Ask The Editors: What Was The First Electric Start ATV?

By Jason Giacchino - July 9, 2012

Dear ATVC:

I was wondering if you know what the first ATV to come stock with electric start was and what year that would have been?

Absolutely, to answer this one we have to head all the way back to the year 1983; a period of time when ATVs came a wheel-short… from the factory! That was the year Yamaha introduced the Tri-Moto 225DX (YTM) 3-wheeler, the first electric start ATV.

Ask The Editors: What Was The First Electric Start ATV?

The spec sheet broke down as follows and the machine existed in this iteration from 1983-1985:

Engine Type 4-Stroke, SOHC, Single

Displacement 223cc

Bore X Stroke 70 x 58mm

Carburetion Mikuni VM24

Starting Electric

Transmission 5-Speed

Drive Shaft

Suspension Travel

Front – Telescopic Fork
Rear – Monoshock

Tire Size

Front – 22″ x 11″ – 8″
Rear 22″ x 11″ – 8″

Wheelbase 45.3″ (1,150mm)

Ground Clearance 8.1″ (205mm

Bonus fact: The 1983 Yamaha 225DX was also the world’s first shaft driven ATV as well!