“I thought I was going to die…” — A man recalls the terrifying moment he crashed a Honda ATC at 80 km/h
“I thought I was going to die…” — A man recalls the terrifying moment he crashed a Honda ATC at 80 km/h
For many off-road enthusiasts, the Honda ATC was once a symbol of power and freedom.
But behind that excitement…
there were also accidents that haunted riders for the rest of their lives.
David Collins said he would never forget the crash that happened years ago while riding his Honda ATC at nearly 80 km/h on a long dirt road in the Nevada desert.
“That day, I was too confident. I thought I knew the bike well enough to control anything.”
According to David, the Honda ATC felt stable at first.
The engine roared loudly, dust exploded behind the rear tires, and the rush of acceleration made him want to push the throttle even harder.
“I remember looking down at the speedometer and seeing it almost hit 80 km/h. The wind was hitting my face so hard I could barely keep my eyes open.”
The accident happened only seconds later.
As he rode over a slightly rough section of dirt road, the front wheel suddenly shifted off line.
At that speed, the Honda ATC lost balance almost instantly.
“I tried to correct the handlebars, but it was already too late. The bike started shaking violently and then tipped sideways.”
A moment later, David was thrown from the machine and slid across the ground.
“I remember hearing metal smashing against the dirt, then everything spinning around me. Lying there on the road, I honestly thought I was going to die.”
David suffered a broken shoulder, back injuries, and needed months before he could walk normally again.
But according to him, the most terrifying part wasn’t the physical pain.
It was the helpless feeling during those few seconds when the bike became impossible to control.
“At that speed, you almost have no chance to recover from a mistake.”
Many former Honda ATC riders say the three-wheeled machine delivered a riding experience unlike anything else.
But that same three-wheel design also made it less stable at high speed or on rough terrain.
Just one wrong steering input, one unexpected bump, or one delayed reaction…
and things could go wrong extremely fast.
After the crash, David said he still loved the feeling the Honda ATC gave him.
But he never rode recklessly again.
“When you’re young, you think you’re invincible. But one bad crash is enough to completely change that mindset.”
Today, the Honda ATC is no longer common.
But for those who once rode one, the sound of the roaring engine and the feeling of flying down dirt roads at high speed remain unforgettable memories—
memories that were both thrilling…
and terrifying.
