Like all things that has caught the general public's fancy, the All Terrain Vehicle, or ATV or the quad bike as it is popularly called, has a very interesting past. The first ATVs were a tad different when set side by side with their modern counterparts. Basically designed to be a valuable farming machinery, the ATV is now the hub of an tremedously competitive sporting and racing industry.
Way before Japanese motoring giant Honda Motors launched the first modern ATV back in 1970, several American motoring corporations have been toiling in the works, sketching and tilling a concept vehicle that can go off the road and traverse unconventional driving surfaces with ease. The first real ATVs rolled in the United States, though the date could not be confirmed. These ATVs sported six wheels, all driven, and could be driven on swamps, ponds, and streams as well as dry land.
The overall design of the old American ATVs was a notch different as well. Aside from six wheels, they were engineered for multiple passengers and were integrated with steering wheels or control sticks instead of the more familiar handlebar of a modern ATV. As for the materials, the old ATVs are assembled using 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 entered the mainstream and grabbed a large following. It was during this time when the sporting version of the ATV was launched. Soon, high profile motoring companies like Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Polaris joined the ATV fray and began manufacturing their own ATV lines.
There was also an issue of safety when companies began to manufacture and market three-wheeled ATVs. With concerns from the consumers growing, the production of three-wheeled ATVs were banned I 1987. Though the decree ended in 1997, no significant three-wheeled ATV was marketed.
Modern ATVs are now categorized into two - the sporting type and the utility type. As the name implies, the sporting ATV is designed fro racing and high speed competitions. Sporting ATVs are made of lighter materials and are equipped with engines that can accelerate rapidly. Utility ATVs are much heavier and slower, but they are also rigged with power they for hauling purposes.
Undeniably, the ATV has now cemented itself as a premier ride for racing enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. Its popularity steadily increasing, as indicated by the motoring companies joining the ATV bandwagon. There is no doubt that the ATV is here to stay. - 31489
Way before Japanese motoring giant Honda Motors launched the first modern ATV back in 1970, several American motoring corporations have been toiling in the works, sketching and tilling a concept vehicle that can go off the road and traverse unconventional driving surfaces with ease. The first real ATVs rolled in the United States, though the date could not be confirmed. These ATVs sported six wheels, all driven, and could be driven on swamps, ponds, and streams as well as dry land.
The overall design of the old American ATVs was a notch different as well. Aside from six wheels, they were engineered for multiple passengers and were integrated with steering wheels or control sticks instead of the more familiar handlebar of a modern ATV. As for the materials, the old ATVs are assembled using 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 entered the mainstream and grabbed a large following. It was during this time when the sporting version of the ATV was launched. Soon, high profile motoring companies like Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Polaris joined the ATV fray and began manufacturing their own ATV lines.
There was also an issue of safety when companies began to manufacture and market three-wheeled ATVs. With concerns from the consumers growing, the production of three-wheeled ATVs were banned I 1987. Though the decree ended in 1997, no significant three-wheeled ATV was marketed.
Modern ATVs are now categorized into two - the sporting type and the utility type. As the name implies, the sporting ATV is designed fro racing and high speed competitions. Sporting ATVs are made of lighter materials and are equipped with engines that can accelerate rapidly. Utility ATVs are much heavier and slower, but they are also rigged with power they for hauling purposes.
Undeniably, the ATV has now cemented itself as a premier ride for racing enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. Its popularity steadily increasing, as indicated by the motoring companies joining the ATV bandwagon. There is no doubt that the ATV is here to stay. - 31489
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