The Top 5 Most Important ATVs of All-Time

A Brief Study of the Game Changers and Innovators
by Jason Giacchino

When it comes to determining which models can be credited as being the most influential, it becomes clear that the history of the ATV varies significantly depending on who you ask. The reason for this? Well, where do you begin? Technically the tractor was an off-road vehicle. When the first automobiles were manufactured, people took those through dirt paths – actually if you want to get technical, what we now think of roads were dirt paths back then!

Then there are a wide variety of military vehicles that met many of the criteria of the modern ATV. Motorcycles were equipped with knobby tires and sidecars for all-terrain usage since the advent of the cycle itself.

Despite all of these caveats, we have come up with what just may be the Top-5 Most Important ATVs of All Time. Of course some of our choices are pretty universally accepted because they paved the way for all that would follow, but to be honest, we could try and come up with the Top-50 Most Important ATVs and still leave some solid choices out! So be sure to spout off in the forums and let us know what we left out.

Without further ado:

#1) Amphibious All-Terrain Vehicle (AATV)

A lot of people think that the 3-wheeler as we know it kicked off the ATV movement in the United States, but believe it or not, ATVs were on the scene even before Honda exported the first ATC. The reason this entry is fairly generic is that in roughly 1961, with a machine called the Jiger, the personal amphibious vehicle came onto the scene. By 1970 there were almost 60-companies producing amphibious ATVs!

These units were typically 4, 6 or 8-wheel drive, lacked suspension of any sort (save for the low air pressure in the tires) and were operated similarly to a bulldozer. They were all the rage for roughly a decade, but sales started slumping at the onset of the 1970s, thanks in no small part to the next entry on our list.

# 2) 1970 Honda ATC 90

The 1970 Honda US90 would be the one credited with officially starting it all. It sent its seven horsepower through a dual-range, four-speed gearbox with automatic clutch, and retailed for 5. It was renamed the ATC90 later that same year, once Honda trademarked the ATC name.

So what made this suspensionless vehicle with half the wheels of the AATV such a success? A lot of it had to do with the economy at the time. In 1970 the average cost of an amphibious ATV was ,700; the little Honda 3-wheeler could be had for less than 0. Additionally the 1973 oil crisis prompted many North Americans to tighten their recreational vehicle budget.

Perhaps the biggest factor of the ATC 90’s success may have been the fact that the Honda mimicked the controls and ergonomics of the motorcycle (over the bulldozer), instantly attracting hordes of street riders in the process.

Bonus fact: After nearly a decade of Honda enjoying no Japanese competition, Yamaha’s 1979 Tri-Moto 125 finally entered the scene.

# 3) 1983 Suzuki Quadrunner LT125D

Perhaps you aren’t familiar with this entry when in fact it represents a bit of a revolution that would remain steadfast even to this very day: The 1983 Suzuki LT125 was the first production four-wheeler. Of course the concept of a four-wheel off-road vehicle wasn’t new in and of itself, but carrying on the motorcycle-influence of the 3-wheeler into the four-wheeled chassis was.

Contrary to common misconception, Suzuki did indeed develop a pair of 3-wheelers just prior to releasing the LT125D (a 50cc and 125cc). Impressed with the vast increase in stability that extra wheel provided, Suzuki never went back to 3-wheeler production. The remaining manufacturers would eventually all end up going the route of the 4-wheeler thanks in no small part to the 3-wheeler ban of 1987, but let the record reflect that Suzuki was the first to engineer such a vehicle. History buffs would probably like to add that Honda was next to release a four-wheeler (that resided on the line alongside its 3-wheeled ATV line): the 1984 TRXTM 200.

# 4) 1986 Honda FourTrax TRX350 4×4

While a 350 utility-four wheeler would have been pretty standard by 1986, Honda followed a lead proven time and time again by off-road truck manufacturers by issuing four-wheel-drive on an ATV. Other manufacturers quickly followed suit, and 4x4s have remained the most popular type of ATV ever since.

The convenience of 4×4 performance escalated the sport into the limelight with soaring sales to previously separate industries such as hunting, farming, ranching, and construction sites.

#5) 2004 Yamaha Rhino

This one is a bit tricky because technically the Yamaha Rhino is actually credited with the formation of a whole new class of vehicles known as Recreational Utility Vehicles (RUVs) or Utility Vehicle (UTV). However, many manufacturers (like John Deere for example with their Gator series of utility-ATVs) have valid claims to essentially having been there first.

However, and as unfair as it may be, once Yamaha got involved with their 660cc Rhino in October of 2003, the segment virtually exploded and has showed no sign of slowing since.

The UTV is separated from its ATV counterpart by doing away with the heavy motorcycling influence of the controls and rider positions in favor of a more automotive style seating as well as the ability to transport one or more passengers in side-by-side seating arrangements (which is why they are often referred to as side-by-sides).

Honorable mentions:

1987 Suzuki LT80: The first ATV with a CVT transmission.
1989 Yamaha Pro Hauler: The first ATV to come equipped with a dedicated cargo bed.
1997 Honda Foreman 450ES: The first ATV on which Honda integrated its Electric Shift Program (ESPTM).
2001 Kawasaki Prairie 650 4×4: The first V-Twin powered ATV on the market.
2002 Arctic Cat Line: Arctic Cat brought the first fully independent suspension ATV line to market (without a sway bar).
2004 Polaris Sportsman 700 Twin EFI: First ATV to include electronic fuel injection.
2006 Yamaha Grizzly 700: The first ATV to integrate EPS (Electronic Power Steering).
2010 Polaris Ranger RZR4: The first sport/ performance side-by-side to offer four bucket-seats.

So, what did we forget? Sound off in the forums:
http://forums.atvconnection.com/general-chat/340168-top-5-most-important-atvs-all-time.html#post3066270