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Since 1962 , Yamaha has distributed a wide variety of quality
motorized products in the United States . One of Yamaha ' s newest products is the so called all - terrain vehicle which is the subject of this hearing . As everyone acknowledges , ATV popularity has increased due to this products desirab ility in utility , agricultural and recreational applications .
To assist the sub committee in understanding this vehicle , we
would like to briefly describe the vehicle , its features and
uses . We further wish to provide an analysis as to safety considerations and industry activities in this regard . Hope fully , this discussion will answer questions presented in the Subcommittee ' s May 3 , 1985 letter which invited our
participation in this hearing .
For an ATV to perform in the manner expected , it must be
designed with certain intrinsic features .
Traction is all
important . For this purpose , low pressure floatation tires and a solid rear axle are design indicated . High ground
clearance coupled with a center of gravity , which is as low
as practical , are necessary elements . The vehicle must be compact and light . The vehicle should feature a long seat
and wide handlebars to permit operator involvement which is all important for these vehicles . It typically takes a number of years to design and test a new vehicle prior to
a new
production .
Following extensive marketing research and
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