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View Full Version : Floating ATC's???



atclover350
12-14-2011, 07:17 PM
I have a 78 atc 90 thats in ok condition. Ive had heard of people floating these things across ponds and what not, but I have tried it and havent had much luck. I have ballooned the tires up, but no such luck. It will float without me on it but when I jump on it sinks. I weigh about 140 lbs. I know that water is hard on stuff but its still fun. Any tips on getting this thing to float with me on it? Thanks lol.

hoosierlogger
12-14-2011, 07:23 PM
lean all of the way to the back. Keep the front of the gas tank out of the water, thats where the air intake is.

atclover350
12-14-2011, 07:24 PM
umm no the intake is under your ash on the 90's. lol

bannedbrraap
12-14-2011, 07:32 PM
put helium in the tires....LOL:lol:

sp8twn
12-14-2011, 07:46 PM
Good luck with that!!!

hoosierlogger
12-14-2011, 07:51 PM
umm no the intake is under your ash on the 90's. lol

Sorry I didnt realize the intake was in a different place on the 90

jon jon
12-14-2011, 08:11 PM
a friend of mine put a small jug on front fender and somehow tied it to the front end. and it helped

Stonewall
12-14-2011, 09:21 PM
Put duals on the rear, then make some sort of floats to go on either side of the front forks.

If that doesn't work (very likely), stop killing your trike and get a real amphibious vehicle!!

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff507/Stonewall387/1983%20Hustler%20950%206x6%20AATV/Hustler002.jpg

just ben
12-14-2011, 11:06 PM
they do float great but best upside down without a rider. kudos to the person that started this rumor I have been hearing it for 25 years.yet to see it

another owner
12-15-2011, 12:48 AM
Get a set of these bad puppys. http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/5/125439705_full.jpg http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/21/125439721_full.jpg http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/63/145995463_full.jpg

Daninmin
12-15-2011, 10:05 AM
I had a buddy that swore he could float my old Yamaha 200 across my pond. He made it about 10 feet and went to put his foot down to stabilize. He couldn't touch and over it went. It floats even better upside down. He had fun changing my engine and differential oil several times. It was funny.

atclover350
12-16-2011, 08:48 PM
Yea I know some guys that were around when the 90's came out, and they have all kinds of stories about floating across water. But I just don't know. I have had the idea for
duals on the back but thats a different story. I just don't think its possible on a 90 because of the intake's location. If it was up under the tank, yes it may be possible.

fabiodriven
12-16-2011, 09:06 PM
It's not a theory that's up for discussion, it just doesn't work! It's been proven time and time again. They do float, upside down. WTF good is that? What are you going to do about the front if you put duals on it? Put Styrofoam under it? Now you've got something that barely resembles a trike with double the time and effort of just getting a damn boat. 'Nuff said.

ChevyAndVW
12-20-2011, 03:44 AM
anyone hydoplane a trike?

atctim
12-20-2011, 09:22 AM
I too have heard this rumor time and time again, usually by some mid 40's - 50s age guys who had a 90 when they grew up. It doesn't work!!! I usually just go along with them to avoid a stupid argument that can not be won!

stubbie1111
12-20-2011, 12:16 PM
Look on youtube......there are guys who had success hydroplanning but only for about 30-40 feet and then they went over the handle bars!!! OUCH!! Floating trikes....... Yes ...I've done it but only sucessfully laying down with feet dangling off the back in about 3 1/2 ft of water when I was weighting about 100 lbs soaking wet (ALONG TIME AGO).....as soon as you try to sit on one....over she goes!!!!

Three
12-20-2011, 12:39 PM
It's not a theory...It's been proven time and time again. They do float, upside down. WTF good is that?

I am not sure with the 90, but i seem to remember crossing through water deep enough that i was half expecting to drown a big red, i made it across but it felt like the back end of the bike was buoyant (mind you i never stopped or let off the gas to find out) to me it felt like the buoyancy of the tires and the slow movement of the stream had me going sideways down stream.

The point i was wonder about is if they indeed do float; (even if just slightly in the upright position) in water that is just deep enough to drown the bike perhaps this allows you just enough to get to the other side.

I just picked up a 200m has anyone tried/had one of these machines sink?

Keepah Rolln
12-20-2011, 01:03 PM
If you can't sink it ride through it...http://youtu.be/bFh2GWihNgo Crazy vid link here but can,t post it no helmet!!

stubbie1111
12-20-2011, 07:42 PM
That's a crazy video!!!!!!!

amx575
12-21-2011, 03:08 AM
One of my friends dad said back when the Us90s came out with the rubber wheel/rim, He said there was a guy that took one out on the lake and rode it around on calm days. They live close to the lake, and he said he could see them about once a week crusing around...idk tho

atctim
12-21-2011, 09:35 AM
One of my friends dad said back when the Us90s came out with the rubber wheel/rim, He said there was a guy that took one out on the lake and rode it around on calm days. They live close to the lake, and he said he could see them about once a week crusing around...idk tho

If the pond was frozen he could do this! Otherwise, it is folklore and/or figment of his imagination.

fabiodriven
12-21-2011, 09:37 AM
One of my friends dad said back when the Us90s came out with the rubber wheel/rim, He said there was a guy that took one out on the lake and rode it around on calm days. They live close to the lake, and he said he could see them about once a week crusing around...idk tho

Please refer to post #13.

swampthang
12-21-2011, 11:06 AM
One of my friends dad said back when the Us90s came out with the rubber wheel/rim, He said there was a guy that took one out on the lake and rode it around on calm days. They live close to the lake, and he said he could see them about once a week crusing around...idk tho
I'm pretty sure that didn't happen. I do know for a fact 100% that the Honda 185/200 trikes will float upright like they should WITHOUT A RIDER because we have floated them acrossed flooded creeks that was as deep as my chest. The 250es wants to float upside down both me and a friend had 250's and when we went to float them acrossed they got away from us and flipped upside down and floated. As for a stock atc with a guy sitting on it just paddlewheeling down a river I dont see it possible. I have never had a 90/110/125 in deep water to see how they float but out of all the trikes I've owned the 185/200 configurations seemed the most bouyant. I guess the only way to settle this questions is to buy up a bunch on pistons and rings and hit the water:lol:

amx575
12-22-2011, 06:13 PM
Like I said I didn't know if it was a true. Didn't want to start an arguement about it, just thought i'd mention it.

dirtdemon
02-14-2012, 04:52 PM
a friend of mine has a 185s with 25-12-9s all round and i watched him float across the lake it took him 30min to go 300yards. and yes he was on top of it.

vonlindheim
02-14-2012, 08:36 PM
if you want to go ride in the water, than go buy a boat. trikes have wheels for a reason!!!!!!!!!

fabiodriven
02-14-2012, 09:00 PM
a friend of mine has a 185s with 25-12-9s all round and i watched him float across the lake it took him 30min to go 300yards. and yes he was on top of it.

And I boned Paul Jr's wife.

X owner Proof or it didn't happen.

Jason125m
02-14-2012, 09:04 PM
And I boned Paul Jr's wife.

X owner Proof or it didn't happen.

I'd be all up in that shlt John!. Anyways, when i was younger, maybe around 11. I stayed on my 125 while i was floating in the lake... Had to get someone to throw me a rope because it was march, and COLD. But, i was also probably 90 pounds.... Also, it didnt stay up to well, but didnt sink to the bottom. The seat was right at the water.

I still say the rumour is B.S. I cant see being able to keep it running and floating.

3wheeled roofer
02-15-2012, 01:52 AM
ATC= All Terrain Cycle. amx575 is right. My parents had the 90s with rubber rims and huge ballon tires. My dad sank like a rock so my mom(100 to 105 lbs) would literally ride one trike at a time accross water with(no current at all) They said never more than 25 or thirty feet. I have my mom lookn for pics. Might have em but itll take some searchn the washshed.

3wheeled roofer
02-15-2012, 06:33 PM
well guys, guess im talkn smack about pictures of the infamous floating 90. This all went down in late 60s or early 70. I was born in 71 and my mom said she didnt own a camera until I was born so no pics. but she did float across water with no current down in imperial beach in the back water slue. I dont know if the salt water had anything to do with it, im just a roofer not a brain scientist or a rocket surgeon. lol wasnt much help but theres my 2 cents. i guess im lookn for proof also.

Knobby Addict
02-15-2012, 08:02 PM
They do float you just have to swim next to them! Luckily my (non-approved or recommended) rear passenger seat cusion is actually a USCG approved floatation device!

Kenny_smallz
02-15-2012, 08:37 PM
I too have heard this rumor time and time again, usually by some mid 40's - 50s age guys who had a 90 when they grew up. It doesn't work!!! I usually just go along with them to avoid a stupid argument that can not be won! haha sweet i hear stories all the time like he said, and just play along with these guys lol where they come up with this stuff lol????

james200x9619
02-15-2012, 10:41 PM
Try screwing some foam under the fenders.

tapage
03-06-2012, 03:34 PM
if u pump up the air pressure to maximum it should hold you up trailprotrailpro legs might be in the water, sides if u go down, stick a snorkel on it and you will be fine

ezmoney1979
03-06-2012, 03:43 PM
Just when you thought this thread was never coming back........... this happens........

tapage
03-08-2012, 10:06 PM
who needs to float, even to its fun, stick a hose on it and turn it into a sub, just put swamp tires on it

Dirtcloud
03-09-2012, 02:44 AM
who needs to float, even to its fun, stick a hose on it and turn it into a sub, just put swamp tires on it

hmm your not making any sense at all.

Chazz of Blades
03-09-2012, 03:29 AM
He's talking about purposely sinking the trike, and putting a tall enough snorkle to come out, and driving it around on the bottom.

tapage
03-09-2012, 11:28 AM
its amazing lol look at the soggy bottom boys on youtube

Big Mike
03-09-2012, 04:09 PM
My 250sx will float right side up if I am not on it, dont ask how I know. HAHAHA.

Red Rider
03-09-2012, 04:38 PM
My brother & I used to float the family's ATC 90 & 110 (right side up, with the rider on the seat) when we were kids. The key, was that we were light weight, the machines had big balloon tires, and a low center of gravity. As I recall, the back-end of the trike would sink down to about the rear fenders. We never flipped one over though, but I imagine it would have been a lot more stable that way, floating upside-down in the water. With a rider on the seat, the center of gravity is a lot higher, so the trike is going to be very tippy once floating, but with the trike in gear, giving it lots of throttle, and spinning the rear wheels, you get additional stability because of the gyroscopic effect of the rear wheels/tires, thus preventing the trike from flipping.

The reason you hear these "mythical" stories from 45+ year old guys is because 32+ years ago, us 45 year old guys were still kids, and most of us had ATC 90's, 110's, or 185's. Nowadays, a kids first ATV is gonna be a big, top-heavy, fully-suspended quad, and those just aren't going to float (right-side up) all that well.

bessybait
03-09-2012, 05:04 PM
Just get a boat

Red Rider
03-09-2012, 06:19 PM
Just get a boatWe did, but boats aren't that much fun in the dunes.

bessybait
03-10-2012, 11:04 AM
We did, but boats aren't that much fun in the dunes.
and trikes aren't that much fun on the water:lol:

Red Rider
03-10-2012, 03:24 PM
and trikes aren't that much fun on the water:lol:Obviously you've never floated a trike then. :crazy:

bessybait
03-11-2012, 10:05 AM
Obviously you've never floated a trike then. :crazy:only once a long time ago it was a 90 (1970?) with the balloon tires. I had to push it about two miles to get home And if I remember right it never ran again. I wish I still had it. But fun is fun and dumb is dumb. So please be carefull stupidity can cause drowning.

Red Rider
03-11-2012, 02:17 PM
only once a long time ago it was a 90 (1970?) with the balloon tires. I had to push it about two miles to get home And if I remember right it never ran again. I wish I still had it. But fun is fun and dumb is dumb. So please be carefull stupidity can cause drowning.We never had any issues with ours after floating them. Oh, and stupidity can cause a lot of stuff, but without it, we'd have no Darwin awards.

myles
03-11-2012, 09:36 PM
142578Looks like Yamaha is better adapted to sinking.

tapage
03-12-2012, 04:11 PM
like i said just add some hoses and dive in :beer

WJG1000W
03-13-2012, 09:28 PM
my 200M floats with me off of it fine and dandy doesn't tip at all but the second i get back on it tips right over, it just doesn't want to balance right

xman2rman
03-13-2012, 11:17 PM
The big ol Honda 185 will float with a rider but it's a heck of a balancing act! I've seen it done and laughed my butt off!

Jeff B
12-29-2012, 10:07 PM
The reason you hear these "mythical" stories from 45+ year old guys is because 32+ years ago, us 45 year old guys were still kids, and most of us had ATC 90's, 110's, or 185's. Nowadays, a kids first ATV is gonna be a big, top-heavy, fully-suspended quad, and those just aren't going to float (right-side up) all that well.

My first atv was an '85 Honda trx 250, the four-wheeled version of a Big Red. It would float with me on it when I was around twelve. Even got a buddy to swim under it just to be sure. :cool:

fordtech90
12-30-2012, 01:51 AM
Yeah Im only 22 and remember the BIG wheel/tire baloon tire 3 wheelers on tv alllllll the time floating out on the lake but no they were not factory honda trikes.

Jeremy_red
12-31-2012, 02:42 AM
Me and my freind used to float our 185s across the river when we were kids, but we were walking and holding the bike so it wouldnt flip.
So yes, it will float, but not with a rider.