Performance Road Legal Quad Bikes - Anyone know much about them?

BuffetSlayer

BuffetSlayer

BuffetSlayer

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Hi all

I am into my motorbikes, and really wanted to get my better half into them too. But she is very nervous and has pretty much decided it is not going to happen.

However, on a recent holiday we rented a 325CC quad bike (quite a big one) to get around and she loved it. I think being on the back but having 4 wheels really put her mind at rest. Plus she had a luggage box to use as a back rest which added to her piece of mind.

So it got me thinking, if I cant get to to ride bikes, or even come two up with me, perhaps a performance quad is a healthy compromise?

Trouble is I know next to nothing about them! Can anyone offer some good advice on where to start - good models for two up riding, performance and handling?

I like the look of something like this http://www.spyracing.co.uk/f1-350/ as it looks good, seems big enough for 2 up riding, and has resonable performance. But I have read to be wary of Chinese imports.

Advice and suggestions would be appreciated.

Cheers!
 
Safety wise other than dropping it at a red light surely it has all the dangers of a bike whilst being a bigger less nimble target?

I would try and persuade her to get a bike then go out with her to quietish places so she can build her confidence.
 
I've seen one or two on the road and they look like massive fun but they also seem to have the drawbacks of a motorbike like poor safety, exposure to weather, etc without the plus of being able to filter through traffic.

I'd have one as a toy though :)
 
Everyone I've ever seen driving one has been a massive tool in a rush to get himself and other innocent road users killed...
 
I love them, want one but wife has banned me :(

*gets coat and leaves Motors*

Not a biker but can't see it being anywhere near as easy to negotiate traffic in them like bikes can.
 
Agree with above regarding the reputation they have, I hate loud quads on the road, riders with no helmet or gear.
If it's been adapted for road use, like that one looks as if it has, then you should be fine.
Goes without saying but don't think you can turn the handle bars any faster than you could on a motorbike just because it has 4 wheels :p I've made that mistake once, surprisingly easy to end up horizontally.

For something more unique, what about something like this, albeit more expensive?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-Reve...8536883?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item1c3503f833
 
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What about those 3 wheeled scooters that are all over London these days? Bit more stability than a two wheeler and doesn't make you look as big a plonker as riding a bit of farm machinery...
 
mikeh501 said:
quad bikes on road = chavs tbh. not a fan.
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sorry to say it but I agree with this... every time I've ever seen one on the road it's chavs chavs chavs :( think the last time I saw some on the road was a hot "summers*" day and there were two of them riding behind my car, loud as HELL and some right diamond geezers on them, board shorts, flip flops, pink t-shirts and some jewelery right out of Mr.Ts collection xD reving at the lights, holding back then screaming forwards to close the gap on me then having to brake at last min...great guys :p

what about a motor trike? or a side car ;)


*not sure if we get summer in wales....
 
haha Sasso. I kind of agree that you see a lot of one type on them.

They also 'look' unstable to me - dunno how accurate that assumption is! - if you're going round a corner a bit quick, you lean over a bit more. On a quad... the mrs goes flying off :D. Or sad smiley if you like her a bit.

And no more nods from other bikes :P.
 
All the disadvantages of a bike (You get wet, it's a faff to just pop out, you need a helmet, you die if you crash at anything approaching a half decent speed) with none of the advantages.
 
Way more dangerous than motorbikes.

Not designed to go around corners on paved surfaces at all.

Ridden exclusively by farmers (big fat quads) and idiots (race quads).

Kill you when you fall off because you fall off it's because it's upside down and you're under it.
 
Thanks for the input :)

Yes, I agree that pretty much anytime I have seen someone on one of these things I have thought what a tit. :p

But having said that, there are plenty of idiots that ride motorbikes, but not all bikers are idiots.

I am not bothered about weather, or vulnerability as I ride bikes - cant get much more vulnerable than that!

I would certainly not be one of those muppets riding it in shorts and t-shirt with no helmet on (for the good of mankind, they need to be shot btw! :D )

I would be in full biking gear, so would the Mrs.

Having thought about it some more, I remember being at a bike show once and sitting on a can-am.

As far as the number of wheels go, it is smack bang between a bike and a quad :p

Something like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...efault/usedbikes/make/can-am/page/2?logcode=p

Only trouble is they are expensive, but I have to admit they look cool, and all things considered they look like a great laugh :)

The three wheel piaggio's are ok, but i think she would be left behind on one of those - plus I think she would be nervous of riding on her own.

It is the tipping/falling she fears, and also just how close and fast the road whips by with nothing but you and thin air between it.

Getting her on her own bike is never likely to happen, but thats OK. Marriage is about compromise after all, and if it means I get an unusual cool new toy - I am struggling to see the bad side! :p
 
surely if you have one of these in tow you wont be able to overtake or filter etc, making much less progress. she may as well be in a car
 
mikeh501 said:
surely if you have one of these in tow you wont be able to overtake or filter etc, making much less progress. she may as well be in a car
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No, the idea is, we use it as a two up machine. I ride it, she goes pillion.

What I am trying to do is give her a taste of being on a bike, but in a way she is comfortable with.

IE, the speed, power and wind but one where she is not afraid she is going to fall off.

We had the same problem in traffic on the Quad on holiday, but even so she really loved going out on the quad (again we were two up).

If anything, not being able to filter is safer as you wont have some tool trying to block you or change lanes without looking! :)

I have tried for the last 7 years to get her on a bike. She is having none of it! :(
 
gotcha. what bike have you got? maybe thats the problem? ive done maybe 50k miles over europe on bikes with the wife and the bikes over the years made all the difference.
 
mikeh501 said:
gotcha. what bike have you got? maybe thats the problem? ive done maybe 50k miles over europe on bikes with the wife and the bikes over the years made all the difference.
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Currently riding a little ER6F, but have had various bikes, all of which she refused to go near. The one I thought might win her over was my 1150GS, with full luggage, but meh, she didnt want to know! :p
 
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