I don't remember, This is an issue that has been going on since either the late 80s or early 90s. There was no restrictions on ATC/3 wheelers in the 80s. The companies were being slammed with so many lawsuits from people who can't ride going to fast and killing themselves. This resulted in the halt of production of 3 wheelers. They are not illegal like a lot of people think, but companies can no longer produce them. Some trails/ohv parks don't allow them at all. They did not want the same thing to happen to 4 wheelers so they came up with the agreement.

The person who thinks that 4 wheelers are safer than 3 wheelers is very misinformed. The 4th wheel is a false sense of security, a quad will flip just as easy and as fast as an ATC.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Stoopidbot

I don't remember, This is an issue that has been going on since either the late 80s or early 90s. There was no restrictions on ATC/3 wheelers in the 80s. The companies were being slammed with so many lawsuits from people who can't ride going to fast and killing themselves. This resulted in the halt of production of 3 wheelers. They are not illegal like a lot of people think, but companies can no longer produce them. Some trails/ohv parks don't allow them at all. They did not want the same thing to happen to 4 wheelers so they came up with the agreement.



The person who thinks that 4 wheelers are safer than 3 wheelers is very misinformed. The 4th wheel is a false sense of security, a quad will flip just as easy and as fast as an ATC.</end quote></div>

I've read about the"atv consent decree" and speed is not ever mentioned.They only state that three wheelers were complex and dynamically unstable vehicles.I've also researched some more stuff about government views on atvs and speed is never an issue.They only talk about kids under 16,warning labels and training courses.I'm really not saying that your lying or trying to argue with you.I just would like to read where someone made a law or agreed upon an atv speed restriction.

 

I don't think the law has anything to do with it. But I bet the insurance companies are the ones who pushed the factories to keep there liabilities down. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Oh yea, the information i have been reading was found by putting"atv consent decree" in the search window.Maybe you guys could look at it and see if I've missed something.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: xFreebirdx

I don't think the law has anything to do with it. But I bet the insurance companies are the ones who pushed the factories to keep there liabilities down. [img][/img]</end quote></div>

that could be true

 

To be honest I don't know that I have ever "read" it anywhere. It is something people in the ATV world have talked about forever. All my info is what I was told in times past and even today...I assumed it was correct by how many people have said the same thing. So I know it wasn't my uncle BSing me or anything like that. It makes sense, it seems like every quad tops out in the mid 70s. All of the 450s do, even the 525 from KTM and the 700 from Yamaha. It could be a huge coincident that all of the do about the same, acceleration is the biggest difference in them.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Stoopidbot

It was more of an agreement to keep the ATVs from being banned like the 3 wheelers. If there was no regulations why would ALL of the 450s have a top speed of about 73-75mph. They are more than capable of exceeding that speed. If there was no agreement/regulations, can you imagine the law suits on companies? There would be machines pushing into the 90s and there would be twice as many deaths from ATV crashes.</end quote></div>

Well the 450s have that top speed because they are all geared for racing, and most are geared for motocross racing...... there are no MX tracks where you need to hit 80mph.

You need to be geared to shoot out of turns and leap 90-foot tables...... that requires gearing that will naturally limit top end speed....

Same with Cross Country racing.... those are geared for low end and mid range speeds, certainly not 80 mph....

Outside of Baja, or other wide open desert racing there is no need to have an ATV that goes 80mph which is more likely the reason they don't.

 

Motorcycles do well over that speed and they are set up for the same thing. Where do you ever hit 70 on a mx or an xc track? Very rare

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Stoopidbot

Motorcycles do well over that speed and they are set up for the same thing. Where do you ever hit 70 on a mx or an xc track? Very rare</end quote></div>

True you don't hit 70 very often....but there are some tracks where the MX bike his 70 in a few places. The ATVs do race on some of the same tracks so there might be a couple places.....

But you're right, most of the MX machine are probably geared to top out at less than 70......

My buddy has a YFZ with typical mods, and there is a wide open section of our track where I can close the gap back up on him with my z400. His machine is quicker, but I obviously have a final drive ratio that allows a higher top speed. But as soon as we pull out of the next corner he pulls away like a 450 should.....

But my other buddy has a 450R and I cannot gain anything on him, in fact he pulls away slightly. Obviously the 450R is geared higher than the YFZ and has more top speed....but 0-65 (or so) they are dead even...... I don't know what the top speed of his 450R is exactly, but he was able to blow by another one of our friends on a new Honda Rincon 680 which hits 68mph on the same section of track. So I would guess the 450R hits around 75-80 depending on conditions.

But as my original post says, the top speeds might be agreed upon, or they might just be a reflection of the racing they are made for. Or maybe it is a combination of everything.....

 

Very true, In stock form using a GPS I hit 73 on pavement and 68 in the dunes on my 07 TRX450ER.