| As with many items that have gained strong | | | | In the early 1980's, ATV's were introduced that had |
| popularity with the public, the All Terrain | | | | a much lower tire profile and suspension. It was at |
| Vehicle(ATV) has a very interesting history. What | | | | this time that the first three-wheeled ATV was |
| started out as essentially a farming resource has | | | | developed for public use. During this decade, |
| become the machine around which a highly | | | | numerous manufacturers entered the "sporting" ATV |
| competitive sporting and racing industry has been | | | | market, among them such high profile names such as |
| built. | | | | Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Polaris. |
| Long before Honda introduced a vehicle in 1970 which | | | | Safety issues arose with the three wheel ATV and it |
| would kick off the "modern era" of the ATV, | | | | is a little known fact that the fledgling industry was |
| numerous American companies offered small off-road | | | | nearly banned from the public by Congress because |
| vehicles which were amphibious in nature and were | | | | of these safety issues. Three wheeled production |
| designed to traverse swamps, streams and ponds as | | | | ended in 1987 due to consent decrees between the |
| well as dry land. These vehicles were constructed of | | | | major manufacturers and the Consumer Product |
| fiberglass or hard plastic and usually had six wheels, all | | | | Safety Commission and the four wheeled ATV |
| driven, providing for a strong traction component. | | | | became the norm. Although these consent decrees |
| They were intended for multiple riders and had | | | | ended in 1997, allowing companies to once again |
| steering wheels or control sticks instead of the | | | | make and market 3-wheel models, very few were |
| standard motorcycle type mechanism used with the | | | | actually marketed and sold. |
| modern ATV. | | | | Today's ATV models generally fall into either the |
| In Japan, a similar vehicle was being used in farms | | | | sporting or utility camps. The sporty models, for the |
| that were located in mountainous terrain. In 1970, | | | | most part, are small, light two wheel drive vehicles |
| Honda introduced the US90 and was aided in its | | | | with a manual suspension and rapid acceleration. The |
| marketing effort by the James Bond movie | | | | utility ATV's, on the other hand, are much bigger four |
| "Diamonds Are Forever"; a motion picture in which | | | | wheel drive vehicles and have a much slower |
| the ATV played a significant part. The unique vehicle | | | | maximum speed than their sporting counterparts. |
| featured large balloon type tires instead of a | | | | They also have a much needed feature; the ability to |
| mechanical suspension. The ability to go anywhere on | | | | haul small loads on attached racks and/or small dump |
| country or terrain that most other vehicles could not | | | | beds. Sporting ATV's are designed for performance |
| cross soon made them popular with US and Canadian | | | | rather than utility and can reach speeds of 100 miles |
| hunters, as well those just looking for a good trail | | | | per hour or more. |
| ride. | | | | |