Reader’s Photos

-- Where to ride guide -- One of the main things that determines the level of satisfaction of a ride is based on where it takes place. Finding great trails in scenic areas is key. To learn about top rated riding areas we rely on word of mouth from other riders who've been there. In this case we're letting Dirt Wheels reader Brad Mengel in Pennsylvania report on his favorite areas. He regularly rides at Reading Famous Outdoors in the coal regions of Pennsylvania. He says you can get permits to ride on the non-active…

-- MORE POWER, SUSPENSION & VISUAL FLASH -- Blake is a Dirt Wheels reader who grew up near the Oregon Dunes. He still vividly remembers the first time he saw a chromed/polished/powder coated Yamaha Banshee there. He knew he had to have one of those custom 2-stroke screamers. Before reaching that goal however, his tastes began to change and he found himself preferring a 4-stroke instead. After Blake got hold of a 2005 Yamaha YFZ450 he set out to turn it into a show bike. However, he never intended for it to be…

-- KAWASAKI'S BIG BOY V-TWIN 4x4 -- In Dirt Wheels you always see modified sport quads. You may get the idea that only 400, 450 and Raptor riders are the only people who want to improve their machines. Well, that's not the case. There are actually more 4x4 quads out there and those riders are proud to trick out their quads too. Here's an example of that. Andy Breznay is a Dirt Wheels reader in New York and he did a few things to his 2009 Kawasaki Brute Force to make it get through the woods a little quicker and to look good…

-- Finding brand new Cannondales -- Imagine you're out in a remote section of woods you've never been to before. You go between some bushes and accidently discover the opening of a cave. Out of curiosity you wander in to check it out. After a few twists and turns your flashlight beam focusses on something shiny. Your heart suddenly starts beating frantically as you exclaim, "GOLD!" Well, that's kind of what happened to Dirt Wheels reader, Hunter Lovelace, up in Ontario, Canada. He was rummaging around in a back warehouse…

-- SUZUKI'S 500cc MONSTER 2-STROKE QUAD -- Suzuki gets credit for coming out with the first quads as we know them today. First they introduced some little 4-stroke versions and then in 1985 they unleashed a high-performance 2-stroke machine known as the Quadracer 250. Suzuki gave us a couple of years to get used to that great machine and then in 1987 they totally blew us away with a 500cc version. Its official name was the LT500R Quadracer, but it was such a beast that everyone began calling it Quadzilla. You had to be a…

-- Taking a look at how some Dirt Wheels readers do it -- Farmers get to ride their quads or UTVs right from the barn. The rest of us have to haul our prized off-road vehicles to a riding area. The quick way is to put your quad in the back of your pick up truck. Maybe even put two or three back there. In some cases it's even possible to put your UTV in the back of the truck too. For most though, they use a trailer. Depending on the size of the trailer you can haul a variety of quads and UTVs. We're going to take a random…

-- Dirt Wheels Reader's Rides -- Hi Dirt Wheels, Best summer greeting from Norway.  I am a very satisfied Dirt Wheels subscriber who always looks forward to the next issue. Here is a photo from yesterday's 100 miles summer-trip on old bad Norwegian country roads. The trip was nonetheless a real pleasure, since my modified Can Am Maverick X DS 1000 Turbo easily did upgrade to highway quality. It has 8.5 and 10.5 inch 3-piece 14" wheels, half an inch forward moved 14" Mountney steering wheel, driver's seat lowered and…

-- A look at what Dirt Wheels readers ride --  By D. West Time tends to go in circles, and history will eventually repeat itself. That seems to be happening now in the sport quad world. It’s similar to the early 1990s when the manufacturers stopped development of their high-performance quads and quit selling them, except for Yamaha. The aftermarket business began to boom as ATV enthusiasts turned to them to keep their older machines running strong and even improving them.…

-- Yamaha first introduced its Warrior 350 back in 1987. The production run lasted for 20 years, so there has been many sold in that time. The four-stroke engine was virtually bullet-proof and has proven to  offer Warrior owners with a long, trouble-free life. Therefore, there are plenty of these machines still out on the trails today. However, as with any older quad, they could use some refreshing to get back to the same shape of their younger days. Or, it doesn't hurt if they get the major make-over treatment. That was the…

-- Have you been there and done that? -- Have you or your buddies ever become stuck in the mud for awhile? Did someone take some pictures of it? Well then, it's time for you to become famous in the pages of Dirt Wheels magazine and here on our website. All you have to do is send us the photos, along with some info, and to make sure you include your name, city & state. E-mail it to [email protected] . .

-- Don't you wish you could buy this quad from your Honda dealer? They could call it the "30th Anniversary Edition TRX250R". Dirt Wheels reader John Langman didn't wait for Honda to do that -- he built his own. He wanted it to look as close to the original 1986 as possible without too many modifications. John started with a 2005 Honda TRX450R and removed the 4-stroke motor. Next, he fabricated mounts to the frame to install a 1986 Honda TRX250R two-stroke motor. To maintain the original look of the first…

-- Not all 3-wheelers were Hondas -- Adam Cook is a Dirt Wheels reader in Ohio. He has owned many quads and a few dirt bikes over the years, but one of his favorite machines in this 1985 Yamaha Tri-Z 250. There's just something about riding a 250cc two-stroke that feels good, no matter how many wheels it has. The engines are simple and easy to work on, and that sudden blast of power is just plain addictive. You quickly learn how to work the shift lever to always keep the revs in the fat part of the power band. This…