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A Brief History of ATVing

Posted By: Extreme Power Sports
Post Date: 06/14/2022

The powerful all-terrain vehicles we know and love today had a humble beginning. Unsurprisingly, there have been quite a few iterations of ATV over the years. The earliest version of ATV can be tied back to Honda, one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in the world.

Before Honda

Before Honda dominated the ATV market, the very first off-roading vehicle was invented in 1961 in Toronto, Canada. Known as the Jiger, the Amphibious All-Terrain Vehicle (AATV) was designed to travel on land as well as water! This 6-wheeled vehicle weighed 200 pounds with 5 1/2 horsepower. Towards the end of the decade, the Terra Tiger was invented by Marvin Feldmann in Wisconsin. It's known as one of the most iconic 6x6 ever built. 

While these can certainly be considered off-roading vehicles, the riders couldn't straddle these AATVs. A few years later, Sperry-Rand Tricart came into the picture. This 3-wheeled tricart was equipped with a 5HP lawnmower engine. Around this time, Honda joined the ATV evolution. 

And Then There Were Three ...

With the dwindling motorcycle sales during winters, Honda R&D Ltd was instructed to come up with a product that dealers could sell in colder months. Osamu Takeuchi drafted several vehicle concepts with 2, 3, 4, 5 and even 6 wheels, similar to the Jiger. However, the 3-wheeled vehicle stood out in terms of versatility and maneuverability. Though the vehicle lacked suspension, the innovative balloon tires allowed a safe riding experience on snow, mud and other slippery surfaces. 

Dubbed the ATC90, this 3-wheeled recreational vehicle gained immense popularity throughout the 1970s. In fact, the ATC90 was such a success in the US that it was featured in a James Bond movie and TV shows. 

Over the next decade, the utility application of ATV exploded. This also implied significant innovation in ATV designs and capabilities. Honda launched the ATC250R, a high-performance ATV equipped with full suspension as well as a five-speed transmission. 

Enter Yamaha

Around the same time, Yamaha introduced the YT125 Tri-Moto. Featuring a 123cc two-stroke engine and five-speed transmission, it was the first Yamaha ATV sold in the US. A couple of years later, Kawasaki released the KTL200-A1, which was equipped with a "dual-mode differential." 

The growing demand for ATVs in the US and the rest of the world prompted several other automotive giants to jump on board. Other than the manufacturers mentioned previously, Can-AmPolarisSuzuki, and BRP are some leading ATV brands. 

From strenuous off-roading adventures to laborious farmwork, today's ATVs are much more capable than ever before. Just to give you an idea, here's how much ATVs have advanced over the years. In comparison to the first-ever ATV's 5 1/2 horsepower, Can-Am Renegade X XC 1000R comes with 91 HP! 

Besides recreational riding, you can use your quad bike for plowing snow, hauling firewood, landscaping, hunting, camping, winching, plowing, mowing, spreading salt, raking, transportation and so on. 

There's a common misconception that ATVs are extremely expensive. However, there are plenty of manufacturers offering an abundance of choices. You can easily get your hands on affordable models equipped with premium features. Polaris, Honda and Kawasaki are a few brands supplying well-designed ATVs at competitive prices.

We've Come A Long Way

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