SpudFiles

I'm pondering purchasing an ATV as a relatively cheap alternative form of transport but have virtually no experience whatsoever with them, I wonder if some members better versed with them can help with with some concerns.

Are they a good idea for short (maximum around 10 miles) journeys on paved roads?

What sort of cc should I be looking for to be able to take my 185lbs to decent velocity? In fact, what is a good speed for one of these things?

Are there any good/crap brands I should be looking out for/avoiding?

All opinions considered, cheers

I have no idea about quad bikes, but I dont think they are road legal.

heres a Suzuki Bandit legal quad:

why not a motorcylce? I know atvs are a lot of fun to ride but so are motorcylces which are much more convenient and common on the road. Most atv's I've seen are more focused on the "all terrain" part not so much for road use. I doubt a atv is that much more maneuverable than a car and not much safer if any that a motorcycle

jor2daje wrote:why not a motorcycle? I know atvs are a lot of fun to ride but so are motorcylces which are much more convenient and common on the road. Most atv's I've seen are more focused on the "all terrain" part not so much for road use. I doubt a atv is that much more maneuverable than a car and not much safer if any that a motorcycle

Good points.

Having a motorcycle would require a motorcycle license which would be a pain in the arse to obtain, however I can drive an ATV with my standard car license. They also seem to be intuitively safer than two wheelers although looking at statsitics this doesn't seem to be the case.

On balance it would seem I'm better off buying a small car, I'm not looking to spend too much but it seems ATVs can get pretty expensive too.

I would definitely go for smaller car, I picked up a mazda mx5 for less than a grand, even though some people call it a little girlie it gets great fuel efficiency, is tons of fun to drive, and will eat most higher power cars round the twisties. An s2k would be fun also or if you have more to spend maybe an atom

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:maximum around 10 miles

Bicycle

Every trip up to 30 miles I just get on my bike. At an average of 20 mph, it doesn't take too much time either.

Or you could put a small engine on a bicycle, they dont chew through petrol and are worth and quite a lot cheaper.

jor2daje wrote:I would definitely go for smaller car, I picked up a mazda mx5 for less than a grand, even though some people call it a little girlie

One of my exes considered that model to be her dream car, never would I be seen behind the wheel of one of those

I see your point though, hmmm... Ultimately I don't want to spend too much, and an ATV is probably going to be more economical to run and insure

Every trip up to 30 miles I just get on my bike. At an average of 20 mph, it doesn't take too much time either.

I have a nice Raleigh AT-20 which I ride recreationally, however you live in flatland, I have a silly amount of hills and valleys to negotiate, not to mention unfriendly traffic.

Or you could put a small engine on a bicycle, they dont chew through petrol and are worth and quite a lot cheaper.

I considered this option but it all feels a bit flimsy and a number of people have been killed locally riding them, I'd feel much less silly riding an ATV.

Well you have the same danger with an ATV or motorbike. they both as dangerous. It's upto you really

Haha that's funny my current girlfriend hates it, apparently too noisey and it messes up her hair. If it's safety you're worried about I'd stay away from the quad it seems safer because you have four wheels but you're still dead if you hit anything or if anything hits you just like on a bike, and very few bike deaths are caused by simply falling off. Finally where I live at least if you saw someone riding an ATv on the road they would look very silly even more so than on a motorized bike. they're kind of like those silly can am roadster tricycles, only for people too scared to ride a real bike.

jor2daje wrote:Haha that's funny my current girlfriend hates it, apparently too noisey and it messes up her hair.

Women eh

If it's safety you're worried about I'd stay away from the quad it seems safer because you have four wheels but you're still dead if you hit anything or if anything hits you just like on a bike, and very few bike deaths are caused by simply falling off.

Agreed with you and AirgunsSA on the safety issue, the more I read about it the clearer it is that there really is no discrepancy between ATVs and motorbikes.

only for people too scared to ride a real bike.

Well if you put it that way hehe. I have no problem with riding motorbikes, it's the license getting that I'm trying to avoid. A motorised bike would circumvent the issue, hmmm...

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote: Agreed with you and AirgunsSA on the safety issue, the more I read about it the clearer it is that there really is no discrepancy between ATVs and motorbikes.

Just to up my post count I'll add that it appears we share similar terrains and quad bike deaths are frequent enough over here to warrant speculation about law changes (the majority of the deaths are from the bike rolling and trapping the person).

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ENGINE-49CC- ... 3369f1b7fa

$85 AUD 50cc pocket bike engine. ive bought one for a project i have lined up.

MrCrowley wrote:(the majority of the deaths are from the bike rolling and trapping the person).

Do these deaths happen on the roads though, or people screwing around offroad?

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:Do these deaths happen on the roads though, or people screwing around offroad?

Sometimes they say it was on a dirt road/farm but when they don't I assume they were on a proper road probably travelling between paddocks or farms where there is an annoying amount of hills and blind corners.

I think quad bikes can be easier and cheaper to fix than cars so even if they're equal in price, it might pay to go with a quad. How much rain do you see at your evil volcano island lair anyway? Weather looks nice in this photo: