Hi.  I am researching ATVs for my 16 year old son.  He found a used Rhino that's already had the safety modifications Yamaha offered last year.  I really don't know that much about ATVs, but my research has me worried this isn't a good choice for him.  Take this site, for instance http://yamaha-rhino-atv-rollover.com/.

I am thinking that even with the doors and handholds, this ATV isn't a good choice for someone without a lot of ATV experience.  Does anyone know if the modifications on the Rhino have made it safer?  And is there another model I should be steering my son to?  

My 10 year old daughter got her skull crushed (LITERALLY) when a Rhino rolled over on her. I personally have located  12 kids between 9 yrs old and 13 yrs old who too have been killed.  

the question in my mind is why was a 10 year old piloting an adult offroad vehicle????


it wouldn't surprize me if this was the same ambulance chasing attorney that was on here before, posing as a parent who lost a child.

iam sorry if this is legitimate, but with so many posts from attorneys seeking any dime they squeeze out of this, it's really difficult to trust that it is.  

I am not a laywer, she was not driving. I was not asked if she could ride. The police and police accicdent reconstrustion experts determined the driver was in no way reckless, drinking, on drugs or anything else. There were on PERFECTLY flat ground. I will send you pictures if you like.

I have NOT said anything bad about the Rhino or Yamaha. I am not attacking anyone. I just stated a simple fact. If you want or need more proof as to weather I am an attorney or not. I can and will prove I am not. I am just a father with a dead daughter.  

i do appologize but there have been attorneys on here sniffing around for any possible lawsuit.  

Johnsand,

Was she wearing a helmet? Just curious?  

Wolf1,

Let me know if you find Ambulance Chasers on this site please!

And anyone else for that matter that see's them. They are not helping issues, only hurting them. Ambulance chasers are not concerned about safety, but rather lining their pockets with cash. In my opinion, the Rhino is not an unsafe vehicle, rather some of it's pilots are unsafe and uneducated on safety. Also, everyone needs to keep in mind that anytime you ride an off-road vehicle, get in a car, pick up a skateboard or basically anything, life brings risks. We have to take all precautions for safety. Helmets! Experience! Educating ourselves! Fun can be risky! And I'm certainly sad to hear of any injuries and deaths especially to kids. It's a certain tragedy. Please folks, be careful and use good judgement. But I think Yamaha has done a fantastic job at making the Rhino the safest sxs on the market. I applaud them for their great work. Please, use good judgement. Watch over your 16 year old and determine if he is mature enough to handle the responsibility of the machine. Work with him and teach him to be safe. Wear helmets and any other safety gear. Don't put the machine in any circumstances that are iffy.  

Just to throw this out there...every atv(3/4 wheeler) has had wrecks causing injury and even deaths. and i would guesstimate since i have no actual data( just from riding for the last 20 years with friends) that at least 80% of all crashes come from lack of experiance and or rider mishandeling. And even on flat ground i have seen numerous people flip everything.(trying to turn at speeds over 15 mph on a dime without knowlage on how the orv will react to the terrain,, a little weeble and a little wobble and kaboom) i have done this to myself numerous times and count it as gods blessing that i have gotten back up to learn some more.I have seen 1 friend killed and 7 friends badly ingured and no one has ever pointed the finger at the bike as to there misfortune.as far as the rhino is concerned i would say it is at the top of the list for safety with its roll cage/seat belts/ overall handeling...just my thoughts.
I know its hard to loose a loved one to unforseen circumstances but maby, just maby the friend you speak of was doing a little more than just riding in a straight line at slow speed and should be looked at a little more than the machine itself.
again just my thoughts  

I never said he was going straight.....I said it was PERFECTLY flat ground. Also he was/is not my friend.

Look at this site www.yamaha-rhino-information.com

200+ Suits against Yamaha
150+ Customer complaints about the Rhino

It is a killing machine!  

figures, another link to an ambulance chasing attorney,

yes but if you read most of the case files for those, the injuries were to minors between the ages of 3 months old -15 years old.
the rhino is not a childs toy, and not for the inexperienced rider, yet so many inexperienced riders decide to take their kids for a ride or allow their child to operate it themselves.

and you see so many people on the side x sides trying to drive them like they are atv's.

i got a chance to ride a polaris ranger the other day and i have ridden the rhino i don't see alot of difference between the two, they both were pretty tippy if you cornered too hard.

and i didn't get hurt riding either one!!

anytime you get on an atv or side x side you need to pack a healthy respect for the machine, and some experience.
otherwise you are likely to get hurt or killed or even the person you are giving a ride.

come on aren't our kids important enough not to take risks with their lives??  

I've never personally ridden a rhino but have had my share of dirt bikes, three wheelers,and street bikes.They can all be killers if you don't wear the proper safety equiptment.Also the right attitude.  

I have had the opportunity to ride almost every side x side on the market and feel that the Rhino is by far one of the safest available to the public. I have had quite a bit of seat time in a unit designated for magazine testing, have driven it fairly aggressively and have yet to EVER flip it over. I'm not saying that it isn't possible but a lack of operating and handling knowledge makes it much more likely to happen. Are the manufactures irresponsible because the driver operates the machine beyond THEIR ability?

I have also looked at the website mentioned in the above postings and find many problems with some of the cases. One mentions a child sitting in the middle and being thrown out as the unit tipped over. The Rhino has no middle seat which means the child was sitting in a spot where they were not supposed to be. Again, is this Yamaha's fault? They (Yamaha) have done extensive testing and try to educate the public as much as they can in the proper operation of their machines. If the operators do not heed their instruction or advice, can they really be put to blame? The safety labels in every unit emphasize the use of proper safety equipment to be worn which can help prevent injuries such as skull fractures. My sympathies do go out to those who have experienced the loss of a loved one but i feel it is wrong to blame the big company for operator negligence.
If someone drove their car into a tree and died, is the manufacture of the car responsible for it because they didn't plan on that happening and make the vehicle more rigid?

According to the dictionary......
re·spon·si·bil·i·ty
Pronunciation:
\ri-?spän(t)-s?-'bi-l?-te\
Function:
noun
Inflected Form(s):
plural re·spon·si·bil·i·ties
Date:
1737
1: the quality or state of being responsible: as a: moral, legal, or mental accountability

people need to have more of this.