Monday, November 9, 2009

The ATV: How It All Began

By Kent Redford

Like every items popular with the general public, the All Terrain Vehicle, or more known as ATV or the quad bike, has a very interesting past. The first ATVs were quite different compared to their modern counterparts. Primarily built to serve as a a valuable farming machinery, the ATV is now the center of an extremely competitive sporting and racing industry.

Long before Japanese motoring giant Honda Motors released the first modern ATV back in 1970, various American motoring corporations have been working, sketching and tilling a concept vehicle that can go off the road and navigate unusual driving surfaces with less effort. It can be said that the United States launched the first ATVs, though the date could not be confirmed. These ATVs are assembled with six wheels, all driven, and could pass through swamps, ponds, and streams as well as dry land.

Generally, the old American ATVs was different in terms of engineering design. More than just the six wheels, these ATVs were built to seat multiple passengers and were rigged with steering wheels or control sticks rather than the more familiar handlebar of a modern ATV. The main body of the early ATVs was made of hard plastic or fiberglass.

Like in the United States, Japans version of ATV was also designed to be a farming utility and was widely used in farming towns located in the mountains. When Honda released the US90, the popularity of the ATV soared and the demands grew exponentially. A lot of the US90's fame came when the James Bond movie "Diamonds Are Forever" hit the big screen; the movie featured ATVs in some of its scenes.

With the worldwide reach of the James Bond movie, ATVs soon became the rave of the motoring world. The capability to cruise different terrains and trails was good news already. Such concept hit hard the Outdoors enthusiasts, specifically hunters from Canada and the United States.

It was in the 1980s, however, when the ATV truly started enjoying mainstream popularity and took a large consumer base. It was during this time when the sporting version of the ATV was launched. Soon enough, big name motoring companies like Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Polaris joined the ATV race and began manufacturing their own ATV models.

There, was a time when companies began building and marketing three-wheeled ATVs. However, concerns over the safety of handling such vehicle arose and soon enough, production was halted in 1987. Though the ban was lifted in 1997, only a few three-wheeled models were ever made and sold.

Today, ATVs are now categorized into two types - the sporting type and the utility type. As the name suggest, sporting ATVs are designed for high speeds and are made of lighter materials with an engine for rapid acceleration. Utility ATVs, on the contrary are heavier, bigger and slower but are equipped with engines that enable them to carry heavy loads.

There is no doubt that ATV has captured millions of racing enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. The ever increasing popularity of the ATV is undeniable. With many people getting hooked to the vehicle and many companies entering the ATV fray, the All Terrain Vehicle is certainly not going anywhere.

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