By Russ Ehnes

When riders think about potential dangers associated with off-road riding, their first thought usually relates to sparks from open motorcycle exhaust systems starting a grass or brush fire.

But there are considerations for other parts of the bike, as well. One of those is the use of titanium foot pegs.

Titanium is flammable. In 2014, USA Today reported on a study that titanium golf clubs can produce 3,000-degree, fire producing sparks when they graze rocks. The report cited two grass fires caused by titanium golf clubs at golf courses in California.

On May 5, 2018, the danger of titanium foot pegs in an off-road setting was demonstrated when Andrew Cane inadvertently started a small grass fire while taking part in the Gerrit and Bill Hamilton Memorial Trail Ride at Bull Run Ranch near Cascade, Mont.

Cane is the owner of the satellite Yamaha off-road race team based in North Carolina. His bike is identical to the bikes raced by his team riders, and the set-up includes titanium foot pegs.

He rode up a technical single track that has a large rock on one side of the trail that forces the rider to lean the bike to avoid it. This maneuver almost always results in the rider’s foot peg striking a smaller rock on the other side of the trail.

Within minutes of Cane’s group passing the site, there was a grass fire with waist-high flames that had burned about a quarter acre. Luckily, the next group saw the fire and was able to contain it.

Since that incident, Cane has changed all his team and personal bikes to steel foot pegs and is encouraging others who ride and race off-road to do the same.

Within minutes of Cane’s group passing the site, there was a grass fire with waist-high flames that had burned about a quarter acre.

Titanium pegs are no longer allowed at Bull Run Ranch.

Titanium pegs are appropriate at the motocross track, but could be the cause of catastrophic wildfires in off-road environments.

Russ Ehnes, of Great Falls, Mont., is a member of the AMA Board of Directors.