Origins of the All Terrain Vehicle

By Kent Redford

Like all things popular with the general public, the All Terrain Vehicle, better known as the ATV or the quad bike, has a very fascinating past. The first ATVs were a far cry to their modern counterparts. Initially engineered to be a valuable farming equipment, the machine became the core 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.

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 invented to be a farming machine and was a commonly sight in farming towns situated in the mountains. When Honda first released the first modern ATV, the US90, its popularity and demand for the vehicle grew. When the James Bond movie "Diamonds Are Forever" hit the big screen, its popularity grew even more, as the film featured the 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.

When motoring companies began to create three-wheeled models, issues over its safety and stability followed. Soon, the increasing concerns of the public caused the production of three-wheeled ATVs to be halted in 1987. Though the production ban ended in 1997, no major three-wheeled ATV was made and sold.

Today's ATVs are now divided into two types " sporting and utility. The sporting ATVs are made of lighter materials and are designed for rapid acceleration. Utility ATVs, on the other hand, are heavier, bigger and slower but are equipped with engines that allow them to haul small loads.

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.

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