CONTENTS
- THE ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE
- QUADS THAT GROW WITH YOU
- THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF EXPERIENCES
- WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR EXPERIENCE
- TEST A QUAD IN THESE RUGGED UK LOCATIONS
THE ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE
What is a quad bike?
What’s that coming over the hill, is it a monster? If it’s got four large wheels, a saddle like that of a dirt bike and a load of mud flung up in its wake, that’s a quad bike. Chances are it’s going to come right off that hill, plough through a stream and blast through some dense woodland without skipping a beat. These machines are more properly known as All-Terrain Vehicles, ATVs, which gives you an idea of what they’re capable of. Designed for agricultural and reconnaissance work, their potential for fun hasn’t gone unnoticed and quad tides are now a thrilling staple of the UK leisure scene.
How do you ride one?
One of the secrets of quads’ success is their simplicity. Unlike an off-road bike, you don’t lose balance at low speeds. Unlike 4x4s, you don’t have to deal with locking differentials, low range gear boxes and pedals. Unlike a mountain bike, your legs won’t turn to jelly after the first uphill stint.
At a basic level, all you need to get familiar with on a quad bike is the throttle, which you operate with your thumb whilst holding the (usually right) handlebar. All quads that you’ll find at outdoor adventure centres will have automatic gearboxes and the brakes work just like those of a bicycle. What comes next is more intuitive: using your bodyweight to keep the vehicle stable , with all or as many wheels as possible on the ground, as you tackle uneven terrain.
QUADS THAT GROW WITH YOU
Just as you can’t have a child ride a 18-hand horse, standard quad bikes are too big for youngsters. But, just as there are ponies for young horse lovers, so there are mini quads for pipsqueak petrol heads. The majority of quads owned by outdoor experience providers come from the factories of Suzuki, Yamaha and Kymco, though other manufacturers, such as Polaris, Kawasaki and E-ton are also represented.
Kids’ and junior models
Quads for kids are much smaller than their grown-up equivalents. The reason is obvious, children have smaller arms and legs and need to reach the handlebars and footrests comfortably. As such, they’re far lighter and have much smaller engines. The smallest come with 50 cc engines and are suitable for children from the age of 6 years old and up. The next size is usually 90 cc, about right for children of 10. Those designed for teenagers usually have 125 or 150 cc engines. Some of these machines, especially more modern models, have an inbuilt safety feature, a remote kill switch which an instructor can activate from afar to cut the quad’s power if they see a little one getting into trouble. To find out more about junior quads, read our article titled Why kids never forget riding a quad bike.
Full-size machines
These are the big guns, built to beat the toughest terrain and carry or tow the heaviest loads. The bigger size means a few things: bigger wheels that can tackle uneven surfaces, a wider wheelbase that gives the vehicle more stability, and, of course, bigger engines. Quads with 200 and 250 cc engines are common, but they’re not the biggest. There are quads out there that have huge engine capacities of 350 or even 400 cc. That might be less than half the size of the engine in a typical hatchback, but quads weigh in at far less than half the weight of a car, so the power-to-pound ratio is seriously high! Some of the quads can go at speeds of 60 ph! In general you’ve got to wait until your 16th or even 18th birthday to ride one of these beasts.
THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF EXPERIENCES
Track riding
Riding a quad bike around a track is a fantastic way to get a feel for these vehicles. In general, track experiences are the shortest quad experiences out there, lasting from as little as 15 or 20 minutes. You’ll be introduced to a quad that suits your age and size, given some instructions and supervised as you whizz around a dirt track, all by a trained instructor. There are some tracks that are specially set up for children, with inflatable crash barriers, while others are larger and feature bumps, hills, muddy sections and old car tyres - exciting for riders of all ages.
Quad trekking
This is what quads are made for: leaving behind roads and tracks and taking on the landscape. Trekking is usually a small group activity, with up to about 6 or 8 riders being led on an adventure by a guide. The route will take you across fields and meadows, through woods and water, on hillsides and hilltops and maybe even onto obstacle courses that the outdoor centres have built. If you want to spend some more time in the saddle and experience riding on different surfaces, while seeing a good chunk of an unspoilt part of the UK, this is the choice for you.
Combo activities
It’s not uncommon to find package deals and activity days that combine quad biking with another activity. We can’t recommend these experiences enough. Chances are, you’ll have to make a journey to a quad biking venue, so it makes sense to make the most of your time there. On top of that, and take our word on this, you’re going to get a better deal buying two activities together that separately.
A classic accompaniment to quad biking is that other great countryside activity, clay pigeon shooting. Another combo that will see you letting loose in the morning and switching to aim and focus in the afternoon is quads with archery. For off-roading fanatics, a day of quad biking and 4x4 driving will be like heaven and earth, while for real thrill seekers, we recommend mixing quads with high ropes or an assault course.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR EXPERIENCE
A few key points to bear in mind as you prepare for a quad bike experience.
- No licence of any kind is required.
- All quad bikes will have a maximum load weight, so be prepared to be asked for your stats in advance of a ride.
- It’s unlikely that your session will be cancelled due to the weather, unless it’s really extreme.
- Prevailing conditions will affect your choice of clothing. Many providers will kit you out with overalls, but these won’t stop every drop of mud. Wear sensible outdoor clothing!
- Though there are some providers that will give you boots, most won’t, so choose your footwear wisely. Sandals are out of the question, while walking boots are best. Wellies might be needed in very wet weather, while trainers might do in the summer. Bring a spare pair with you!
- You will be given a helmet.
TEST A QUAD IN THESE RUGGED UK LOCATIONS
North Yorkshire is the largest and one of the least densely populated counties in England. Add to that the wild landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks and you’ve got a perfect destination for quad biking. On top of that, the eighties game show The Krypton Factor was shot here and the assault course is still in place. You can book a combo activity day that includes a quad bike trek and a go on this famous course. Find out more about all the quad biking options in North Yorkshire by clicking here.
We can’t recommend places to go quad biking without mentioning the Scottish Highlands. In fact, it’s in the region of Perth and Kinross that you’ll find the best opportunities. You’ll believe that quad bikes were built specifically for the Scottish wilds if you go trekking by the River Tay, in the Tummel Valley or over the Ochil Hills. Don’t believe us? Book a session here and find out for yourself.
Another wild area, but a bit less remote, is Nottinghamshire, home of a large part of the Peak District National Park, There are plenty of quad experiences here and, if you know anything about Robin Hood, you won’t be surprised to learn that quad biking can be combined with archery throughout the county. To find out more, click here.
Can’t decide between track and trek quad bike experiences? The largest quads venue in Wales is outside Tenby, Pembrokeshire, and offers both! They also have bikes of all sizes, to suit families with children as young as 6 years old and larger groups as well. Browse their activities here.
And, just if you thought that there were no good quad biking locations in the South, allow us to inform you that one of the longest treks in the country is found in Devon. It’s a whopping 12 miles long and is found in Escot Park, not far from the county town of Exeter. For more information about quad biking in the whole county, follow this link.
Ready to get into it?Check out our full range of quad biking activities in the UK and find the one that suits you! You can search by location, price or novelty, so we know that you’ll find the adventure you’re looking for.
