Accessories and Bolt-ons

Yamaha was onto something when they introduced electronic power steering with their 2007 Grizzly ATV.  Since then more and more models either come equipped with EPS, or it’s at least an option right from the factory.  The advantages of power steering – less steering effort, reduced kickback, less arm fatigue – are hard to ignore, but not every machine has it.  Wicked Bilt can cure that!       

Your front and rear drive shafts are some of the most vital and most vulnerable parts on your machine.  Whether you drive a Can-Am, Arctic Cat, Yamaha, or any brand though, once you tear the boot covering the articulating CV joint and a little water or grit enters the joint, it’s sayonara for the joint; it’s truly amazing how fast it happens.

Installing extra parts and vehicle customizing is nothing new for ATV and Side x Side riders.  Almost everyone installs a few aftermarket goodies on their off-road toy, but some riders take that concept to the extreme.  Bobby Meeks is one such rider and a few new parts weren’t going to do it for him.

There are tires for sand, snow, mud, and every other type of riding condition, but when the snow gets too deep or the bog too soft, nothing can get you through a tough spot like a good set of tracks.  MATTRACKS has been building tracks for everything from tractors to ATVs since 1994 and we’ve tried their track systems on rough, rocky terrain, across a muddy swamp, up hills that would give our relatives cause to worry, and of course, on snow.

Whether riding on farm, forest, or flat out across the sweltering desert, sooner or later nearly every Side x Side owner appreciates the value of extra protection.  Northern riders are exposed to harsh winter conditions, and while the snow covered woods appears beautiful, nobody likes a biting winter wind in their face.  We needed to increase the comfort on our trusty trail and work buddy Polaris Ranger 800, and Seizmik Advanced Utility Systems had just what we were looking for.  

Next to a roof and a windshield, snow blades are one of the most popular accessories for UTVs and ATVs. It’s a natural fit actually. An ATV or Side x Side can maneuver through tight areas much easier than a jeep, a pickup, or tractor, and unless you’ve got really deep snow, they do a great job of clearing the drive or walk. If you already own an ATV or Side x Side, it’s a no-brainer to use it as a winter tool.

Riding a familiar trail after the sun goes down is often a surreal experience.  Features you recognize and know during the day blend into endless shadows and the trail takes on the characteristics of an entirely new area.  Unless you’re very careful it’s even possible to become lost on a night ride, and more than once we’ve back tracked to a turn we should have made but blew by because we didn’t recognize it.  Other dangers lurk in the shadows as well and creatures large and small often share the trail, oblivious to any danger.

Even the most familiar trail looks completely different at night.  With deep shadows, dark corners and obstacles you now see only at the last moment it’s almost like exploring an all-new area.  As much as we appreciate the last second thrills however, we’ve always been the type that likes to see anything headed our way long before it meets the front bumper, and nothing helps light up the trail better than a good set of lights.

We ride many different types of trails, from open two-track, to dunes, to tight northern forest, and that means our machines must be prepared for anything.  Like most riders we like to keep our ATVs and Side x Sides looking as good as possible and a big part of that is proper protection.  

SXS vehicles are like dandelions… new models are popping up all over the place.  Almost every major manufacturer now has at least one model on the market, each with its own design, style, features, and level of performance.  But even bigger than the explosion of SXS vehicles into the off-road market is the explosion of OEM and aftermarket performance parts and accessories.  From the off-road parks to the trails or the sand dunes, it’s hard to find a SXS out there that hasn’t been modified in some way.