To get a licence for operating quads a amanditory course for riders similar to motor cycles and boats would help save injuries and lives......Some people have no idea of operating a quad or how to control of one.

 

i think with proper tires and good riding skills, the quad isn't any more unstable than a bike. less so because you got more meat on the ground.

 

Well I havent had a quad that can go up to 100 km/h yet, I think the fastest was my old shop foremans bombardier, and it was more unstable then a bike at faster speeds. Im not sure if I would wanna see them on the highway either. Ive driven quads at nearly legal speeds on gravel roads and they werent too bad, but if you did make a small move, you were swerving.

I think Morris's idea about a mandatory course is a good idea, and I think lots of people now should take a course like that! That doesnt stop idiots from being idiots though, or young fellas from being young fellas.

The whole stability of a quad compared to a street bike I think varies from where you are. On a street bike on the highway they feel alot more stable then a quad at the quads higher speeds. It doesnt seem to matter that the quad has four tires. Hell most crotch rockets now a days have wide assed slicks on them for tires, they seem to stick pretty good!

Maybe they should be useable in towns under such and such size(not cities im sure that would be a disaster), with the proper courses and safety stuff added onto them.

 

when i talk about it i mean that the quad no longer has the baloon knobby tires that they come with. it would have a stiffer, highway approved, DOT approved tire. most of the un-stability comes from the off-road tires.

now i want you to picture a quad with signals(keep in mind that some custom harley styles don't have them) a horn, street rated tires, a course similar to a motorcycle course that has to be taken and passed... now tell me what danger there is any more than a bike??

 

The suspension I think might be less then adequate for on road use, the rear diff isnt open or limited slip, and i would say the steering, since the tires are pretty close together, and its pretty responsive steering, wouldnt be half as safe as a bike.

I know it seems like two wheels on the front would be more stable, and at slower speeds it is, but once you start going fast its pretty easy to turn fast, possibly causing a rollover. With a bike once you get going its actually pretty hard to crank the bikes front tire around.

For the suspension its designed to move when you go over bumps, and to basically handle the offroad conditions, I would think it would be more "bouncy".

I know changing the tires over would help a ton for stability, but would it really be enough?

I myself would feel confident running on an atv tire with 5-8 psi in it on the highway, but i have also been driving quads since my grandpa got his yamaha quad in 1986. My first motorbike I got was a few years after that. So I personally have the experience.

The problem is that lots of people without any experience would go and buy one, take the course(hopefully a course) and be an expert on riding one!

Add the "trickier" steering, and suspension, with little to no experience, and there is where problems arise, and accidents start to happen.

Having a horn, the proper tires, signals would make it alot safer for on road use, no arguing there!

 

I was just pumping some iron at the gym and was thinking about this whole topic, and i cant believe I forgot the "lean"!

When riding a bike to steer its more of a lean. That shifts the weight around on the bike. On a quad ya cant do that, therefore making it tippier to steer.

 

no... that doesn't scare me sure you can lean. i've taken corners on my quad at 80k that i wouldn't dream of taking on my bike... look up the pike's peak race. as for the " taking the course then figureing they know it all", thats the same no matter what the punk is riding... cars, bikes, heck probably even horses!!

thing is prep, there is just as many reasons why it should be legal as there is why they shouldn't... we could sit and argue all day.

 

Oh for sure there is tons of reasons for both sides. Im actually on your side on this one, just basically offering points to ponder on why it would be illegal. I can see the cons to them for the average joe. I also like comparing them to bikes on road, its kinda fun racking the brain on just why they are different.

I guess im kinda happy its not legal in some places because with all the little sh17head drivers out there, we dont need them driving other things then cars!