A quad-bike is a small, all-terrain vehicle with four low pressure tyres, a seat and handle-bars similar to a motorcycle. They were designed for agricultural use, for riding across fields, rough tracks and open country. Engine sizes range from 49 to over 700cc and a high-performance quad can reach speeds in excess of 80mph.
Because they are designed for use off-road, many quad-bikes are not road legal. Before any vehicle can be driven on a public road in the UK it must comply with specific legal requirements. Before they can be used on a road quad-bikes need to be fitted with items such as headlights, a horn and speedometer that reads in MPH. Riders need to have the correct insurance and the quad needs to have a tax disc and number plate.
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.
Quad-bikes which are road legal fall into the classification of quadricycles and as such are to be registered as Private Goods Light Vehicles. Riders must hold valid motorcycle or car driving licenses issued prior to February 2001. There are no specific instructional requirements for quad-bike riders and helmet use is not required by law, though it is of course recommended.
Since the lower end quad-bikes (those with 100cc or smaller engines) are typically designed with riders under the age of 17 in mind, they are rarely road legal. Since their intended users are too young to acquire the proper licensure anyway, there is little reason for these quad-bikes to comply with the legal requirements for on road use.
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.
There are also high end road legal quad-bikes; these models have much more powerful engines and can achieve high speeds, exceeding 80 mph with some models (though it should be noted that the legal maximum for on road quad-bikes is 20 mph). These bikes include the Quadzilla 450, a 448cc model and the Yamaha Raptor YFM700R; a high performance quad-bike with a 686cc piston and lightweight aluminum frame.
Despite being designed for off-road use it was inevitable that quad-bikes would find their way onto the public highway, both for convenience and for fun. But it is important to be aware that not all quad-bikes are built as road-legal and therefore care must be taken before driving a quad on the road.
Because they are designed for use off-road, many quad-bikes are not road legal. Before any vehicle can be driven on a public road in the UK it must comply with specific legal requirements. Before they can be used on a road quad-bikes need to be fitted with items such as headlights, a horn and speedometer that reads in MPH. Riders need to have the correct insurance and the quad needs to have a tax disc and number plate.
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.
Quad-bikes which are road legal fall into the classification of quadricycles and as such are to be registered as Private Goods Light Vehicles. Riders must hold valid motorcycle or car driving licenses issued prior to February 2001. There are no specific instructional requirements for quad-bike riders and helmet use is not required by law, though it is of course recommended.
Since the lower end quad-bikes (those with 100cc or smaller engines) are typically designed with riders under the age of 17 in mind, they are rarely road legal. Since their intended users are too young to acquire the proper licensure anyway, there is little reason for these quad-bikes to comply with the legal requirements for on road use.
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.
There are also high end road legal quad-bikes; these models have much more powerful engines and can achieve high speeds, exceeding 80 mph with some models (though it should be noted that the legal maximum for on road quad-bikes is 20 mph). These bikes include the Quadzilla 450, a 448cc model and the Yamaha Raptor YFM700R; a high performance quad-bike with a 686cc piston and lightweight aluminum frame.
Despite being designed for off-road use it was inevitable that quad-bikes would find their way onto the public highway, both for convenience and for fun. But it is important to be aware that not all quad-bikes are built as road-legal and therefore care must be taken before driving a quad on the road.
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