ATK history

[TT]

Walter's advert got me thinking about the history of ATK and I asked a question there, but obviously I pissed him off by doing so, so I thought I'd ask here. 
What was the configuration of the first ATK's? Did they start out with the Boyesen Link set up, or did that come later?
Any photos?
I don't own one and probably never will, but I just reckon it's an interesting part of moto history. 

[Freakshow]

IS that the suspension link itself or the induction ?  or am i getting confused with what you asking.

i think the rotax donk is a very strange but very interesting set up, a differant looking motor to most and the belt drive thing has alway intregued me, shit fast on the flat track so they must be a good in power but wonder how they go in weight.

 RE the other : god forbit you ask a question or develope a thread into information, hes a cut and run, but rember IF you want " hazzlefree "you know were to go   

[TT]

I'm talking about the Boyesen Link rear suspension setup. I thought ATK were the first to use it, buy I'm not sure.

[firko]

Here's an '84 model Tony. I think it's the earliest model but one and has the Horst Leitner suspension. I have a feeling the first model had twin shocks.

[LWC82PE]

If any one has a photo of a twinshock ATK I would very much like to see it.

[TT]

Thanks Mark.
Now I've seen it again, isn't that the A-Trak or Trax or something and how ATK got it's name? Designed by Horst Leitner instead of Eyvind Boyesen? sorry if the spelling's off a bit.  
Am I confusing the two?  

From the LH side, that bike of Firko's could be mistaken for twin shock, I suppose.
Also, was the first ATK Rotax powered 4-stroke or Bombadier air cooled 2-stroke?

[LWC82PE]

Isnt Bombardier a Rotax anyway, just re-badged?

[firko]

OOps...I got my Belgians mixed with my Austrians.....Horst Leitner. I don't know where the Boyseen came from .

[TT]

Sorry. It was me who introduced the Boyesen thing............

[paul]

ATK
ATK is an off-road motorcycle manufacturer in Utah, USA, founded by an Austrian engineer, Horst Leitner, in 1980. The name "ATK" is the abreviation of the device which Leitner patented in order to eliminate chain torque for a better handling. The device was called Anti Tension Kettenantreib, from the German "chain drive".

Horst Leitner, the former 500GP racer, is well known as he designed the ATK 560, ATK 640, ATK 407 in the 80's and the Horst link design, considered an important suspension system, at the beginning of the 90's. The Horst Link is a set of rear pivots located on the chainstay just below and in front of the rear drop-out.

Horst sold ATK in the 90's and started AMP Research, which was the official supplier of car, truck and accessory products to original equipment manufacturers as Ford, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi or Subaruso. This suspension design element was found on Horst's line of AMP bikes. In the late 90’s, the engineer sold the Horst link to Specialized Bicycles.

450 XC, one of the ATK bikes, has a 446cc engine which develops 46 HP at 11500 rpm. Released in 2006, it has fuel injection and electric start, Ohlins suspensions and off-road tires. The bike is not heavy at all, with only 242 lbs with only 2.6 gallons of fuel in the tank.

Just like its close relative, the 450XC, the MX version has a 446cc, liquid cooled, single cylinder engine which unleashes 46HP at 11500 rpm. ATK company dressed it up with Ohlins suspension, electric start and aluminium twin spare frame.

After the ATK 700 appeared a lot of trial addicted bikers considered that the XR650R from Honda is no longer the baddest dirt bike in the world. The XR650R has won every Baja 1000, 500 and San Felipe 250 it has ever entered.

In 2003, ATK purchased the remaining inventory of Cannondale Motorsports, which made it possible to add ATVs to their product line. A year later, ATK took first place in the Grand National Cross Country Championship and two Canadian National championships.

Currently, ATK is the only remaining off-road motorcycle manufacturer in the United States.

[LWC82PE]

http://www.americandirtbike.com/

[Canam370]

Yep, Canam first used the Rotax 4 stroke in the Sonic in 1982. Twinshock.

The Sonic on local ebay awhile ago wasn't very flash at all and the seller had a cubic dollar reserve

[ba-02-xr]

Currently, ATK is the only remaining off-road motorcycle manufacturer in the United States

What about Cobra motorcycles?

[motomaniac]

Walter's advert got me thinking about the history of ATK and I asked a question there, but obviously I pissed him off by doing so, so I thought I'd ask here. 
What was the configuration of the first ATK's? Did they start out with the Boyesen Link set up, or did that come later?
Any photos?
I don't own one and probably never will, but I just reckon it's an interesting part of moto history. 

No bike has ever been manufactured with a Boyesen link ,they have only been retro fitted to various  models and tested.The biggest success was when Bob Hannah decided to use a modified RM250 at the USGP and won on it.That was 86 I think.

[motomaniac]

OOps...I got my Belgians mixed with my Austrians.....Horst Leitner. I don't know where the Boyseen came from .

Eyvind Boyesen was born in Norway ( maybe Denmark)