Road legal quad bikes, winter commuting and wtf IS a Quadzilla anyways?

**Hairy Ben** · 09-12-12, 08:38

Does anyone know 'owt about quads in these hallowed halls? I've been toying with the idea of a small, cheapy one to use through the winter months when the ice-queen cometh and Jack Frost curls out 6" of his finest white arctic arse powder and makes using my usual motorcycle an idea just to the far side of lunacy.

Which ones are any good though? I know the big four Japanese makes obviously, and am aware of makes like Bombadier and Can-am and what they do, but they're all a bit pricey for my tastes. The stuff that comes up cheap in the local free-ads tends to be things like Quadzilla, TGB, Apache etc, all makers I don't know and hence don't trust. It all seems a bit like the 125cc market these days, with a vast raft of ting-tong Chinese bikes made of cottage cheese and mouse guffs and I'm not sure I'd want to take on summat like that.

Are any of the cheap makes worth it? Or is it false economy?

**GiantPygmy** · 09-12-12, 08:57

I think Y2K Blade used his for commuting, he had a largish capacity Suzuki though IIRC.

Have a look for an old Honda Big Red or similar?

**Editor** · 09-12-12, 09:06

I know they're more nicked than a nicked thing. On the road to & from work yes? IMO you got the worst of both worlds. No filtering advantages, bog all weather protection, bog all to shield if all goes wrong. Personally I'd have a cheap FWD jap hatch-like a micra. You wouldn't want to hit anything in it but should you slide off & end upside down in a ditch you'll still get out of it. And no-one would nick a micra!

**Zanx** · 09-12-12, 10:00

Originally Posted by Editor

I know they're more nicked than a nicked thing. On the road to & from work yes? IMO you got the worst of both worlds. No filtering advantages, bog all weather protection, bog all to shield if all goes wrong. Personally I'd have a cheap FWD jap hatch-like a micra. You wouldn't want to hit anything in it but should you slide off & end upside down in a ditch you'll still get out of it. And no-one would nick a micra!

I don't think Ben has a car licence.

**Editor** · 09-12-12, 10:09

Originally Posted by Zanx

I don't think Ben has a car licence.

ah. Sorry about that. sossies on me.

**Hairy Ben** · 09-12-12, 10:30

Originally Posted by Zanx

I don't think Ben has a car licence.

I do have a licence, I just don't want a car.

Nowhere to park it, catastrophic insurance premiums for even the smallest, weakest, cheapest old bangers, and to be honest, a quad sounds like it'd be fun in the slippery, and I could do with a bit of that after years of my arse puckering as I pick my way over frozen roads by bike.

My other considered option is a small, cheap 50-125cc scooter. Something I can hold up on one leg whilst going sideways yelling yeeehaw.

**Nordboy** · 09-12-12, 10:41

If you wanted the added safety of more than two wheels, what about one of those piaggio or gilera 3 wheelers? You won't lose the filtering ability of a bike but gain the benefit of stability. Think they go from 125-500cc.

I can't think of anything worse than commuting on a quad (ok probably could, but not at the moment)

**Ali** · 09-12-12, 10:59

I've got a Can Am XTP Max 800 which I use on the road. It has Off Road tyres through necessity and makes for an interesting ride.

A few dealers out here sell TGB and they seem OK. When I worked for a Suzuki Dealer and Suzuki stopped importing their 50cc mopeds due to being to expensive for the UK market we started selling TGB ones. Very well made, robust and parts were cheap.

A lot of smaller Quads are only 2 wheel drive and in the wet, mud and snow it makes steering challenging even on the road. Heated Grips are essential out here including the thumb throttle. I love mine but it does earn its keep and this time of year is a godsend with the Snow Plow fitted.

**redorzed** · 09-12-12, 11:22

Originally Posted by Hairy Ben

I do have a licence, I just don't want a car.

Nowhere to park it, catastrophic insurance premiums for even the smallest, weakest, cheapest old bangers, and to be honest, a quad sounds like it'd be fun in the slippery, and I could do with a bit of that after years of my arse puckering as I pick my way over frozen roads by bike.

My other considered option is a small, cheap 50-125cc scooter. Something I can hold up on one leg whilst going sideways yelling yeeehaw.

You want a side-car outfit dude

Smallish light weight chair, big fairing - hours of fun. Getting an outfit totally sideways all the way across a roundabout, straightening at the last second and flying up the road - you will be hoarse with yeehawing everyday

**Tomcat** · 09-12-12, 11:23

Originally Posted by Editor

I know they're more nicked than a nicked thing. On the road to & from work yes? IMO you got the worst of both worlds. No filtering advantages, bog all weather protection, bog all to shield if all goes wrong. Personally I'd have a cheap FWD jap hatch-like a micra. You wouldn't want to hit anything in it but should you slide off & end upside down in a ditch you'll still get out of it. And no-one would nick a micra!

OK you can't easily fall off a quad on ice but I can't seee anything else to commend them in winter.

If you want a little scooter budget no less than £500, anything cheaper will be a POS, don't ask how I know

**stickysidedown** · 09-12-12, 11:33

Honda innova

These tyres will fit
Heidenau K46 2.75-17 RF TT 47M M/C - mytyres.co.uk

If you feel it necessary these will fit also
http://www.supatracks.com/pdfs/bestg...-ice-studs.pdf

but even without either of those things you'll find it pretty handy in the white stuff

Very reliable, cheap to run and spares are widely available

**Wolfzx12r** · 09-12-12, 16:02

Isn't the Quadzilla a Suzuki built Quad?

I know Yamaha build the Banshee, both are death on wheels but god they are great fun on and off road.

A mate sold his road legal 350 Quadzilla about 3 months ago for £800.

**formula400** · 13-12-12, 22:13

a few years a go coming off kings road to go over putney bridge a quad raced past me in the wet and got his back out whilst doing so, intensional or not it was very cool, would be a fun winter tool.

**yourguitarhero** · 14-12-12, 06:15

Cheap as hell to buy/run. Easy to handle the slides and if you fall off you're so close to the ground nothing breaks, it doesn't hurt and you can just pick it up again.
You can get knobblies for them.

**EddieJ** · 14-12-12, 10:43

Originally Posted by Ali

I've got a Can Am XTP Max 800 which I use on the road. It has Off Road tyres through necessity and makes for an interesting ride.

You bastid!! I'd love an 800XTP Max. I came very close to it last year, but have decided that a Polaris 800 Sportman touring with turf mode suits my requirements better. Nothing beats the yellow and black colours of the Can Am though, especially if it's on an Renegade X XC.

Thinking about Can Am's, you have just reminded me of this. 7.12mins into the video.