New Member Where can I buy a Quad ?

[El Bandit]

Hi all,

Just found this forum whilst searching for Quads for sale.

Where in the Hampshire/Berkshire area is there a good place to go and look at new and second hand Quads.

I am looking for the more utilitarian looking Quads for Off Road use on trails around North Hampshire that I presently do on my motor bike. I think if I got a Quad I probably wouldn't fall off as much and if it had a winch it could pull itself out of trouble.

Any advice would be welcome as their seems a dearth of Quad Bike sellers in my local area.

Reagrds Nick.

[RED PRED]

Welcome to the site .
There is a quad shop in Four Marks which may have what you want, also Russell Power Boats in Eversley, see links below .

http://www.southernatvs.co.uk/about/contact_us.html

http://www.russellpowerboats.co.uk/canam.php

They are both Can Am dealers, there are not any others that I know of in Hampshire/Berkshire, you may have to go the ebay route like many of us .

think if I got a Quad I probably wouldn't fall off as much and if it had a winch it could pull itself out of trouble.


You are 100% right about the falling off :amen:, as for the winch, in my opinion they are not neccessary for the byways we ride (same goes for 4x4s), in my many miles off riding quads I have only seen a winch used once in the Binsted Swamp and that was avoidable ;)

[El Bandit]

Cheers for that. I am going to take a look at Russel Powerboats first as its the nearest.

What size engine would be a good choice for green laning around the basingstoke area and maybe the odd foray to Salisbury Plain ?

[RED PRED]

At least 500cc, remember you can wind in the throttle limiter until you get used to it, a heavy 4x4 with less than 500cc would be gutless .
After a bike a quad wont feel that quick anyway !
We are mainly sports quad riders on this site, the guys with 4x4 quads are Outlander, Big Jim, Catmandoes and Big Ant (we dont see the last two very often) .
99% of the time a sports quad is more than adequate, its only when the ruts get filled with mud and grip becomes limited that you need 4x4, sports quads are more challenging to ride :D

[El Bandit]

Thanks for that info.

I used to go out on my own a lot as I used to work shifts. Therefore I wanted to be able to know I could get out of any trouble I got myself in to.

If you guys go round in groups at weekends that suits me now as I am working monday to friday for the foreseeable future.

What Quad would you recomend ? If I was to go down the sports route. And I take it thats a cheaper route to go down as well because of the lack of four wheel drive and all its gearing etc.

One last one. Is there a Quad Magazine thats available monthly ?

[johnnyboy]

want a bet that they all say raptor LOL

[RED PRED]

Never heard of a Raptor ?
I would suggest a KTM but the optional oil refinery would be a drain on your resources LOL .
Most people end up with Yamaha 700 Raptors, you will find lots of info on them, in short, they are the biggest capacity sports quad and probably the most durable and reliable, they are certainly the best selling quad .
Regards the riding alone, I personally dont do this, not because of getting stuck but because of mechanical failure, dont fancy getting stuck miles from nowhere with a broken chain !
I have ridden 4x4 quads and although they are much more comfortable than a sports quad, they do not have the performance or agility/handling of a sports quad, personal choice .
You can try mine if you come out with us soon .

[El Bandit]

You can try mine if you come out with us soon .

Thanks for the offer. That would be good. My next few weekends are mucked up a little as I am working the odd day but things should return to normal by the end of this month.

Have you a thread running for your next trip?

[Raptorman]

If it was me i would buy a Raptor, you are really not spoilt for choice suzuki honda etc would all be ok for your needs not sure about the KTm as they need a lot of oil changes LOL

[RED PRED]

Quite right Malcolm, there is not a lot of choice for us green laners, the Jap 450 quads tend to be racing types so lots of maintenance (along with KTMs), anything less than 450cc is too limiting, the Polaris Predator 500 is a good quad and can be bought at good prices now they are out of production, new Polaris sports quads have KTM engines (again lots of maintenance and oil changes), Can Am make a DS 450 road legal which is supposed to be good (but no reverse) and they are being sold at huge discounts at the moment .
Quadzilla make a 450 which seems a good quad for the money (less than £4K new) .

The most popular sports quads, not in any particular order ;

Yamaha YFM Raptor 660/700
Yamaha YFZ 450
Suzuki LTZ400/LTR450
Kawasaki 450
Honda TRX400/450
Ktm 450/525
Polaris Predator 500
Polaris Outlaw 450/500/525
Quadzilla 450
Can Am DS450
Bombardier DS650

The most popular utility quads are;

Yamaha Grizzly 660/700
Can Am Renegade and Outlander
Polaris Scrambler 500
Polaris Sportsman 500/800
Honda Foreman

Avoid chinese at all costs !

The UK magazine is called `QUAD`but is not great, problem is the quad world is very small and the only new models coming out are chinese/taiwanese etc and they dominate the `new quad` reviews in the mag, it would be useful to you as a newcomer though .
There is a yank mag called `QU4D` which used to be great but lately has become no better than, apart from the nice crumpet occasionally .

Another important advantage with sports quads is their simplicity and ease of maintenance .

I hope the 4x4 quad brigade give their views and help !

[johnnyboy]

I fully argree with the fact its gotta be a raptor, I dont think there is another quad more suited to the kind of riding we all do, there bullet proof dont require a load of money to buy and maintain parts are readily avaiable and most members on here will tell you all the little tips and tricks to make the things even better. am I going to but one????? very much doubt it cos I just gotta be different:banplease:

[RED PRED]

very much doubt it cos I just gotta be different

Johnny, I totally respect your desire to be different, a world full of clones would be very boring :D
Hurry up and get your KTM, we are all itching to ride one !!

[secret solo]

If you do get a 4x4 quad we will always be waiting for you at the end of each byway... Some are fast but not agile enough to keep pace with a sports quad off road.

[RED PRED]

If you do get a 4x4 quad we will always be waiting for you at the end of each byway... Some are fast but not agile enough to keep pace with a sports quad off road

That is assuming that we ride fast which of course we dont !!

[secret solo]

Of course we dont but 4x4 quads ride even slower ;)

[James]

Of course we dont but 4x4 quads ride even slower ;)

not the 4x4 quads i ride with...

[secret solo]

Maybe its you who,s slow ,giving the impression the 4x4,s are fast? lol ;)

[El Bandit]

All starting to sound interesting.

I must admit I was looking at a 4 x 4 Quad so I could get out of the mud. Sounds from all your experiences that a two wheel drive machine would be perfectly adequate.

Still struggling to find a decent retailer with up front prices etc. Even on the internet. And because of this anywhere in the south of England up to around Oxford would be worth a look. Any recomendations ?

[James]

Maybe its you who,s slow ,giving the impression the 4x4,s are fast? lol ;)

come to an offroad meet and we will see...

[johnnyboy]

I must add that the last few quad enduros I have been the boys on the 4x4s have all been flying, there is a yellow thing like big jims that is constantly putting in faster lap times than most sports quads and it all seems so much smoother and more relaxed than the sports quads , and just to rub it in not a raptor in sight (good job we have Malc to uphold the faith):amen:

[RED PRED]

I don't know why you are even bothering James, this forum is now closed off to anyone who isn't a sports quad rider in the right catchment area. Leave them all to it...

Dont talk rubbish Jim, the catchment area does not apply LOL

When it comes down to green laning there are two choices .
For byways in the areas we ride, two wheel drive is adequate and does give a more challenging (and fun) ride because you have to use skill and judgement (and a bit of luck) to avoid becoming stuck in mud and ruts, whereas the 4x4 quads tend to just drive through with minimal effort, all this is only relevant in the worst winter weather when there is a lot of mud around .
The more you ride the better at negotiating ruts you become so it becomes less of a problem anyway .
So we occasionally have to lift the back wheels out of ruts, no big deal really :D
Johnny, you know that enduros are not about flat out speed, to be successful you need to have a balance between fuel range, rider fatigue and performance, ultimate speed like motocross requires agility as well as speed which is where the sports quad rules .
When it comes to road riding the sports quads have the edge as well with their lighter weight and higher speeds etc .

[Big Jim]

I must add that the last few quad enduros I have been the boys on the 4x4s have all been flying, there is a yellow thing like big jims that is constantly putting in faster lap times than most sports quads and it all seems so much smoother and more relaxed than the sports quads , and just to rub it in not a raptor in sight (good job we have Malc to uphold the faith):amen:

Comfort first Johhny boy, we are not getting any younger:D

[RED PRED]

Still struggling to find a decent retailer with up front prices etc. Even on the internet. And because of this anywhere in the south of England up to around Oxford would be worth a look. Any recomendations ?


I am not surprised you are struggling, there are hardly any, you could try these ;

http://www.dorset-quads.co.uk/

http://www.quadbikesrus.com/

http://www.tiltonatv.com/

http://www.mkmagri.com/www.mkmagri.coms/contact.php

http://www.exeterquads.com/

As you can see, dealers are few and literally far between, ebay is the alternative and there are bargains if you are careful and ask the right questions .

[Raptorman]

Its worth watching this me thinks

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2009-Quadzilla-450rs-DINLI-DL801-QUAD-BIKE-WHITE_W0QQitemZ150385903916QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_M otorcycles?hash=item2303b2c92c

[El Bandit]

I am not surprised you are struggling, there are hardly any, you could try these ;

http://www.dorset-quads.co.uk/

http://www.quadbikesrus.com/

http://www.tiltonatv.com/

http://www.mkmagri.com/www.mkmagri.coms/contact.php

http://www.exeterquads.com/

As you can see, dealers are few and literally far between, ebay is the alternative and there are bargains if you are careful and ask the right questions .

Cheers Red,

It does pay to ask. Straight away found something interesting.

http://www.quadbikesrus.com/roadlegalquads/quadzilla/500es4x4.htm

Quite interested in this. Is it Chinese. Seems quite a reasonable price for what you get.

Whats the downside and upside of that Quad ?

[RED PRED]

Big Jim had one of those and had a lot of trouble I believe, I was with him when the rear diff failed, the dealer was not exactly helpful either, perhaps he would be good enough to explain without going off on one of his `site rules`episodes :D
With the small amount of knowledge I now have, I would only get a QZ450 sports from the QZ range if I was after a new quad, Johnnyboy and Trig have them and they seem pretty good .
They are taiwanese, sort of mid way between chinky and Jap for quality .

[johnnyboy]

For the sort of money me and trig paid for our QZs I think they have been fantastic value, yes we have carried out a few mods but the things are still basicly stock and have been totally reliable and I doubt if I will ever sell it,I will most likely give it to my son, mind you if I cant find a ktm at the right price I may have to to help finance the thing ,have you seen the price of the new road leagle offering its a joke!! but hey if you want the best you gotta pay for it LOL

[RED PRED]

Johnny, can you please post up what mods you have done to your QZs, others would find it useful, thanks .
How much is a road legal KTM then ?

[johnnyboy]

the price I saw in a mag was a fiver short of £8000. now that aint funny, cant find a older road legal one anywhere, and when me and Trig went into Popes they said, you buy it take it away and put it on the road ya self, now thats good friendly dealer service for you hey

[El Bandit]

Is it the same KTMs as the Bike maker. If so how do they hold up for servicing etc ?

[El Bandit]

Ok so here are some questions I need to ask so if anyone would be kind enough to answer please do:-

1) How many miles between services.

2) Average cost of service and where would I go in Basingstoke ?

3) Do you need an MOT and if so where would I go in Basingstoke ?

4) Whats the average MPG ?

5) How does insurance compare to a car ?

This is all on a Quad of around 500 cc.

Cheers in advance.

[RED PRED]

Ok so here are some questions I need to ask so if anyone would be kind enough to answer please do:-

1) How many miles between services.
Depends on what quad, oil/filter changes/maintenance more frequent on race engines like YFZ Yam 450/LTR 450 Suzy/Ktm etc, eg Polaris Predator 500 mile oil/filter, Yam Raptor 700/660 3000 miles .

2) Average cost of service and where would I go in Basingstoke ?
Dont know but Just Motorcycles does quad servicing according to Timo .

3) Do you need an MOT and if so where would I go in Basingstoke ?
MOT once 3 years old, Warrior had his MOT done in Basingstoke .

4) Whats the average MPG ?
Depends how you ride, I would say 35-45 mpg .

5) How does insurance compare to a car ?
Again it varies according to many factors, value being the main one it seems, over £5K and it soars, mine was £150 fully comp but I am old :D .

This is all on a Quad of around 500 cc.


I can have a good chat with you sunday about any quad related questions, if I cant answer them then I know a man who can :D

[El Bandit]

Okay,

See you then. Time to drop the bike again I think. And get very dirty and wet. LOL.

[Timo]

Could always try the Qz 320e that is for sale on this site......Good as a starter to see what you'd want and whether you'll like it before paying out bigger money........:clapping:

[Timo]

Now now, give the man and the bike a chance. I started by looking at those as a starter. Hasn't been out with us yet, and on 155 miles I'm sure that all is well. IF there are issues, given some time out playing properly etc will allow a more accurate assessment of this particular machine.