1994 ATK 605 DSES

This is the first of a long string of ATKs for me.  I came across this on a trade for a Yamaha Blaster my wife had.  She was over the quad due to a rollover and figured I would give this a shot.  Got as much info as I could find on ATK, which isn't a lot, and headed on out for the trade.

 If your not aware of ATK, they are an American motorcycle company that opened shop in the early 80s.  They started in Laguna and then moved to LA.  Their early bikes were all ahead of their times and full of small innovations.  Linkless PDS rear suspension all the way back in the 80s, years ahead of KTM.  Actually the guy who designed ATK is the same person who designed KTM's PDS system.  Early ATKs had the rear brake mounted on the counter shaft.  Race bikes in the 80's had fuel injection and all kinds of trick parts.  Frames were hand welded C&J units and all had the legendary robust Rotax motors.  If you like small business innovation and history, read up on ATK.  They have had a pretty interesting history and always seem ahead of the game.

This particular ATK 605 was made in Los Angeles.  WP suspension all around, electric start, large tank, Talon hubs, etc.  This bike had it all out of the box and this particular bike also had an aftermarket cam and a full Up-Tite racing stainless exhaust, this is vintage, exotic, unobtanium.  The bike did great and it got me into old 4 strokes and dual sports.

This bike handled its weight really well as long as you kept your speed up.  All the primo parts worked great.  I did mostly single track and a bit of desert on this and folks were always pretty impressed with its nimbleness.  The motor has more torque than you know what to do with and it can lug way gown low.  This was a bike you can put in 3rd and leave it there for most of the day.  You just point the front wheel and throttle over it all with this pig.  The only real complaint is the seat.  If you need it for more than a few hours, you're going to pay the price.  

I sold this bike, not full appreciating what it was.  I thought there were bigger and better things out there.  So it went to a knew home, and from this point on every bike I ever rode was compared to this.

Since I got turned on to ATK, I think I have only seen one other in person.  Then out of the blue I started seeing questions about ATKs in the local dual sport club forum.  Shortly after I saw some pictures, and to my surprise it was my old bike!!!  The story is, the guy who bought it from me neglected it pretty badly.  To the point it no longer ran.  It was picked up by a new owner who dove into it with a new top end, new transmission, and continues to ride this bike all over the southwest and Baja.  Outside of a broken clutch cable the bike has never let him down.  ATK owners are a pretty small community and I thought it was pretty cool that I can see the new owner still taking this bike out on some very impressive adventures. 

Same bike, new owner.

The 605 is still having some amazing adventures.