Cheap chinese quad bikes.
Cheap chinese quad bikes.
Author
Discussion

Baby Huey

Original Poster:

4,881 posts

230 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Has anybody had any experience of road legal quad bikes from China, or road legal quads in general.

Have been looking at the prices and they seem to be cheaper than chips.
Are there any good/bad manufacturers to look out for, are they death traps?

Any info would be appreciated.


Exige77

6,523 posts

222 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Sh?t Sh?t Sh?t

I have two full size ones for the kids and they are awfull. Engineering, welding and quality of nuts and bolts etc is very very poor. I have two other Quads made in Taiwan which are far superior, have livelier engines and just work every time.

The Chinese ones are cheap and look flash when they are new but soon degrade.

They are OK for a bit of fun in the field but but crap as reliable transport.

Steer well clear unless you just want them as a bit of a play thing and are prepared to keep fixing bits as they fall off.

Ex77

Baby Huey

Original Poster:

4,881 posts

230 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
That's interesting, what make are the ones from Taiwan?

It probably won't go offroad, so wouldn't need to be too robust. I've read somewhere else that parts are a nightmare to get. Have you found this?

shouldbworking

4,801 posts

243 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Ive heard they are a nightmare to get road registered properly. Farmer types have some workaround but for the average bear its a bit of a no no.

Search for used ones that are actually registered as opposed to 'can be made road legal' and see the price difference smile

telecat

8,528 posts

272 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
See a few of these about. They are good to get a feel for off roading but the quality is awful and because the maker's change the parts supply is non-existant. If you get one don't expect it to last and if it still "floats your boat" get one from a serios maker.

RB Will

10,894 posts

271 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
If no intention for going off road why spend money on a quad? get a moped if you want cheap transport.

Thorny

1,076 posts

241 months

Monday 1st September 2008
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I have a Polaris quad - had it for about 10 yrs or so and still goes brilliantly - highly recommend them

Baby Huey

Original Poster:

4,881 posts

230 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
RB Will said:
If no intention for going off road why spend money on a quad? get a moped if you want cheap transport.
Not really after cheap transport, they just look like good fun and the g/f fancies the idea of one for popping down the shops.

Baby Huey

Original Poster:

4,881 posts

230 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
shouldbworking said:
Ive heard they are a nightmare to get road registered properly. Farmer types have some workaround but for the average bear its a bit of a no no.

Search for used ones that are actually registered as opposed to 'can be made road legal' and see the price difference smile
Some places are selling them fully registered with number plates and road tax for £1500.

gary11

4,163 posts

232 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
chinese quads/trikes are utter utter crap the absolute dregs of reliabilty saftey and quality IMO.as for those scooter thingys should be a law against them soooo dangerous crap brakes and sharp metal edges designed to slice through ankles ect!
Spoken from experiance I may add

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

229 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Baby Huey said:
RB Will said:
If no intention for going off road why spend money on a quad? get a moped if you want cheap transport.
Not really after cheap transport, they just look like good fun and the g/f fancies the idea of one for popping down the shops.
Unless your a farmer / game-keeper / landowner don't bother. I've driven a few (both 2wd and 4wd) They're horrible on the road - probably the most dangerous form of road transport. Off-road they're good fun, but you still risk hurting yourself on one. There is a knack to riding one. Buy a car or a bike.

JCW

905 posts

238 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Baby Huey said:
RB Will said:
If no intention for going off road why spend money on a quad? get a moped if you want cheap transport.
Not really after cheap transport, they just look like good fun and the g/f fancies the idea of one for popping down the shops.
They can be fun but they can also be lethal in the wrong hands. I busted myself up over the summer when I ran out of talent using mine and that was at 3mph and whilst mine is road legal, I tend to avoid using it on the road as it isn't as stable as four wheels would suggest. Take it off road and it starts to make a lot of sense, however I'd urge caution when traversing even fairly gentle inclines!

deviant

4,316 posts

241 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Yep quad bikes are not for amateurs. My partners uncle is a farmer with plenty of experience on one but still managed to roll one on top of himself miles from the nearest person....he had to right it, ride several kilometers back to his house, get in his car and drive in to the nearest town, stop outside the doctors and jamb his hand on the horn and try to stay concious until someone came out.

Eddh

4,656 posts

223 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
The cheap chineese ones make excelent toys but I wouldn't want to take one on the road the build quality is ste!

Toltec

7,179 posts

254 months

Monday 1st September 2008
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How about one of those three wheeled scooter things like a Piaggio mp3?

Baby Huey

Original Poster:

4,881 posts

230 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Thanks for the suggestions folks.

Do you think quads are anymore dangerous than scooters or motorbikes, it will mostly be used in a urban environment and will rarely exceed 30mph, but they do seem to have a lot more presence on the road compared with 2 wheeled equivalents.

Edited by Baby Huey on Monday 1st September 12:31

twiglove

1,178 posts

225 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Hi there..

I have a road legal Honda trx400ex... It is great fun both on and off road.

On road riding requires experiance and care..As it is a live rear axle you have to really shift your weight around when cornering on tarmac, to prevent roll overs.

Obviously being a Honda it is 100% reliable..I don't have experiance of the cheap chinese quads out there, but the price will reflect the quality.

It would be easier to buy a pre road sva'd quad as it is becoming more and more tricky to get them through the sva test.. Another note to look out for is to check it has been registered as a PLG vehicle not an Agricultural vehicle, As AGRI legislate that you cant be more than 3 miles away from your farm etc... (Not 100% definate on the distance but might be 5 miles)

Hope this Helps and ask if you would like more info

BlackMagic *tree

8,786 posts

226 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Baby Huey said:
Thanks for the suggestions folks.

Do you think quads are anymore dangerous than scooters or motorbikes... <snip>
Can't remember the last time I saw or read about someone coming off their scooter and being crushed by it.

shouldbworking

4,801 posts

243 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
Baby Huey said:
shouldbworking said:
Ive heard they are a nightmare to get road registered properly. Farmer types have some workaround but for the average bear its a bit of a no no.

Search for used ones that are actually registered as opposed to 'can be made road legal' and see the price difference smile
Some places are selling them fully registered with number plates and road tax for £1500.
yep, and £800 not registered smile tells you all you need to know about how easy it is to get them registered

Miracle

389 posts

265 months

Monday 1st September 2008
quotequote all
I have a road legal quad, and its the scariest thing I've ever been on, it does 75mph and it isn't even de-restricted!lol. Acceleration 0-60 is quicker than my scooby, and that does it in 4.5secs.

The Quads are a lot of fun, off road its the best fun ever, specially when you have a flat field of about an acre with slightly wet grass, its power slides like a dream, but 60mph off road is bl**dy scary!

Here's a pic...