Before I look, my guess would be Honda with the Stupid Hurts program.....

 

A+!

 

I signed up for an ATV safety class here in Colorado, but no invitation or dates yet.

I have a question related to the ATV industry. Have ATVs always had thumb throttles? Did the early ATVs have twist grip throttles?

I was wondering when thumb throttles came to be and why?

David

 

I know thumb throttles got their start on snowmobiles. I don't know of any ATV's that had stock twist grips. Could be wrong.

 

 

David:

We'll devote your question to this week's Ask the Editor column (due out Monday). Stand by!

 

I don't think age is the proper measure. I've seen kids that are more responsible than adults and stupid kids too. Experience, maturity, height and weight, are more of an indicator than age to me. It's very expensive for a family to get a kid a 50 cc, then a 90 cc, then a 110, then a 250 etc. and lose money every time they upgrade. I've seen plenty of kids start out on 250's like the Honda Recon and do well. I've also seen kids act like idiots on the same quad. Parents should be more involved than they are, in my mind. I was always around when my son first started riding. Wasn't until I was sure he could handle the quads well before I let him ride without me watching.

 

Moose we agree, but do keep in mind the fact in question looks at the hard statistics, rather than individual situations. Sadly, we've witnessed the same trends you speak of more times than we care to admit.

David- we've got an answer to your thumb throttle question in this week's Ask the Editors feature here:

https://atvconnection.com/articles/a...umb-throttles/

 

Thanks for the research paper on thumb throttles. I learned a lot about it, and it makes sense.

David

 

Did you know one of the major ATV manufacturers today was alive and well by 1942? This week we take a look at which one:

https://atvconnection.com/articles/a...facts-know-17/