July 24, 2006 – ATV Report

JohnFitzgeraldJuly 24, 2006

Suzuki will replace clutch cover
Suzuki is asking owners of 2005 and 2006 LT-Z400 ATVs to schedule a maintenance visit to a dealer to replace a magnesium clutch cover with an aluminum one.
Suzuki says the clutch cover, which was changed from aluminum to magnesium starting with the 2005 models, can erode, which can affect the sealing ability of the clutch cover and in extreme cases allow engine coolant to contaminate the oil.
Suzuki has decided to conduct the customer satisfaction program and replace the clutch cover. In addition to replacing the clutch cover, a dealer will replace the engine oil, the oil filter and the coolant at no cost.
Questions should be directed to the American Suzuki Customer Service Department at 714/572-1490.
Baja Motorsports Lauded
Baja Motorsports, Tempe, Ariz., was named one of 50 Arizona Companies to Watch by the Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA).
The inaugural Arizona Companies to Watch event and awards presentation was hosted by the ASBA and conducted by the Edward Lowe Foundation, a nonprofit foundation with a mission to “champion the entrepreneurial spirit.”
Baja Motorsports, an outdoor-recreational vehicle business with more than 90 employees, has been in business since September 2004. Baja Motorsports President and CEO Rich Godfrey expects the company to do $100 million in sales this year.
Virginia Requires Titles
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles will be making some regulation changes for ATVs.
Virginia residents will now have to title new ATVs. Authorities say ATV thefts are a problem in southwest Virginia since they’re hard to track and easy to steal. Police believe it will make some of their investigations easier.
Hatfield-McCoy Looks to Expand
Raleigh County officials are discussing the development of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail in southern West Virginia.
Executive Director Judy Radford says they’re looking to see if it’s feasible to develop a trail that would connect to the Hatfield-McCoy trails. The trailhead would be in Hot Coal, which is near Sophia.
Radford says even if the project is approved, Raleigh County would still have to wait until Mercer and Wayne counties finished their Hatfield-McCoy trails.
Suzuki Promotes Riding Areas
With summer vacation months ahead, the latest ATV-related public relations campaign from American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) beckons riders to visit any one of a number of recreational areas across the country.
Here’s how the folks at Suzuki described a number of summer hot spots:

Riders can enjoy sandy and hilly terrain at the Cinder Hills recreation area near Flagstaff, Ariz. — a popular site with lots of trails to choose from.

At the Paiute ATV Trails in south central Utah, two annual ATV festivals allow enthusiasts to join hundreds of miles of scenic trail riding through mountains, aspen forests and beautiful desert trails.

For the perfect combination of the beach lifestyle and ATV riding, enthusiasts can spend a day or camp overnight at Oceano Dunes in coastal central California — a sand dune complex that’s geologically unique.

Families looking for a desert oasis can hit the trails at California’s Ocotillo Wells in San Diego and Imperial counties, where riders can tour more than 40,000 acres of magnificent desert land.

For riders of all skill levels, Turkey Bay in western Kentucky offers approximately 100 miles of trails and breathtaking views of Kentucky Lake.
For more information on places to ride in each state, riders can visit www.recreation.gov.
Bush gets a Mule
Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, a noted outdoorsman, recently took delivery of a Kawasaki Mule 3010 Trans4x4 at his home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Bush uses the Mule for recreational and utility needs and has been known to also shuttle visitors around the property. The 3010 Trans4x4 transforms from a four-person vehicle to a two-person unit with an expanded bed. psb

JohnFitzgeraldJuly 24, 2006