Also new for 1974 were three new nobbie style tires attached on separate three lug axle hubs. 1974 was the first year the 90 was known as the ATC90 and thus the tradition of all of Honda's three wheeled ATVs to be recognized as ATC, or "All Terrain Cycles". These three almost spongy soft tires made up for the lack of suspension but almost posed some challenges for the rider.Īfter the first four years of production Honda deemed it beneficial to rename the US90 to utilize it's product code of ATC. Most notable of the US90 was it's chevron patterned rear, and ribbed front flotation style tires. Folding handle bars, multi-piece axles, simple single piece wheel and hub units, every trick in the book was used to make the little trike come apart and fit into tight spaces. A design that allowed for almost complete dis-assembly permitted the US90 to be taken apart and fit into the trunk of a car. From its onset it was designed to be a completely portable machine. It's first design all though simple was incredible feature rich. The US90 was an incredible little machine heralded as the do-all offload vehicle. The first generation ATC was actually introduced as the US90, a moniker that only lasted four years before the motorcycle company dropped the US for it's more official model designation of ATC. The Honda 90cc three wheeler went through a dramatic evolution changing constantly from its debut until it's final model in 1978. Little did they know that their "All Terrain Cycle" would be the beginning of long heritage of off road single rider vehicles and a rich history of off road enjoyment. The ATM125M was significantly revised for the 1986 model year, and thought it continued to use the ATC125M designation, this model was significantly changed from the previous iteration, and can be recognized as a new machine more closely akin to the ATC200 line.The US90 is the three wheeler that started it all! Honda's R&D came up with the US90 at the request for a product that dealers could sell in the motorcycle off season. This model was sold concurrently with the ATC110, and continued the use of the Horizontal engine with 4-speed, dual-range Auto-Clutch transmission. The newest model, in recognition of the 124cc displacement, was designated the ATC125M. The fourth evolution of the US90 would continue the previous trend of an increase in engine size, but also included the addition of Electric start. Despite fifteen years in the market, the US90 was continually developed and improved, receiving incremental changes yearly, and four significant updates, maintaining its relevance until 1985.Ĥth Generation ATC125M (1984-1985) In 1985, this machine was phased out for the more contemporary 2nd generation Honda ATC125M. The ATC90’s horizontally positioned engine grew to 105cc in 1979, when it was then marketed under the ATC110 designation. This led to Honda developing traditional tire-and-rim designs in 1974, a feature continued on All-Terrain-Vehicles to this day.ģrd Generation ATC110 (1979-1985) For all the benefits, the tires proved to be fragile in rougher terrain, and expensive to replace. Cushioning for the rider was provided by the low-pressure hubless and rimless tires, which also provided a low-impact impression on the environments it traverses. The US90 had been designed without suspension, which would be common place on ATC’s for the first decade. The ATC prefix would be used for all Honda Three-Wheeled-Vehicles until production ceased in 1987, and become a universal epithet for other manufacturers three-wheeled machines.Ģnd Generation ATC90 (1974-1978) The designation was then changed to ATC90. The US90 designation was used until 1973, when Honda successfully trademarked the moniker ‘All Terrain Cycle’. The Initial US90 was offered at $595 in 1970, and featured an 89cc engine producing 7 hp. Takeuchi considered many variations before settling on a three-wheeled design with low-pressure ballon tires, driven by an enlarged Honda ST70 engine, through a 4 Speed Dual-Range Semi automatic clutched transmission. Development began in 1967, in response to requests from American dealers for products to sell in the motorcycle off-season. The Honda US90 was a three-wheeled Recreational vehicle designed by Osamu Takeuchi. Main article: List of Honda three-wheeled all-terrain vehicles
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