One Tough Machine—The Polaris Ranger 570 EFI

As many of you probably already know, Polaris has pretty much cornered the ATV utility SxS market with their Ranger Series. These machines produce an excellent ride, can seat the entire family, and can climb any hill you put in front of it. Even more, they can do all of these things at the same time. At Pete’s Cycles we sell a big range of the Polaris Rangers, in all colors, strengths and sizes.

The Rangers are excellent for hunting and camping as well, since they have plenty of space to haul your gear into the woods and plenty of ability to carry your trophy buck out of the woods.

One of our most popular is the Polaris 2014 Ranger 570. This machine comes with 40 hp (this is 25% more than previous 500cc models) and an automatic transmission 4-stroke engine placed behind the seat for a quiet ride. Moreover, one of its most practical features is that it has what they call “On Demand True All-Wheel Drive,” which means that it intelligently transfers power to where it is needed. And with 1225 lb of towing capacity, it is hard to find something in the woods that it can’t tow.

Other features of the Ranger 570 include:

•             Larger stator delivers 29 percent more electrical power; enabling more electrical accessory operation

•             Lock&Ride® Cargo System

•             500 lb./22.68 kg box, 1000 lb./453.6 kg total payload

One reviewer said it best when he wrote: “All in all, the 2014 Polaris Ranger 570 EFI is a great demonstration of how Polaris can maintain its stellar track record of delivering the highest-quality utility vehicles around. If you’re looking for a great SxS that gets the job done without breaking the bank, you will look long and hard before finding a better value than the Ranger.” Read their review here.

Currently, Pete’s Cycles is running some special sales and financing deals on these Rangers. Click here for our virtual showroom.

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Blisters Need Not Be Part of Your Ride

This post would like to thank Tip #175 of Mark Lindemann's The Total Motorcycling Manual, a must read for anyone with a motorcycle. Mark is a legend in the industry, once known for outrunning a low-flying aircraft at Bonneville, getting a ticket for hitting 134 mph in a 25-mph zone, and having to be sewed together by a veterinarian after a crash and burn on his streetbike.

Mark’s tip #175 is about not getting blisters. Sure, you have nice tight fitting gloves that you bought from Pete's Cycle--or at least we hope so--but this does not always do the trick. To beat almost any blister, begin by getting a 1.5 inch roll of medical adhesive tape.

Step 1 Ensure that your hands are dry and clean.

Step 2 Use Moleskin generously over the areas where you have blistered before. Cover the problem areas with a patch 2x the size of where you got previous blisters.

Step 3 Create about a 6 inch strip of tape.

Step 4 Using the strip, start at the back of your hand and wrap the tape to your palm. Make sure to apply pressure to the tape so it adheres nicely. Move your hands around to make sure the tape does not inhibit movement, and be sure your gloves till fit.

Step 5 Here’s the secret ingredient—use a dusting of talcum powder in your gloves or on your hands, both to make sure you can still get your gloves on and to reduce moisture, which can be a major cause of blisters. Make sure to bring the materials on your ride.

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It’s Time for an Adventure—Let the 2014 Suzuki V-Strom 650 Take You There

Some bikes are just built better than others. The 2014 Suzuki V-Strom 650 is one of them. Aside

from the fact that it just looks like a great ride, this machine is wallet friendly, due to excellent fuel economy, and it is also adventure friendly. Popular Mechanics said it best when it wrote, "A terrific, easy-to-ride starter bike, yet it's got enough get-up-and-go to hold our interest." 

Here are some stats: 

Engine: 4-stroke, 2-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 90-degree V-Twin

Transmission: 6-speed

Energy: Suzuki Fuel Injection

Displacement: 645 cc

Suspension: 5-way spring-preload-adjustable 43mm-telescopic front forks

Handling: outstanding performance in low-to mid rpm range

The V-Strom 650 is the younger sibling of the V-Strom 1000, both introduced in the early 2000s. These bikes are built for roaming vast amounts of space, courting adventure and solitude, and, well, allowing us to see a country renowned for its roads and easy to access wilderness. This bike is versatile, practical, and reliable—all the ingredients for a fantastic ride. 

But just because this bike is a solid contender for trans-Africa journeys, it does not mean it won’t be happy to circle the quiet bays of the Chesapeake on a summer afternoon, or wind its way up the lazy hills in western Maryland. Stop on over to Pete's Cycle and check it out!

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