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Bivouac Camping Trailers

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BCTRick Russek and Ron Bernaud, the owners of Bivouac Camping Trailers, set out to design and build the most rugged, functional overlanding trailers on the planet. Their design concept encompassed a trailer that is capable of maneuvering along rough dirt roads, which also contains an entire campsite that can be set up or torn down within five minutes. BCT makes trailers for the intrepid explorer who doesn’t want to stay in the same place all weekend. If you want to see and do more than the average camper, and if you want to go places where the roads can’t take you, then Bivouac Camping Trailers are made for you.

Bivouac Camping Trailers has been operating in Phoenix, Arizona since June 2008. The company was founded on the basis of providing unique quality off-road expedition trailers and toy haulers for outdoor enthusiasts. We are a tight-knit, local company consisting of family and friends who have come together to fulfill a dream. Our unique designs were created in an effort to fill a niche that had been previously ignored. Our trailers allow adventurers to access camping areas that other style trailers simply cannot reach. With at least 16 inches of clearance underneath, Bivouac Camping Trailers ride higher than most of the vehicles towing them!

Along the way, we have aligned ourselves with companies that have allowed us to manufacture the best off-road camping trailer possible. One of our partners is Tepui Tents out of Santa Cruz, California (www.tepuitents.com). Tepui Tents are made with incredibly durable materials that will stand up to the most extreme conditions. They use high quality rip-stop fabrics with a superior ventilating coating that provide excellent water and wind protection, yet are more breathable than other tent brands on the market. For added versatility, the M.O.A.B. Fort’s Kukenam tent, for example, can be easily removed from the Fort body and mounted directly onto your SUV’s roof rack or aftermarket roof bars.
Our camping trailers are also extremely customizable in order to meet your specific requirements. From private porta-potties and hot water showers to grills and even lift kits, you might be surprised what we can add to your Bivouac Camping Trailer. Plus, we can even paint your trailer to match your wheeling vehicle. And with an impressive amount of cargo space, you can haul in all the gear and supplies you’ll need for a long wheeling trip.

Bivouac Camping Trailers is located at 1 W. Deer Valley Rd., Suites 116 & 117 in Phoenix. Our shop is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and we are also available by phone at 480-235-5557. You can learn more about our company and see images of our trailers on our website, moabaz.com. Rick and Ron look forward to sharing their passion project with you and answering any questions you have.

 

 

February 1, 2015 |

Choosing the right lift for your Jeep

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Lift KitMany first time Jeep owners don’t realize that a stock Jeep is not designed for the heavy of road use often seen in magazines and on TV. If you want to have the ability to take your Jeep on those rocky trails and steep hills, you’re going to need an aftermarket lift kit. Suspension Lift kits can drastically influence the way your vehicle handles and performs. For that reason it’s important to choose a kit that best fits your specific needs, whether it is for function or style. There are two basic ways to lift your Jeep – with body lift kits and suspension lift kits. Off-road enthusiasts can benefit from the extra ground clearance suspension lift kits offer, giving them the ability to climb over large rocks and trail obstacles.

 

Here’s a great video from Teraflex about choosing the right lift for your Jeep:

 

 

November 2, 2014 |

SpiderWebShade mesh top

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It is obvious that a huge part of the great fun of owning a Jeep is the open-top wheeling that goes with the vehicle. However, it does not take long to realize that open-top fun comes with the bonus of a free sunburn, especially when you live in a state like Arizona, where it’s sunny almost every day.

When you own a Jeep with a hardtop and you wanna loose it for a while and enjoy the open air, you have few options. You can buy a soft top and only use it when it rains, you can get a Bikini top or a mesh top. Soft top and bikini top are good options, but they are really thick and once put on, they block all the sun, breeze and the view of the sky. They will protect you from the sun rays very well though. They are pretty expensive, and with bikini tops you have to remember to buy a separate windshield channel, which is as much as the top itself.

As I was trying to decide which option would be the best one for me, I accidentally came across few pictures of another jeeper, who had a mesh top intalled and it looked really good on his jeep. I also liked that it seemed like a really easy install with apparently few bungy cords. He seemed very comfortable with a nice amount of shade inside his jeep. After talking to him and getting his feedback, I decided to order the mesh top for myself. It is made in Orlando by SpiderWebShade.
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October 10, 2014 |

Next Jeep Wrangler may be made out of aluminum

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jeep-wrangler-rubiconThe next-generation Jeep Wrangler might have an aluminum body, instead of steel, and be assembled somewhere other than Toledo, Ohio, where its roots go back more than 70 years to the first Willys MB was made for the U.S. Army.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne also hinted at the Paris Motor Show that the iconic Wrangler also could be built on a unibody, rather than a body on frame, structure.

“If the solution is aluminum, then I think unfortunately that Toledo is the wrong place because it requires a complete re-configuring of the assets that would be cost-prohibitive,” Marchionne said. “It would be so outrageously expensive that it would be impossible to work out of that facility.”

The next Wrangler, due in 2017, would benefit from an aluminum body as Chrysler works to improve the fuel economy of all its vehicles. The U.S. government is requiring automakers to reach a fleet average of 56.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

“We need to downsize the engines … and then increase the capabilities by putting turbos in,” Marchionne said. “This requires a complete rethink of the architecture, and before we start committing capital to particular places we need to make sure that we don’t spend an inordinate amount of money trying to get it done.”

However, removing the Wrangler from Toledo would be a major blow for the city where the Jeep started in 1941, then owned by Willys-Overland.

The first Willys MB Jeeps were produced in 1941 for the U.S. military. The first civilian models were made in 1945. It is the oldest off-road vehicle ever made.

Chrysler makes both the Wrangler and the Jeep Cherokee at its Toledo Assembly Complex.

The Auburn Hills automaker has been working to wring more Wrangler production out of Toledo for several years as global sales climbed.

In 2012, for example, Chrysler built more than 200,000 Wranglers, which come with either two or four doors and hired 200 more workers.

As for a suitable location for the aluminum Wrangler, Chrysler plants in Mexico and Canada seem to be out of the question because Marchionne said he wants to preserve Wrangler’s heritage as an American vehicle.

Plants in Sterling Heights and Belvidere, Ill., are able to build unibody cars and SUVs.

It’s possible Toledo would produce another new vehicle, the full-size Jeep Wagoneer by 2018.

“I will never build a Wrangler outside of the U.S.,” Marchionne Thursday. “The commitment to Toledo was certainly in terms of Jeep, and I think the fact that we brought the Cherokee to Toledo is huge. We’re selling over 200,000 of these.”

 

October 5, 2014 |

2016 Jeep Wrangler with 30mpg EcoDiesel?

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jeep-wranglerJust as 2014 Jeep sales are set to get underway, new details regarding the next generation of Wrangler rumored to debut in 2016 are coming out. CEO Mike Manley hinted strongly that Chrysler’s new EcoDiesel V-6 very well may find its way into the new Wranglers as an option for 2016.

So, What’s the Diesel?
While diesel Wranglers have been available and sold on the European scene for some time, this would be the first diesel drinking powerplant put into a Wrangler and sold on North American soil. The motor is no slouch, either. Chevy’s bout into the economy diesel market is represented by a V-6 3.0 liter diesel engine making 240 horsepower and over 400 foot pounds of torque. That’s a whole lot of off-roading power and a bright spot for the die-hard wheelers who will thoroughly refuse any Jeep offering that might be a less capable 4×4, regardless of fuel efficiency. Speaking of efficiency, the EcoDiesel expected to be seen in the new Wranglers also happens to be the same motor in the 2014 Grad Cherokee, earning 21 mpg/city, 30mpg highway for the 4×2 models, and 20/28 mpg for 4×4 models while being able to tow over 7,400 pounds. In the Wrangler frame those numbers are mighty inciting while still providing ample torque for weekend wheeling.

When asked about the new Jeep Wranglers moving toward smaller, turbocharged motors: CEO Mike Manley – “Potentially. As you know, petrol turbo in extreme off-road circumstances doesn’t actually help you because the turbo’s not with you, so we have to make sure that we have the right torque to deliver the capability, That’s why diesel is great for something like Wrangler.”
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October 5, 2014 |

Diesel-powered Wrangler not for U.S.

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There is a huge number of Jeep enthusiasts in the US who would like to own a diesel-powered Wrangler. I am one of them. Unfortunatelly Chrysler does not offer a diesel engine in the US. Yet we all know that it is being sold in Europe and Australia (in Europe almost 50% of all new cars sold today are diesel-powered, that number in the US is 3%!).
Chrysler management says that we might see a Wrangler with a turbo diesel in the next three years. Might…

For now, we can only be glad we are getting the new 3.6L Pentastar engine in 2012, delivering 290 horsepower and 260lb-ft of torque, with better gas mileage of 16/23.

Yet in Europe, you can go down to a dealership today and buy a brand new Jeep Wrangler with a 2.8 liter CRD four-cylinder turbo diesel. That engine sourced from Chrysler has an impressive 174hp and staggering 339 lb-ft. of torque. That is plenty of grunt for crawling rocks, climbing hills and going to WalMart for dog food. Sparking even more jealousy of our European Jeepers, the diesel powered Jeep Wrangler gets 23.7 mpg in the city and 35.8 mpg on the highway. And if you average that out you get a combined 30 mpg.
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July 18, 2011 |

2012 Jeep Wrangler pricing

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Based on a visit to a local dealership, here’s what the 2012 Wrangler prices look like. The base price is for a Rubicon, both two-door and Unlimited. There is almost no price change for 2012, which is great news, considering the fact that you get a new engine and new automatic transmission. Currently available 2011 Rubicon model’s MSRP is $29,820 for two-door and $33,320 for Unlimited. Obviously since dealers want to get rid of these cars, to make room for the new 2012 model, you can make a good deal and get a nice discount, including $1000 factory cash rebate or 0% financing for up to 60 months.
These are the prices for a Rubicon model, since that is the only one I am interested in buying, but if you’re interested in other models, it seems like the base prices should also be very similar to current year models. 2011 Sport MSRP is $22,045. Sport S sells for $24,245 and Sahara’s MSRP is $27,745.

Production should start on July 25th, and it usually takes 6-8 weeks for delivery. It looks like first 2012 Wranglers should be hitting dealerships in late September.
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July 14, 2011 |

2012 Jeep Wrangler

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With more power and efficiency, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler is demanding more attention towards it. The vehicle has eventually received the Chrysler 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 engine by replacing its 3.8 liter V6 engine.
The engine is equipped with a five speed Mercedes automatic transmission, a boost from its old four-speed automatic. Basically, the company wanted to move ahead from 4-speed to 5-speed. However, this jump is taken quite late since many automakers are now upgrading their vehicles to seven and eight speed transmissions. Current 6-sp manual transmission will still be available.

 


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June 27, 2011 |

GearPods

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GearPods makes modular, lightweight adventure and survival gear to help the outdoor enthusiast to prepare for the unexpected. The gear combines an innovative container system – GearPods Connect – with a range of pre-built GearPods Kits. The result is a configurable kit system that caters to casual and serious outdoor enthusiasts looking for pre-built kits and a-la-carte components respectively.

The GearPods Connect system represents a new approach to organizing and packing adventure gear. GearPods Connect is a flexible and modular container system that is perfect for building kits. Sharing a common diameter as most sports bottle holders, GearPods are also easy to pack: in a bike water bottle cage, lumbar pack, hydration pack, backpack or even a pocket. Our pre-built GearPods Kits cover the essentials of adventure and survival: first aid, survival, shelter, and cooking. These kits provide the best of both worlds: highly compact yet capable adventure and survival gear.

GearPods are suitable for virtually every outdoor sport, including: hiking and backpacking, climbing, mountain biking, off-roading, kayaking, adventure racing, winter sports and hunting.
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May 31, 2011 |

Arizona land permits and passes

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Many of the off-roading trails in Arizona, including trails in the popular Florence Junction area, cross designated state lands. Sometimes these lands are posted with no trespassing signs and sometimes they are not. In either case you are required to have a State Land Recreational Use Permit to enter. The permit is inexpensive, easy to obtain and good anywhere in the state for a full year. You are required to carry the permit with you at all times while on state land. Responsible four-wheelers and riders who reside in Arizona purchase the permit annually just like a fishing or hunting licence. If you are heading to Arizona from another state, you can purchase the permit by mail in advance, in person at the Arizona State Land Department, or on-line. Get more information HERE.

 

You can check out this Arizona State Land Parcel Viewer.

 

All trails in the Sedona area require a special Red Rocks Pass if you park for more than few minutes near or along the trail. No pass is required to drive a trail as long as you keep moving. Passes are available at dispensing machines at the start of most trails. Many stores and government offices in Sedona also sell the passes. If you plan to picnic or hike you’ll need a pass too.
Get more information HERE.

 

 

May 30, 2011 |

Arizona’s Bureau of Land Management lands

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Whatever you seek, you will find it on the Arizona lands under the management of the BLM. Scattered throughout the state, and encompassing 14.2 million acres, these lands include winding roads, stark desert highlands, remote mountains, red canyons and rolling rivers, lush wetlands, cool forests, and large recreational lakes. For those more interested in human history than natural history, there are historic trails, prehistoric ruins and petroglyph sites.

Visitors to the lands managed by the BLM enjoy a variety of activities, including OHV use in southern Arizona, boating on the dammed areas of the Lower Colorado River, desert and wilderness adventures throughout the state, and wildlife watching and scenic rafting in the Gila Box. The BLM operates many developed areas, but the majority of these lands are remote wilderness which protect unusual and fragile desert ecosystems. Please treat all these lands resepectfully – tread lightly in these precious wild areas, and respect private land boundaries. Never remove artifacts, and get permission before collecting anything else.

In most cases there is no fee for entering BLM lands, but there are some exeptions.
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May 30, 2011 |

Santa Cruz Bicycles

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“All the marketing hype in the world won’t make a poorly designed bike handle well. Likewise, all the 3-D modeling software and metalworking technology in the world won’t amount to much unless the people directing it are serious about building truly great bicycles.

Call us misguided, but at Santa Cruz Bicycles we believe that to build a good bike, you have to first really love riding bikes. That’s an asset we have in spades here. Our engineers are mighty good at working Pro/E, but they are riders first and foremost. Our builders can rail dirt better than most. Our painter can catch more air than you can. Our sales office is filled with bikes that get ridden every day. From the people packing bikes into boxes to the owner of the company, our main obsession and our common bond is riding.

Ranging from our sophisticated VPP downhill weaponry to the Spartan simplicity of our new cyclocross frame, the bikes in our catalog are the bikes that we ride. They reflect our passion for riding, and they stand as a testament to our ongoing desire to make our rides better. We’re damn proud of them, and we hope you like riding them as much as we do.”
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May 16, 2011 |

OHV Decal, Title, License Plate, and Registration

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OHV Decal

The OHV Decal is a sticker that must be purchased annually to allow your OHV to be operated within Arizona. The decal will need to be applied to the upper left corner of your license plate, and your license plate will need to be visibly displayed on the rear of your OHV.

An off-highway vehicle is any motor vehicle operated on unimproved roads, trails and approved use areas not suitable for conventional two-wheel-drive vehicular travel. Examples include: ATVs, UTVs, trail motorcycles and dirt bikes.

The OHV Decal is available for purchase online at ServiceArizona.com or at a Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) Office or Authorized Third Party Provider. The cost is $25.00. The decal is valid for one year. It is the ATV/OHV owner’s responsibility to purchase subsequent year decals.
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May 13, 2011 |

Tie Down Strap Sack

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How many times have you gone to use your dirt bike tie down, ATV tie down, etc… and had to tie-up the excess strapping to prevent flapping or dragging of the excess strapping of the tie down straps. Not only is this annoying to spend the time tying up the excess strapping, it is equally as frustrating un-tying the knots made. The Strap Sack attaches to your existing tie down straps and hold all of the excess strapping and when you are finished, the Strap Sack stores the entire strap in the bag. No more tie downs laying in the bed of your truck or a in a bucket or bin all tangled-up. Using the storage capabilities of the Strap Sack, many store their tie downs in the side pocket of the truck.

 

Most of us keep our tie downs in a bucket, crate, box, on a shelf, or in the back of our vehicles. This storage system tends to produce one thing- an aggravating mess! There is usually frustrating loss of time needed to unravel the straps that are entangled with other straps, rope, bungee cords, etc. When the tie down straps are applied to whatever you are attempting to secure there is always excess strapping that needs to be dealt with. For most of us this means tying several knots to secure the excess strapping that needs to be untied once you reach your destination. And of course, then the strap is thrown back in its previous unorganized storage space.

THE SOLUTION IS STRAP SACK! The Strap Sack allows the user to secure the excess strapping without tying knots, preventing flapping or dragging. After use, the Strap Sack stores the entire tie down preventing a “spaghetti like” mess with other tie down. The Strap Sack installs to your existing tie downs in seconds.

 

The Strap Sack quickly installs to any existing tie down strap. Take the end that is attached to the ratchet and slide it through the top of the bag (where the drawstring is located). Continue to feed it through the bottom of the bag and use the zip tie to cinch it to the strap. Cut off the remaining zip tie and the bag is installed. To use the Strap Sack simply remove the tie down strap from the sack, ratchet the tie down tight, pull the Strap Sack over the ratchet and the extra strapping goes in the bag. Use the drawstring to close the bag and away you go!

 

Strap Sacks are made for different applications. All of the Strap Sacks have parachute cord drawstrings with cord stops and installed zip-tie for easy installation. The most common is the Medium duty 1″ – 1.5″ Strap Sack which is made of a quality rip-stop nylon fabric that is available in: red, orange, blue, black, and camouflage (not rip-stop). For a more demanding environment there are the new Heavy-duty Strap Sacks that are made of 7oz, 430 denier poly coated Pack Cloth. These are made for more rugged application or those who want to throw their straps in the back of the truck and then pile some wood on top.

 

There are three versions available currently:
– Strap Sack for 1″ – 1.5″ Tie Down Straps (4 Pack = $15.00)
– 1″ – 1.5″ Heavy Duty Strap Sacks (4 Pack = $19.99)
– Strap Sack for 2″ Tie Down Straps (2 Pack = $15.99)

 

You can pick up the Strap Sack at www.tie-down-storage.com

 

If you own Strap Sack and have used it, make sure to COMMENT and let others know what you think.

 

April 24, 2011 |

GoPro’s HD Helmet HERO camera

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GoPro’s HD Helmet HERO is the world’s highest performance wearable 1080p HD video and still photo camera. Professional quality 1080p / 960p / 720p HD resolutions record at 30 and 60 frames per second (60 fps in 720p). Record up to 2.5 hours on a single charge and up to 9 hours total on a 32GB SD card (not included).

In addition to HD video, this digital action sports helmet cam also shoots 5MP still photographs at 2/5/10/30 or 60 second intervals. Press the shutter button once and record up to 2.5 hours of poster-print quality POV photos of you and your friends’ most memorable moments.

Helmet camera mount options include a headlamp style head strap that you can quickly share with your friends, a lace-through strap-mount for vented helmets, two curved and two flat adhesive mounts for attaching to gear, vehicles or whatever else moves you.

The HD Helmet HERO is compatible with all other GoPro HERO camera mounts & accessories, so it’s very easy to expand the functionality of your camera to attach with a suction cup to vehicles, clamp to bike handlebars and seat posts, mount to surfboards, and even be worn on the wrist or chest.

Waterproof to 180’ / 60m, shockproof, and protected from rocks and other hazards thanks to its removable polycarbonate housing. Replacement housings and lens kits are available, making repairs or refurbishing your HD HERO camera affordable and convenient.
It’s a GoPro…go for it.™

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April 18, 2011 |

2011 Kawasaki KFX450R ATV

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“A full featured sport ATV with race ready technology.

You’ll know you’re on a muscular ride from the moment you thumb the KFX®450R’s electric starter. With its lightweight aluminum frame, long lower front A-arm suspension and a fully adjustable rear shock, this ATV offers track dominating handling and confidence-inspiring stability to compliment its powerful engine.

Sharing engine DNA with the highly acclaimed KX™450F motocrosser, the KFX450R is ready to race. Equipped with titanium valves to keep reciprocating weight low, the engine is fitted with a highly responsive 32-bit digital fuel injection (DFI®) system that automatically compensates for temperature or altitude. DFI enhances the KFX450R’s ability to translate its four-stroke power into outstanding thrust, with easily accessible torque in the low- and medium-rpm ranges.

The fast and reliable KFX450R also includes a lightweight reverse gear system integrated with its five-speed manual transmission. The KFX450R’s reverse gear allows riders to quickly and easily extricate themselves from first turn chaos, trail bottlenecks or any other on-track incident, using the normal shift lever, plus a convenient handlebar mounted lock-out lever.

Built to handle tough trail conditions and win races, the KFX450R’s lightweight all-aluminum frame has both incredible stiffness and significant strength. The high-tech chassis also provides a low center of gravity and excellent roll resistance for higher corner speeds and race-level handling.

The front suspension design utilizes long lower A-arms mounted to a single box-section lower frame tube, paired with dual-rate front springs for excellent rough-terrain handling. In the rear, an adjustable shock with low- and high-speed compression and rebound damping adjustability is mated to a cast aluminum swingarm that offers the ideal balance of flexibility and rigidity. Regardless of track surfaces or conditions, this race-oriented chassis makes the KFX450R a potent weapon.

The KFX450R is easy to work on, so owners can spend more time in the dirt than in the garage. The two-piece front and rear “lapped” fenders make it easier to customize the size of the fenders or quickly replace damaged sections. Even the headlight assembly is quickly detachable for closed-course races — this ATV looks just as aggressive with or without headlights. These features leave little doubt that the KFX450R was designed to be on the track and winning races as quickly as possible.

Owners can customize their KFX450R, using a full line of Authentic Kawasaki Accessories from their local Kawasaki dealer.”

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July 31, 2010 |

2009 Suzuki QuadRacer R450 ATV

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“Having recently been crowned the AMA/ATVA National MX champion, the QuadRacer R450 is indisputably the hottest four-wheeler on the track. Its Suzuki fuel-injected 450cc powerplant offers astounding top-end performance, with a technically advanced chassis and responsive, long-travel suspension so you can conquer the toughest tracks.”

New Features
– New aluminum seat rail to reduce weight

New Engine Features
– ECU programming and cam profiles designed for optimum engine output especially at low- to mid-rpm range
– New countershaft for improved gear shift feel

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July 31, 2010 |

2011 Yamaha Raptor 700R SE ATV

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Key Features:
  • Raptor 700R Special Edition includes wave-style rear brake disc, dealer-installed GYTR® front grab bar and heel guards, plus special graphics and colors.
  • A 686cc Yamaha fuel-injected engine makes this the most powerful Yamaha sport ATV ever, with big torque right off idle, transitioning into a fat mid-range and monstrous top end.
  • America’s best-selling sport ATV comes standard with a digital meter. Riders have plenty of information available at a glance, including speedometer, dual trip meters, odometer, clock and engine warning indicators, plus neutral and reverse indicators.
  • Sport-tuned piggyback shocks provide long stroke for excellent sport-riding comfort, and are fully adjustable with convenient adjustment knobs to fine-tune the ride.
  • Hybrid steel and aluminum frame with a Controlled-Fill aluminum subframe and cast aluminum swingarm combine to produce a super-strong structure and the lightest ATV in its class.
  • Aggressive styling reflects Raptor 700R’s intent, and YFZ-inspired handling means it walks the walk, too.
  • Long-travel suspension—9.1 inches front, 10.1 rear—a cush seat and excellent ergonomics make the Raptor 700R comfortable to ride hard all day long.
 New for 2011:
  • New inner rolled wheel’s reduce weight while maintaining strength.

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July 31, 2010 |

2009 Honda TRX700XX ATV

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“Cast your eyes upon the 2009 TRX700XX, the biggest, toughest sport ATV Honda has ever created. The TRX700XX isn’t just the most powerful ATV we have ever built, with its thundering 686cc, SOHC, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, four-valve four-stroke engine. It’s also the most innovative—consider its four-wheel Independent front and rear double-wishbone Suspension (IRS), another Honda sport ATV first. More? Clothe this snarling package in some of our most outrageously styled bodywork ever, and watch all the other riders mumble to themselves.” 

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July 31, 2010 |
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