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 1970, 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 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 international reach of the James Bond movie, soon the whole world was raving about this new type of vehicle. A vehicle that can traverse different type of terrains became a very wanted commodity. The thought of being able to drive through any terrain was very exciting, especially for hunters from Canada and 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.
There, was a time when companies began building and marketing three-wheeled ATVs. However, concerns over the safety of handling such vehicle arose and soon enough, production was halted in 1987. Though the ban was lifted in 1997, only a few three-wheeled models were ever made and sold.
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.
Though Japanese motoring giant Honda Motors released the first modern ATV back in 1970, 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 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 international reach of the James Bond movie, soon the whole world was raving about this new type of vehicle. A vehicle that can traverse different type of terrains became a very wanted commodity. The thought of being able to drive through any terrain was very exciting, especially for hunters from Canada and 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.
There, was a time when companies began building and marketing three-wheeled ATVs. However, concerns over the safety of handling such vehicle arose and soon enough, production was halted in 1987. Though the ban was lifted in 1997, only a few three-wheeled models were ever made and sold.
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.
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