Ask the Editors: ATVs More Affordable Then or Now?
That’s a really good question. In 1970 Honda would have sold you the US90 3-wheeler with its 7-horsepower air-cooled single and dual-range four-speed gearbox with automatic clutch for a cool $595. But before you skip off suspecting they were practically giving these things away, realize that $595 dollars in 1970 would be equivalent to $3,635 today.
For comparison’s sake, you could walk into a dealership today and snag a 2016 Polaris Phoenix 200 for $3,599. In addition to coming with an additional wheel compared to the US90, you would also be getting an air cooled 196cc single, automatic (CVT) shaft driven machine with luxuries unheard of back in 1970 like electric start, reverse, disc brakes and full suspension.
So while there is no doubt that you could spend much more on a brand new ATV today (after all, there are many now available with MSRPs well over $10,000), the reality is that this is because machines can come equipped with so many features that weren’t even fathomed in the beginning, things like 4×4, electronic fuel injection, multi-cylinder engines etc. The truth of the matter, on a dollar per dollar comparison, we are getting more machine for the buck today than in any other time in the history of the ATV.
