We're presenting a paper on this technology at the SAE Small Engine Technology Conference in 3 weeks...but for those who won't be there, enjoy the video. Link-X makes an ATV almost impossible to roll over even when you try to roll it!

In the video, we pit our Link-X Honda Foreman 4x4 against a Yamaha Raptor. The Raptor has a lot more power and handles very nicely, but it looks like a teeter-totter next to our machine. Link-X is a new control arm geometry that works with any spring/shock combination.

Click the ATV Video link on this page:

Link-X ATV test video

 

Most sport ATV drivers shift body weight down and inside the turn. They dont sit straight up. This is a basic skill to prevent body roll. The CG moves inside the turn and is even lowered with correct body positioning. What I'm saying is if the Raptor driver in the video had this basic skill, he could keep his wheels on the ground. Also ATV's are not typicly driven on pavement, as shown in the video. On dirt there is less traction. Less traction combined with correct body position will solve the roll problem also.

 

Quite true. The idea is to keep the vehicle stable even in the instance where the driver is caught out of position. Further, since the geometry controls roll, the shocks can be ultra soft for ride quality and maintaining ground contact. Even racers might enjoy the factor of safety that Link-X provides. Of course, they would probably want stiffer shocks, which is OK.

 

This is cool. Hopefully you can prove to all the OEMs that it's financially in their benefit, otherwise they have little incentive to change.

 

Time will tell. It seems a no-brainer to us. Lots of people get injured in ATV rollovers, some of those translate into lawsuits. Avoiding those should be incentive enough...

What we hope, though, is that someone will see the competitive advantage in having a ATV with far superior stability. I think that feature could sell more quads.