| The term "all-terrain vehicle" is used in a | | | | year, still featuring the same parallel-twin, |
| general sense to describe any of a number of | | | | 350cc, two-stroke engine that made the |
| small open motorised buggies and tricycles | | | | machine famous. |
| designed for off-road use. However, the | | | | |
| American National Standards Institute (ANSI) | | | | The ATV is commonly called a four wheeler in |
| defines an ATV as a vehicle that travels on | | | | Australia. They are used extensively in |
| low pressure tires, with a seat that is | | | | agricultureAt the same time, development of |
| straddled by the operator, and with | | | | utility ATVs was rapidly escalating. The 1986 |
| handlebars for steering control. By the ANSI | | | | Honda FourTrax TRX350 4x4 ushered in the era |
| definition, it is intended for use by a | | | | of four-wheel-drive ATVs. Other manufacturers |
| single operator. The 4-wheeled versions are | | | | quickly followed suit, and 4x4s have remained |
| most commonly called "quads," "four-wheelers" | | | | the most popular type of ATV. These machines |
| or "ATVs" in the United States and Canada, | | | | are popular with hunters, farmers, ranchers |
| and "quad bikes" or "quad cycles" in other | | | | and workers at construction sites. |
| English-speaking countries. Models with 3 | | | | |
| wheels are typically known as ATCs (though | | | | Safety issues with 3-wheel ATVs caused all |
| this is a Honda trademark) and | | | | manufacturers to switch to 4-wheeled models |
| "three-wheelers," and less commonly | | | | in the late '80s, and 3-wheel models ended |
| "all-terrain cycles" and "trikes." 6- and | | | | production in 1987, due to consent decrees |
| 8-wheel models exist for specialized | | | | between the major manufacturers and the |
| applications. The rider sits on these models | | | | Consumer Product Safety Commission -- the |
| just like on a motorcycle, but the extra | | | | result of legal battles over safety issues |
| wheels make them more stable at slow speeds. | | | | among consumer groups, the manufacturers and |
| ATVs can also be considered Off Highway | | | | CPSC. The lighter weight of the 3-wheel |
| Vehicles (OHV) or Off Road Vehicles (ORV), | | | | models made them popular with some expert |
| along with motorcycles, Jeeps and other | | | | riders. Cornering is more challenging than |
| off-road capable machines. | | | | with a 4-wheeled machine because leaning into |
| | | | the turn is even more important. Operators |
| Engine sizes of ATVs currently for sale in | | | | may roll over if caution isn't used. The |
| the United States (as of 2004) range from | | | | front end of 3-wheelers obviously has a |
| 50cc to 800cc. They range in price from about | | | | single wheel making it lighter, and flipping |
| $499 to nearly $8000. | | | | backwards is a potential hazard, especially |
| | | | when climbing hills. Rollovers may also occur |
| Development of ATVs | | | | when traveling down a steep incline. The |
| | | | consent decrees expired in 1997, allowing |
| The first ATVs were made during the 1950s. | | | | manufacturers to once again make and market |
| These early models had six wheels instead of | | | | 3-wheel models, though there are very few |
| four. Honda made the first three-wheeled ATV | | | | marketed today. |
| in 1970, and were famously portrayed in the | | | | |
| James Bond movie, "Diamonds Are Forever". | | | | Models continue today to be divided into the |
| Dubbed the US90 and, later, the ATC90, it was | | | | sport and utility markets. Sport models are |
| designed purely for recreational use. It | | | | generally small, light, two wheel drive |
| featured large balloon tires instead of a | | | | vehicles which accelerate quickly, have a |
| mechanical suspension. By the early 1980s, | | | | manual transmission, and run at speeds up to |
| suspension and lower-profile tires were | | | | 75 miles per hour (120 km/h). Utility models |
| introduced. The 1982 Honda ATC200E Big Red | | | | are generally bigger four wheel drive |
| was a landmark model. It featured both | | | | vehicles with a maximum speed of up to 65 |
| suspension and racks, making it the first | | | | miles per hour (104 km/h). They have the |
| utility three-wheeled ATV. The ability to go | | | | ability to haul small loads on attached racks |
| anywhere on terrain that most other vehicles | | | | or small dump beds. They may also tow small |
| could not cross soon made them popular with | | | | trailers. Due to the different weights, each |
| US and Canadian hunters, and those just | | | | has advantages on different types of terrain. |
| looking for a good trail ride. Soon other | | | | |
| manufacturers introduced their own models. | | | | Sport models are built with performance, |
| | | | rather than utility, in mind. To be |
| Sport models were also developed by Honda, | | | | successful at fast trail riding, an ATV must |
| which had a virtual monopoly on the market, | | | | have light weight, high power, good |
| due to effective patents on design and engine | | | | suspension and a low center of gravity. These |
| placement. The 1981 ATC250R was the first | | | | machines can be modified for such racing |
| high-performance three-wheeler, featuring | | | | disciplines as motocross, woods racing (also |
| full suspension, a 248-cubic-centimetre | | | | known as hare scrambles, cross country), |
| two-stroke motor, a five-speed transmisison | | | | desert racing, hill climbing, ice racing, |
| with a manual clutch and a front disc brake. | | | | speedway, TT (Tourist Trophy), flat track, |
| For the sporting trail rider, the 1983 | | | | drag racing and others. Examples of |
| ATC200X was another landmark machine. It has | | | | high-performance models include the Yamaha |
| an easy-to-handle 192-cubic-centimetre | | | | YFZ450, Honda TRX450R, Suzuki QuadRacer R450, |
| four-stroke that was ideal for new | | | | Polaris Outlaw 500, Polaris Outlaw 525, and |
| participants in the sport. | | | | Polaris Predator 500. ATVs designed for fast |
| | | | trail riding include the Yamaha Raptor 700R, |
| Suzuki was a leader in the development of | | | | Suzuki QuadSport Z400, Honda Sportrax 400EX |
| 4-wheeled ATVs. It sold the first ATV, the | | | | and Bombardier DS650 . |
| 1983 QuadRunner LT125, which was a | | | | |
| recreational machine for beginners. | | | | Six wheel models often have a small dump bed, |
| | | | with an extra set of wheels at the back to |
| In 1985, Suzuki introduced to the industry | | | | increase the payload capacity. They can be |
| the first high-performance 4-wheel ATV, the | | | | either 4 wheel drive (back wheels driving |
| Suzuki LT250R QuadRacer. This machine was in | | | | only), or 6 wheel drive. |
| production for the 1985-1992 model years. | | | | |
| During its run, it underwent three major | | | | There are also 6 and 8 wheel models where the |
| engineering makeovers. However, the major | | | | rider sits inside, known as AATVs (amphibious |
| core features were retained. These were: a | | | | all terrain vehicles). These vehicles may |
| sophisticated long-travel suspension, a | | | | float and are designed to go through swamps |
| liquid-cooled two-stroke motor and a fully | | | | as well as dry land. These were around in the |
| manual 5-speed transmission for 85-86 models | | | | United States long before 4 and 3-wheeled |
| and a 6-speed transmission for the 88-92 | | | | vehicles were introduced (by Honda and other |
| models. It was a machine exclusively designed | | | | Japanese companies). Current brands of these |
| for racing by highly skilled riders. Honda | | | | machines include Argo and MAX. They consist |
| responded a year later with the FourTrax | | | | of a fiberglas or hard plastic "tub" with low |
| TRX250R-a machine that has not been | | | | pressure (around 3 PSI) tires and use a |
| replicated. Kawasaki responded with its | | | | skid-steer steering setup. Though not as fast |
| Tecate-4 250. In 1987, Yamaha introduced a | | | | as other ATVs, they can be operated with |
| different type of high-performance machine, | | | | precision at slow speeds, and, of course, |
| the Banshee 350, which featured a | | | | have the ability to float. The spinning |
| twin-cylinder liquid-cooled two-stroke motor | | | | action of the tires is enough to propel the |
| from the RD350LC street motorcycle. Heavier | | | | vehicle through the water, abeit slowly. |
| and more difficult to ride in the dirt than | | | | Outboard motors can be added for extended |
| the 250s, the Banshee became a popular | | | | water use. Technically, these AATVs are not |
| machine with sand dune riders thanks to its | | | | true ATVs by the ANSI definition of an |
| unique power delivery. The Banshee remains | | | | all-terrain vehicle. Often they have steering |
| hugely popular, but 2006 is the last year it | | | | wheels or control sticks rather than |
| will be available in the U.S. (due to EPA | | | | motorcycle-type handle bars and are intended |
| emissions regulations). In Canada, however, | | | | for more than a single rider, in contrast to |
| the Banshee will be back for the 2007 model | | | | ATVs that meet the ANSI definition. |