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.
Though Japanese motoring giant Honda Motors released the first modern ATV back in'70, the first real ATVs rolled in the United States, though the exact date could not be confirmed. Various American motoring corporations have been working, sketching and tilling a concept vehicle that can go off the road and navigate unconventional driving surfaces with ease. These ATVs are fitted with six wheels, all driven, and could drive through swamps, ponds, and streams as well as dry land.
The general design of the old American ATVs was also a pole apart from the modern quad bike. Apart from six wheels, they were built for multiple passengers and were fitted with steering wheels or control sticks instead of the more familiar handlebar of a modern ATV. As for the materials, the main bulk of the ATV 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 global reach of Diamonds Are Forever movie, it was only a matter of time when the demand of the Japanese ATV broke the ceiling. Being able to navigate trails where no other vehicles could was good news already. The concept of driving through any terrain became a rave especially among Canadian and American hunters.
But it was in the'80s that the ATV really kicked into the cultural mainstream. It was during this time when the sporting version of the ATV was introduced. Big motor companies such as Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Polaris joined the ATV bandwagon and began manufacturing their own lines of the said vehicle.
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'87. Though the decree ended in'97, 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.
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.
Though Japanese motoring giant Honda Motors released the first modern ATV back in'70, the first real ATVs rolled in the United States, though the exact date could not be confirmed. Various American motoring corporations have been working, sketching and tilling a concept vehicle that can go off the road and navigate unconventional driving surfaces with ease. These ATVs are fitted with six wheels, all driven, and could drive through swamps, ponds, and streams as well as dry land.
The general design of the old American ATVs was also a pole apart from the modern quad bike. Apart from six wheels, they were built for multiple passengers and were fitted with steering wheels or control sticks instead of the more familiar handlebar of a modern ATV. As for the materials, the main bulk of the ATV 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 global reach of Diamonds Are Forever movie, it was only a matter of time when the demand of the Japanese ATV broke the ceiling. Being able to navigate trails where no other vehicles could was good news already. The concept of driving through any terrain became a rave especially among Canadian and American hunters.
But it was in the'80s that the ATV really kicked into the cultural mainstream. It was during this time when the sporting version of the ATV was introduced. Big motor companies such as Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Polaris joined the ATV bandwagon and began manufacturing their own lines of the said vehicle.
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'87. Though the decree ended in'97, 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.
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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