What do you think about when the word ATV comes to mind? Does your brain instantly flash back to suicidal three-wheelers that have been banned into extinction, or does it fast-forward into today's fantasyland of state-of-the-art machinery?
The reality is that ATVs are popular once again-so popular, in fact, that many manufacturers are spending millions of dollars to reinvent the way you define fun. You want a race-oriented machine that will let you catch 10 feet of air in the sand dunes or blitz around a motocross track? They've got it! You want something muscular enough to tow your race car to the line or carry wood around the farm? They've got that too. How about a 4x4 that can take you through deep mud bogs and over nasty hills? They've got you covered.
For 2001 there are more than 100 models to choose from among a variety of manufacturers. Some machines even have their own trailers, winches, weed sprayers, lawn mower attachments, GPS, and all kinds of hunting aides.
ATVs also come in all shapes and sizes. There's everything from small 50cc two-strokes built for kids to a miniature pickup truck created by Kawasaki that even features a dump-truck-style bed. Some come with manual clutches while others feature automatics. Some machines you shift, while others handle the task for you. Some have reverse; others don't. Fortunately, all provide fun.
There are two different types of machines that loosely set guidelines for use. The first is the sport class. These machines typically are designed for more aggressive riding. They usually feature more suspension travel, more potent engines, and race-inspired tires. In contrast is the extremely versatile utility machine. The emphasis here is more on brute strength, hauling power, and towing capacity. Most of these four-wheelers come standard with heavy-duty front and rear racks, 12-volt cigarette-style DC power ports, and overly stiff suspension. They are still fast enough to race around with your friends, but big-air maneuvers are definitely out of the question.
For 2001 Yamaha has forever changed the sport class with the introduction of its Raptor 660R. This sport-oriented machine is the new flagship of the company's 13-model fleet. The liquid-cooled, four-stroke machine features eyeball-widening acceleration, breathtaking top speed, rabbit-quick handling, and lazy-boy electric starting. The engine itself is nothing new, even though it's never been in an ATV before. It comes from the XTZ660 Paris-Dakar-style dual-purpose motorcycle (which is not available in the United States).
To complement the Raptor, Yamaha also has the Grizzly and the Bear Tracker. The Grizzly is the higher-end workhorse, and this four-wheel-drive machine is the Range Rover of off-road machines. In contrast, the smaller Bear Tracker is more of the "Volkswagen" of the bunch. It costs about half as much as the Grizzly, is only two-wheel drive, and has one of the smallest production engines in a utility machine at 230 cc.
Honda has also come out with something new-the FourTrax Foreman Rubicon. It's a monster of a machine and generally does all the work for you thanks to an automatic clutch and unique, continuously variable transmission. This machine features full-time four-wheel drive and a single-cylinder, 499cc overhead-valve, four-stroke powerplant. One of the unique aspects of this engine is that it's longitudinally in the frame, allowing direct driveshaft alignment to front and rear wheels for improved drivetrain effeciency and weight savings.
We hear that Kawasaki will be announcing a new Mule in the next few months, but so far there's been no confirmation. For now, Kawasaki has six of these truck-like machines in various configurations-from four-stroke to diesel, two- and four-wheel drive, street, and off-road setups. They are one of the most unique-looking machines out there, and it's even a stretch to call them ATVs. However, their ability to tackle ugly terrain and the toughest loads gives them acceptance as an all-terrain vehicle.