Keeping Up With The Jones's

5458 Views 18 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Rincon 650, Mar 24, 2006

FloridaWheeler

Discussion Starter · Mar 17, 2006

First of all, I might as well apologize for the lengthy, non-ATV related topic. But, sometimes you just have to vent a little. Lately I've found myself always wanting...more and more.
What I mean is...I purchased my Foreman a year ago and it was my dream machine. Ever since I was a kid I always wanted a fourwheeler. And for a wedding gift my wife surprised me with my 500. Man! I was the "Big" man on the block amongst all my buddies. Those first few months were great, got farther and got there faster than everyone I rode with. Then, people started buying bigger and faster ATV's and my 500 wasn't so exciting any longer. That's when the "Wanting More" quickly began. I immediately purchased new tires and wheels, then a winch, then a skid plate package, followed by an exhaust, K&N, and DynoJet. "I'll be satisfied once I have all these mods!"...or so I thought. In the past few weeks I've found myself obsessed with making my ATV better than anyone I ride with. I almost ordered a DGL and some new Bi/Tri Claws. Once I realized the total I finally came to senses.
A few weeks ago I was reminded of one of the key points in life...Being Content with what you already have. I definetely wasn't and it was beginning to get a bit scary. How much money was I really willing to put into something that is supposed to br relaxing and enjoyable. Now, for me it was nothing but a competition.
I'm not really sure why I'm posting a topic such as this but I think a lot of people surely go in way above their heads and live way above their means just to put some bells and whistles on their toys that will become yesterday's news in just a few months. I honestly think I'm finished. I want to start simply enjoying riding once again instead of worrying about racing this guy or taking "so and so" on in the mudbog. Because I know that if I lost...I'd be on the computer the next day looking for more mods!
Maybe it's just me and not everyone is as bad as I am. Hopefully this post will make someone think twice before taking on the impossible...keeping up with technology, and the good ole' Jones's. The next time you go riding remember how it felt when you were a kid. Enjoy the time with your friends and family.
Those of you that think I'm nothing but a pu**y. If you'd loan me some money I would probably never have written this. (Ha!)

Have a great weekend everyone!

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1 - 19 of 19 Posts

quickblue6

· #2 · Mar 17, 2006

never done

I think you are my long lost brother.LOL I feel exactly the way you do, and my wife keeps me reined in. If it werent for her I would be broke cause my hobbies would definitely overtake my small budget. She reminds me of the "be happy with what you got" deal all the time, and its starting to make sense.

screg

· #3 · Mar 17, 2006

Great post I think we all get caught up in the keep up rut. I know we all have.

Railroader

· #4 · Mar 17, 2006

You made nothin' but good sense there in that post. I think we are all guilty
of that. At least i have been guilty of it way too many times. Funny you mention
relaxing while ridin'. Ever since i got the HMF, it is not as relaxing as it was
before due to the extra noise.

SASQUATCH

· #5 · Mar 18, 2006

Ummmm yea seein all the hard core lifted big bores kinda influnced me but since im done with the mods i feel that its complete and have no regrets.

duck4x4

· #6 · Mar 19, 2006

I am new at all this but after reading this, I can see that is starting to happen to me. I bought my bike with 26's, know I bought 27's. I have been asking about lift kits,jet kits, and k&n air filters. I need to learn to be happy with what I got and just enjoy riding. Thanks for the reminder.

Rincon 650

· #7 · Mar 20, 2006

Maybe I am " NOT practicing what I preach ".. But I agree, I have many mods on all 3 bikes. I need to remember that I own these for relaxation and to go riding is my escape from the world of traffic jams, phones, and annoying neighbors...I look forward every weekend to RELAX...Not to spend every penny to shine for 20 seconds when someone is watching. Just remember we are all 4 wheelers and enjoy riding, and as long as you can make it there, then thats ALL of the battle when your looking for some quality time with family and friends. ( Hopefully I havent lost friends over that statement ). See Ya On The Trails.

Railroader

· #8 · Mar 20, 2006

Very well said. Now i feel bad for doin' all that i've done to ours.

fed007

· #9 · Mar 22, 2006

good comment , Rincon650.

The challenge of riding stock is more than a pimped out version.

A friend of mine and I are also into firearms and like any hobby where the toys are expensive there is always the need / competitive nature to make better what we already have or just edge out our friends in a nice way.

The pursuit of a 4 wheeler that can cross anything is appealing but it certainly removes some of the challenges.

In the firearms analogy a friend bought an EOtech holographic sight to pimp out his AR-15 and now he shoots bulls eye and any range we visit that doesn;t extend past 100 yards... how fun is it when you ALWAYS hit the bullseye? or you need very little human input when guiding your fourwheeler through a mud hole?

There are many parallels with this topic - good thread!.

fed007

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Darren

· #10 · Mar 22, 2006

with yall

i just want to ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ive been doing this same thing and now my stuff is breaking all the time i just want to ride

Rider11x

· #11 · Mar 22, 2006

Awesome thread!

I have been riding for many years, and have put myself heavily in debt from my last quad in the name of being faster, or jumping bigger than the next guy.(What racing is all about) Fun? You bet! Worth it?......It depends. If I could do it all for the cash I have on hand, and not skimp on everything else in life I do......Yea, it is worth the fun factor. To go in credit card debt, and/ or be flat broke anytime it is time to spend money on anything else....NO WAY!!! I now live within my budget, and enjoy life for what it is. If someone wants to go crazy on wild machines and mods, that's cool, and I admire what they got. But remember where I was with debt, and what a good feeling it is to not be strapped for cash, and doing something really fun and relaxing.

deadmullet

· #12 · Mar 22, 2006

Re: Awesome thread!

QUOTE ("Rider11x":2mylfjfh)

I have been riding for many years, and have put myself heavily in debt from my last quad in the name of being faster, or jumping bigger than the next guy.(What racing is all about) Fun? You bet! Worth it?......It depends. If I could do it all for the cash I have on hand, and not skimp on everything else in life I do......Yea, it is worth the fun factor. To go in credit card debt, and/ or be flat broke anytime it is time to spend money on anything else....NO WAY!!! I now live within my budget, and enjoy life for what it is. If someone wants to go crazy on wild machines and mods, that's cool, and I admire what they got. But remember where I was with debt, and what a good feeling it is to not be strapped for cash, and doing something really fun and relaxing.

good point Rider, I think the main point here is doing things within your means financially. If you have the extra cash to mod your bike and want to do so by all means! BUT, dont run up your credit cards just for the sake of keeping up with your friends. Everybody has different degrees of disposable income and living and enjoying life within those limits is very tranquil in itself. It is too bad America has gotten so far away from that. How many trillion dollars is the national deficit right now? its ridiculous, There was a time that it wasnt all right to be 3,5,10 thousand dollars in credit card debt, And Now for some reason its acceptable. I know first hand beacuse i was there once, scratching my head wondering how I was going to make the minimum monthly payments full knowing that was basically just paying the interest and not touching the principle. That is no way to live. And people are right this example can be used in many different circumstances. For myself, i cant go to Las Vegas....there is no way i could have the self control to not blow my entire life savings/all available credit on gambling and hookers. So sadly i have never been. And if i do go this year like my group of friends are talking about i have a sponser that will hold all my cards and cash . Different scenario but same principle, I hope it made sense.
Ok that is all the good advice i can muster for the youth of today before i start to scare myself. Go to school and save your money ya little spoiled brats!

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ForeWOMAN450

· #13 · Mar 22, 2006

This is a good topic! We have more and more friends now that are buying bikes and most of them want the biggest they can get, THEN put the lifts, tires, snorkles, etc. on them. Me & Shane are guilty as well, except for my bike is only a 450 and his is a 700. Not long ago a fried of his was getting rid of his 589's for 28" Outlaws and rubbing it into Shane real bad but Shane said "Nah, I can't afford those right now"...Well, I couldn't HAVE his buddy having those better tires and surprised Shane with a set AND got em' here before his buddy's were delivered!!!" I am BAD! But then he started saying I needed a better bike and stuff and HE would like a new bike. I told him that the way we treat these bikes, we will just keep them, and keep fixing and patching until we can't ride em' anymore, this is just getting outta control! And, I'm content w/ what I've got as long as I can go along. If I get stuck there is always someone around to get me out and when I make it thru I feel even better knowing I'm not on an $8,000 4-wheeler! Enough is enough, let's just go ride!

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Rider11x

· #14 · Mar 22, 2006

QUOTE ("ForeWOMAN450":2g8h8d1j)

This is a good topic! We have more and more friends now that are buying bikes and most of them want the biggest they can get, THEN put the lifts, tires, snorkles, etc. on them. Me & Shane are guilty as well, except for my bike is only a 450 and his is a 700. If I get stuck there is always someone around to get me out and when I make it thru I feel even better knowing I'm not on an $8,000 4-wheeler! Enough is enough, let's just go ride!

And you know, if you read around in different forums like I do, those $8,000 and $10,000 machines are breaking down alot more than the good ole reliable Foremans. That is why I am buying a 2006 Foreman very soon. I looked at the BRP 800, BF 750, Grizzly, King Quad, etc., and can't find a single one with the track record of the Honda Foreman. And, it's almost $2,000 less! Sure it may not have the locker, IFS, Vtwin of those others, but I want something that will be in the garage when the guys call to go on a ride, not in the shop for repairs.
BTW, no offence to anyone that has any of the machines mentioned. Just trying to prove a point.

FloridaWheeler

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 22, 2006

Glad to see that some people feel the same way as I'm startin' to. I'd love to have the 29.5's, DGL (Which I'm reading a lot of negative things about on HighLifter's Forums), and a lift but I'm not sure if I'd even be satisfied then. I've read a lot of great points but I think one of the most important to arise is Honda's track record. I'm sure there are more powerful and capable machines available but do they have the reliable reputation as our Foreman's? Good Stuff!

Robb

· #16 · Mar 23, 2006

back when I was fooling with my cars my dad used to say "Better is the Evil of Good Enough" how true it is - great post!

big_daddy_bigfoot

· #17 · Mar 23, 2006

I understand what everyone says on this topic. All I want is a full AP set up, tires (26's) and wheels. I did dig that rescue Artic Cat in Dirt Wheels a few months ago I would like to have a few of them toys. I don't even know if I want a snorkle or not. I know I don't want to go swimming and have to replace barrings left and right and electric parts. I just want to ride, I finally have a quad after years, and I mean years, of wanting one.

chevync20

· #18 · Mar 23, 2006

I agree and and disagree with this post. To me my foreman is a reflection of me and what im into to. I use to lower and bag trucks because i saw it as reflection of me, same goes for my foreman. If we all look the same what is the point? I just feel that some mods are a neccessity. Tires should alwasys be changed, but ill admit I tend to purchasetires to hang with my friends but we love to play in mud and do it on our Hondas so we have to mod to make it worthy, but you have great points. I just feel people can look at something youve built and look past the exterior and see an expression of the person who built it. Compliments never hurt either

Rincon 650

· #19 · Mar 24, 2006

Absolutly not. And I see your point, and you are right. The bike that you ride and build is definately a reflection on you. Its just when everyone goes out and buys a certian something...and you feel " Peer Pressure " , and your sitting here trying to think of how to send the electric company the phone bill... to buy you time ( now now...I know ya'll know what I am talking about ) this is when it starts getting a little out of context. I think we all have our opinions, but we probably could agree we do it for the love of the outdoors, and the enjoyment of family and good friends...and a place and time to go ride where we can enjoy a beer where we arent getting judged or watched. YEHAW..

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