Features

June 5, 2006 – ATV Digest

Arctic Cat recalls Prowler XTs
Arctic Cat Inc., Thief River Falls, Minn., is recalling about 2,120 Prowler XT off-highway utility vehicles sold nationwide from July 2005 through May.
Arctic says the rear brake caliper used on these units could leak brake fluid, resulting in reduced braking ability at the rear wheels. The front wheel brakes are unaffected by this condition. The company says there have been no reported incidents of loss of braking. No injuries have been reported.
The affected units are all 2006 Prowler XT vehicles with VIN range of 4UF06MPVO6T300001 through 4UF06MPV16T302369. The following model numbers are included in this recall: Prowler XT Green, U2006P2S4BUSG; Prowler XT Cat Green, U2006P2S4BUSZ; and Prowler XT Red, U2006P2S4BUSR.
Arctic says registered owners have been notified about the recall by mail. Owners are asked to contact their local Arctic Cat ATV dealer to schedule a free repair.
Dinli to End Sub-250cc ATV Production
Taiwan’s Dinli Metal Industrial Co. recently announced that it has phased out production of sub-250cc ATV models to focus on manufacturing models with powerplants larger than 300cc.
According to the China Economic News Service, Dinli chairman Lu Tai-yang said his company decided to withdraw from the under-250cc ATV business to escape price-cutting competition with local and Chinese rivals. The technical threshold of under-250cc ATV products is relatively low, Lu said, as are the profit margins.
Dinli started producing 250cc ATVs more than two years ago. Up to now, the company has shipped more than 21,000 250cc units.
Dinli was established in 1988 as an engine supplier for powered two-wheelers. The company began ATV manufacturing in 1996, and acquired the Cannondale brand two years ago for $20 million. The company recently developed a 300cc ATV model and plans to offer a 750cc unit next year.
Dinli recently inaugurated its second ATV plant in Taichung, central Taiwan. The new facility’s monthly capacity is about 2,500 units, all of which will be exported to Dinli’s markets in the United States and Europe.
Research describes atv users
ATV riders have similar interests as other outdoor enthusiasts, according to new research conducted by the University of Minnesota Tourism Center and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
Minnesota has direct involvement in ATV riding, from both a consumer and manufacturing perspective — Arctic Cat is based in Thief River Falls and Polaris Industries is headquartered in Medina, and ATV users contribute about $642 million in retail sales directly to Minnesota’s economy.
Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources ATV registration projections suggest a 251 percent increase from 2004-2014, compared to a 42 percent national increase.
Like ATV riders in other states, those in Minnesota are typically white, non-Hispanic males who participate with family and friends to “get away, be with others and enjoy nature.” The majority of ATV travel is to the northern tier of Minnesota.
Other information:

  • Estimates of the economic contributions of ATVs include 14,449 jobs, $429 million in wages and salaries, and $86 million in state and local taxes. For direct resident expenditures, the average household spent about $172 per riding experience, or $43 per person per day.
  • One important segment of the ATV industry is the manufacture of ATVs, parts and accessories in Minnesota. This activity resulted in an estimated 4,216 jobs, wages and salaries of $165.6 million, $349.2 million in gross state product (economic) contributions and $30.4 million in state and local tax revenues.
    This is the first statewide assessment of ATV riders in Minnesota. The All Terrain Vehicle Association of Minnesota (ATVAM) sponsored the study.
    Suzuki becomes Official Sponsor of The Powersports ATV Tour
    The WPSA PowerSports ATV Championship Tour announced that American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) has signed an agreement to become an official tour sponsor.
    The PowerSports ATV Tour is North America’s newest ATV racing tour and is sanctioned by the World PowerSports Association, promoter of ATV and snowmobile racing on the regional and national level.
    John Natalie, Jr. and Daryl Rath won their respective pro class races at the tour’s inaugural stop on May 20, the ITP Daniel Boone ATV Championship at Daniel Boone MX.
    Natalie (No. 67 Elka/Honda) won the SuperQuad Pro 450 QuadMX Series event, and Rath (No. 67 Rath Racing/Arctic Cat) took top honors in the QuadTerrain Challenge Pro Stock event.
    The WPSA PowerSports ATV Championship Tour is garnering a number of sponsors, even securing Jack Link’s Beef Jerky as an “Official Meat Snack.” Mmm, meat snacks. psb

  • Related Articles

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Back to top button