weez440

Member
Oct 22, 2005
51
0
i have been an atver my whole life and just got into riding dirtbikes and i absolutely love them both they both serve their own purpose and i was thinking bout getting a sport quad as well for just playing other then my utility atv and dirtbike. my question is why do so many avid dirtbike riders hate atv's? i mean alot of the time where people ride with atv's dirtbikes are nowhere to be seen. is it for you guys on the racetracks and atver's are slower and get in the way more? any insite would be appreciated and i don't want this to turn into an atv bashing thread.
 

oldguy

Always Broken
Dec 26, 1999
9,411
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Most of the anti ATV feelings come from the actions of ATVers. One example is when I was at the track this last summer between motos I got my sons bike all cleaned and ready for the next moto when a guy on an ATV comes flying off the track and proceeded to do a series of donuts down the pit road. He not only raised a dust cloud but also shot rocks at all the bikes and vehicles parked in the area. When I approached him he thought it was a joke that many people were really pissed off and ready to hang him. Less then 3 races later ATVs were no longer welcome on race days.
Another example is just put a big mud hole somewhere and watch the ATVs get attracted to it. One of them will eventually spot it and when he sneaks away from his fellow ATVers the fun begins. You just watch him flying thru it and spraying mud everywhere then when he has a sufficient coating on himself and his machine he will ride back to his buddies like a dog that just rolled in manure to brag about the trail he just forged thru the wilderness.
If it wasn't for the people that seem attracted to ATVs they would be a great thing and I know they are just as difficult to race in their own way as a bike.
 

robwbright

Member
Apr 8, 2005
2,283
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You can't really build an MX track which is good for both at the same time. The requirements for berms and jumps are somewhat different. However, the tracks around here try to accomplish both on the same track.

There is a new AMA track nearby that is considering having three tracks - MX, ATV and mini.

THAT WOULD ROCK!!
 

KX02

Member
Jan 19, 2004
781
0
Yeah what oldguy said. One time I parked the car I used to have when I used to tow my bike with a trailer. I headed out to the trails and when I came back about 10 quaders were tearing up and down the road and my car was totally pasted with mud. I shrugged it off, but I did not realize as I drove home all the mud flying off the car scratched the hell out of the hood and roof.
 

ellandoh

dismount art student
~SPONSOR~
Mi. Trail Riders
Aug 29, 2004
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:bang:
 

Jeff Gilbert

N. Texas SP
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The biggest problem I hear with atv's on an mx track is that the atv's blow out the berms and ruts, especially on a soft track. Perhaps it's a James Dean stereotype of atv'ers but there are so many that ride around off track, helmetless, in shorts, flip-flops and a marlboro between the lips after slugging down a few too many. Most of the atv people I know aren't like this but there are a lot I see that are. Kind of ruins it for the rest doesn't it?
 
C

CaNaDiAn,Eh?

Personally I have nothing against ATV's, except for the fact that people seem to think that because they have 4 wheels they are safer and more stable and therefore you can ride like an idiot on them because they think they won't get hurt.

ATV's serve their purpose, we have one that we use around the farm and it is definitely handy, and a helluva lot of fun in the winter when there is a lot of snow. One time I was riding in the mountains on an ATV, the track was cut right through the bush and went right up to the top. It was raining all day, and the track was slippery as all hell, it was so steep and slippery I don't think I would have even wanted to attempt it on a bike. It was a great day. Like everything they have their place, but I will always prefer bikes.
 

splatt

Resident mental case
~SPONSOR~
Dec 1, 2001
908
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I don't hate quads in fact I would like to get one myself, I just hate the stupid people that tend to gravitate towards them.

Steve
 

Jaybird

Apprentice Goon
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Mar 16, 2001
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Charlestown, IN
I am also not opposed to ATV's...but what I am oppsed to are Quadbillys!

ATV'ers are normally not very skilled riders, as their dad got them one and they rip around like they own the county with little to no training at all. Which is fine...BUT..for the most part you will see atv'ers riding WITHOUT ANY safety gear whatsoever. Sure, they are living in a free country, and they have the right to smash up their mushy skulls (or their kids') if they want to.

BUT..since these quadbillys are associated by the general non-riding public as bonifide off road riders, they are often lumped into the same group as dirt bikers.
For the vast majority of dirt bike riders, safety gear and proper operation of the machine is commonplace. For the vast majority of quadbillys, saftey gear is just a big hassle and used by sissy dirt bike riders. Makes them look way too goofey.
Heck, dirt bike riders have no room on their machine for the beer cooler...now how can THAT be any fun?

There is absolutely nothing at all wrong with 4-wheelers. There are BIGTIME problems with the idiots that ride them. They give us who are not only conscience to the sport, but the environment as well, a bad name, and I DON'T LIKE IT!
 

mx547

Ortho doc's wet dream
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Nov 24, 2000
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Jaybird said:
For the vast majority of quadbillys, saftey gear is just a big hassle and used by sissy dirt bike riders. Makes them look way too goofey.

a couple years ago, a co-worker told me that his brother was getting a 450x (or whatever honda's performance quad was called). i told him to tell his brother to be sure to get a good helmet.

...he laughed in my face.
 

Tony Eeds

Godspeed Tony.
N. Texas SP
Jun 9, 2002
9,535
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Others have alluded to it ... some (not all) ATVers are dumber than rocks and they reflect badly on the balance of the off road community. Obviously there are dumb jeepers and motorcyclists as well, but those antics are often encountered farther out on the trails and we all laugh among ourselves when we do something stupid and it usually involves trying to make a bike (or jeep) go somewhere difficult.

The bubba factor is at least a 1000% higher in quads and what is it about turning your hat around backwards that makes it a helmet?

Also, why is it they think they are funny?
 

dirtbikingdad

Member
Oct 25, 2005
161
0
I'm edumacated on this..

:laugh:

I admit it, I was a quad rider not so long ago. I truly loved it and felt I would never sell out. But I did. All of my friends did one by one and got bikes. I always wanted a bike but the wife was one of the folks who has the false security that quads are safer that bikes due to the four wheel thing. Anyway, in order to have fun, 9 years ago, we got quads... sport quads. However, in the eyes of most dirt bikers and the public, there is no difference between a quad rider who never rides in the mud, has all the safetly gear and has no cooler to those quad riders that do all of the opposite. It is a stereotypical image! :think: I battled it for years and talked to the AMA before there was the ATVA and many race promoters. Whats worse is the kid ATV riders who want to race harescambles pretty much do not have the chance to race thanks to the CPSC. (I think I've typed all this before.) :| However some clubs do make exceptions, but then there is really no competition since most kids just ride in the fields at home... without a helmet. :pissed: Maybe I'm being a bit stereotypical myself. :nod:

One place that we use to ride is closed. Why? I would say because of quad riders! And I rode one then! That is just another reason why I switched. They would simply get drunk, never where safety gear and litter up the place and haul azz down the road and anger the neighbors... not so say some bikes did haul down the road too. Now, the place where we ride now is most likely closed too. Why? Erosion. aka pits. These folks are too stupid or lazy to go back into the woods and make one huge pit. No that is too difficult. They have to make many, many pits.... but the ones that anger me the most are the ones in the parking lots, in the fire roads or right behind the parking lot. Those are real nice. The rangers who really have no desire to tour the woods don't have to. They can see everything without even getting out of the truck.
 

Treejumper

2 wheeled idiot
Damn Yankees
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oldguy said:
Another example is just put a big mud hole somewhere and watch the ATVs get attracted to it. One of them will eventually spot it and when he sneaks away from his fellow ATVers the fun begins. You just watch him flying thru it and spraying mud everywhere then when he has a sufficient coating on himself and his machine he will ride back to his buddies like a dog that just rolled in manure to brag about the trail he just forged thru the wilderness.

Hehehe, that's me! Only i do that on both a quad and a bike. :)
 

bleeds

Member
Oct 17, 2005
172
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I agree with Jaybird. I like to ride both machines, but I find it harder to say I am an ATVer than to say I ride a DB rider. I think in my opinion that DB riders give the impression of disipline, and some level skill. Even though we all know that isnt 100% true. ATV riders that I have been around tend to be the "hey ya'll watch this" kind of people. NOT ALL OF THEM, but it is like the fringe group that always somehow becomes the "spokesperson" for the rest of them. I do agree that in some cases they tend to make the trails a bit more rutted, and messy, but then again, I will ride in the fashion that I need to in order to ride where I am at that moment anyway. If that made sense. Oh well.
Bleeds
 

Jamz

Member
Dec 14, 2005
36
0
We have the same problem with jet skis on open waters. They never get out of sight of the dock. They fill the whole dock up so that you can't dock your boat. And while you are launching or pulling the boat out they are doing donutes 10 ft away causing all kinda of waves. The problem I see is they don't consider themselves in a boat or part of the boating community. They are not educated in boating rules and courtesy. Just like what you see on quads in many cases. They don't consider themselves on a bike and thus feel they do not need to wear the appropriate safety equipment or follow the courtesy rules. They have been combating this in my area by requiring quad riders to take a safety course and have a sticker on their quad when ridding on public lands or face a fine. Dirt bike riders do not have to take the course.
 

tyesai

Member
Nov 4, 2004
452
0
I have a mixed group I ride with about 50/50. We all were safety gear, even the quad riders wear goggles, helmets, riding boots, the only reason I "hate" them is that they throw up so much frieking dust. I could ride behind another bike on a dirt trail even if it hasn't rained for a month, but a quad, I don't even want to think about following them through the woods.
And as far as the track goes it seems like no matter what I like to keep at least a hundred yards between me and any quad in front of me. Darn dust making, rock throwing machines. :laugh:
 

bordrshane

Member
Dec 13, 2005
61
0
Its like bodyboarders and surfers. It takes skill and balance to ride a bike or a surfboard. They are scared and need the extra support of the other 2 wheels or they may fall over. :) They bug us because they take the easy route. :|
 

dirtbikingdad

Member
Oct 25, 2005
161
0
bordrshane said:
Its like bodyboarders and surfers. It takes skill and balance to ride a bike or a surfboard. They are scared and need the extra support of the other 2 wheels or they may fall over. :) They bug us because they take the easy route. :|


Oh! I'm not sure how to take that .... (quad streak coming out now)! :rotfl:
 

Rooster

Today's Tom Sawyer
Damn Yankees
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Aug 24, 2000
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I've had both good and bad experiences with quad riders.

Unfortunately, the bad has outweighed the good. I thought maybe it was my location that was to do with it, but I find that far too many quad riders are disrespectful to their fellow off road enthusiasts ( excessive speed and doing donuts in the pits, blocking trails for a dozen quad long line of guys taking a mud bath, going the wrong way on a one-way trail, swilling beer while riding, and lack of protective gear).

I've also dealt with the same mentality with some dirt bike riders.

I've had some great help from quad riders. One time I was towed out of the riding area when my chain broke. Another time, a fellow dirt biker broke both his wrists, and a quad rider offered up his machine to haul the guy to the staging area.

So, is it the quad, or the rider?

It's the RIDER.

IMHO, the sport quad riders tha gear up and race that are the good ones, for the most part. It's the beer hauling, blatant disregard for safety, illegally riding utility quadders I come across that give a bad name for the entire off road community.

I've ridden a quad twice ... once to go get more gas for my bike, and another time to haul some fire wood back to camp. Both experiences were good :laugh:
 
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