Ok here's the deal, you inherited a nice little sum of money. Not enough to quit work and retire, but enough for you to indulge in a new quad and all the mods you could ever dream of. What would you buy with your new found windfall?  

My inheritance check just arrived, sans lawyer fees and taxes. It was enough to fund the start-up on my new ATV products company and build my dream quad. With the KQ not being released yet, I’ve decided to “blue print” my own ride, the 4X Sport! I sourced an 800+ cc V-twin engine from Suzuki. It was originally a street bike engine, but we adjusted it for “quad work” by re-mapping the Fuel Injection and tuning the pipes ( that snake around the heat shielded air box and exit under the center of the rear fenders/rack, ala‘ Ducati). The result, as proven on the dyno (70+ HP), was monster low end torque, FAT midrange, and a killer top end ( keep in mind, this is fantasy). We also, miraculously, mated an automatic tranny, beefed up with Dalton’s clutch kit, to this beast! Next comes the frame. Steel was the material, but we made the sub-frame detachable for easier access to the rear suspension/ major maint. chores. Hoops were fabbed to the front and rear to aid in attaching tie downs and winch hooks. Dual arms and Elka rear reservoir shocks, with carbon fiber covers, were used on the front(s). The rear uses dual trailing arm/IRS (Bombadier style) with Elka dual rate adjustable shocks. The result was 10.2” travel in the front, 10.5 in the rear. The ground clearance checked in at a full 12”. Full frame ¼” aluminum skid plate, A-arm, rear dif/shaft guards, and winch holster, from Aluminum Products, protect the belly/front end. Dual front discs and a Prairie wet disc out back slow this beast. Mucho machining was required to mate the Prairie rear dif to the IRS. We also used the Prairie’s locking front dif. We kept the CG. low by placing the engine slightly rearward. We used the Vinson front fenders (love that dry storage compartment!), tank, lights, and seat (with gripper cover) , due to style and cost concerns. The rear fenders/ rack were sourced from the Rincon because we needed the tail lights, LED of course, in the fenders to avoid the exhaust. All of the plastic was done yellow because it masks scratches better. We had the racks, floor boards, and front bumper/winch mount sprayed with Rhyno-Liner. Full floor boards from a Prairie were used, although we used turned up, wider pegs. By installing a power mirror motor in the head light housing, we made this aux. light adjustable by way of a bar mounted remote. The 60w Hela HID bulb makes a big difference. We installed ITP Mud-Lites, mounted to 12” aluminum bead-locker rims, that the Kawasaki Utility team graciously furnished. We put on Factory 909 grips and 909 Masher hand guards. For “bling”, we used a billet quick fill gas cap. Ramsey supplied the new 4000 winch with a nylon winch rope and a roller fair lead. Why fool around with a wimpy 3000? Wireless remote operation, of course! A truck style receiver hitch graces the rear. All lights have mesh guards on them-damn those errant rocks and sticks! Replaceable clear 3 mil. plastic tape (used by truck manufacturers on rocker panels) was used on high traffic areas, such as the spots that boots rub the fenders, the sides of the fenders that scrape trees, and the spot on the tank where it meets the seat. Gotta keep this baby lookin’ good!

WOW! That's a lot more than I could imagine! Good job! Now if I had lots and lots of money I would love to start my own GNCC team, travel all over the world riding quads, and have a wife meet me at the door......wait I already got that!

Later

Enviable predicament (oxymoron?) you’ve got yourself in. I grew up on dirt bikes, raced a little MX, did tons of trail riding, and even had a couple of street bikes. My first ATV was a ‘84 Suzuki ALT 125-in ‘84. I wasn’t sold on the quad, as there was only one on the market then. I next bought a Tri-Z, then fell into the marriage thing. I’m a little old (37) for the racers now, or so I thought. Since getting back into riding, my friend, daughter, and I average about 40-70 miles a week. Plunking around on the 4X’s has gradually turned into racing through the woods. Faster every time we go. I’m glad to see the factories starting to recognize the Utility machines as viable race steeds. This has triggered the speed gland and put lust back into the equation. The new Yamaha and Honda, not to mention the 400 Suzuki, haven’t helped dowse these desires. I guess one never gets too old for speed. Well, I’m off to “build” a 2X race quad for the upcoming GNCC series. See you in the woods!

4X  So what are you building 'in real life' for the GNCC? Do you run all the races?

N-Wind-Grins all around! Sorry to have led you astray! I’m not a GNCC racer. I was thinking about the topic, and kept it going. Sorry. Were you leading a bit, too?

Dear 4x

I got into 4 wheelers a few years ago when a friend wanted to go 'check them out' We had mutual friends that rode. I ended up buying a new Lakota. I had dirt bikes on and off since high school. I LOVED this quad. I being a magazine nut that I am, I subcribed to every ATV mag there was at the time. I read about an ATV adventure in Bolivia. I went 2 years in a row to ride in the 'Grand Caravan' 2001 & 2002. It was on the 2002 Caravan I meet Lee Klancher. Lee was there to do a story for Dirt Rider and the new ATV Rider. The short story is he asked me to write a side-bar to the story for ATV Rider. I have followed that up with a story about the VSTA ride last year at Loretta Lynns, BB invited me as one of the testers in the 4X4 shoot-out done in the Smokie Mts early this year. I also did a 'Hot Spots' ride story on the Croom Riding area in Florida. I got another one on Turkey Bay, I think that will be out in the next issue.

I travel a lot with my job, so I don't ride a lot, but I make the most of it when I do. You said that you live near Loretta Lynns. I live off I-40 exit 93. 

I'm going to be away from the 'puter for a few days.

Later, David

I'm in the magazine business(my wife is, also), working for Quebecor. So, I too am a magazine nut. We live off of I-155, exit 13, about 45 miles NW of Jackson. I've got to run, as I've been down at my riding partner's house since I got off of work. He welded a fold down ramp on my 16' trailer that could easily withstand the weight of a small track hoe! We had to install so running lights, and a few beers later.....I was being summonsed by the Queen. I logged on to "pay bills", heh, heh.

Have a good Thanksgiving! I'll get back to you after the holiday.

Brad

Hay there:

I know exactly where you're at. I truck truck for a living, I've loaded over there before. Newspaper flyers. You're in ####, right?

I've wrote the name of your town, but it must get censored!

If you're talking D----b---, you've got it. Now you see the direct proximity we have with the Ms. River-which, btw, is at 19' and has swallowed the access to the sandbar(s). Pretty close, huh? We'll have to hook up for a ride or two. We don't have any problems with a short road trip! You guys (y'all) have any decent ride spots?

Brad

as soon as i can find a frame iam getting the honda interceptor 700 4 cylinder "V" engine back on it.
talk about a monster. with the factory gearing the sport bike engine really screams on an atv frame!!  

Haha a banshee frame and body w/ a 4 cylinder 2 stroke liquid cooled 1000cc engine haha. Is it even possible to make a 2 stroke that big????