OK. Today, my son and I go to Carnegie, Red Season opened on Oct 1, so many more riders at park. As soon as we take our first ride and head back, a ranger on a ATV is heading up the hill and a couple others are in trucks, lights flashing.

As soon as we turn the corner on the flats, we come across another set of lights at the MX course. FD is working on guy with broken leg. Ambulance shows up to cart him off to the hospital. As soon as that dies down, another ambulance is getting rady to cart off the second broken rider.

Just a few more moments pass and we see a big pile of bikes up on a trail. After some time, a ranger is escorting a kid down the hill to check him for any broken bor bruised ribs.

Folks that is just today.

Last weekend at Metcalf, I am putting along a trail and so bozo comes flying over the crest of a hill, sees me and swerves to avoid a head-on collision. Just in front and off the the side of me, he flys off his bike, which hits one of those orange plastic fences and slows down, while sending him through the air where he proceeds to land on his back and knocks himself out. He comes to in maybe 20 seconds but has no clue where he is or what has happened. He eventually is able to get up and no visible cuts or bruises or painful spots. The ranger says he has to call the FD to cover his butt. He gets a C-collar and a stretcher board then later we see he is carted off to the hospital.

Week before that, my son goes off jump at ATV/MX track and his foot slides off the peg, which makes him lean over and pull the quad sideways while in the air. He lands on his side and the quad flips but misses him and he walks away shook up and scared but no injuries.

We are new to the sport but I have to ask - Is this sport this crazy and dangerous? With the amount of serious incidents in the past few weeks, I am wondering if it is not a matter of if but when it is our turn to get hauled off to the hospital or worse.

I'm really hoping it is just the crazies who have not been able to ride for many months and are just going crazy as they are now able to ride again as of Oct 1, and hoping big time, things will settle down and get safer but geeezzzzz...

Just make sure you wear the right gear. Make sure your son has the right size quad for him. They do teach saftey courses for atv's. Just go to the nearest dealer and ask for some info on it.

-------------------------
05' DS650 (Viper Red)
K&N filter
Shrouds
Shock Covers (red)
Pro Taper Bars
NerfBars
RonWoods Clutch Springs 60%
WhiteBrothers Pipe E-Series


BioWare Racing

I know a guy who always says to "plan for the crash" No matter how good you are, eventually your gunna mess up. Its being prepared that helps to reduce injury. Yeah, there are alot of crazy/stupid people out there that have probably gotten away with doing some very stupid things on a quad or bike and walked away. Saftey is the key issue to practice... and to teach your son.

-------------------------
"My love for you is like a truck, BERZERKER"

wear the right gear and get a safety course ,
been riding for almost 20 years on atvs and no really stupid mistakes ,small injuries yes ,nothing major .
got hurt worse from riding a bike

-------------------------
ATV SAFETY INSTRUCTOR
91 WARRIOR
2004 Z400
325 TRAIL BOSS
250 TRAILBLAZER
2004 LTZ 250

25 years in the Army Reserves
1 tour in Iraq ,serving proudly

At Carnegie most of the park is a high skill riding area, especially when its dry. You didnt mention if the riders had riding gear on or not. Riding gear is the best bet to help keep you safe. I like to "Dress for the crash...Not the ride"

I think some involved in the sport are crazy.(my wife thinks Im crazy) And there is no question in my mind that this is a very dangerous sport.

You should try Hollister windtrader. Lots of one way trails there.

-------------------------
07 Jetmoto 250 Sport
07 90cc Mini Ute
06 Jetmoto 200 Enduro
06 Jetmoto 200
06 Jetmoto 150
06 Jetmoto 125
04 Yamoto 150
01 KTM 400 EXC
92 WR 250
91 CR 250
88 YZ 80
85 CR 500
83 XL 600
82 XR 200
79 XR 75
79 Odyssey
73 Bultaco 360
71 Rickman Montessa 250
70 Rupp Enduro
69 Honda 50

My son has helmet, full length MX boots, gloves. He was asking the other day about a chest protector but it didn't seem like it would be necessary but..

"Plan for the crash" and "Dress for the crash...Not the ride" makes me have second thoughts about what safety gear he should wear. What do you folks think are the "must" and "nice to" safety equiip to get?

My son and I are signed up for the ATVSI Rider Safety course for Oct 20th. Can't pass it up as it is free to kids in California. That should help make sure to fill in any gaps our safety practices and awareness.

The more protection he has the better. If he likes to jump, you might even consider elbow and knee guards.

-------------------------
If it take more than 3 bolts to hold it on, it's probably crucial.

lots of blind hill tops there, may also help to have one of those high red flags mounted on your sons atv and your too! be carefull!


-------------------------
ATV'S and JEEPS Rock!
2007 Kawasaki Brute Force 650I
2006 Jeep Rubicon, locked & loaded

There is definately an abundance of reckless riders. Ripping around corners. In 10 years if riding have not had a REAL close call but a big ole sportsman moves them aside pretty well.

-------------------------
05 SP800
94 1100 Yamaha Virago
01 Yamaha dlx700
If it ain't fast enuff to scare you.. it ain't fast enuff.
Cattail ATV Club

I think kids should be covered head to toe with riding gear. It only takes 1 decent crash to realize how important it is. When my kids were little I bought all their gear from Chapparal, the Ocelot gear can be bought in packages for reasonable prices. Motosport is another place that sells discounted/close out gear. Thats where I get my riding gear.

When I was riding with my boys when they were younger. I would always lead and get them to follow a few lengths behind me. I figured the nut could hit/deflect off me and my sons would be far enough back to stay out of trouble. Very important on faster trails and on roads. Also helps to stay as far to the the right as you can when your on a road or wider trail with blind curves.

-------------------------
07 Jetmoto 250 Sport
07 90cc Mini Ute
06 Jetmoto 200 Enduro
06 Jetmoto 200
06 Jetmoto 150
06 Jetmoto 125
04 Yamoto 150
01 KTM 400 EXC
92 WR 250
91 CR 250
88 YZ 80
85 CR 500
83 XL 600
82 XR 200
79 XR 75
79 Odyssey
73 Bultaco 360
71 Rickman Montessa 250
70 Rupp Enduro
69 Honda 50

Thanks for the advice. For sure, the more protection the better the safety factory. I'll start checking around for those package deals, especially closeouts of old gear. I found a nice helmet and boots marked way down at CycleGear which wa quite a surprise for walk-in retail.

I have been leading the way nearly all the time, except just last time I was letting my kid go in front a few times. He was staying so far to the right some times that I feared he was going to jump the wheel up and get in wreck. I told him good job on staying right but make sure to leave some trail to the right just in case.

We have been tackling some of the hill climbs at Carnegie and he got stuck after I had led the charge up the hill and did not notice until I could get some clear trail. I'd go back and help him get going again, so I thought I would let him go ahead on the hill climbs and if he got stuck I could stop and get him going right then.

Man - I am an old fart and out of shape. Climbing up and down them hill climbs makes my lungs want to jumpout of my chest. That's what ATVs are made for, right?:-)

yep also they give you a good work out

-------------------------
ATV SAFETY INSTRUCTOR
91 WARRIOR
2004 Z400
325 TRAIL BOSS
250 TRAILBLAZER
2004 LTZ 250

25 years in the Army Reserves
1 tour in Iraq ,serving proudly

Your son is MXing without nerf bars???? If so, nobody to blame but himself.

There are lots of rookie dirt bikers out there, who have trouble when they meet a quad on the trail and have to avoid it. But, 10 year old kids driving Rhinos is the most dangerous thing I can think of!

-------------------------
Southern California Deserts and Mountains....

Desert: 450R, 400EX
Technical Trail: Rancher 420 and 350 4X4's
Kids: Two 250EX's and TRX90
Dual-Sport Bikes: KLX250S and XT225

Past rides: 300EX, 2wd Rancher 350, Recon, TRX90, Z400, LT160, LT80, Warrior, Blaster, CRF230F

No quite sure what you are getting at? My son's ATV is a 150 auto/CVT and it is not equipped with nerf bars. Do they offer sufficient safety enhancement to be deemed essential or nice to have?

If your foot slips off the peg, the nerfs will save you from running over your leg. Wish I still had the pictures, but a buddy of mine split his leg from the calf to the crotch, when he came off the pegs riding 5 mph with a bunch of kids.

There isn't a racing organization on the planet that doesn't require all riders to have nerfs. In addition, it keeps another quad's wheel out of yours if you are riding close to someone else. Don't leave home without them!

-------------------------
Southern California Deserts and Mountains....

Desert: 450R, 400EX
Technical Trail: Rancher 420 and 350 4X4's
Kids: Two 250EX's and TRX90
Dual-Sport Bikes: KLX250S and XT225

Past rides: 300EX, 2wd Rancher 350, Recon, TRX90, Z400, LT160, LT80, Warrior, Blaster, CRF230F

When I started looking for ATVs I had my eye on getting nerfs. Then I found more did not have them stock so it was extra $$. As we started riding around it seems most quads do not have nerfs, so I figured maybe they are more a dress-up item rather than serving real function.

From the beginning, it seemed obvious and common sense what purpose they serve but I guess most riders out there do not possess much of it. Oops. :-)

I'll put them on the "must have" list. Maybe it'll become one of my aluminum welding experiments.