Wednesday, August 1, 2012

All-Terrain Vehicles: PAST AND PRESENT


In the late 1960s, Mr. Takeuchi of Honda Motor Company developed a three-wheel gasoline powered vehicle equipped with low-pressure tires.  Primarily intended for utility and snow operation purposes, this vehicle was released for production in 1970.  It was called the US 90 All-Terrain Cycle (ATC), a name that reflected both the general usage and engine size.  This vehicle effectively launched what was to be the beginning of the All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) era in the U.S.A.Soon after ATVs hit the market, vehicle upsets, accidents, and injuries began to occur.  The three-wheel design geometry had resulted in a vehicle that would pitch/roll upset easily at very low speeds.  In the early 1980s, the ATV industry evolved substantially with the introduction of four-wheel all-terrain vehicles.  This new vehicle design marked the beginning of the end for the three wheel all-terrain vehicles.

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http://www.sealcorp.com/tinybrowser/files/seal_nl_june_2012.pdf

Call or email Mike Burleson, P.E. at 1-800-624-0905 for questions and further information.