Do You Have a Story to Share?

This is your page! The rider's area is dedicated to ATK riders who have an adventure, trip report, crash and burn, psycho riding buddy, or any other story of interest to share, and pictures are encouraged. We can't guarantee that every story will be posted on the website, however, if it is reasonably well written, and entertaining, there is an excellent chance it will be used. There are a few guidelines. All stories should be responsible (not cause harm to someone), in good taste, and they should not use content (photographs, articles, ...) that belongs to someone else. Stories (and related content) submitted to ATK will become the property of ATK. You can still use your story without limitation from ATK. Your story may also be edited before it is posted. Post submissions to the atkrider's forum for an intial review. Submit a story

Sample photo of an ATK 450

Born in the USA - ATK 450 Cross Country

by Karel Kramer and Jimmy Lewis,
October 2007 Dirt Rider Magazine Subscribe

Read - Born in the USA - ATK 450...

Billyj's Mexican Adventure

Written by Gene Johnston, photographs by Tony Eeds, story provided courtesy of Mike Green

Day 1 finds all of us gathered at the 3 Palms Hotel(Presidio, TX) with bikes loaded and ready to go...

day one

Plenty of Ponies - The Colorado 500

Written by Neil Seidner, title changed by Rusty Johnson

After an accelerated recovery from a major foot injury, I looked in the garage at the orange, green, and blue choices for a trip to the Colorado 500 during August 20th to 25th 2006. With less mobility, I would have to rely on a machine that would be trouble free, powerful and agile. The easy way out would be to take the "known" resource, but with two '06 ATK's in the cycle mix, my love for the non ordinary would prove extraordinary. I choose the ATK with the "trick" add-ons. It had not been started in over six weeks due to my injury. Two taps of the switch and ready to go........well, not till a change of oils as the last time she was on line, it was 112 degrees out and the 20/50 might not be the best choice for the 40 degree mornings!

story continued...

ATK 605 Torture Test - Trail Rider Magazine

The ATK shown is not the bike used in this test

read - ATK 605 Torture Test...

A Works Bike For the Regular Guy

Written by Greg Cifu

read - A Works Bike For the Regular Guy

Dan's Ride to Honduras

Written by Dan Murre with minor editting and comments by Rusty Johnson

Normally we expect an ATK Rider's story to involve at least one ATK or Cannondale. However, since Dan's ATK was dismanteled, and one of the goals of this trip was to donate the motorcycles at the end of the ride - we will be understanding. Get ready for an adventure traveling through Central America. Dan, thanks for sharing your story

part I
part II
part III

Surviving Windy Pass

Written by Rusty Johnson

John was a good friend and former roommate that I could usually talk into going on mini-adventure motorcycle rides. John, like me, had graduated from college a few years earlier; he had a tall lanky build, and stood about six foot six. John had played basketball in college and could whip me on the court, but when it came to motorcycle riding we were in my domain. When I look back I am a little surprised that he would keep coming. Once I dragged him halfway across the state on his piston slapping 2-stroke Yamaha DT400 looking for a gold mine in the Uinta Mountains. By the time we got home we had symptoms of hypothermia, John had a wound on his side from a wipe-out in some pea gravel, and I had been chewed out by a forest ranger for excessive speed on mountain roads. After that ride I encouraged John to get a new bike and he bought a brand new KLX 650 dual sport. On the maiden voyage of the KLX we completely submerged it in a rocky mountain stream crossing, and I remember looking at the lighted headlight as it peered up through the water. If that was its baptism, an upcoming ride would be its baptism of fire.

story continued...

Chuck's 1988 ATK 406 Restoration

Written by Chuck Aborn, with minor editting and formatting by Rusty Johnson

Hello fellow ATK lovers, I hope you enjoy the brief story and pictures of my 1988 ATK 406 project! I have loved these bikes since they came out and had purchased a new 1988 250 X in March 1988 at Bentonville Arkansas Rainbow Honda / ATK. After a short while for what reasons I cannot remember I traded my ATK to an acquaintance for a 250 Can Am and some cash; big mistake as I have regretted it for almost 20 years now, so when I came across an ad for a 1988 ATK 406 for $500.00 I instantly began salivating and decided it was time to make up for my mistake and so on February the 10th of 2007 I purchased this bike from Bill Snell out of Ohio and the project began.

tech continued...