A fellow participant asks who was the subcontractor who made the Deere ATVs. Somehow I was thinking it was Can Am.

David

 

Well, I found an old thread here on ATV Connection about the Deere Trail Buck, ak Can Am Quest.

It was Can Am, BRP, Bombardier who made it for Deere.

David

 

I read somewhere who made John Deere ATVs and could have sworn it was someone else but it's been so long I don't remember who else it could have been. What I'm reading online is that John Deere hasn't made/sold any ATVs in over a decade.

 

Ask and you shall receive. For this week's Ask the Editors, we deliver the facts on JD's short foray into the realm of ATVs:

https://atvconnection.com/articles/a...hn-deere-atvs/

 

What was weird about the Deere and Traxter was the seat/front fuel tank area design. It allowed you to step through as there was no hump in front of the seat. In other words, you didn't have to swing your leg over to ride, just through.

 

I thought the Traxter was one of the ugliest and weirdest looking ATVs around. I didn't think the step-though seat was much of a selling point either, but sometimes I find myself having a hard time swinging my leg over on my quad. Not long ago when I tried getting on I kicked my backrest so I had to step down and try it again. I don't know if the step-through would help me or not.

 

Thank you very much ATVC Correspondent! Interesting story. ATV Connection has a new member who wanted some information on the Deere ATV. That is what prompted my question.

I especially liked the bit in your write up about the ATV "parts assembler".

I don't know, but I bet CVTs are a part outsourced by ATV makers, Certainly the same outsourcing with tires, wheels, shocks, brakes, batteries, maybe rear drives, CV joints and shafts, mufflers, lighting, etc, etc. Then the manufacturer has to decide on engines and gear boxes. It is very expensive to develop and tool your own engine, so why not a Rotax, or Yamaha, or Honda, or Kohler, etc.

The Deere Gator line has been successful as a true utility vehicle. You won't likely see many out in the sand dunes or on the trails. You will see a lot more of them running around the barn.

David

 

Hi JumboFrank: The original "Can Am" were the Traxter and Quest models. One of their early innovation was this "step through" design. I agree with you, it ain't the best looking ATV on the trails. It reminds me of a scooter instead of a motorcycle, or a girl's bicycle. I too have a little difficulty swinging a leg over to get on my ATV. My advancing age is catching up with me. It wouldn't take much of a "health event" and I couldn't do it at all. One of my Arctic Cat friends is seriously considering a narrow body (50") side by side because he struggles kicking the leg over his Alterra. I think getting into a side by side wouldn't be all that easy either.

I think the Polaris Ace single seat ATV is the design of the future. More stable, more safety protection, and likely just as capable as a traditional "bike" style quad like we have.

David

 

I cold envision a 2 seater ace with the 2nd seat right behind the other on a longer wheelbase.

 

Good idea: Just like a Piper Cub. David