Personal Defense On The Trail

Whether it's pepper spray, pistol, rifle or a big stick, self defense is a right given by God to all men, no matter where they call home or which government tells them what rights they have or do not have. While I do not  advocate breaking the law, I do believe we as people have the right and responsibility to ourselves and families to defend our property and lives. 

OK, so that's my little rant on the subject and you probably know by now where I stand on the issue. Let's look at some basic options for concealed and open carry weapons while traveling in the back country.  Always check your local laws on carrying weapons in the back country.  Some wilderness areas do not allow you to carry a firearm while in parks or national forests.

Big stick
Use one if you must but I would not rely on it if my life depended on it. All kidding aside, if it's all you have it's all you have.  Get it in your mind to survive and to use what you have at hand. Try running scenarios through your mind and ask yourself what you would do in a given situation.

Pepper Spray

Pepper spray
Pepper spray can be purchased just about anywhere from your Walmart to your local sporting goods store, and many locations online.  As far as the carry aspect, it can be placed in a pack, carried on a lanyard or in a sheath on the belt.  The last is what I prefer for ease of access mainly.  Also I don't really want that stuff around my neck if I happen to fall and rupture the canister.  It's probably not very likely to happen.  I would just rather have it as far from my face and eyes as possible.  Pepper spray can be purchased in many different strength’s for different applications.  Also it can be carried in some areas where firearms may not be allowed. Bottom line is: this is a good non-lethal way to keep yourself safe and protected and allows you to put some distance between you and the threat.

Holster Shirt

Firearms
This is my preferred means for self defense.  While pepper spray is an alternative, I prefer not to get that close to an attacker or threat.  Now, I’m not talking about sniping someone or something at 500 yards. I’m talking about a real threat up close and personal.  Whether it's firing a couple of warning shots into the air to scare off an animal or putting rounds on target to put something down for good, a firearm is the most effective means of eliminating a threat.

Training is a must.  Know how to use a firearm and when you should or shouldn't use one.  As far as carrying, I use the Glaco STO 440 IWB ( inside waistband) holster for the Springfield Sub-compact 9mm. Its very comfortable to wear and keeps it out of site and clean while riding while allowing for easy access.

Pistol Mount

Another option is the holster shirt which I purchased from Cabelas.  This shirt is just so cool. It provides great concealment, but at the expense of accessibility.  It's just a little hard to get to sometimes.  Another option (also purchased from Cabelas) is an ATV pistol mount which works great for easy access.  The pistol mount keeps it in place very well.  The only issue is: everyone can see it and your pistol will need a good cleaning after the ride. There are also many different gun racks for rifles and bows for hunting applications and riding.

Final thoughts
These are just a few of my thoughts.  Remember: the best defense is a good offense.  Be aware of your surroundings and listen to that little voice in your head.  When its says “HEY! I don't think we should be here,” listen.  It's there for a reason.

Enjoy the ride!

Planning your ride

Where to go 
One of the first things in planning a ride and the probably the most obvious is where to go. Consider your skill and the skills of the friends that are going with you. One of the worst things is getting on a trail and finding out one or more riders are just completely overwhelmed by a too difficult or technical trail. 

Weather
Check the weather and make sure you have the correct clothing for the trip and plan for changing weather. Check with local shops, as these folks are usually avid riders and have a lot of knowledge of trails. Look for weather cams in the general area you want to ride just to get an idea of what's happening now.

Maps and Road Closures
Try Google Earth to get a good overview of the area and some basic land marks and elevation changes.The Forest Service, Fish and Game and BLM can provide maps of the area you want to ride and closures for trails and roads.  Try to become familiar with their web sites and see what they have to offer.  Also keep their phone #’s of local offices in case of an emergency.  They will usually be closer to you and have a better knowledge of the area you’re in. This is in no way to replace the 911 call you should make in case of emergency, just a supplement. Great link for web cams. Northwest web cams

Check Your Ride 
Make sure your bike is ready to go.  This includes all fluids and tire pressure.  Don't forget the fuel. Also make sure your hauling vehicle is in good working order.  The same check list applies to your truck and trailer. Just a little bit of time checking before you leave can mean the difference between making it to the trail or making it back home.

Tools
A good tool kit can be a life saver. The tools that came with you machine can do most of what you may need, but a good socket set for changing tires and a repair kit for punctures are also a plus. Don't forget the compressor for pumping up those flats or leaking tires.The newer ATVs also have some fuses. Know where they are and have extras.  Check your owners manual for more information.

Tool Kit

Share Your Plan
Sharing your plan with friends, family, Facebook, twitter or even here in the comment section can save your life. Having someone else knowing where you are going and when you are expected back is one of those things that's a must. With bigger better faster and more comfortable machines we are going for longer rides and traveling farther than ever before and increasing the risk of an accident or brake down.  Let someone know where you are going and when you should be back so if you don't show up at least they know where to start looking.

Plan To Get Back 
Imagine going for a ride on a cold snowy winter day. Think of the clothing you would ware to stay warm: bulky coats and boots right? Now every thing goes wrong and you are walking out. Really? Don't think so Skippy. Walking out for miles in heavy winter riding boots or even some of the motor-cross type boots can prove to be a real challenge. Not that it cant be done, but make it a little easier.  If you can dress in layers for starters, not only will you stay warmer but if you get hot while walking you can always take something off. Hiking boots. Toss a good pare of hiking shoes in your bag.  It might be nice to slip on a pair for that long walk out.


Keep in mind this is just an overview. I know there are some things I have missed or failed to talk about here.  But maybe this will get you thinking before you take off on your next ride. Leave a comment or your question below, they are welcome.  Be safe and make 2012 the best year of riding ever.

Trail Riding with Girlie-Girl

For those of you women who pride yourselves as being as tough as any man and able to keep up with the guys in your life, relishing every moment of mud, grime, and the occasional blood spillage…this post is NOT for you!  

This post is for us, super girlie-girls, simply trying to survive a day of four-wheeling with that special man in our microcosm.  It is true that we want to support our husband/boyfriend/spouse in some kind of hobby, (especially one that gets him out of the house and out of our hair once in awhile).

That does not mean we desire to plunge through the rivers, valleys and mountains covered head to toe in trail dust, ditch water, and various other bits of mother nature clinging to our well-tailored jackets.  There must be a middle ground, right?  And there’s the rub.  

In light of my personal struggle to stay lady-like and also occasionally see my husband on the weekends, I have put together a little checklist of things to consider (BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE) for all of you ATV trail enthusiasts desperate to get out the door and onto the trail with your special lady.

Things to keep in mind when wheeling with the girlie-girl in your life:

• Ride Duration: the ride must be long enough to satisfy your trail urge, but short enough to not scuff her new boots up too much.
• Terrain: select your intended trail and terrain carefully.  Too steep is NO good and scary.  Too flat is boring.  Too bumpy will get you the silent treatment all the way home.  
• Attire/Gear: Her gear must be warm, comfortable and figure flattering.  If you are planning to make this couples ride a regular event, do yourself a favor and buy her some pretty pink riding gear (pants, coat, hat, gloves, helmet, boots...matching earrings.  You get the picture.)  These things can be obtained.  Do not deceive yourself into assuming pink riding gear does not exist.  It does.  I have girl friends working at Western Power Sports to prove it.  
• Food/Water: You must pack several appropriate snacks, bottled water, and preferably a picnic lunch if you are planning to be gone more than two hours.  Just saying.
• First Aide: Take a hint from the boy scouts.  Be prepared.  Carry wet wipes, Neosporin, and butterfly bandages at all times.  They are not for her.  They are for her sanity.
• Whine Prevention Kit: This can be assembled easily and is somewhat affordable.  Your kit needs to include but is not limited to; a bottle of wine & cups (I recommend a white zin or St. Chapelle’s Soft White), chocolates, yummy gum (Orbit winter-mint is safe), Red Vine licorice, and a Michael Buble CD for the ride home.

Remember, with careful planning on your part, you and your special girlie-girl can enjoy a wonderful ride out on the trail!  Until next time, Happy Trails and (as my seven year old would say) Big Balls!

Guest Blogger: Tia Davis (aka: The Pink Lady)

Big Ride Sept 2007

In 2007, three of us took a trip. The plan was to pack in with everything we would need for a good weekend including fuel. The week before we left I spent most of my time trying to get everything on the Brute I thought I would need or wanted to take. After culling out everything I didn't need and making a couple of phone calls to make sure we didn't have too many duplicate items we were ready to go.The place we decided to camp was about 30 miles from where we parked but with all of our supplies including a huge platter of ribs for Friday night dinner, it was a slow trip.

We made it to camp early evening and had a great ride in and more to come.  One of the high lights of the weekend was the five Apache helicopters that flew over our camp. The first one actually hovered right over our camp and waved, very low and very cool.  We took the bikes to a clearing and sat back to watch the show.  These guys came down to about 100 feet or so and it was awesome.  It really shows you if they had a reason to take us out they sure could have.

Mad dash to find reception for the game.

Over the weekend we road about 300 miles from Murphy, Idaho to somewhere in Northern Nevada and several places in between.  We had a great time and we even made time to listen to the BSU game that night “GO BRONCO”S!!!”

Over all the weekend was a great success. Dinner was ribs one night and prime rib the next.  Sandwiches during the day and a huge platter of wonderful views and adventure. This was the first of our year end rides that we continue to take in September every year.  More photos can be seen here along with the video of the Apache. Until next time, enjoy the ride.


https://picasaweb.google.com/112366868054103332166/Sept72007?authkey=Gv1sRgCJGMh9yCt6Xk5wE

Pre-Ride Checklist

Tire Pressure
Tire pressure is probably the easiest and fastest thing you can do check and adjust to improve performance and handling a low pressure tire gauge is not only inexpensive but a valuable part of you ATV tool kit along with a portable air compressor both can be purchased just about anywhere for under $30. keeping the tire pressure even and correct will improve the safety and handling of any ATV not to mention tire ware and traction. Think of it this way if you on a slow trail with lots of rocks snow or mud try a lower pressure better traction and improved ride. If your flying down a trail sliding corners and concerned about tire roll try a little higher pressure. Just a couple of things to keep in mind. Always check the recommended tire pressure for your tires.

Cable maintenance
This is simple as well sticky cables suck...no other way to put it I found that WD-40 works well and use the small hose that come with it to get the fluid into the cable sheath. Keeping your cables well maintained could save you a lot of heart ache out on the trail.  Also keeping your cable at the prop0er tension can improve their performance and life.

Fluids
This is a no brain-er right? check the oil and all of your fluids. here is the problem I don't know how many times Ive spent alot of time trying to get my tire pressure just right before a ride just to get an hour from home and realize I’m low on oil not a good way to start the day. Grease is cheep and should be used often a little maintenance today could save you alot of money in the future. Fuel, yep its a fluid and a vital one as well. ever had this happen? loaded up with all the gear and friends on your way ride for a couple of hours 40+ miles away from anything, Light bulb goes off in you head did I top this off with fuel? not going to name names but that can be a real bummer.

Lugs
A socket wrench and five minutes before each ride can save you a bunch of frustration. Check the tightness and condition of the lugs enough said. I keep a small tool kit in my bag that I can use to do minor repairs and maintenance while on the trail.

If you have a hard time remembering your maintenance schedule like I do make a list of tasks things to check before every ride things to check after each ride and things to check on a monthly bases. Check your owners manual for service recommendations.

11-23-11 Ride

Hunter and I had a great ride today. We put the old cabin on the Brute with the new retrofit doors hoping it would keep us warm. Warm was an understatement.  We were both completely overdressed but as we always say better safe than sorry.

Here’s how the day went:  We started off about 10 AM, headed for Murphy, Idaho, but not sure exactly where we were going.  We knew we were headed for the snow but not sure of the route we were going to take to get there.  “No biggie,” I say.  We’ll just head up the Silver City Road and figure it out from there.  About 5 miles up the road take a left on Scotch Bob Road. I knew I should have taken a pic.  From the bottom of the canyon it’s about 3 miles.

Anyway, we headed for War Eagle Mt. but about half way up the snow became a little too deep for the time we had to spend.  We had a great time playing in the snow and trying out the new doors on the cabin. Let me tell you I know someone could build a better set of doors but these were great. We wore light coats and ball caps, and no gloves and bulky clothing to get in the way. The only time we put on stocking hats was when we left the inside warmth of our new…well, let’s just call it a Jeep.

We just need a stereo and power windows. Here’s the thing: if you get a chance to spend some time with your best friend doing what you love to do. DO IT!  No questions.  It was one of the best rides I have taken in a while just because my son was there with me. We had a couple of close calls because I wasn’t paying attention.  (Don’t tell my wife.)

And we had luke-warm hotdogs because I can’t pack a lunch to save my life and what does my son say at the end of the day? “Best day ever!  What a great adventure!” What do you say to that? I said, “Best day ever!  What a great adventure!”

Until next time, enjoy the ride!

Cabin Retrofit

This is the cabin I purchased a couple of years ago.  It works great for the intended purpose, which is block the wind and to keep you mostly out of the elements.  As you can see, your legs are always exposed and almost all of the heat off the engine is lost.  What to do?--I did doors!  I added a little fabric on the bottom of the cabin and made removable doors.  With a hand full of snaps and some fabric I was able to fabricate some pretty cool doors.  They are not perfect but they work.  The best thing about these is there is very little heat loss from the engine, which helps keep the rider very toasty.

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There is plenty of air flow to keep any fumes from building up.  It seems the best speed is around 20 MPH to keep the heat up.  On slow and narrow trails it’s perfect.  It also holds together well at speeds around 30 MPH or so.  The doors were easy to build and well worth the time.  On this ride we left Murphy, Idaho, and headed for Silver City.   After everything was warmed up gloves and hats were not needed until we left the comfort of our “cabin.”  I always enjoy riding in all kinds of weather but the extra warmth makes it so much better.  

Until next time, enjoy the ride.

*Other thoughts...

Rain-ex works great and keeps any snow and rain moving quickly out view.  When cleaning your windshield, always use a up-down motion to keep any scratches in one direction.  It cuts down on swirling glare when out in the sun.  Next time we go I will take a thermometer and check the outside temp. compared to the inside temp.  I think it will be interesting to see the difference.

Maxis Big Horns

In the last post I wrote about the Moose Power Mod and how much I loved it {link to post}. In this post I‘ll talk about the next extra I added to the Brute.

Tires and wheels not only look cool but are functional as well, maybe not the wheels but they look cool. Here is what I found: Maxis big horns, 27x12r12 for the rear, and 27x9r12 for the front, with ITP offset wheels rear. Why, you may ask?  Great question! I would love to say I need more ground clearance or with the new Moose Power Mod I need more traction or I read all the reviews on the web and narrowed down my decision based on blah-blah-blah.  Now, all of these are questions you should ask yourself when purchasing tires and wheels and these have helped and exceeded my expectations. But…

Nope, I walked into my store Grizzly Sports and said to myself “self, I need that set.  They are just so cool!” I should probably not mention how they spoke to me. (“Take me please, I need to get in the mud, I eat rocks, snow is no problem, etc.”)   We can talk about the voices in my head later. I purchased the set of tires and wheels, rolled them out to the truck and they were taller than the tires on my truck!  (“COOL!” I say aloud, with the salesman quietly chuckling in the background.)  I rushed home and installed them.  “Nice!” I say.  My wife? Not as impressed as I was but still cool.  I loaded the Brute and went riding.

I should mention with stock tires I would always just tie the Brute down, sucked up to the cab but with 27’s at the first stop sign we came too? Yep, they went right through the back window, (just something to keep in mind always put something between your bike and the cab).  The tires are great, fantastic traction and ware.  The handling is much improved over stock. The offsets are great for off camber travel and add a lot of stability although most trails are cut at 48 inches and I now sit at about 54 inches wide in the back. That hasn’t been a problem but I do worry a little about the legal side (ATV description being 48 inches wide) and we can discuss this in a later post.

The bottom line is I love this setup and it works great for me. Don’t forget: they look good too!

Pros: They look cool

        Fantastic traction (rocks, snow. hard pack, mud)

        greatly improved ride and controllability       

        Durability is Awesome!

        

Cons: Heavy (but the brute handles them well)

         the offset wheels are a bit wide for some applications (legal issues)

         not good on pavement (but we all knew that right?)

Until next time, enjoy the ride!

Moose Power Module

Moose Power Module

Over the next few posts, I will go over and review the extras or “mods” I’ve added to my 2005 Kawasaki 750 brute force. 

Instead of tires and wheels first to make it look great and handle better my thought was “more power right out of the box.”  Don’t get me wrong, the brute doesn’t have issues with power but if you can get more?  Well, then you get more.  Besides, the tires were new and the budget was lacking. 

For about $90 I purchased the Moose Power Module from my local dealer Grizzly Sports and raced home to install it. Not being great with mechanics I read the instructions and the first installation was quick and easy (almost too easy).  You would think these things would be harder to do but…nope simple and fast just how I like it.

The first thing I noticed was the brute fired right up cool but then I thought “Is that it? Is it working?” Jumped on and there we went. I laid into the throttle AND? Holy ^%$#%$# yep it’s working alright! My front wheels were off the ground and we were moving. I was in love...

Now on the top end there is no measurable difference but on the low end--holy cow-- torque like crazy, which is nice in some of those tight spots where more power is better. In my view more power is always better.  Sometimes it just hurts more.  Bottom line is I love the “moose power mod” and it works great.

Pros: $ 90 not a bad price for the return

      easy installation (five minutes or less once the seat is off)

      works great (low end torque)

      I can now beat my Dad off the line (even with the stock tires)

Cons: nothing yet but if I have an issue I’ll let you know

Until next time, enjoy the ride!

About Us

My name is Tyson Davis.  I am 37 years old and currently living in Nampa, Idaho.  I started riding motorcycles when I was about 5 years old, a 1974 Honda XR-75 handed down from my brother (Thanks Scott). The freedom, fun, occasional crashes and experiences since I started riding have made a huge impact on my life. As I have grown up the mode of transportation has changed but the love of the ride only gets stronger.  It really doesn’t matter what or how you ride - motorcycle, side-by-side or ATV; fast or slow, aggressive or conservative.   What matters is the fun and excitement of exploring new places with the people you love, and maybe even learning something new along the way (about where you are and who you are with).

I started off with a Honda XR-75 and have owned many motorcycles since then, along with a couple of three-wheelers.  In 1995 my world of riding changed forever when my Dad and I purchased two brand new Honda 300 Four-trax 2-wheel drive machines.  Wow!  The difference was amazing!  First of all it was so fun and convenient to be able to carry all that stuff (cook stove, cooler, camera, etc.) Second, the ride itself was smooth and enjoyable, often riding with one hand while holding a soda or camera, not worrying about hitting a small rock and being flung off the edge of a cliff.  After going through a small race phase with a Honda 400 EX and a Yamaha Raptor 650, very fast and very fun, I thought it was time to slow down.  About this time I got married and a short time later we had our first of two boys.  This was a “big factor” in the slowing down decision

Now I ride a 2005 750 Kawasaki Brute Force 4x4. Wait, I thought I was slowing down?  This thing still runs out at about 65 mph.  Cool!  Best of both worlds!  My family and I love to ride, get out and see wonderful, scenic Idaho. This is our story.  Join us as we explore the great outdoors:  any trail, any time.

Tyson Davis, aka “The Trailrat”