CROOM, 1st Timer

[Talons]

Hi,

I am new to ATVing and new to this site and will be taking my son to CROOM tomorrow on Saturday.

He has a brand new Polaris Sportsman 90.

I am looking for an ATV for myself, but what I want weighs over the 500 lb. weight limit that appears to be imposed at CROOM.

So, my question is:
Is this 500 lb weight limit enforced or can you bring something like an Arctic Cat 366?

I ask because that particular bike is 'just over' the 500 limit.  I also noticed some people here indicating that they have brough ATVs in the 450cc range.  Those ATVs, when you check the weights, are OVER 500 lbs.

I have been looking like I said, but what I seem to be limited to is a 250cc 2x4 ATV that is under the 500 lb limit for CROOM.  I just don't want to go buy something that I will NOT be allowed to ride there.

Thanks in advance for any answers and comments!
Talons

[KD 428]

I go there all the time and Ive never seen them enforce the 500lb limit. I see tons of atvs in there weighing over 500lbs as well. Hope that helps some.

[miami_rider#13]

they dont care, trust me

[Talons]

That helps a lot!  Thanks!

I have another question (me is the nOOb!):
I know they say 'no double riding', but what the x2 ATVs?  I ask this in conjunction with the weight limit question, because those ATVs are about 7 to 8 hundred pounds.

Do people bring those and if so, are they allowed to actually use them with two people as they were designed or not?

See, my friend let us ride his Sportsman 800 x2 '07 model.  NICE ATV!  LOTS OF FUN!

I'm hooked!  So much so, I bought the boy his own ATV.

Now, I am looking for me!

Talons

[miami_rider#13]

i really dont knoww, i cant help you with that but im thinking they wont let you. but im selling my dads kfx 700 and the most people  i fit on that quad was 4 hahah but we were like extrmemly squished. but it fits two easy with no problem and maybe three poeple. its an amazing mudding/sport quad. if your intrested ill send you some pics

[svtbolt04]

If the quad is designed from the factory to run two people, with the two seat setup and not a dry box with a seat, you will be able to get in no problem. Also, you will be able to ride two on one quad.

[Talons]

Thanks!   

[TRXASAURUS]

the rangers are cracking down on the 2up riding.  no more...   

i still see people in the trails 2 up though.

dad, get your quad, you will love it!

[Talons]

We just got back...

My son got to ride his 90.  I had the other two 'little ones' with me, so all I could was 'help' and point.  Didn't even get but 2 pictures.  Phew!  Those two little ones are DEMANDING!

Anyway, we saw someone get pulled over for riding two when his bike was not built for it.  The ranger told him, but the guy was insistant, so he continued to have his wee little one in front of him on the ATV.  He jsut kept riding.

He explained to the Ranger that his site was further north and that he would have to ride back there anyway and that he had been doing this with all of his kids.  The guy had him, his little one in front of him, his wife on her bike and two other kids on their own bikes too! (All ATVs, sorry I seem to use the term interchangably), so he just kept keeping on.

I don't have a helmet yet, so I couldn't even take the 90 out for a 'joy ride'. 

But, the 12 year old seemed to have a GREAT TIME!

I took him to the beginner's areas first as was suggested by the ranger.  Then we went just up the ride to Hammock area.  There is a 'pit' there with a bunch of hills and stuff, and he was worried as was I about the guys who were whooping it up.

I told him he sees those guys, to LEAVE that pit asap.  He did.  He only one small incident where he went airborne by mistake and his helmet's chin strap hurt his chin.  But, still, it was a good time!

I saw a LOT of bigger bikes there, so they weight limit is loose, if at all.  They are raising the price this July to something like $75/year.  But, SO WHAT?  It is a cool place to ride and we didn't even hit the trails or the big sandlot!

Okay, now Daddy needs to get his ATV!

Talons

[eldiablo64]

$75   they can have there whooped out riding area for that

[Talons]

$75   they can have there whooped out riding area for that

Well, then, where do you ride?

Talons

[eldiablo64]

the florida motoplex its in north florida but well worth the drive and a few private spots      the thing about croom is they take in over $1 million a year just from the sticker fees but do zero maintenance or improvements to the place now they want to raise the fee $25 more a year man thats highway robbery.

[dssam]

Talons,
 sam here, we was parked next to ya, nice to meet ya. Had a good time .  I picked up a compass just
 in case  I get turned around the next time I go out. prob see ya there again
sam

[Talons]

Well, for my 1st time there I had a GREAT time, even if I didn't get to ride.

My friends have some property near that place you mentioned.  Total of about 1,100 acres.

But, it is for hunting.

We get to ride there too.

Anyway, I don't have a problem with the increase.  It looks like it is a real nice place, CROOM, that is!

Talons

[Talons]

Talons,
 sam here, we was parked next to ya, nice to meet ya. Had a good time .  I picked up a compass just
 in case  I get turned around the next time I go out. prob see ya there again
sam

That's too funny, Sam.  I brought my Garmin just in case, but because I had to 'watch' and not ride, I didn't really need it.

Did you at least look at the big Sandpit near the entrance?  Man, my boy's jaw dropped open!

Talons

[dssam]

ya we were eyeballing it too..... 

[Talons]

Hey,

Maybe next time, we can all ride together, you, your son, me and my boy?

That would be pretty sweet!

I don't know what ATV I will be getting but it would be after I get it!

Talons

[dssam]

not a prob just let me know through here and we will see what we can do.
maybe we can catch up w/ some of the locals  that ride there to have them show us around!

[Talons]

Sure!

[eldiablo64]

be careful at the front sand pit especially wth kids because there are dirtbikes and quads(mainly dirtbikes)racing around in all different directions.and they don't seem to care who is riding where.I have seen a couple very close calls that would've been real bad accidents.and it will happen sooner or later i just hope it don't involve a kid.

[Talons]

Yeah, the gate ranger said that the sand pit is NOT the best place to take young, inexperienced riders because (and these are her words):

"IT's CRAZY IN THERE!"

Talons

[KD 428]

I would pay $200 to ride croom annualy if I had to. $75 is a steal.

[FoxHondaRider]

most of the dirtbikers in the pit are just flying around in all different dirrections going every which way.  The only dirtbikers I have seen actually all follow the same path was th pro's.  When Team Suzuki and Travis Pastrana were in the pit they all followed eachother racing around but all on the same path.  At least when people continue to follow a path you are aware of where people will be coming from.  Another thing I cant stand is when your on your own track for 20 minutes ding the same thing and someone decided to park right in the path you are going or slowly cross it so you have to slam on your brakes.  Same with jumping...  we were all hitting these jumps in a course we made for a half hour or so and as i'm about to hit a jump these huge 4x4's park right after the jump and they start talking so I waited patiently until they didnt want to move so I stared at them reving the motor until they moved.  Do people seriously not think?  I dont cut someone off or park somewhere where people have been riding or where there is ruts from people riding.  If that wasnt enough I start hitting the jump again and these people tha were sitting in front of the jump started riding around again but were constantly in the way going every which dirrection like 5MPH lol.  Thats why there are accidents because people arent aware of where they are or whts going on.  So if your in the pit on Saturday or Sunday look out because a lot of people are oblivious to whats going on around them.  I love parking in the back and riding to the pit but some days its nice to stay in the pit especially when the back gets muddy.

[eldiablo64]

yea thats what i'm talkin about. we were in the back corner jumpin a donut hole and took a break under the trees and we were watchin some guys on quads racin around a track so to speak out near the center of the pit.whe some idiot on a dirt bike goes over there and starts jumpin there berms.well he flew over one just as a quad was goin through it and almost took the guys head off.then he went to do it again and we stopped and asked him if he was tyrin to kill some body he had no clue what he did.we told him and started coppin an attitude he acted like he owned the place or somethin.so we went and told the ranger who was parked in the parking area and all he said was they better be careful.

[shogun323]

yea thats what i'm talkin about. we were in the back corner jumpin a donut hole and took a break under the trees and we were watchin some guys on quads racin around a track so to speak out near the center of the pit.whe some idiot on a dirt bike goes over there and starts jumpin there berms.well he flew over one just as a quad was goin through it and almost took the guys head off.then he went to do it again and we stopped and asked him if he was tyrin to kill some body he had no clue what he did.we told him and started coppin an attitude he acted like he owned the place or somethin.so we went and told the ranger who was parked in the parking area and all he said was they better be careful.

I know exactly where you are talking about. That one of my favorite spots!!!!!!