Sorry Alexlebrit - but the thread is titled:

Are Quads better than bikes for traveling???

so, except in limited circumstances, certain situations, NO!

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Indeed, although it then goes on to expound in far greater detail, the specific times when they may be and the specific reasons why that might be so, so I was engaging with the whole thread, not just the title.

To go back to your previous post, it appears that outside some states of the US, some parts of South America, and all of Australia, a quad can be used, legally on the road. From the research I've done so far it appears Africa, India, Europe, and most of Asia are fine with this IF they've been registered for road-use in their country of origin (not certain about Antarctica though). I'd suggest that they're legal for road use in more parts of the world than they're prohibited.

So sure you can't use them everywhere, but you can use them in many places, including some where motorbikes may be either unsuitable or prohibited (increasingly in France for instance motorbikes are prohibited off-road due to over-use by noisy "scrambler" style bikes, but quads, and other motor vehicles are still allowed).

I do appreciate that some bikers appear to loathe the things with a passion, much more than they'd dislike other 4 wheeled vehicles, although I'm not certain why that's so. Is it because quads are seen as "sissy-bikes" and their riders are like those kids still using stabilisers or training wheels on their push-bikes long after the rest of us mastered balancing?

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Wait for Harley to bring one out and see the reaction.....

Andy

That made me chuckle I live in a rural setting, and all the Shepard's around here use quads with their dogs riding on the back The terrain they cross would leave a bike standing (literally), and the carrying capacity is brilliant (especially with the front racks fitted). It's lambing time now, and quads must be a godsend for them, the area that can now be covered (compared to walking) is immense ! They're not to everyone's taste, but they get the job done


Trophymick

I dont think the opinion of quads as bikes for sissies applies to agricultural use, just those select few who get a road legal quad and road tyres so they can pose around town......

I've seen shepherds in the desert carry sheep on a ural motorcycle, but I am pretty sure they would prefer a quad!

Does that apply to the shepperd or the sheep?

Good point! I guess if you have a particular fondess for bending the sheep over your lap the ural might win, would look a bit sus if you had a perfectly good but unused rack behind you

I kinda hate to do this, but I want to get back on topic...
Quads are definitely a worthy choice depending on why you are out travelling in the first place.

On a motor/push bike, you are exposed to the elements and situation much more than in a vehicle-this can create interesting moments and has benefits. The quad is a compromise between the two...
Unfortunately Josh's initial choice in bike tainted his exposure to what two wheels are capable of, but in the end when he took the quads he got out of the trip what he wanted and that was to share the experience with someone significant and not have a vehicle limit their choices of where to go.

The comfort of 4 wheels can be judged however you want to judge it, but it was their trip/holiday and they proved that we shouldn't limit our choices to the f650, klr, gs, dr650, xt600, lancruiser, landrover, etc. Although I get somewhat fatigued at the banality of vehicle choice by some folks, in the end what impresses me is the sacrifice and committment people make in order to scratch their travel itch...

Although Josh, I still think a BMW K75s would have proved more interesting

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edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

Edde after seeing where you crossed the Sahara on your K75 I would put that right up there as the most underrated travel bike.

So I am going to through the pro's and con's to the quad travel
Quad Cons
Thumb Throttle- must change out to twist throttle (that was our first mod)
Fuel consumption - 25 mpg (US miles and gallons)
Tires - have to plan ahead and have DHL deliver if traveling in the 3rd world.
Top Speed - only 50mph ( but we found that there is no need to do more than that in Africa, we were there to see the place so why fly by at 100 and miss it all)

Quad Pros
Storage - ability to carry 4 times more gear than a motorcycle.. my wife took all her camera equipment and now has signed a book deal. On a motorcycle she wouldnt have been able to carry the amount of gear she brought.
Terrain - the ability for a beginner to easily cross terrain that would challenge a Dakar Rally rider.
Novelty - on a motorcycle we couldnt get a magazine company to even talk to us, we were not famous moviestars with support vehicles, but on quads we write for 4 different magazines, in the end got a book deal and we even broke a Guinness World Record. *Diclaimer- we didnt do the trip for any hopes of fame or breaking records but it was nice to get the publicity while doing the trip.
Feeling - believe it or not you still get the same rush and feeling of the wind in your face and the sense of freedom that comes with a bike.
Safety - we did not fall over a single time, hitting dogs, chickens, pigs was never a concern. When we traveled in Mali on the BMW we had to miss some of the best countryside because we fell off the bike and hurt my wifes knee. But with the quads falling over in deep sand wasnt a concern.

Alex like your link. I think ride or drive what you want, whatever floats your boat so to speak. If it gets you out there than who cares about the hows or whys. I like the look of quads and they are great fun in the dunes I cant store one at home as I only have room in the coal shed for 1 bike at a time but those 700 Raptors from Yam look brilliant.

For those of you who think a 'dune buggy' like those they make out of vw beetles by ripping everything out and chucking roll bars on it is a good alternative to bikes in Africa, I dare you to try that! For one its fine on a beach as the sand drops quickly but try driving that in Fesh Fesh and you will have serious health issues with your lungs. The dust in Africa is so light it can hover for hours, also making it a nightmare for anyone who is following you. On a more technical side, the VW engine suffers from overheating in dusty conditions, so loads of new air filters will be needed.

These buggies are great fun for a day out but trust me I have tried it in Africa and its not a practical day-in-day-out mode of travel on that terrain.

PS: For anyone who cares I did most of Southern Africa in a home constructed steel tubed enclosed 'sand master' with a Rover V8 engine rear mounted, built by a family friend. A bit heavy but great fun.

Trav

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Moto Guzzi California 1100i
Honda XR650R 2003

'Nothing is neither right nor wrong, but what thinking makes it so'

'Where is a desert when you need one?'

We did Africa (cairo to Cape Town route) two up with a 100kg of luggage on a R100GS. We were focused on getting there and unlike some other bike travellers we met we were not tempted to go looking for off road for sport. We did take the bike up Mt. Kenya (to nearly 4000 metres) and all around Botswana and Namibia off road and never really felt restricted. It was a bit of a liabilty in deep sand due to weight and road tyres. I've owned an 1150 since and wouldn't even consider it for the same trip. The bike is much too heavy to start with and vastly overated in my opinion.

I've never liked quads even though they are road legal here but you never know, the next trip may be me on the bike and wifey on a quad - she's not safe in control of 2 wheels pedal power or engine.

"The bike is much too heavy to start with and vastly overated in my opinion"

I agree 100% Just shows what a big advertising budget does for a remarkably average motorcycle. The British can't get enough of them, I suppose the same people buy Range Rovers despite living in London. How can anybody justify the price too?!

Anyway this is just a little so I will stop before I get carried away.

Trav

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Moto Guzzi California 1100i
Honda XR650R 2003

'Nothing is neither right nor wrong, but what thinking makes it so'

'Where is a desert when you need one?'

Hey I just wanted to add that on my first trip around the world I couldnt get any magazine or media to publish a single article that I wrote. The thing about motorcycle traveling is that unless you are a jedi night that pretends to have his bmw panniers fulll you cant pay your bills. So traveling by quad I have now made serious money (well over $10,000) by writing articles. The cool thing about quads is that nobody does it. So please anyone who wants to try something different let me know and I can point you in the right direction.
Cheers,
Josh

Like T-W-B, I have a sidecar outfit (Ural) and so, having experienced now what a sidecar is like to ride, I do not feel the "Quad is like a car, because you do not have the sense of Freedom" arguement applies.

As someone said, ride/drive what you like. Having struggled in places, two-up, on our bike in S. America, I do know what it feels like to miss the scenery and only watch the "road", so I can empathise with that, too.

For me the reasons I would not (barring the fact I already have a Outfit for "terrain" peace of mind) use a Quad are the following.

Mainly expense: We do our travelling as a couple, predominantly, and so to use Quads we would have to buy two as, by all accounts, I understand they are "single rider". Then, as Josh mentioned there is the aspect of tyre availability, let alone other spares (although spares for newer bikes would probably have to be couriered in, anyway). Then there is my complete lack of mechanical knowledge surrounding quads, although I'm sure it has a lot of cross-over with bikes so perhaps not such a problem.

In short, I think cost would be the most prohibitive. Note these are all practical reasons, and not some vehement revolt against the non-bike.

I consider myself a biker, through and through, and for a long time I think that meant "damned if I'll ever give more that two-wheels even a second glance!!". Since coming to the conclusion that, whilkstmI still own and enjoy a bike, for travel with my partner, the Ural is the best solution and very good fun it its own right. So, if it takes your fancy, I say Quad away to your hearts content.

So when do we see some pictures, then??

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)