Am thinking of buying a road legal quad bike to continue to enjoy open air riding/driving,they have a reverse gear so it will solve problem of weight wheeling it in and out of garage,I have tried the MP3 scooter but this of course has no reverse and is nearly double the weight of normal scooter,Has anyone any experience of these ?,for instance as I am not thinking of offroading should I change the tyres from those fitted to a more tarmac based tread. Your comments welcome.
ndbw
|
for instance as I am not thinking of offroading should I change the tyres from those fitted to a more tarmac based tread. Your comments welcome.
Re use on the road, they are really only ideal for getting from one field to another, not ideal as a road only fun vehicle. Try one though!
Ever ridden a motorbike, much better fun on the road.
|
|
|
Take your point cheddar,started motorcycling 1942 restarted 1991 now at 85 have trouble manhandling machine,even my last Honda Innova was too much,that is why I have been looking at quads
ndbw
|
Do a Google search on Rick Mayall, Ozzie Osbourne and Quad bikes.
|
|
My experience is of a Yamaha 350 4 wheel drive some 15 years ago so can't speak about current technology on these things. Great for offroading, soft tyres (2psi) go anywhere, tow a trailer loaded with timber where a Landie wouldn't. On the road, completely different mainly because of the hard surface and higher speed - the main problem I found was steering it. You're constantly correcting your inputs - you can't lean as on a 2 wheeler you need to physically turn the handlebars and often you need only a small adjustment. Because there's so much feedback coming back at you from road imperfections and you're trying to maintain a constant throttle, changing gear and steering accurately it doesn't make for a relaxing drive. A good long test drive/ride should let you know whether or not you'll enjoy it the way you want to. Across a wet grassy field at 20+ mph, power sliding and balancing it on the throttle - IMO what they were designed for, well almost!
|
|
|
|
...... started motorcycling 1942 restarted 1991 now at 85 .........
You've seen more changes in roads and road transport than most of us. Experiences like that are something which only come with age, and is to be envied. I hope I live to 85 and am still motoring.
|
I totally agree with L'escargot on this- an example to us all!
Have you considered the other sort of trike from the MP3, ie two wheels at the rear? My knowledge is not vast, but I assume they can be had with reverse gear?
HTH,
Alex.
|
A number of local youths seem to have chosen quad bikes which are akin to motorcross bikes so are far more road friendly than agricultural quads, but they drive them like idiots.
The aprilia panther is one example.
|
...... started motorcycling 1942 restarted 1991 now at 85 .........
Forget Quad Bikes - you'll be giving yourself a heart attack ndbw old chap......
Time for the Honda Civic and the Werthers Originals :0)
|
Small, narrow, fast quad bikes are so obviously dangerous that one would never want anyone else to drive them and would drive them apprehensively oneself. Nothing would make me buy one.
However there does seem to be a larger, wider category with a steering wheel instead of handlebars sometimes. Like a very small pickup truck. Those are obviously all right, and equally obviously not fun in the same way and much more expensive.
|
|
|
|
I totally agree with L'escargot on this- an example to us all!
I agree too!
Though I have ridden a few different quad bikes and would not consider them as fun on-road, though as I said before try one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks to all for feed back,as neils has pointed out the heavy steering and narrow track could be a problem,I have details of a small Trike the Trippi eyewateringly expensive at £5,500 for a 125 with reverse might have to bite the bullet on that one.
You are right L'escargot have seen a few changes,did spotting duty during WW2 with Sid Ecclestone Bernies father and bought my second VW beetle in 1957 from Bernie himself when he had a second hand car dealership in Bexleyheath Kent.
Thanks to all,
ndbw
|
|
I have ridden a couple of Quad bikes on road and off road - the best by far is Yamaha Raptor - a mean machine in 360 or 660cc (Or something around those figures) -I thought very stable but also very expensive - the other was a Kawasaki 600 auto workhorse also easy to ride and stable - the third was a death trap - a road legal brand new Chinese import of 250cc - 30mph was dangerous with tank slapping steering wobble and ineffective brakes. - If I had the cash to spare I would certainly buy one for getting around on and trip's to local corner shop - even as a pensioner I found them fun to ride.
|
Nothing really useful to add just wanted to say it's brilliant you're still 'biking'! (Or close as makes no odds)
I hope to still be two wheeled for at least as long!
Edited by mss1tw on 08/08/2008 at 21:12
|
Still looking for fossil fuel kicks as an Octagenarian...Hope I'm as lucky !
I can't help but wonder if something like an MX5 might not be a better option.
You still have the open air option, no need for the brain bucket and as you can't really filter on a Quad bike I can't see how you would really be missing out.
A couple of blokes at work use these things and they are a royal PITA in the bike parking area. They take up too much room for a bike and not enough for a car parking space. They seem to park them in a manner similar to school run Mum's, in everyones way.
|
|
|
|
