Quad bike
Encyclopedia
A Quad bike is recognised by UK law as a vehicle with four wheels and a mass of less than 550 kg.
To drive a quad bike on a public road, in the UK, requires a B1 licence as well as tax, insurance and registration.
built and sold the first powered quadracycle in 1893. It had many bicycle
components, including handle bars. The Royal Enfield resembles a modern ATV
-style quad bike but was designed as a form of horseless carriage
for road use.
started to make trikes and quad bikes based on their motorbikes which became the modern UK quad bike.
). This neighborhood electric vehicle
is seen by some within British motor journalism as a symbol of Champagne socialism because of its popularity with some celebrities and its poor performance in almost all fields. The vehicle was given a Euro NCAP specification test. The results showed that the vehicle's occupants would suffer "serious or life-threatening" injuries in a 64 km/h (40 mph) crash.
The UK Department for Transport
concluded that there were serious safety concerns when the REVA was crashed at 35 mph (56 km/h).
Safety has been a major issue with quad-bikes due to the high number of deaths and injuries associated with them and the neglible protection offered by the machine.
After consultation with stakeholders including farmers and quad-bike manufacturers, Australia's Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA) representing all states and territories, as well as New Zealand, in 2011 released a strategy intended to reduce the high number of deaths and serious injuries associated with quad-bike use. Apart from encouraging standard safety measures such as helmet-wearing, the strategy also recommend development of a national training curriculum, point of sale material for purchasers and, controversially, a recommendation that owners consider fitting of an after-market anti-crush device which may offer added protection in the event of a roll-over. At the time the report was released the only model of anti-crush protection on the market was the the Australian-made "Quad bar" which was vigorously opposed by the industry through media activity and a poster campaign at regional events for farmers which are often used to showcase new products. The industry argued that the device had not been properly tested and that past studies of tractor-style ROPS such as a full-frame 'cage' around the operator were not only ineffective, but could add to the risk to injury or death. While quad-bike safety has mainly focused on users operating the machines correctly, the fundamental design has not been a public focus of the industry despite the high potential for rollovers and deaths which are frequently reported in media around the world.
To drive a quad bike on a public road, in the UK, requires a B1 licence as well as tax, insurance and registration.
19th century
Royal EnfieldRoyal Enfield
Royal Enfield was the name under which the Enfield Cycle Company made motorcycles, bicycles, lawnmowers and stationary engines. This legacy of weapons manufacture is reflected in the logo, a cannon, and their motto "Made like a gun, goes like a bullet". Use of the brand name Royal Enfield was...
built and sold the first powered quadracycle in 1893. It had many bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
components, including handle bars. The Royal Enfield resembles a modern ATV
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
-style quad bike but was designed as a form of horseless carriage
Brass Era car
The automotive Brass Era is the first period of automotive manufacturing, named for the prominent brass fittings used during this time for such things as lights and radiators. It extends from the first commercial automobiles marketed in the 1890s until about World War I...
for road use.
20th century
In the 1970s HondaHonda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
started to make trikes and quad bikes based on their motorbikes which became the modern UK quad bike.
Controversy
The safety issues of cars classed as quad bikes are illustrated by the case of the G-Wiz (REVAREVA
The REVAi, known as G-Wiz in the UK, is a small micro electric car, made by the Indian manufacturer REVA Electric Car Company since 2001...
). This neighborhood electric vehicle
Neighborhood electric vehicle
A Neighborhood Electric Vehicle is a U.S. denomination for battery electric vehicles that are legally limited to roads with posted speed limits as high as depending on the particular laws of the state, usually are built to have a top speed of , and have a maximum loaded weight of 3,000 lbs...
is seen by some within British motor journalism as a symbol of Champagne socialism because of its popularity with some celebrities and its poor performance in almost all fields. The vehicle was given a Euro NCAP specification test. The results showed that the vehicle's occupants would suffer "serious or life-threatening" injuries in a 64 km/h (40 mph) crash.
The UK Department for Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
concluded that there were serious safety concerns when the REVA was crashed at 35 mph (56 km/h).
Safety has been a major issue with quad-bikes due to the high number of deaths and injuries associated with them and the neglible protection offered by the machine.
After consultation with stakeholders including farmers and quad-bike manufacturers, Australia's Heads of Workplace Safety Authorities (HWSA) representing all states and territories, as well as New Zealand, in 2011 released a strategy intended to reduce the high number of deaths and serious injuries associated with quad-bike use. Apart from encouraging standard safety measures such as helmet-wearing, the strategy also recommend development of a national training curriculum, point of sale material for purchasers and, controversially, a recommendation that owners consider fitting of an after-market anti-crush device which may offer added protection in the event of a roll-over. At the time the report was released the only model of anti-crush protection on the market was the the Australian-made "Quad bar" which was vigorously opposed by the industry through media activity and a poster campaign at regional events for farmers which are often used to showcase new products. The industry argued that the device had not been properly tested and that past studies of tractor-style ROPS such as a full-frame 'cage' around the operator were not only ineffective, but could add to the risk to injury or death. While quad-bike safety has mainly focused on users operating the machines correctly, the fundamental design has not been a public focus of the industry despite the high potential for rollovers and deaths which are frequently reported in media around the world.