Honda ATC

Maybe you're not old enough to know this, but the Japanese used to make JUNK.  I remember as a kid in the 70's watching those Toyota's, Datsun's (Nissan), Honda's rust before your eyes. This is in Minnesota where tons of salt is dumped on the winter roads. Maybe these cars worked great in Tucson.

Rusty Sentra

However the Japanese kept improving their cars and as we all know, Honda Toyota Mazda Subaru etc, are well build and dependable cars. I worked for a Japanese company for 10 years and know how detail oriented and patient these folks are.  They continued to improve on their designs and offer many improvements.

750 Mach IV

Back in the early 70's the Japanese came to America with some really cool motorcycles. The Kawasaki Mach series was really fast. Do you remember those screaming 750 cc 2 stoke triples?  Not much for handling but really fast in a drag race.

Then in '74, Honda came to the market with the 750 four.  Back in the day this was truly a Super bike.  Four cylinder, four stroke, four carbs a really nice bike. They also made a 550 four and possibly even a 450 four (someone correct me if I am wrong). I hesitate on the 450 four because Dad had a 450 twin.

Superbike!

With that said, one of my favorite Japanese "motorcycles" is the Honda ATC (All Terrain Cycle). If memory serves, the first ATC with the US-90.  90 cc three wheeler with those funky small hubs and fat flotation tires. I remember a Honda advertisement saying "What is it?".  ATC's were made until '85 or '86 before the safety conscience folks made Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki stop building them.  Fortunately for Honda they had already designed the Four Trax TRX series.  I read somewhere that Honda proved in court that the ATC design was safe.  However, the public didn't go for it as too many folks wiped out and hurt themselves.  Too bad, the ATC was a great machine.  I do have to admit that the four wheels are much more stable, but don't get them stuck.  Four wheelers are heavy!

Oops

I'm 20 years behind everyone in owning stuff.  A couple years ago I had seven 3 wheelers with the crazy idea of making money fixing and selling them.  Not a good idea. There are plenty of parts available - new and used, but the time you need to invest in restoring them is not worth it.  In my corral, I had a ATC 90 ('78) ATC 110 (2 -'79, '80), ATC 185 ('80), ATC 200 ('82), ATC 200 ('83) and an ATC 200X ('85).  I still have the '83 and '85, but the '83 is destined for sale once it is completed. Not sure what I will do with the 200X.

1985 Honda ATC 200X

Sorry for the blah, blah, blah.  Anyway, these machines are very well build. Beginning with the engine. Single cylinder four stroke overhead valves.  Kiehn carburetors are a very simple design and work great. Aluminum head housing the intake and exhaust valves, camshaft and slot for the timing chain.  The transmission is a four speed automatic clutch (6 speed manual clutch on the 200X) which is simple to drive.  Drive it and shift based on motor rpm. Flip the choke lever to full, pull the rope a few times and the little four stroke fires up. 

ATC 110 ('82), 200 ('82), 200 ('82)

The engine is literally bullet proof.  Keep good fuel in the tank, perform the standard maintenance and these machines will provide years of good service.  The large low pressure flotation tires along with the one piece axle (no differential) and chain drive keep these machinery plowing through mud, snow and shallow water.  A buddy used to drive his in the Mississippi river when he was a kid.

Put a rack on the front and back and the ATC makes a great hunting, ice fishing and trail riding machine.  A few years ago my brothers and me took our machines along with our friend on his 4 wheeler on the trails in southern Minnesota.  All machines had no problems climbing the hills and fording the Snake Creek.  Even the little ATC 100 with my full sized brother had no problem climbing the hills.

I still smile when I watch this video.  That little ATC 110 did a great job.  Too bad it made Dave's knee sore. He traded it for a 2 hp outboard.  We had a great time testing out the ATC and ripping along the trails.  Hopefully this post will get you to use your ATC.  As with any mechanical device, if you don't use it, it will rust, the fuel will go bad and the machine will die a slow death.  We had a blast.

Honda made a wide variety of ATCs.  As I mention, the US-90 was the first ATC and the granddaddy of them all with the ATC-350X.  This 350 cc four stroke was quite the ride.  Also hot is the ATC-250R. The 250 is a two stroke which Honda ran in the 1980 Baja 1,000.  From what I've read, Mickey Thompson, was very impressed by what he saw in these fast, tough and dependable machines.  For the hunter and farmer, the ATC-250 Big Red is the way to go.  This ATC has electric start, ample room for storage with the front and rear racks and shaft drive with reverse.  This is the machine I'd love to have for ice fishing and deer hunting.

Honda Big Red

If you like to tinker with motorcycles and mini bikes, you might want to pickup a cheap ATC and go riding.  E-bay is a good place to buy individual parts, but check Craig's List the buy complete parts machines.  Be careful, soon you'll be bitten by the ATC bug.  Enjoy!