Category Archives: General Discussion

Buying used – here’s the seller’s story – sound legit?…

Here’s the deal… I’m a first time atv buyer and have been studying hard all aspects of buying and evaluating these things for a used purchase. Now after months of looking everywhere I finally found a local private seller through word of mouth that may be offering a hell of a deal. Story is…

Guy’s got a 2012 Yamaha Griz 550 w/ EPS with 2900 miles and 250 hours on it and hes asking $4900. Says he got it from NPA? in Cincinnati for $4400 and paid $125 to ship it. After new tires, brakes and oil he says he’s got $5000 into it coming from a dealer-only wholesale auction. I’ve only got $4500 to spend and really stressed that and he says he’ll sell it to me if the guy coming on Friday doesn’t pay the full $4900 price he’s asking.

So yeah fairly excited about the prospects here. This one blue books for something like $5500-$5800 retail.

But I’m still a little too wet behind the ears still to be confident about evaluating these things used so I’m cramming as much info as I can before I go take a look at it. So don’t want to get burned.

So couple questions…

1- I’ve seen some with more and less miles than the 2900 this one has. But have been taught it’s not so much the mileage as how they were put on. Anyone have insight about this specific model with almost 3000 miles and 250 hours on it?

2- Are there any special problems the 2012 550 EPS Griz has that I should be looking out for?

Buying used – here’s the seller’s story – sound legit?…

Here’s the deal… I’m a first time atv buyer and have been studying hard all aspects of buying and evaluating these things for a used purchase. Now after months of looking everywhere I finally found a local private seller through word of mouth that may be offering a hell of a deal. Story is…

Guy’s got a 2012 Yamaha Griz 550 w/ EPS with 2900 miles and 250 hours on it and hes asking $4900. Says he got it from NPA? in Cincinnati for $4400 and paid $125 to ship it. After new tires, brakes and oil he says he’s got $5000 into it coming from a dealer-only wholesale auction. I’ve only got $4500 to spend and really stressed that and he says he’ll sell it to me if the guy coming on Friday doesn’t pay the full $4900 price he’s asking.

So yeah fairly excited about the prospects here. This one blue books for something like $5500-$5800 retail.

But I’m still a little too wet behind the ears still to be confident about evaluating these things used so I’m cramming as much info as I can before I go take a look at it. So don’t want to get burned.

So couple questions…

1- I’ve seen some with more and less miles than the 2900 this one has. But have been taught it’s not so much the mileage as how they were put on. Anyone have insight about this specific model with almost 3000 miles and 250 hours on it?

2- Are there any special problems the 2012 550 EPS Griz has that I should be looking out for?

Buying used – here’s the seller’s story – sound legit?…

Here’s the deal… I’m a first time atv buyer and have been studying hard all aspects of buying and evaluating these things for a used purchase. Now after months of looking everywhere I finally found a local private seller through word of mouth that may be offering a hell of a deal. Story is…

Guy’s got a 2012 Yamaha Griz 550 w/ EPS with 2900 miles and 250 hours on it and hes asking $4900. Says he got it from NPA? in Cincinnati for $4400 and paid $125 to ship it. After new tires, brakes and oil he says he’s got $5000 into it coming from a dealer-only wholesale auction. I’ve only got $4500 to spend and really stressed that and he says he’ll sell it to me if the guy coming on Friday doesn’t pay the full $4900 price he’s asking.

So yeah fairly excited about the prospects here. This one blue books for something like $5500-$5800 retail.

But I’m still a little too wet behind the ears still to be confident about evaluating these things used so I’m cramming as much info as I can before I go take a look at it. So don’t want to get burned.

So couple questions…

1- I’ve seen some with more and less miles than the 2900 this one has. But have been taught it’s not so much the mileage as how they were put on. Anyone have insight about this specific model with almost 3000 miles and 250 hours on it?

2- Are there any special problems the 2012 550 EPS Griz has that I should be looking out for?

After work ride

I rode out of my driveway and did 22.5 miles of woods trail in an hour…that’s a pretty good average speed.

It sure is nice living one mile from the Pike National Forest. :lala:

After work ride

I rode out of my driveway and did 22.5 miles of woods trail in an hour…that’s a pretty good average speed.

It sure is nice living one mile from the Pike National Forest. :lala:

Repair manual recommendations?

My oldest son is turning 11 this year. He has an Alpha Sports 90cc china quad and some other china 110cc. Naturally, they require a quite lot of maintenance. He’s handy and wants to work on it, but I can’t sit and do it with him all the time, and I don’t even really know that much myself.

Anybody have a recommendation for a good small engine repair manual that will hold a kids interest and teach him the basics?

Repair manual recommendations?

My oldest son is turning 11 this year. He has an Alpha Sports 90cc china quad and some other china 110cc. Naturally, they require a quite lot of maintenance. He’s handy and wants to work on it, but I can’t sit and do it with him all the time, and I don’t even really know that much myself.

Anybody have a recommendation for a good small engine repair manual that will hold a kids interest and teach him the basics?

Check mark AGAINST Honda

So… back story here.

Went riding with a couple members locally last Saturday. Things went very well there. I also invited a friend to go who was interested in going but had never ridden a quad before. I went over safety concerns with him and made sure he understood that there was no pressure for him to do anything he felt uncomfortable with. If he needed help, ask.

All 4 of us headed out from the staging area for about 2 miles on a dirt road. We come upon the actual trail. I was elected to lead, my friend was in the middle. Not 100 ft into the trail, he goes right off trail, down about a 12 ft steep embankment, rental quad rolls but he clears away and does not get hurt at all.

Quad (Honda Rancher 420 ES) did 1 roll down some soft dirt. Has some scratches, racks look OK and not bent but back rear fender plastic was cracked where it connected to the left rear rack. Everything else is OK including all mechanics. I test rode it to make sure and nothing looked bent.

Anyway, friend got a little spooked and turned around after a couple miles even though this was not a difficult trail. No problem there and I escort him back to my truck.

Quad was returned and we were honest about what happened. Rental company was really fair only requiring the rear fender be replaced. Friend got the price today and it was shocking how much Honda is charging for a green rear fender… $479. I do some checking myself with some online vendors which sell Honda OEM parts and I can find no one who sells rear fender plastic. Looks like the only way is through a local Honda dealer without having done extensive research. The rental company would allow my friend to order the OEM part from anywhere he would like… again, I feel they are being very fair.

So, WTF Honda. Why so much for that part and why am I having an issue locating it somewhere with discount online pricing?

Makes me never want to look at Honda Motorsports in the future.

Check mark AGAINST Honda

So… back story here.

Went riding with a couple members locally last Saturday. Things went very well there. I also invited a friend to go who was interested in going but had never ridden a quad before. I went over safety concerns with him and made sure he understood that there was no pressure for him to do anything he felt uncomfortable with. If he needed help, ask.

All 4 of us headed out from the staging area for about 2 miles on a dirt road. We come upon the actual trail. I was elected to lead, my friend was in the middle. Not 100 ft into the trail, he goes right off trail, down about a 12 ft steep embankment, rental quad rolls but he clears away and does not get hurt at all.

Quad (Honda Rancher 420 ES) did 1 roll down some soft dirt. Has some scratches, racks look OK and not bent but back rear fender plastic was cracked where it connected to the left rear rack. Everything else is OK including all mechanics. I test rode it to make sure and nothing looked bent.

Anyway, friend got a little spooked and turned around after a couple miles even though this was not a difficult trail. No problem there and I escort him back to my truck.

Quad was returned and we were honest about what happened. Rental company was really fair only requiring the rear fender be replaced. Friend got the price today and it was shocking how much Honda is charging for a green rear fender… $479. I do some checking myself with some online vendors which sell Honda OEM parts and I can find no one who sells rear fender plastic. Looks like the only way is through a local Honda dealer without having done extensive research. The rental company would allow my friend to order the OEM part from anywhere he would like… again, I feel they are being very fair.

So, WTF Honda. Why so much for that part and why am I having an issue locating it somewhere with discount online pricing?

Makes me never want to look at Honda Motorsports in the future.

Tread Lightly! and U.S. Forest Service Focus on on the Pawnee National Grassland


Tread Lightly! and Noble Energy employees, in partnership with USFS Pawnee National Grassland office, and with help from a local Boy Scout troop,
completed an important restoration project at the Main Draw Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area near Greeley, Col
o.

Tread Lightly!, Noble Energy and U.S. Forest Service Complete First of Three Restoration for Recreation Projects on Pawnee National Grassland

Public-Private Partnership Fosters Citizen Stewardship, Community Engagement and Sustainable Outdoor Recreation;
All Priorities of Public Importance at the National, State and Local Levels

Greeley, Colo. — June 30, 2015 — Tread Lightly!, a leading national non-profit empowering people to connect with nature and enjoy outdoor recreation, has partnered with Noble Energy, Inc. to support multiple-use access, sustainability, education and stewardship of America’s natural resources. The initial focus of this new and innovative partnership is on the Pawnee National Grassland, near the community of Greeley, Colorado, where the groups held a kickoff event last Friday at the Main Draw Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area near Greeley, Colo.

The multifaceted “Nurturing with Nature” partnership is highlighted by the development of a unique educational program to connect Greeley students with the outdoors. By integrating outdoor ethics and skills education into local schools, Tread Lightly! and Noble Energy are providing Greeley’s youth with direct exposure to nature. This type of exposure has proven essential for healthy childhood development and nurturing a society of good citizens and environmental stewards.

Last Friday, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service’s Pawnee National Grassland office, Noble Energy employees alongside volunteers from a local Boy Scouts troop completed the first of three important projects installing new fencing and a new information kiosk that will serve local and visiting OHV enthusiasts.

“Tread Lightly! needs important community partners like Noble Energy to help accomplish critical work supporting outdoor recreation on our public lands,” said Lori McCullough, executive director for Tread Lightly!. “Through programs like these — by leveraging financial and intellectual resources through a public-private partnership — we are educating, inspiring and nurturing future stewards, and helping to connect people of all ages and abilities to our natural environment through participation in outdoor recreation.”

The recent project — made possible by the “Nurturing with Nature” partnership among Tread Lightly!, Noble Energy and the U.S. Forest Service — is intended to protect long-term access to this popular OHV area, sustain opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation, and protect valuable natural resources.

“Noble Energy is proud to be working with Tread Lightly! and the U.S. Forest Service in making Colorado’s great outdoors more accessible, while at the same time promoting environmental stewardship to sustain our unique surroundings for future generations,” said Chip Rimer, Noble Energy Senior Vice President of U.S. Onshore. “Providing Tread Lightly! with resources and volunteers for these important projects is important to the people of Noble Energy, who believe strongly in our commitment to work in true partnership with our many communities.”

Noble’s Nurturing with Nature partnership with Tread Lightly! involves two other hands-on Restoration for Recreation projects scheduled for completion by the end of September 2015 at the popular recreational sites — the Baker Draw area (Monday, August 24) and Pawnee Buttes Trailhead (Friday, September 25).

“We are pleased this partnership could come together to accomplish some great work on the Pawnee National Grassland and help connect the public to their natural Grassland,” Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland Supervisor Glenn Casamassa said.

More information about Nurturing with Nature and Tread Lightly!’s Restoration for Recreation program can be found at Tread Lightly.