heel guard combination, log on to http://www.tprusa.com/

Gusset installation discount

Discount on ATV frame gusset kits

There's still time to get a deal on a gusset kit and installation for your quad before the spring riding season kicks into high gear.

TPR's current discount drops the price of sandblasting, repairing, gusset installation and powder coating your ATV frame from $460.00 to $399.95 until the end of March.

Contact TPR today at 330-273-3456 and get your frame in before the month's end!

ATV Four Play Soft Bars

New Soft Bars fit stock Yamaha, KTM steering stems

The ATV-specific Generation II Soft Bars from ATV Four Play are now available for direct bolt-on to the stock Yamaha YFZ450R, YFZ450X and KTM XC and SX model steering stems.

These model-specific Soft Bars match factory specifications and bolt directly onto the stock Yamaha and KTM steering stems without the need for additional hardware or modifications. Previously, ATV Four Play’s Soft Bars were designed to complement their anti-vibe steering stems and work in conjunction with most other aftermarket stems.

ATV Four Play designed the impact-absorbing Soft Bars in 2007 to help reduce the harsh hits dealt to a rider’s upper body throughout the course of a race.

Expanding the Soft Bar line to work with stock Yamaha and KTM steering stems gives riders an affordable way to reduce fatigue – and lap times – without the expense of an aftermarket anti-vibe stem. The Soft Bars’ Progressive Dampening System and its cone-shaped, vertical urethane bushing provide superior vibration reduction compared to other handlebar assemblies.          

ATV Four Play re-designed the mounting system to further reduce vibrations for ATV use. By avoiding the use of handlebar clamps, the Soft Bars eliminate the associated metal clamping joints, which can amplify otherwise subtle vibrations emanating from today’s sport quads. However, adapters are available for riders whose steering stems utilize the traditional motorcycle-style handlebar clamp system. And the Soft Bars also work with a wide range of aftermarket steering stems.

Color options are now available in black, orange and red anodized components. All aspects of the Generation II Soft Bars are rebuildable. Constructed of T-3 2024 aluminum tubing, the light weight Soft Bars include all hardened and zinc-plated hardware with attached grease zircs and foam bar pad.

The overall bar length is 31.5 inches with 10.5 inches of usable handlebar space in a 7/8-inch diameter bar. The Soft Bars weigh in at a mere 4.5 pounds and are available in the popular 12-degree bend, which is similar to the original Honda CR high bend. Retail price for the Soft Bars is $325.

To purchase a set of Soft Bars call 330-289-1423. See more of ATV Four Play’s products online at ATVFourPlay.com

ATVonDemand reviews TPR project YFZ450R

Video: TPR project YFZ450R ride review

ATVonDemand.com finished their review of the Tarantula Performance Racing project YFZ450R. Click the link to watch TPR's latest project quad in action on the big motocross track at Crow Canyon Ride Park in Uhrichsville, Ohio.

This quad featured performance parts from the industry's top aftermarket race companies, but ATVonDemand.com left the video shoot most impressed by TPR's new Race Safer Pro nerf bars. These bars are strong, safe and stylish. What more could you ask for?

There's still more coverage to come of this quad, as ATV.com is planning a third story examining the long-term durability of the quad and all it's go-fast goodies. Stay tuned.