Like every items popular with the general public, the All Terrain Vehicle, or more known as ATV or the quad bike, has a very interesting past. The first ATVs were quite different compared to their modern counterparts. Primarily built to serve as a a valuable farming machinery, the ATV is now the center of an extremely 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.

Generally, the old American ATVs was different in terms of engineering design. More than just the six wheels, these ATVs were built to seat multiple passengers and were rigged with steering wheels or control sticks rather than the more familiar handlebar of a modern ATV. The main body of the early ATVs 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.

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.

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 is enjoying its status as a premier vehicle for racing enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. With many motoring companies joining the ATV race, it only indicates the steadily rising popularity if the said vehicle. The All Terrain Vehicle is definitely here to stay.

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