06/19/2026
Once again, Colorado SXS Adventures sums it up perfectly 👌
If we dont police those that give us a bad name they will ruin the entire sport. We are all for having fun... just be safe while doing it and stay on the trails
SxS Riders Are AS****ES???
(By Doug Russell | Colorado SxS Adventures)
We SxS riders tend to get a bad rap. No doubt about it. You know it and so do I.
When I mention my love of SxS's, I'm often met with looks of disgust and disappointment.
Mountain bikers don't like us.
Jeepers hate us.
Hikers despise us.
Even internet search algorithms seem to have a bias against us.
One day I got curious and typed:
"Why are SxS riders so hated?"
Before I could even finish the sentence, the search bar tried to auto-complete it with:
"Because they're such AS****ES."
Well...
That got my attention.
Maybe you've wondered the same thing.
A friend of mine once told me, "You SxS guys are crazy."
After several close calls with machines flying down trails at ridiculous speeds, he'd developed a pretty negative opinion of SxS riders.
He hikes.
He trail runs.
He road bikes.
But when it comes to SxSs, he just doesn't get it.
And honestly?
As much as it pains me to admit it, he has a point.
If I'd been nearly run over a few times by some yahoo hauling ass around blind corners, I'd probably be a little resentful too.
But here's the thing:
A few bad apples don't represent the rest of us.
You can't write off an entire community because of the actions of a handful of reckless riders.
Then he asked me something that made me laugh.
"What sane person drives a machine dozens of miles and thousands of feet up a mountain... only to turn around and drive back down?"
Fair enough.
Maybe we are a little crazy.
Then he followed up with:
"What's so great about SxSs anyway?"
Really?
What's so great about SxSs?
How do you explain the feeling of cresting a mountain pass at 12,000 feet?
How do you explain watching a moose step out of the timber?
How do you explain finding an old mining camp, sharing lunch with friends, or discovering a place most people will never see?
It's fast and slow.
Smooth and rugged.
Peaceful and adrenaline-filled.
It takes us places we couldn't otherwise go.
It gives us access to the backcountry, wildlife, scenery, history, friendships, and adventures that become memories for a lifetime.
That's why we do it.
The SxS community is enormous.
Thousands upon thousands of good people enjoying the outdoors responsibly.
Which is exactly why the 99% need to start paying attention to the 1%.
The 1% who fly around blind corners.
The 1% who tear up trails.
The 1% who ignore trail etiquette.
The 1% who create the reputation the rest of us have to live with.
Because whether we like it or not, those are the riders everyone remembers.
And here's the hard truth:
If we don't police our own...
Somebody else will, and they are.
And when that happens, the restrictions, closures, regulations, and consequences won't just affect the as****es.
They'll affect all of us.
So maybe the real question isn't:
"Why are SxS riders hated?"
Maybe it's:
"What are we doing to make sure they aren't?"
