I'm looking at getting a dirtbike.

[Y2K]

It's been a long time since I sold my old YZ400 Yamaha and I've missed off road riding a lot.
I have my eye on an '88 ATK 406,any opinions on this bike?
I've found mixed reviews online but from what I've gleaned so far they have a following and are well built reliable machines.
I like that it's American made and very lightweight at 218 lbs and that it has good low end power as I plan on using it as a woods bike at a moderate pace being I'm getting too old for crashes lol.
The current owner has taken very good care of it and it has a new rear shock and some other new parts,asking price is $895.

it's just like this one

[Motorcycle Forum]

[Apertureguy]

Never heard of it.

Although she looks a little short, she also appears clean and capable. Price is nice too.

We'll be looking at a couple of Suzuki dual sports...and the 250 (wife) goes for around 3k & the 650 I liked was going for like 4.5k.

Although this was several months back. We'll go back and talk to them right before spring.

[Y2K]

Never heard of it.

Although she looks a little short, she also appears clean and capable. Price is nice too.

I like that its' not as tall as the newer bikes,I'm not short but I'm old lol.
Here's a little company info on ATK.....
Untitled Page

They are also getting into the streetbike market,sadly IMO with a Korean import.
ATKUSA

[Water Warrior]

A good dirt bike is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

[DrBob]

When looking at a used bike that is over 25 years old, any pros and cons of the model compared to it's contemporaries as originally built are irrelevant: a one-owner, low-miles, garage kept Plymouth Reliant K is a better choice 25 years later than a rusty Mercedes Benz 500 SEL with three-quarters of a million miles on the clock and 250 things wrong with it, no matter that the Benz was a far better car than the other when new. Double so with an off road bike, and triple so with a bike in the sub $1000 price range. At this point the only things that matter are if it was well cared for and is in good shape, and if parts are still readily available at an affordable price. If you say "Yes" to both of these, grab it.

[Y2K]

When looking at a used bike that is over 25 years old, any pros and cons of the model compared to it's contemporaries as originally built are irrelevant: a one-owner, low-miles, garage kept Plymouth Reliant K is a better choice 25 years later than a rusty Mercedes Benz 500 SEL with three-quarters of a million miles on the clock and 250 things wrong with it, no matter that the Benz was a far better car than the other when new. Double so with an off road bike, and triple so with a bike in the sub $1000 price range. At this point the only things that matter are if it was well cared for and is in good shape, and if parts are still readily available at an affordable price. If you say "Yes" to both of these, grab it.

Thank you good Doctor I hoped you would chime in.
I've made an offer and it was accepted,he was asking $895 and was reluctantly willing to take $750 cash this week.
He is the second owner but the first owner was short term,this guy's owned the bike since 1989 and it's always been garaged and well taken care of.
He recently replaced the rear shock,front tire and a few other parts,the motor was rebuilt a couple years ago and has not had a lot of hours on it since.
He has the original owners manual and a clear title so I'll be able to get ORV tags for it no problem.
I've done some online research,seems these bikes have a small but loyal following and parts are readily available.
ATK is still in business just not well known.
From what I've gleaned online the bikes are rock solid reliable and that big bore Rotax has lots of low end grunt pulling well just off idle which is what I want in a woods/trail bike.
I'll see it in person tomorrow with cash in hand and after talking with the owner by phone a while today I'm pretty sure I'll be bringing her home.

[DrBob]

I've never ridden an ATK, but am familiar with them. They have been a topic of conversation in the industry quite a bit in the last year, mostly because they actually have an agreement that lets their dirtbikes be sold as a sideline at certain Harley Dealerships out west, which led to all kinds of unfounded rumors that HD was going to buy ATK. ATK did hire away HD's VP of sales to be the number three man at their company though. ATK also made news when they bought up a bunch of unsold Hyosung bikes from the struggling US firm that imports them, so they could slap an ATK sticker on the tank and resell them as the first-ever ATK street-legal bikes, which again started all kinds of false rumors that Harley was somehow involved with the Korean company. Starting this year ATK will buy unassembled Hyosung bikes and bolt them together in Utah, still selling them through dealers out West that also sell Harleys. The legacy dealership agreement allows HD dealerships to offer other product lines as long as they do not compete with Harley products, and as long as the dealership does not give over more than (if I recall correctly) 8% of their floorspace to the other lines. Harley is not involved, and has not put their blessing on it; in fact, most people agree Harley is disgusted by the whole thing, and under threats of lawsuits from HD's lawyers, ATK ends every press release by saying that HD is in no way connected to, nor does it endorce, the ATK/ Hyosung partnership. ATK was hoping to get HD to use their bikes to replace the Buell Blast at the Rider's Edge beginner course, but HD has banned dealers from using them.
Harley is about 2.5 to 3 years away from releasing their new 500cc standard to replace the Blast, and a planned 750cc version of the new model intended for India may very well find its way to US dealerships. So at that time HD could reasonably claim that the ATK/ Hyosung street bikes technically compete with a HD model, giving them reason to kick the Korean crap out of thier showrooms...so it is highly likely ATK will get booted out of those HD dealerships in about 3 years, which would seriously hurt that little company as it scrambles to establish a new dealership network.

[Y2K]

Thanks Doc,I really don't know what they're thinking with those Korean bikes,they should stick to building American made machines IMHO.
I think that's a dead end street for them and the money spent could be better used to do R&D for their off road bike line made here.
If they want to pursue street legal bikes they should go the route makers like KTM and Husky have, Supermoto and dualsport.
That and or do a real American cruiser like Polaris has with Victory,stamping their name on a cheap import is embarrassing.

[Y2K]

Well it's official I'm once again after a 20 year hiatus a dirt rider.
I picked her up today with a clean title a service manual and owners manual for $750.
She's pretty fast I must say,I'll need to be careful for a while till I get used to where the powerband kicks in,

[DrBob]

I think they will regret the decision and wish they had stuck to what they know. They signed a four-year deal with Hyosung for something like 33,000 bikes, but two other companies have gone bankrupt trying to import and sell those Korean bikes in the US so even that limited goal may be bayond their reach. ATK seems to think that assembling the bikes themselves will result in a bike priced like an import but made in the USA, but I don't think 'assembled in the USA' is enough to make Americans embrace a Korean brand of below-average quality and with little dealership support. Four years should be enough to convince ATK this was a bad idea- hopefully it will not kill that company by saddling them with production capacity they can not use, models they can not sell, and getting them tossed out of Harley dealerships.

[DrBob]

Cool looking bike! Looks pretty well cared for- hope you enjoy it and get good service out of it. Hard to go wrong for $750.

[Y2K]

I think they will regret the decision and wish they had stuck to what they know. They signed a four-year deal with Hyosung for something like 33,000 bikes, but two other companies have gone bankrupt trying to import and sell those Korean bikes in the US so even that limited goal may be bayond their reach. ATK seems to think that assembling the bikes themselves will result in a bike priced like an import but made in the USA, but I don't think 'assembled in the USA' is enough to make Americans embrace a Korean brand of below-average quality and with little dealership support. Four years should be enough to convince ATK this was a bad idea- hopefully it will not kill that company by saddling them with production capacity they can not use, models they can not sell, and getting them tossed out of Harley dealerships.

Yeah I agree 100%,WTF were they thinking.

Cool looking bike! Looks pretty well cared for- hope you enjoy it and get good service out of it. Hard to go wrong for $750.

Thanks Doc,it rides really sweet and yeah for $750 it's a lot of bike with room to put some into it if need be but she rides out just fine for now.
I don't think I got hurt at all.

[pandacover]

nice looking
but a little short

[Y2K]

nice looking
but a little short

Length or height?......Any taller height and I'd have trouble getting a leg over lol.

[Hopper]

Cool bike Y2k! If you ever need a place to keep it during your winters up there, I will keep it for you and make sure it gets started and ridden a 'little' on a regular basis. he he
Congrats, gotta be the one of the best ways to see that beautiful country that you live in.
Be safe and enjoy.