Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1540850
Power delivery is also interes ng. As a long- me fan of big-bore bikes, I find the approach to riding one is simply to use what you need from the thro le. Let them grunt through the woods and short shi ing as opposed to wringing out each gear is the norm. Well folks, this ATK 406 is an en rely different beast. Yes, it chugs marvelously, yet when twisted, it comes alive, almost 125-like! The mid-range hit with the Lectron Billetron is violent. In our dry, dusty, test condi ons, it was almost as if the rear re was on ice. You can light it up at will. The bonus is the ability to steer with the thro le. Oh yeah, it's a hoot! Other noteworthy points of men on are how the OEM Answer Products silencer actually takes a lot of the bark out of the big Rotax. I can't say it's quiet, but it certainly isn't an offensive tone, and being an air- cooled 2-stroke, piston slap is nonexistent as the fins are stuffed with rubber dampers. The riding posi on and general ergonomics remind me of my late 90s, first-genera on KTM PDS bikes. Although the seat isn't overly wide, it's comfy. You sit in the bike and the seat height seems perfect for my six-foot frame. With no linkage, ground clearance is excep onal for a 35+ year old dirt bike. In looking for a suitable set of handlebars, we reached out to Mika Metals for a pair of their "CR-High" bend. Either si ng or standing, the bar bend feels per- fect for this applica on, and the crossbar and pad give it the right, preiod correct, look. As for the suspension. The forks and shock were sent out to Drew Smith at Works Enduro Rider for a refresh. Being a single shock, no linkage design, as above, the ride is akin to an early PDS KTM. During this a ernoon of tes ng, I spent a couple of hours ripping a 20-mile loose, rocky loop, and the bike performed admirably well. In fact, much closer to a modern bike than a vintage ride. With the rather odd ATK chain tensioning system, there was li le chain snatch to speak of. As for the brakes, yes, front and rear are not up to modern standards, but I've got no complaints. Even that strange countersha -mounted rear disc worked just fine, and having the lever pivot at the front s ll could be considered ingenious! To sum it up, we're quite impressed with the ATK 406 and how it performs in general. With the mods such as Lectron Fuel Systems' Billetron Pro 38 and Magura HYMEC clutch, the bike fires instantly and is easy to ride while being quite the monster when you're looking for some giddy up! Well done Horst, your design was certainly way ahead of its me!