ATV "Armor" Protects On Tough Ground

ATV "Armor" Protects On Tough Ground ATV'S ATV'S 32-1-11 If the plastic skid plates that come with most ATV's don't provide enough protection to your chassis and fork, you may want to upgrade to a full set of aluminum skids, says Mike Gibbs, Ricochet Offroad Armor. "Our kit provides better coverage of the motor and other components and real good boot protection," says Gibbs. "People often get into conditions that tear up the boots." His family-owned company has been making skid plates and other protective plates for dirt bikes for more than 30 years. Gibbs' father, a professional racer on the dirt bike circuit, first built skid plates for his bike and then for friends. Word of mouth built the business until they began promoting under their own name when they added armor for ATV's in 2000. For Gibbs, the key is keeping it simple and watching costs. "Our competitors make a good product, but it's more expensive, and ours is thicker," he says. "We keep our design simple, rugged and securely mounted." Gibbs emphasizes the company's mounting clamp design. He points out that no matter how heavy or well made the skid plate is, if it falls off or hangs loose, it is worth even less than the manufacturer's plastic plates. "Our mounting clamps are fabricated from 1/8-in. aircraft grade 4130 Chrome-moly steel and heat-treated for maximum strength and ductility," he says. Ricochet skid plates are custom designed to fit particular models. Openings are cut to allow easy access to drain plugs so routine maintenance can be performed. All plates incorporate the flared wing design Gibbs describes as "ears." The ears protect engine components such as water pump housing and ignition covers. They also deflect low-lying brush that can otherwise wedge between the engine case and shift and brake levers. While prices vary depending on ATV model, a full set of armor for a Honda Foreman runs about $331. That includes the full skid plate, A-arm skids and swing arm skids. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ricochet Offroad Armor, 3375 South West Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115 (ph 801 483-2389; toll free 866 273-1197; fax 801 483-2348; dh_gibbs@comcast.net; ricochetoffroad.com).

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