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IWantAVolvo
Original Poster
939 posts
28 months
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Not sure if this is the right section but.
I currently own a DRZ400 Supermoto which I'm looking to sell up sometime soon due to my inability to keep calm and sensible on it. I still want a weekend toy but ideally something that still has that cool factor but a little less hooligan provoking. I've been looking at some of these street legal quads. The type that have road tyres so will be useless off road but much better ride on the road. Basically I fancy the ultimate chav chariot.
What is there to know about these before I look into them further? Are they easy to find insurance for, cheap to insure? MOT's easy on them? Common things to note when going to view one?
Pretty much interested in the simple stuff first before I delve deeper.
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LordFlathead
7,935 posts
127 months
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I don't have massive experience only having ridden one once on the road for a couple of hours. It was a Raptor 600. My thoughts at the time were: 1) This thing is a rocket 2) Corners are scary 3) Braking in corners is more scary 4) Because its slower in corners than a bike you ride faster coming out than going in 5) People looked at me more than on a bike 6) Most people didn't look impressed 7) Steering was heavy and felt odd - very mechanical 8) I didn't feel 'legal' even though I was  I wouldn't own one unless you could use it on a nearby beach. I wouldn't like to ride one in traffic, and it would take up too much space. It does encourage the lunatic in you so not a good choice if you're looking for a calmer ride  I'm sure someone will have something more positive to say, but it's not for me 
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dai1983
218 posts
18 months
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I have nothing to add except they're ridden by  s! Same for mini motos. Get a car if you want 4 wheels or a bike if you want bike characteristics.
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J B L
3,030 posts
84 months
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IWantAVolvo said: something that still has that cool factor but a little less hooligan provoking. I reckon street quads are exactely the opposite of what you are looking for. As said before, you'll rag it at every opprotunity. From a bystander point of view, they are hatefull useless things usually ridden by the shiny tracksuit brigade. IWantAVolvo said: useless off road but much better ride on the road. Should be the complete opposite. Quads really are happier where there is less grip and broken surface. They are superb farm tools or MX track weapons. That's it. All the negative points of cars and bikes without any of the benefits. IWantAVolvo said: Basically I fancy the ultimate chav chariot. You can't have 'cool factor' , 'less hooligan' and 'want the ultimate chav chariot' describing the same thing. Keep the DRZ, stick some super motard wheels on it and enjoy. Or sell it and buy a HD 883 or a classic.
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IWantAVolvo
Original Poster
939 posts
28 months
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J B L said: Keep the DRZ, stick some super motard wheels on it and enjoy. It is a supermoto. Thats where the hooliganism is coming from. Unless you mean the half road/half off road tyres? Guess this street quad idea isn't the best then  oh well, it looked good on paper.
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LordFlathead
7,935 posts
127 months
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Why not find a dealer and try one?
All the speculation won't convince you until you try it. I wouldn't by one for the reasons stated above but if it floats your boat..
and I think boats handle better
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IWantAVolvo
Original Poster
939 posts
28 months
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Haven't really seen any dealers with any in stock. That and the fact I'm a teenager so can see how that'll go when I ask for a test ride.
I wasn't expecting them to be the best handling, I was thinking more of just a cruise around type thing. Bit like 'hogs' but look less of a old man and more of chav.
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J B L
3,030 posts
84 months
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From the few farm quads I ride regularly, cruising on the road is really not one of their forte. The grippy surface makes the steering very heavy... add grippy road tyres to that and you're going to start sweating just by trying to move the thing around.
You should try one of them Can-Am thingies if you really want something different. (and no, I don't think they're cool either but it might be your thing)
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s3fella
6,487 posts
56 months
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Op, I know what you mean, my wr450 is my worst behaving road bike and it is on knobblies. Just love arsing about on it!
Have you thought about something like a flat tracker or street scrambler? Nice flat track XS 650 or a more modern triumph street scrambler? Depending on budget, you can even get a Steve McQueen Mettise built, daytime mot and cool as fook!
Try the triumph scrambler, it's pretty sedate, but nice enough to ride, British and you won't kill yourself or lose your licence on if.
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IWantAVolvo
Original Poster
939 posts
28 months
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s3fella said: Op, I know what you mean, my wr450 is my worst behaving road bike and it is on knobblies. Just love arsing about on it!
Have you thought about something like a flat tracker or street scrambler? Nice flat track XS 650 or a more modern triumph street scrambler? Depending on budget, you can even get a Steve McQueen Mettise built, daytime mot and cool as fook!
Try the triumph scrambler, it's pretty sedate, but nice enough to ride, British and you won't kill yourself or lose your licence on if. They're not really my type of bike. Being young, the only things that attract me are superbikes and supermotos. The older looking stuff doesn't do much for me. I dont really do much off road either, I mean with my SM I do pop through fields every so often, but just for a change, never anything hardcore (not enough places about for it).
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Fleegle
10,634 posts
45 months
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IWantAVolvo said: I currently own a DRZ400 Supermoto which I'm looking to sell up sometime soon due to my inability to keep calm and sensible on it. Maybe a bicycle would be best suited to you 
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IWantAVolvo
Original Poster
939 posts
28 months
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Fleegle said: Maybe a bicycle would be best suited to you Can you get told off for wheeling a pedal bike?
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Marlin45
616 posts
33 months
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Only plus for the quad is unlike the bike...it won't need stabilizers!
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Hooli
21,218 posts
69 months
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J B L said: IWantAVolvo said: Basically I fancy the ultimate chav chariot. You can't have 'cool factor' , 'less hooligan' and 'want the ultimate chav chariot' describing the same thing. Totally agree, the cool factor of a quad is about gas mark 9. IWantAVolvo said: Fleegle said: Maybe a bicycle would be best suited to you Can you get told off for wheeling a pedal bike? Furious pedalling? I think that's the name of the offence
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hman
4,810 posts
63 months
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Quads - Just say no.
or stick your finger up at them as you go past on road or off road knowing that they cant catch you :-)
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IWantAVolvo
Original Poster
939 posts
28 months
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hman said: or stick your finger up at them as you go past on road or off road knowing that they cant catch you :-) I like that!
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hwajones
126 posts
50 months
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I've owned a ltz400 and banshee and both were absolutely mental at low-mid speed, however once you get up to 60-70mph the wind is horrendous... The steering is also very twitchy when speed is maintained due to your front flaps.
I've heard they're very expensive to ensure and i would expect to be sideways at any opportunity...
Not good if you want to keep your license!
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VidalBaboon
8,862 posts
84 months
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I felt sorry for the chap on the quad at the WSM beach race that had a 2 stroke crosser land on his head  It looks bad enough on a bike, but the quads just seemed to get in the way. Just say no.
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y2blade
46,374 posts
84 months
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I had a Road-Legal Suzuki LTZ400 for a while. (same engine as the DRZ400) Great fun in the wet, ice and snow or off-road....I enjoyed it at the time but looking back it was A bit tiresome on a dry road though as you are ALWAYS fighting the thing. Car drivers tend to treat you as if you shouldn't be on the road, they'd literally push you along while you are sat at 60. (on a NSL single carriageway) Saying that My Bro has had his Yamaha Raptor 660 for a while now and he loves it, his is able to sit at a higher cruising speed (and is generally quicker than other road users) so maybe that makes a difference to the way other road users treat you. Definitely something to try imho, if you don't try you will never know. I don't regret buying mine at all and tbh maybe if I'd have bought a bigger/faster one I'd have kept it longer. Mine:      Maybe I'll get another quad sometime tbh, I enjoy dicking about on my Bro's one.
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byt
280 posts
25 months
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had a smaller cheap chinese one a few years back and it was the most unstable vehicle I've ever had the misfortune to drive/ride. being such a small foot print on the road mad it feel extremly top heavy and every little bump in the road sent the steering into a wobble. didn't keep it long. however my daughter has a bigger quad now that she races around a field and as said elsewhere they are much better when there's little/no grip available, wet grass or mud can be seriously funny and the bigger footprint makes it much more stable.
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