Grab a Burton Bag and get your Wheelie On!

What is Swag Stop? Ok, I'll be honest, when I first started working here, I wasn't really sure. How does it fit in with PartsPitStop? I'm confused, are they siblings or Alabama cousins?


Well, I'm here to answer your questions and explain. No, Swag Stop and PartsPitStop are not dating, nor trying to mate but they do coexist happily as brother and sister to their daddy, Village Motor Sports.

Still confused?
Its ok, there might be some slow people in the crowd...
We all work together as one at Village Motor Sports. PartsPitStop and Swag Stop are divisions of Village. Swag Stop is where we sell all of our clothing, riding gear and accessories. PartsPitStop is just that- parts. Things have been going well, and we wanted to give each division it's own little home.

I do some website design, blogging, and boring things with Access databases.

Jeremy, he's kinda my boss.. sometimes. Ok, officially he is, and he deals with all the "major" stuff. 

And Kendra is our Ebay and Amazon queen!


What can you find at Swag Stop? Here's one of my current favorites:
Wheelie Bags by Burton

Since it's snowing today in Grand Rapids, I cannot think of a better reason to jump a plane to somewhere tropical and warm. I know Burton is all about snow gear, but this bag is extremely versatile. It has TSA approved locks, and tons of compartments including a removable dirty laundry bag. It also comes in four colors: Brown (above), black, green, and plaid. 

 Keep reading as Swag Stop continues to update you on the best in merch from the top brands.

Get Your Swag On!
-Misty

Snowmobile Slider Tips

Maintenance for Polaris ATV's

How to Start a Flooded Snowmobile Engine

Ordinarily, when any engine floods, you have to wait for the gasoline to evaporate before you can start the motor, and with a snowmobile, you won't always have the luxury of waiting somewhere warm. After an hour and a half of shivering in the the wildernes, you'll start to wish you'd invested in a dog-sled team instead. However, there's an easy trick to start a snowmobile even with a flooded engine that most people don't know.

1     Note: This trick will only work with a two cycle engine.
         Make sure that the kill-switch is depressed. You don't want the engine starting while you're tinkering with it.

2    Open the hood of the sled and locate the spark plug. It's location may vary slightly in each model. If you can't    find it or don't know what a spark plug looks like, reference the user's manual.

3    Remove the spark plug with the spark plug wrench and clean the gas off of it with a rag. If you don't have a rag, a shirt sleeve will do.

4    With the spark plug removed, pull the starter-chord a few times to turn the engine and clear the excess gas out.

5    Replace the spark plug and close the hood. The snowmobile should be ready to start.

How to set the clutch on a Polaris snowmobile.

Here are some tips on setting up your Polaris snowmobile clutch. Check out this instructional video to learn a few techniques to improve the performance of a sled. Learn how to get your clutches ready for racing by watching this snowmobiling tutorial video.

Learn How to set the clutch on a Polaris snowmobile. For more Snowmobiling How-To Videos & Articles, visit WonderHowTo.

How To Change Oil On Polaris Ranger

The Polaris Ranger is an all terrain vehicle (ATV). However, nowadays, it considered to be a sport recreational utility vehicle or SRUV. The Polaris Ranger is considered to be one of the safest ATVs in the country.

Like any other vehicle, you need to ensure that regular maintenance is done to keep the vehicle in optimum working condition. That is why you need to regularly change the oil in your Polaris Ranger.

Experts recommend that you change the oil every 3,000 miles. Here are simple steps that will teach you how to change oil in a Polaris Ranger.

• The first thing that you have to do is to park the vehicle on a level surface.
• Run the engine for two to three minutes and then stop. This is done to heat the oil as hot oil comes out faster than cold oil.
• Remove the oil filler cap and the dipstick.
• Now slide under the vehicle and locate the oil drain plug. If you do not know the location, check the owner's manual.
• Remove the drain plug and place the oil drip pan under the plug to catch the hot oil. Be careful during this stage as you can get burned with the hot oil.
• Allow 10 to 15 minutes for the oil to drain out completely.
• Check the oil drain plug gasket. If it is cracked or scratched, replace it.
• Now replace the plug and tighten it. Use your hands to tighten it. If you are unable to use your hands, then use a socket wrench to tighten the plug to 14 torque.
• Now move to the oil filter. Use an oil filter wrench to turn the filter counter clockwise to remove it.
• Once again, let the oil drain out.
• Now take a clean rag and clean the oil filter cover and the surface on the crankcase.
• Check the cover to make sure that O-ring is still in a good condition.
• Replace the cover.
• Now go under the hood and fill the oil tank with around 2 quarts of oil.
• Start the engine and put gear in neutral. Check for leaks.
• Use the dipstick to check the oil level. If necessary add more oil to bring it to the full mark.
• Remove the jack supports and you are ready to take your Polaris Ranger for a spin.

Getting the Best Performance from Your Polaris Ranger

A stock Polaris Ranger 4X4 base cost is $10,000 and it's not uncommon for an owner who is interested in high performance to multiply this cost three fold to build their machine to exactly what they want. This is not an uncommon theme for any off road vehicle from a dirt bike to a full blown off road truck. Performance costs money and high performance is the key to maximizing the fun you will have on your weekend outings. 

There are several aspects of vehicle modification that are usually overlooked. Safety and suspension are two of the most important features of a properly built ride but they are commonly given minimal attention or they are completely overlooked all together. However, Safety and suspensions tie together nicely and they are easily done at the same time.


The Polaris Ranger is capable of having enhanced roll cages and bumpers added. The best time to do modifications like this is when you have the vehicle apart to build the suspension. The Polaris Ranger suspension is adequate for a stock vehicle but if you want more out your Polaris power plant you better budget for Polaris suspension upgrades. If you don't you'll lose precious horsepower going to the wheels because the suspension will not be able to react to the higher levels of torque. This causes serious loss of horsepower.

Another drawback to a stock suspension is the amount of travel that you will get. With a properly set up suspension you'll be able to traverse rockier terrain and you'll be able to get out of places that a stock Ranger would not be able to get out of. An added benefit to a better suspension is usually an upgrade in tire sizes. A bolt on suspension will not allow you drastic changes in this department but it will allow you small upgrades to give a little added clearance.

It's easy to understand the lure of a high performance off road machine. The benefit of the Ranger is that it can take two people on a great weekend journey through the woods whereas a four-wheel vehicle is designed for a single person and a completely built off road tuck and cost at least $50,000 for a dependable vehicle. The Ranger gives a lot more for a lot less even with the added cost of upgrades.


It's important to make sure the job is properly planned and attention is paid to all elements that add up to a successful build like safety and suspension to ensure you are getting the most out of your power plant modifications and to ensure you are safe while out in the woods.


For more Polaris Ranger products, please visit Swag Stop.

Suspension Tweaks

The front suspension also carries new geometry for better tracking and more precise handling. The ski spindles are positioned one inch closer to the bulkhead than last year’s sled. Also, the caster angle of the ski spindles is steeper at 19 degrees compared to the 2008 model at 23 degrees, and the new spindles have 1-1/2 degrees of caster adjustment to setup more or less aggressive handling characteristics. All of the changes should deliver a substantial improvement in steering and handling.

But the crew didn’t stop there. The rear skid offers new rear arm geometry and a stronger shock linkage that should allow racers to find suitable valving and spring setups for a particular track. And it should provide bettering tracking through the bumps. Slide rails are stronger for improved durability and the revised profile is said to improve cornering and braking. A four idler wheel rear axle helps maintain track alignment and prevent derailing. Like the front suspension, the rear receives new C-40 racing clicker shocks with 16mm shock shafts that feature external high-and-low-speed compression damping adjustment. A new softer durometer, much more durable single ply track wraps around the suspension.

Snowmobile Outerwear Facts

Question: There are a lot of companies who advertise the best solution for outerwear. What really is the best solution?
Answer: You need to take yourself into consideration first. What type of riding do you do? What will feel comfortable? Do you like to wear a bulky jacket, or do you prefer lots of layers? The simple solutions to outwear are as follows: A. Don't wear cotton close to your skin. Cotton acts like a sponge and absorbs sweat. It gets trapped in the cotton and brings down your body temperature. B. You should wear layers instead of wearing a heavy jacket. Layering helps trap pockets of warm air, but also allows you to strip down if you get warm on the trail. C. The outer shell of your jacket is probably the most important layer. It should be of high quality, waterproof and breathable. You need to be able to keep the weather out and the warmth in. 

Castle X Caliber Jacket

Question: Is wool or cotton still a good choice to keep warm?
Answer: No. The problem with natural fibers like wool and cotton is that they moisture when they get wet. Today's synthetic insulators like the polyester membrane in the Ski-Doo Helium 50 jacket or the Cynix Insulator in the Castle X Caliber jacket are more scientifically engineered to do battle in the elements. 


Question: Waterproof or water resistant, what is the difference?
Answer: Waterproof means that no water can get through the material. All of the seams and zippers have been sealed to keep out water and moisture. Water resistant means that it has probably been sprayed with some sort of repellent, or it is made from a material that can repel water for a period of time. 


Question: What is "breathable" material?
Answer: This means that the material allows the disapation of moisture away from your skin through the jacket, pants, or bibs. In addition to breathability, make sure to look for gear that has additional venting, especially in the underarm area. 


Question: What is layering?
Answer: Smart layering does two things - it provides better warmth and allows you to adapt to changing weather conditions. You should start with a thermal underwear that is made from a synthetic material like polyester. Stay away from cotton because it won't wick moisture away from your skin. Your mid layer should be easily adaptable, warm and breathable. Your outer layer should be waterproof, breathable and comfortable. 

We'll Ship Anything

Inside the Swag Stop Store

Swag Stop has apparel from companies like Metal Mulisha, Fox Racing, Icon, Shift and Answer. Swag Stop even caters to the women with their own section.

One of the larger sections of the store right now is our Snow Section, filled with snow gear from Castle, Ski-Doo, Polaris and Klim.

As you can see, Swag Stop is more than just a website. We're an actual store. 

Great Deals on Shift Jackets and Gloves

We've just marked down a lot of our SHIFT inventory, including mens & womens jackets and gloves. 

Based in Morgan Hill, CA, SHIFT stormed onto the motorcycling scene in 1997 and has grown into an international brand, producing innovative riding apparel for markets around the world. SHIFT has always been the choice for those looking for something unique and fresh and we focus on fusing the creative influences from the world of motocross/sportbikes, lifestyle and fashion into all of our stylish performance products. No matter what, where or how you ride, SHIFT's progressive designs, premium materials and advanced construction methods will give you the confidence to take your ride to the limit.

You can find our great deals on SHIFT jackets and gloves in our eBay store!

Teknic Chicane Leather Jackets from Europe, $134.99!!

We have some Teknic Chicane leather jackets left over from the riding season and we're blowing them out the door for $134.99!!

We have sizes 40-52. These jackets are the European version and the leather is not perforated. These are one of the best leather jackets on the market.

Specific Details: 2nd layer of perforated cowhide in elbows & shoulders. TASC™ stitching system. Rear shoulder blade stretch panels. Seamless Full Motion™ arm stretch system. YKK® nylon coil zippers. YKK® full circumference connecting zipper. Belt loop snap and 8” YKK® zipper also included. Soft touch tricot lined collar, with neoprene rolled edge. Low profile sports style collar. Comfort cuff edging. Reflective rear logo. Hook ’n’ loop adjustable waist belts. Two cotton lined pockets. Internal mesh pocket.

You can find this jacket with an even more awesome price here.

Snow Jacket Buyers Guide

Castle CR2-11 Jacket, Starting at $159.95

The Castle X CR2-11 jacket is a classic example of a warm snow jacket, but with modern features. 

The CR2-11 features zippered vents in the underarms, shoulder and back. It has fleece lined collar and cuffs, with an inner snow cuff for increased warmth in all conditions. 

Additional features are available if you click here.