Quad Riders??

**Stevo** · 9th September 2004, 19:32

Are there any/many ATV riders out there. I have a TRX450R which sadly

is not running at the moment. NEXT week!

If there are any what do you ride?

**merv** · 9th September 2004, 20:25

I don't own an ATV, but have ridden on a few trail rides with them and find them a right pain in the arse mixed with two wheelers - they bounce along differently and I make sure I pass as many as fast as I can to put them behind me because they go and get stuck in tight spots and block the track. They also take such a different line on gravel roads. The other thing they are good at, but this is funny to us two wheeler riders, is I have seen quite a few flip backwards on steep hills and go tumbling down like a rock. Another good reason to be in front of them. From behind it looks something like an Indiana Jones scene tumbling towards you.

I guess you can blame the organisers a bit because a lot of the rides I have been on have just been too tight for quads through trees etc.

The solution which I think is a good one is this - dedicated rides for ATVs - check it out here http://www.silver-bullet.co.nz/news....03e0cdd7f08a6a

Its not easy catching pics of the mishaps but here's one about to flip backwards - a basic farm job you'll tell me know doubt and not a racing ATV.

The two wheelers that have screwed up on the hill at least just lie on their sides.

You can check out more trail ride pics at my website here http://bikemerv.topcities.com/trail03.html I've been a bit slack and haven't updated much since I've been on Kiwi Biker.

**Motu** · 9th September 2004, 20:47

Looks like someones got a trials bike Merv,did he do any better? They are bloody scary things on a hill alright,going side on along a slope gives me the screaming shits on one.Awesome for getting sideways and totaly out of shape.Yeah,they take different lines too - we had to unwind a bike rider who got tangled in a quad that moved onto his line.

**merv** · 9th September 2004, 20:56

Originally Posted by Motu

Looks like someones got a trials bike Merv,did he do any better? They are bloody scary things on a hill alright,going side on along a slope gives me the screaming shits on one.Awesome for getting sideways and totaly out of shape.Yeah,they take different lines too - we had to unwind a bike rider who got tangled in a quad that moved onto his line.

Yeah trials bikes are fine they can go anywhere. While I'm already at the top of the hill taking pics as I'm apt to do the trials boy is just down there having a look. He'd have no worries just taking off up the hill. Having started in trials myself I have few problems on hills and am surprised quite often at how others struggle. The most common reason appears to be they run their tyres way too hard. I had the DR250R then which wasn't a great bike for traction as it was - not enough flywheel and way too buzzy.

Here's another pic from that set at the Pauatahanui trail ride which is near where I live. Looks like one trials bike in that one having trouble. You can see the rest at my website. Didn't have a digital camera then so didn't take so many shots on each ride.

**Stevo** · 17th September 2004, 00:02

Hi Merv. Been a while getting back I know. Trials bikes are great fun! A friend of mine has 3 on their hill country farm and they certainly can go anywhere. Took the Mrs on her first trials bike ride on my mates place the last weekend and she hated it!!!

What do you ride?
My mate has 2 TY250s (one of which is rooted and parts impossible to get) and a Gas Gas 270.

Steve

**denill** · 17th September 2004, 07:54

Originally Posted by merv

I don't own an ATV, but have ridden on a few trail rides with them and find them a right pain in the arse mixed with two wheelers - they bounce along differently.

Yeah with you on that one Merv. call me old fashioned but I am buggered if I know how anyone has the cheek to refer to ATV as motorbikes - or even, as four wheeled motorbikes??

A motorbike has got TWO wheels!!

And because of that difference - they are VERY different to ride and handle differently. And yes, they are not compatable on the same off-road tracks, at all.

**merv** · 17th September 2004, 08:20

Originally Posted by Stevo

Hi Merv.

What do you ride?

Steve

You'll see from my posts that I have a WR250F now for dirt.

**Stevo** · 17th September 2004, 11:02

Originally Posted by denill

Yeah with you on that one Merv. call me old fashioned but I am buggered if I know how anyone has the cheek to refer to ATV as motorbikes - or even, as four wheeled motorbikes??

A motorbike has got TWO wheels!!

And because of that difference - they are VERY different to ride and handle differently. And yes, they are not compatable on the same off-road tracks, at all.

So that being the case I guess sidecars are not motorbikes either then?? Get real!! Some of my partner (who races sidecars incidentally and rides a ZX9R) friends used to give me grief about being a quad racer as they hated them on trails etc too, and gave me lines like "Quads are for people lacking the coordination and skill to ride 2 wheels" .................... until they tried it!!

Then it was "Wow, I can't believe you can be hanging out the back end in a corner yet it still has enough power and traction to be wanting to lift the front end all at the same time!". Don't bag it till ya try it is what I say!!!

**White trash** · 17th September 2004, 11:20

Originally Posted by Stevo

So that being the case I guess sidecars are not motorbikes either then?? Get real!! Some of my partner (who races sidecars incidentally and rides a ZX9R) friends used to give me grief about being a quad racer as they hated them on trails etc too, and gave me lines like "Quads are for people lacking the coordination and skill to ride 2 wheels" .................... until they tried it!!

Then it was "Wow, I can't believe you can be hanging out the back end in a corner yet it still has enough power and traction to be wanting to lift the front end all at the same time!". Don't bag it till ya try it is what I say!!!

I know that fucken feeling. I remember the first time I rode an LTZ400. I was thinking "Ahh, piece of piss. Just like some cow cockies quad."

Hook first, bit of a squeeze with the thumb, dump thje clutch, "FARKMEEEEEE!"

**denill** · 17th September 2004, 11:25

Originally Posted by Stevo

So that being the case I guess sidecars are not motorbikes either then??

Yeah I reckon you guessed right Stevo. They are sidecars!!! A sidecar is defined as a motorcyle with a third wheel attached and is thus no longer a motorcycle, eh??

Originally Posted by Stevo

Get real!! Some of my partner (who races sidecars incidentally and rides a ZX9R) friends used to give me grief about being a quad racer as they hated them on trails etc too, and gave me lines like "Quads are for people lacking the coordination and skill to ride 2 wheels" .................... until they tried it!!
Don't bag it till ya try it is what I say!!

I did not and would not say that "Quads are for people lacking the co-ordination and skill to ride 2 wheels". I said that they are DIFFERENT and no one surely can argue that. And as Merv wrote: "I find them a right pain in the arse mixed with two wheelers - they bounce along differentlyy.
And I most certainly agree with that. And cos the lines taken etc - not good company for a proper motorcycle.

And yeah, I have ridden ATVs. Bloody dangerous and compared with motorcycles - unpredictable but good fun - in it's own way. BUT the skills required are very different to two wheelers. Cos they are DIFFERENT.

Who is to say tho that a good ATV rider is not also a good motorcycle rider !!!!!
You may have gleaned that I am not an ATV fan and you are SO right. But that is a personal thing, if you like them - great.

**merv** · 17th September 2004, 12:23

Seems like not too many quad riders are coming forward here, that's why I gave you that link about dedicated ATV trail rides.

I guess they are fun in their own right but I wouldn't bother with one - too much garage space for them, not much use on the road and I don't like trailering my bikes everywhere and as I said they are incompatible with two wheelers on the trails.

If roadies are wondering what I mean, imagine yourselves road racing like say at Taupo with go-karts at the same time. They take different lines, you're not shoulder to shoulder with them if you get close to each other and you are likely to tangle in their wheels. Not a pretty thought at all.

**Motu** · 17th September 2004, 14:16

I'm not gunna diss quads,cause I love riding them,if someone lets me - but been there done that Merv....on practice nights and bike only days at our dirt track we used to let a quad ride with us.,you had to be carefull and watch their line,and they would be super cautious when they knew a bike was coming up behind.But of course one day it turned to shit - another guy and I were having a dingdong battle,lap after lap,swapping places every couple of laps....I was only a meter off his tail at the end of the straight as we came up on the quad - next thing there is a huge explosion of dust in front of me.I couldn't see a thing,but somehow I made the right decision to vear left and miss them - when the dust cleared we had a big tangle of bikes and bodies,this is the guy we had to unwind off the quad - his boot had pierced it's peg and he was trapped.

As he was selfemployed he never raced again,but continued to support us.I missed riding with him as he was one of the few people I could ride shoulder to shoulder with,tangling bikes and limbs,but never crashing - I often used to ram his inside peg or rear tyre when he cut onto my line in the sweeper,there has to be mutual trust to ride that close with another,but nothing better...

**Stevo** · 17th September 2004, 15:40

Ok. I get the point. My mates and I happily ride trails together and swap bikes all round and that sort of thing. We ride trails for enjoyment, and RACE in our respective classes!

Mostly I started this thread to see if any other Quad RACERS were on here ie: Quads racing OTHER Quads!!!! Ya don't go to speedway and watch saloon cars racing Modifieds cos that is just silly, (Hmmmm, Like some peoples' attitudes toward quads).

WT is right though, a farm quad is like driving a truck after a race bike!!

**Stevo** · 17th September 2004, 15:43

By the way does "Fair weather rider" mean you are a Nana, and won't ride if there is any chance of getting wet????

**Kickaha** · 17th September 2004, 19:25

Originally Posted by merv

If roadies are wondering what I mean, imagine yourselves road racing like say at Taupo with go-karts at the same time. They take different lines, you're not shoulder to shoulder with them if you get close to each other and you are likely to tangle in their wheels. Not a pretty thought at all.

Yeah but that would only happen as the karts came up to lap the bikes and they'd be past so quick there'd be little chance of that happening