My best friend had a bike like this. Looked just like this only it was a 350. Bored it out to a 390 it was a 96' model. It would do a wheelie through all 6 gears! Offered to let me have it til I bought a bike myself. Had over $3,500 in restoration & the bike itself. God rest his soul. R.I.P. Roland.
Yup leave it to a German to over engineer a simple chain drive system on a dirt bike to make it have the longest chain in history on any dirt bike ever made. Guinness records book holder goes to Horst Leitner. Check out his 4 link suspension system for another over complicated design that went FLOP.
only 200 of these were made?!?!? my landlady has one of these in the basement of the house I'm renting. I was thinking of asking to buy it. I had no idea that this gem was literally right under me!
My best friend had a 96' ATK 350. He bored it over to a 390 cc. He had $3,600 put in to it. Offered to let me use it until I bought a bike of my own back in 2006. I believe it was his way of giving it to me for letting him & his family stay rent free at a home that I had. I went back the following year to take him up on that offer & he had already sold it for $1,800. He died 4 yrs. later in a fishing accident. I kicked myself for a long time for not taking that bike. It would literally try and pull you off the bike when you twisted the throttle it had so much pull!
My buddy just bought a 99 260lq today we haven't given it a going through yet but it runs great and everything works still has original grafix on it plastics are good still to we're going to clean her up and make her look good again
ya boy ATK are crazy if they were taken care of and loved ...look out now they still blow doors off them newer 450s ...1994.406 i got and a 1996 limited edition 250 6 speed...
I remember when I had my deathtrap '83 RM250 there was a guy at a gravel pit in Gales Ferry that rode an ATK...wonder if that's his bike? Never knew his name but he was there riding just about every time I ever drove out there from Stonington to try and reign in that Suzuki I had...
Americans just didn't know what to make of the ATK. I remember reading how one editor ran one of the rotary engine 250s (amazing motor!) in a couple of woods enduros and liked it, sort of....but complained that it would take a while to dial in the suspension. In the SAME ISSUE, there was an article on the new Honda CR250, which the editors like...except it needed $1200 worth of suspension work to make it function correctly.
This actually looks like a 1989 my friend. The colors of your bike are wrong for a 1988. The 1988 had a royal blue frame white plastics and red seat cover, furthermore, the 1988 was the only year that came with an aluminum swing arm. I don't see an aluminum swing arm on that bike of yours. I have one of the last remaining, all original 1988 ATK 406's. VGC !!! There aren't many of these remaining on the planet. Very cool and very powerful bikes. Americas answer to the MAICO!
I think Maico is the only brand with a tougher clutch pull! And yeah, ATK made changes during the year...so sometimes what you saw on the brochure for that year wasn't what you got when you ordered a new one late in the model year. I rode my '91 in club enduros and general trail riding. It had its quirks but was plenty quick, I'm just not a fast guy. Then I decided to ride a Saturday Motocross at Carlsbad. Figured with all my trail riding experience, it wouldn't be fair to enter as a beginner...so I rode the Intermediate class. Buncha cherry-pickers! Ended up a backmarker in both motos, getting lapped by Horst Leitner himself and one of the White Brothers.
My poor father always wanted the big bore 4 stroke but it was pricey. With three boys growing and needing bigger and bigger bikes, it never fit into the budget.
Wanted one of those for a long time then went and test rode one in about 97 or so. Lots of fin noise and vibrates quite a bit. Turns out my KTM 440 is a much better motorcycle. Always liked all the Rotax powered stuff.
A dealer in Oregon quite a number of years ago sold me a clutch set from a KTM 4 stroke that used more disks and frictions that were thinner that work way better than the stockers. Can now easily start in gear without the obnoxious dragging of the originals. Make sure your springs are all good and the basket and pressure plate are in good shape. We are talking 20+ years ago so I don't even know if the dealer is even still there or not.@@cedricortiz9684
The 406 doesn't have a rotary valve. Reed valve, piston port design. The 406 motor was pretty strong in the seventies when first used in Can-Ams. A decade later, it wasn't even close in the horsepower wars. But it was chosen for its utter simplicity and light weight. The carburetion was well-sorted....I had a 1991 406, and you could rip around or just putt all day without fouling plugs. And in '91, if you wanted an open enduro bike, an ATK could be had for a lot less money than Yamaha's new WR 500.
I am trying to realize how uneffective this rear brake is, how much it strains the chain, how easily it overheats, and how much vibrations can generate.
I have one. the rear brake works great, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference when compared to similar era bike. What is amazing is how good the rear suspension works on trail whoops.
I have ridden the 250 and 406 and I think I could kick arse on the 406 even today. At that time I owned a 1987 husqvarna 430 automatic. Memories of a crazy youth.
It was grabby. And yeah, if you had any pressure on the brake pedal for a while, it would boil the fluid. However, chains didn't wear out any sooner than on any other dirt bike. And having the disc, rotor, and caliper on the CS make the rear wheel track over bumps (less unsprung weight). I remember watching Greg Zitterkopf passing other riders in a rough part of the track at the USGP at Carlsbad. There was one spot that was rutted out, and had one "blue groove" around the outside, where all the other riders had to follow the leader. He'd square off the previous turn and tear across the ruts and pass a rider or two.
Pushed the wrong button, any way the ROTAX motor is a very unique item, I have Liquid cooled 250 ROTAX that I'm going to find a bike for, FRANKENSTEIN build??? Thank's from NOR-CAL!!!!!!
On my '91, the whole front end is identical to KTMs of that era. The shock is probably similar but valved differently. The hubs, spokes, and rims were identical to KTM. The Nordisk rims were heavy and easy to dent and crack. And the bike had lots of quirks....
I had one in the early 2000s. Bought it for $650 and in better shape than this one. Ripped it for the summer and traded it for a 300ex 🥴If I knew then, what I know now.
My best friend had a bike like this.
Looked just like this only it was a 350.
Bored it out to a 390 it was a 96' model.
It would do a wheelie through all 6 gears!
Offered to let me have it til I bought a bike myself.
Had over $3,500 in restoration & the bike itself.
God rest his soul. R.I.P. Roland.
That chain device is where ATK gets it's name: "Anti-Tension Kettenantrieb" -- Invented by Horst Leitner, the founder of ATK.
The more you know... ;)
Yup leave it to a German to over engineer a simple chain drive system on a dirt bike to make it have the longest chain in history on any dirt bike ever made. Guinness records book holder goes to Horst Leitner. Check out his 4 link suspension system for another over complicated design that went FLOP.
@@c10wiremantawwallace13 Whatever makes him happy... :D
So cool always seen pics of ATK’s but never one running 👍🏻
Use to drool over these when they came out. Love the frame and the counter shaft rear brake design.
only 200 of these were made?!?!? my landlady has one of these in the basement of the house I'm renting. I was thinking of asking to buy it. I had no idea that this gem was literally right under me!
Very rare and no other company did what they did. If atk would have survived, thay could very well be by today one of the best bikes out.
Irish Phoenix did you buy it?
@@wdsracer unfortunately not.
Irish Phoenix is it still there I will buy it.
Buy it, at least try ,Good luck to you, that would be an awesome and unique bike to own!!!
I had a 406 in high school, got a 3rd place trophy in 500 class at the local motocross track
How did she do trying to rein in the 1st and 2nd place 500 riders?do u remember what model of 500's they were?
My best friend had a 96' ATK 350.
He bored it over to a 390 cc.
He had $3,600 put in to it.
Offered to let me use it until I bought
a bike of my own back in 2006.
I believe it was his way of giving it to
me for letting him & his family
stay rent free at a home that I had.
I went back the following year to
take him up on that offer & he had
already sold it for $1,800.
He died 4 yrs. later in a fishing accident.
I kicked myself for a long time for not
taking that bike.
It would literally try and pull you off the
bike when you twisted the throttle
it had so much pull!
He talks about the welding…. Been doing that kind of work *today* on a bicycle trailer!
I remember seeing a used one of these at the KTM, Husqvarna, ATK dealer when I was about 16. It was newer, and I think red.
My nephew bought a ATK 260 still in the crate from a Harley dealer a few years back here in upstate New York
My buddy just bought a 99 260lq today we haven't given it a going through yet but it runs great and everything works still has original grafix on it plastics are good still to we're going to clean her up and make her look good again
I had a 1990 ATK 250 it was awesome bike didn't like the counter shaft rear breaks. It was rated at 51hp
51 HP a 2 stroke 250 in 1990?
Just believe it... 🤣
That ATK sounds awesome Ken. Great video!
Lovely interior of old factory.
I was admiring those floors through the whole video lol.
That’s a rare one. 👍🏻
I love how hard it is for Ken to get off of a bike
sounds snappy.
ya boy ATK are crazy if they were taken care of and loved ...look out now they still blow doors off them newer 450s ...1994.406 i got and a 1996 limited edition 250 6 speed...
When did Glenn Danzig open up a bike shop?
Sounds good! Luv 2-Stroke.
only bad part about these bikes were they were expensive back in the day
I remember when I had my deathtrap '83 RM250 there was a guy at a gravel pit in Gales Ferry that rode an ATK...wonder if that's his bike? Never knew his name but he was there riding just about every time I ever drove out there from Stonington to try and reign in that Suzuki I had...
Americans just didn't know what to make of the ATK. I remember reading how one editor ran one of the rotary engine 250s (amazing motor!) in a couple of woods enduros and liked it, sort of....but complained that it would take a while to dial in the suspension. In the SAME ISSUE, there was an article on the new Honda CR250, which the editors like...except it needed $1200 worth of suspension work to make it function correctly.
I have a old ATK 406 doesn't look pretty but I'll give it to you brother if you're ever in Nevada
u got it stil lol
Nice💝
This actually looks like a 1989 my friend. The colors of your bike are wrong for a 1988. The 1988 had a royal blue frame white plastics and red seat cover, furthermore, the 1988 was the only year that came with an aluminum swing arm. I don't see an aluminum swing arm on that bike of yours. I have one of the last remaining, all original 1988 ATK 406's. VGC !!! There aren't many of these remaining on the planet. Very cool and very powerful bikes. Americas answer to the MAICO!
I also have a 1988 al swingarm bike. only 200 88's made, very rare indeed.
I owe this bike! And it is an 88. Late 88's frame are blue early 88's are nickel.
I think Maico is the only brand with a tougher clutch pull! And yeah, ATK made changes during the year...so sometimes what you saw on the brochure for that year wasn't what you got when you ordered a new one late in the model year. I rode my '91 in club enduros and general trail riding. It had its quirks but was plenty quick, I'm just not a fast guy. Then I decided to ride a Saturday Motocross at Carlsbad. Figured with all my trail riding experience, it wouldn't be fair to enter as a beginner...so I rode the Intermediate class. Buncha cherry-pickers! Ended up a backmarker in both motos, getting lapped by Horst Leitner himself and one of the White Brothers.
how much could cost a bike like that?
This bike sounds like it’s ready to knock your socks off
My poor father always wanted the big bore 4 stroke but it was pricey. With three boys growing and needing bigger and bigger bikes, it never fit into the budget.
Wanted one of those for a long time then went and test rode one in about 97 or so. Lots of fin noise and vibrates quite a bit. Turns out my KTM 440 is a much better motorcycle. Always liked all the Rotax powered stuff.
What clutch do you run in your 440? my clutch wont stop slipping.
A dealer in Oregon quite a number of years ago sold me a clutch set from a KTM 4 stroke that used more disks and frictions that were thinner that work way better than the stockers. Can now easily start in gear without the obnoxious dragging of the originals. Make sure your springs are all good and the basket and pressure plate are in good shape. We are talking 20+ years ago so I don't even know if the dealer is even still there or not.@@cedricortiz9684
I have an 89 with a complete nut and bolt restore using all original atk parts what would be a reasonable sale price thanks
That bike is B@D @$$ ROTAX "ROTARY DISK VALVE" 1 Of the most Unique and powerful motor s
The 406 doesn't have a rotary valve. Reed valve, piston port design. The 406 motor was pretty strong in the seventies when first used in Can-Ams. A decade later, it wasn't even close in the horsepower wars. But it was chosen for its utter simplicity and light weight. The carburetion was well-sorted....I had a 1991 406, and you could rip around or just putt all day without fouling plugs.
And in '91, if you wanted an open enduro bike, an ATK could be had for a lot less money than Yamaha's new WR 500.
I am trying to realize how uneffective this rear brake is, how much it strains the chain, how easily it overheats, and how much vibrations can generate.
I have one. the rear brake works great, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference when compared to similar era bike. What is amazing is how good the rear suspension works on trail whoops.
I have ridden the 250 and 406 and I think I could kick arse on the 406 even today. At that time I owned a 1987 husqvarna 430 automatic. Memories of a crazy youth.
Buy KEN'S and find out!!!!
It was grabby. And yeah, if you had any pressure on the brake pedal for a while, it would boil the fluid. However, chains didn't wear out any sooner than on any other dirt bike. And having the disc, rotor, and caliper on the CS make the rear wheel track over bumps (less unsprung weight). I remember watching Greg Zitterkopf passing other riders in a rough part of the track at the USGP at Carlsbad. There was one spot that was rutted out, and had one "blue groove" around the outside, where all the other riders had to follow the leader. He'd square off the previous turn and tear across the ruts and pass a rider or two.
What happened to the company that produced the ATK?
It changed hands several times...still in business for maybe parts and manuals. Still in business. Just not selling that kind of bike anymore.
Nice
You ever restore a Cagiva I just picked one up.
Hey my uncle had a can am sonic 500 l think it was between 83 or 84. A 4 stroker rotex motor if i can find im going to brining it t o you
Pushed the wrong button, any way the ROTAX motor is a very unique item, I have Liquid cooled 250 ROTAX that I'm going to find a bike for, FRANKENSTEIN build???
Thank's from NOR-CAL!!!!!!
MAGIA
Looks like 80' KTM's
On my '91, the whole front end is identical to KTMs of that era. The shock is probably similar but valved differently. The hubs, spokes, and rims were identical to KTM. The Nordisk rims were heavy and easy to dent and crack. And the bike had lots of quirks....
COOL AS FUCK
I had one in the early 2000s. Bought it for $650 and in better shape than this one. Ripped it for the summer and traded it for a 300ex 🥴If I knew then, what I know now.
L O V E I T
I want to see someone ride an ATK 560
Can Am qualifier 400 engine
A Dakar
There’s a guy selling one in super good condition, rebuilt engine. Asking $1,500
in tht yr few thousand total
Sold
Mate u need a remote microphone cmon
Qwuite too
a guy wants to trade me one of these for my cr125r
Trade him now be to your gain for sure!!!!!
Get a haircut......and a real job 🔫🌷🌷💕💕
they are bad to the bone
Is this bike still available?
They made a four wheeler with a Rotax engine