ATK stands for Anti-Tension Kettenantrieb (chain drive), referring to the patented mechanism to control the chain tension throughout suspension travel.
Its countershaft-mounted disc reduced unsprung weight and overall the bike was quite innovative in its design.
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| http://atkusa.com/ |
From the prolific mind of Horst Leitner, well worth a Google search to get
ReplyDeletea measure of all the innovations he brought to everything he touched.
Another great pick Mr G. !
And more commercially successful than the also-innovative Cannondale.
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ReplyDeleteDid that ad run in "Racism Today!" and "Xenophobia Quarterly"? If not, ATK missed a prime target audience. I hope that at least it won a Clio Award for Dopiness.
Also: Late '70s, early '80s, Triumph ran ads that urged readers to buy a Bonneville strictly on the grounds that it wasn't Japanese. (The ads' header was "A Yamakawahonzuki, It's Not.") That worked out well for Triumph; why wouldn't ATK do the same but more so?
Check me on this. I think ATK also had a disk brake on an engine/trans output, probably on right side; no brake on the rear wheel. If the drive chain broke, there would be no rear brake.
ReplyDeleteA story going around the Mid-West States in the early '80s was that a local rider and promoter crashed, got his boot tangled near the small spinning disk and nearly severed his toe.
It happened, but not absolutely sure it was an ATK.
Oh my mr rats...the blisters you must wear on your hands wringing them...
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