Road legal quad bike costs?

Hazel1980

Looking for some advice on quad bikes and if they are cheaper to insure/run than a small car? Got a car but mainly get to work by electric bike which is great but would like to be able to go a little faster when it's drizzling and cold and if I'm feeling generally lazy.

Been looking on ebay to get a idea of what sort of quad bikes are available. Is a 150cc rubbish??

I would be main insurer (31 year old female) with husband as named driver (30 year old). Any idea of insurance costs? I've tried doing online quotes but I have no vehicle details to fill in

Fuel consumption compared to a car?

tax cost per year?

I'm assuming repairs average out less than a car as there is less to a quad bike than a car?

Any advice appreciated. Thanks

Cash-Strapped.T32

It's basically a motorbike with a bit of extra engineering so I would suggest that when it comes to questions such as "is this engine big enough", or "is this a reputable brand/model?", you look to motorbikes as your guide, and then look at the 4-wheel equivalent that uses the same engine, etc..

It's an interesting proposition, as a starting point I'll point out that on bikes, 125 is the engine size used by learners (above 16yrs old) & is perfectly capable as a commuter tool - in bike form.

As a bit of a comparison, on a 40mi round trip, 5-6 days a week I was paying about £12-£14 per week on petrol on my 125 scoot.
A quad would undoubtedly get less favourable mileage, due to the extra weight, the extra drag, and probably due to lower, more off road biased gear ratios.

I commute by motorbike myself but I dunno how happy I would be riding a quad to work & back (for a few reasons *), your idea has merit but personally I'd say a 125 scoot you & your husband can share would be a lot cheaper to buy, to maintain, and to insure.

I once considered getting a small capacity quad for winter days like we had these last 2yrs, to romp over the snow instead of using my bike as I don't drive, but this does not sound like your intended purpose - My guess is you'd simply use the car in such poor conditions, right?
So that's basically the sole point of getting a quad negated - If it's more for fair weather use (which includes rain, but excludes severe ice/snow) a small bike or scoot will be more efficient all round.


* A 125 bike will happily do 60+ along A-roads, but with their narrow wheelbase I think that might be a scary experience on a quad-bike. :eek:
(unless it's like one of those big-fat wide farmer's quads).

Also, the extra suspension, sub-chassis & all the gubbins can only mean more maintenance, more weight thus more fuel burned, and even road legal converted ones (lights, indies & plate etc..) will likely have more off-road biased gear ratios, & thus be less effective for everyday road use.

I wish you all the luck in the world as it's a very nice idea, but while running a scoot for such a use can be done for a pittance, I feel a quad bike would be more expensive for very little (if no) benefit.
Sorry to sound like a miserable git.

Strider590

If im right, quadbike gearboxes aren't designed to do 12000 miles a year commuting to/from work. There's a small car that's basically a quadbike and they have nothing but trouble with the gearboxes.

Horizon81

Don't think insurance would be much cheaper than a small car. A 125cc isn't the biggest engine but it's a hell of a lot compared to an electric bike! These road legal quads were all the rage a few years ago but I haven't seen one for a while. I quite fancied one last winter as it would have made getting to work much easier in the snow. But, although you don't have to wear a helmet you should really, plus some leathers and it would be a bit of faff having to get changed at work every day. Can you be bothered with the hassle? A small car would be a lot safer as well as getting you to work much drier!

Gloomendoom

Somebody asked for similar advice on another forum I am a member of. This was one response...

Oh yeah i have some advice. You WONT get cheap insurance at all. They will question everything. Its not a car and its not a bike so they class it as specialist and price accordingly! Not only that, when you do finaly have a body bashing crash they ask you for your Agricutural licence or ATV licence... and even though a full uk motorcycle licence along with the fpk categorys of your licence covers it by law..they still try worm there way out of paying out. If your a farmer...you have no worries but everyone else beware. Had to take my insurer to court in the end. Even though i was the one that got hit. Thank god i'm not one of the total idiots that drives them on the road with no leathers or full face helmet

inch_high

Why would you want a quad anyway?

You get none of the pro's (warmth of a car, traffic busting ability of a bike)...

I see bikers sat in traffic and think, they may as well be in a car. I just filter through and leave them two it...

Whatever you do, don't buy Chinese... Make sure it's a reputable make...

waynedance

I last year bought a Quadzilla RS5. 500 cc. Long wheel base 2 seater for fun and occasional going to work on use. Runs great on and off road with 2 or 4 wheel drive. Quadzilla is a good make and I have found a great dealer who has helped out loads on the phone and good spares back up.

I am 36 and TPFT. insurance with no no claims cost me £205 and road tax was I think £120 for 12 months.

Hazel1980

We really need a second vehicle for the winter as I take the car to work and my husband can't go out. Spring, Summer and autumn months aren't to bad on the bike but it's 4 miles to work and being England it's a bit of a gamble with the weather so I end up taking the car as the weather might look a bit dodgy. Getting changed at work isn't a problem, I don't have a posh job lol.

I was thinking about a little 50cc scooter (used to have one when I was 16) but my husband passed his test in 2002 so would have to do his CBT which I think only lasts two years and he would need to take it again so the cost of that would cancel out any savings we would have made by using a scooter.

Trouble with buying a car is we would need to spend at least £3000 to get anything decent and economical.

Cash-Strapped.T32

If you intended a bike or scooter for such limited use you can do the whole project on a relatively small amount of money, although to be sensible nothing smaller than a 125; Don't even bother with a 50 please.

CBT - apx £90-£100
Theory- £31
Test Module 1 (manoeuvres in a carpark)- £15
Test Module 2 (road test) - £75 or £88.50 depending on if it's a weekend.

So taking your test after the cbt will cost about £130, will let you choose any bike you like later down the road and negates any need to keep taking it.

I went through the same process in Nov last year with no trouble as the start-up costs to become a new driver are so massive - Ok, I'd used the previous full 2yrs on my L-plates for "free" practice as I used it for work, but it's entirely doable just like that.

w211

How about considering a Piaggio MP3?

http://www.uk.piaggio.com/en_UK/prodotti/mp3/mp3_400/default.aspx

Hintza

Have you ever driven a quad bike OP? If the tyres are anywhere close to off road type tyres the quad could potentially be quite dangerous.

I will admit not to have experience with road tyres.

But my point would be find one to test for a few days and see how you get on. Personally apart from a bit of fun in the summer it is not something I would do long term.