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Riding Road Quad Bikes

Posted by Peter Thomas in Health and fitness on 06 15th, 2009 | no responses

by Harry Hill

Quad-bikes are small, four-wheeled all terrain vehicles using low pressure tyres and feature handlebars and seats much like those of motorcycles. Quad-bikes were made with a rural setting in mind; originally developed for agricultural use, these bikes are tailor made for rough tracks, open country and getting across fields. Quad-bikes have engine sizes anywhere from 49cc to more than 700cc, with the higher end bikes capable of speeds exceeding 80 mph.

Many quad-bikes are not considered to be road legal due to their being designed for off-road use. In the UK, vehicles must comply with certain regulations if they are to be driven on public roadways. In the case of quad-bikes, the requirements are a horn, headlights and a speedometer which gives readings in MPH.

Some suppliers now offer two ranges of quad-bikes – some designed for off-road use and some which are purpose built to be road legal. It is possible to convert an off-road quad-bike to become road legal by adding all the correct equipment, but this can prove expensive and care must be taken to guarantee compliance.

Adding such things as indicator lights requires more than just attaching them to the quad – they also need to be at the correct height and meet the requirements for colour and flash intervals. To help with this process a number of companies supply road legal kits, which provide all the lamps, reflectors and other elements required, and the necessary installation instructions.

Road legal quad-bikes are registered as Private Light Goods Vehicles, falling under the classification of quadricycles. Riders must be of at least 17 years of age and hold a valid motorcycle license or full car driving license which was issued before February 2001. No specific instruction is required for road use and while a helmet is strongly recommended, it is not legally required.

Quad-bikes with engine sizes of less than 100cc are rarely designed to be road legal. These bikes are almost always designed for riders under the age of 17, so there is little need to ensure their compliance with the requirements for vehicles traveling the public roads.

The low end of road-legal quad-bikes are models such as the Apache RLX 200S, with a 180cc engine and automatic transmission. An alternative is the e-ton Viper EXL 150 ST with a smaller 150cc engine.

On the other end are far more powerful road legal quad-bikes, with models being able to achieve speeds of more than 80 mph; though it should be noted that the maximum speed permitted for use on roads is 20 mph. The Yamaha Raptor YFM700R is one such model with a high performance, lightweight aluminum frame and impressive 686cc piston. There are also slightly smaller sport quads for road use including the Quadzilla 450, with a 448cc engine.

While originally made with off-road use in mind, it was only a matter of time before quad-bikes would make it onto the public roadways. Their convenience and the fun of quad-bike riding ensured this development. Motorists should be aware that not every quad-bike is road legal and should choose road legal quad-bikes or convert off-road models to comply with the legal requirements of road quads before taking their vehicle on the road.

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For info on quad biking and quad bikes in general visit our Website. Find out if your quad bike is legal to for use on the UKs roads and off road.