Hey, I'm new to ATVs, ATCs, or anything not motorcycle. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

Anyway, I have always liked ATCs, partially because they're weird, and partially because they look like they'd be a lot of fun in the washes out here in Arizona where I live. Anyway, I am not willing to spend much money on an ATC, but I am especially interested in the ATC 110. I'm looking for a junker project. I'm wondering if anyone can point out to me what problems commonly occur on these ATCs. Is the slant single motor in the same family as the CT 110s? If that is the case, I imagine that makes it pretty easy to convert to CDI. Also, how do the transmissions differ? To be honest, I've never even seen one in person. I'm 18, and these things were long off the trails in PA where I grew up. Are they pretty much all centrifugal clutch? How many speed? I know the CT 110 was first a 4 speed, then a 5 speed (with dual range).

Anyway, just looking for general info for a person who has only seen these things in pics, and once when I passed one on a forest service road. I appreciate any information and links.

Thanks!

 

I'll answer some of that:


The atc 110 has very few weak points. I have spent many hours in the saddle of one and not much time working on them. (Not because I didn't know how, it's because they just didn't break often)

I don't know much about the CT bikes but I think the engines are pretty much identical. The intakes are probably different. The 110s had dual range 4 speed transmissions with an auto clutch. CDI was standard on the later models. (can't remember when they had points)

You can put a 200x front fork on a 110 frame thus giving it a nice front suspension and disc brake.

You can't go wrong with a 110.

good luck,

Jason

 

Since you've never ridden an atv, you might have an advantage learning to ride it. But don't put your foot down like you would on a bike, it'll feel natural to do so but don't. You've got to use a lot more body english with a 3 wheeler than a 4 wheeler. Don't rush into a corner and just turn, you gotta lean. You'll get the feel. it's not as hard as you'd think, they just got a bad rap from people being idiots.

 

I appreciate the responses. I figure I have a lot to learn riding a 3 wheeler comming from a motorcycle. I also figured that most of the dangers are due to people being foolish. Sorta like a Jeep Wrangler. Being 18, it would be impossible to insure myself in one. But that really stems from people driving 'em like they're corvettes (which incidentally have a higher rollover rate than a jeep). I would imagine the analogy carries over to the old ATC. On top of that I never ride without gear or helmet unless I'm riding from my garage to the shop (about 50 yards).

OK, practical riding experience question: how do you get an atc stuck, and how do you get one unstuck? I plan on riding a lot in washes, where it's a real pain to ride a motorcycle (unless you're going fast which isn't always possible). How hard are these things to bury? I mean those big tires have got to be better then a motorcyce tire...

Also, I might be able to find a killer deal on an atc70. Is this just a waste of time investigating a 70, or should I consider it for the right price? I'm 5'9, 190 lbs. (shutup) [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] I am by no means a professional motorcycle rider, but I've been riding since I was about 6.

Thoughts are appreciated. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Your to big for a 70. Honestly your to big for a 110 in my opinion. I think you should look more in the direction of a 185s or 200x. Something with alittle more room and power, something that you can grow into. Don't get me wrong, the 110 is an awsome bike and would still haul my butt around, it just wouldn't haul me around like it use to. They can get stuck like anything else. Just know your limits and run a good tire. Once they are buried things can get kinda difficult. It use to take 1 or 2 of my buddies on there bikes to get me out when my 110 was buried in mud.

 

Hm. I will keep that advice in mind. Right now, my little wash runner is a Kawasaki KE100 motorcycle, which I prefer for the smaller front wheel and lighter weight. Makes things easier for maneauverability and getting unstuck. Hell my little Kawasaki I can lift out of a rut if I must. Of course the downside is getting stuck in ruts and not being able to get the front wheel up (yes, it has happened, and yes, it destroyed my front fender causing me to ride home with no fender- not fun when there's pebbles in the tires).

Anyway I'm still not too set on what I will buy, if anything (I've been busy with my company lately), but I'm keeping a watch locally and on Cycle Trader and Craigslist to see what comes up. I was kinda hoping to spend a hundred bucks on a junker and fix it up. To me, it would be fun, although probably no cheaper than buying a nice example. I like the idea of a 70-110 atc for simplicity, but I'm not at all opposed to a 185 or 200.

I wonder if anyone has tried some of the super-mini tricks on a 70 or 110. I mean you must admit, the 70 would look pretty funny with a worked out 125 with cam, carb, pipe, and aftermarket cylinder/head. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

edit: I'm pretty sure I'm going to drop the idea of a 70 anyway. I think the physical size is just a little on the small side. So minimum 90 now (think old-school).

 

Well back in the day my buddy's uncle had a pretty trick little 110. He built a custom big bore kit for it, custom exhaust, cam, oversized carb and custom intake. A hell of a lot faster than my stocker was. You should really consider going bigger than the 110. Its a great bike little beginner bike for a youngster but at your size and age you are going to get bored/tired of the power and horrible un-suspended ride. I rode mine till I was like 13/14 and I can still remember how bad of a beating that thing gave me going through anything even close to rough.

 

No sooner did you post this, but I may have found a 185 on craigslist. I'm torn though, between pursuing that, or 2 old Honda dirtbikes... We'll see how things pan out. I think $475 is too much for a decent 185. NADA cycle values says they're worth about 350 in good condition, or about 220 in fair shape. I'm going to let it simmer for a while before making an offer on it. I'm going to try for sub 180-200. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] It's an '81 185S, if that means anything. Looked like it had suspension, but I can't be sure from the pics on the ad.

 

Riding a bike that is way too small for you could be dangerous too. You wouldn't be able to manuever it properly, and since a lot of steering is done by leaning and powersliding it would also be underpowered for you. Although, you wouldn't be steering like that at first. For your first atc, you should get an 86 atc250r [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]
j/k but seriously you definetely need something bigger than even a 90. A 110 could be cutting it close. You will get bored very quickly, and I think the physical size will be too small. Whatever you get just remember that experience is the best teacher, so practice, practice, practice. What I mean is take it easy until your comfortable. They react much differently on different surfaces too. You'll notice a bigger difference going from say dirt to pavement on a 3 wheeler than your dirtbike.

 

I am thinking you're probably right. I look foward to learning how to ride one if I ever get one. We'll see...

I found an interesting stat on the accident rate on 3 wheeled atvs- 89 percent of them involved alcohol. I think the study was taken in 86 or 88 in a hospital in Texas, out of 100 injury cases. Many cases were also treatment of passengers, which I was under the impression that the ATC had warnings about being a single operator only vehicle... am I wrong in that impression? I would thing given the small wheelbase, my motorcycle instincts would tell me that it's going to affect balance, and create a dangerous situation, especially on something with more power.