The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: Bionic on April 25, 2012, 02:54:53 pm
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I really fancy a quad bike but am trying to justify the need.
When my piggies are here their field will be up the lane. It really is only a minutes walk but UP is the word. I was thinking of using the quad bike to take their water and feed to them as I am not as flexible as I used to be.
Other than that we only have a couple of acres but all on a slope too.
I wouldn't want a new bike but is it worth me getting second hand one and if so what do I look for?
thanks
Sally
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one that works is a good starting point ;) :farmer:
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if you arent needing speed but need to carry stuff, I think a 4 wheel mule type is the way to go. We have a really really ancient diesel 6 wheeler and I love it, esp in the snow!! Not fast but much more stable than a quad and has a truck back so you can put all the feed and water containers on it.
Young lads hate them cos they are so slow but they go up hills ok and the stuff stays on board!!
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What kind of money are you looking to spend?
How much water and food do you intend to carry?
If your just wanting a knock around quad for doing back and forth jobs - get an old knock around quad - the things you dont really need to look at and can knock people down on price is things like split drive boots, electrics not quite right, worn tyres on the braking wheels (turn them over for another 5 years wear lol), bodywork damage - as long as it starts well and every gear works thats about all thats important.
My ugliest most worn out quad is my favourite - bashed to hell and back - been rolled by about everyone except me. (I just have to fix the bastard after).
Your more often than not better off buying an old cheap honda or susuki than any spending a little more cash on an 'old' newer imported atv as parts for hondas are easy to get and cheap as chips.
All old 4 stroke hondas will be seeping oil from the rocker cover gasket and smoking from the engine exhaust - just have a quick look over the engine and make sure there are no rounded bolts, nuts or screws for the future.
I wouldnt be able to do without a quad - you'll love it when you have one - you wont know what you did without it (well you will in winter when it wont start and the battery is flat, but you get what I mean)
Baz
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Thanks Baz, I was thinking around £1,500. I only need to carry a couple of pounds of pig nuts and a gallon or so of water so it won't get over used.
Sally
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Can you use the car to transport a few pig nuts and cart a gallon of water up the lane? And then spend the £1500 on something more productive...! ;D
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Sally, yes of course I can but it won't be so exciting ;D ;D
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they must be putting something in your cornflakes bionic getting excited about a quad
either that or something lacking in your life :D
right enough when i was younger i would have driven tractors with 6 inch nails sticking out the seat ;) :farmer:
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Robert, my legs aren't as flexible as they used to be (might even have problems getting astride a quad bike) but at heart I am still 21. My body is aging but my mind hasn't caught up.
Sally
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Bionic - my mate got a great quad AND trailer for £1500 from the mid wales ATV centre - bikes plastic bits were cracked or missing, but its a great bike and the trailer is amazing - I was green with envy. :P
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Thanks FIB I will take a look
Sally
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i still think i am young as well yes try an ATV centre or Honda dealership you will need to know them to get spares anyway it is amazing what you can get as long as you don't rush into it
meanwhile at the highland show one year Harley Davidson had a stand i went back to Lillian to inform her of this and we were standing admiring them the guy with a long ponytail comes over ye sure you can sit on it so Lillian sits on it and says with this throbbing betwean your legs who the f*** would want a man poor guy so embarrassed :farmer:
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Hmmm, a Harley, now thats a thought ;D
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There is a place in Talsarn that sell second hand quads and new Honda ones. Dalton's ATVs. Don't know what the second hand ones are like from there. We purchased ours from Newtown, but don't know if they sell in your price range.
Buy one fit for what you want to do with it as the cheaper imports are not really for what you want. :)
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Thanks Kaz, I had found the Talsarn plae in yellow pages. Its definitely worth a look there
Sally
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Lamo's can be pretty expensive, but only cos the aftersales you get. Good family run business.
Am I right in thinking your near mid/west wales - Llandissilio'ish?
If you want something for carrying water you gota have something pretty heafty (everyones right on that!) - a couple of chuggs on the back of a light quad on a slope and it takes a bit of getting used too, you'll get a pretty good quad for £1500 no probs.
Baz
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First thing to do is see if you can get insurance, you say you're going up the road so will need it.
I bought my quad then tried to get it insured, nobody but nobody would touch me, eventually got some
through the NFU but then more or less only as a favour from them.
12 months later I sold it when the insurance had gone up not down as expected, it had used gallons of petrol at 25 mpg and gone through as set of tyres.
My advice ........... tractor every time.
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well insurance it will be expensive because they are the most stolen item (i know somebody that has had his third bike stolen)
i don't get 25 mpg about half of that
yes they are sore on rear tyres because the diff is solid
they are light nimble have very low ground pressure easier to get on and off than a tractor every tool has its position you would not use a claw hammer to chap stobs in :farmer:
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you would not use a claw hammer to chap stobs in :farmer:
We're eye to eye on a lot of things Robert but that went straight over my head :D