Kik Quads » Quad Bikes Advice

Insurance hassle for quad bike owners

Rick — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:03:16 +0000

While quad bikes are very popular in sport, recreation and as utility vehicles, often used around the farm, they are often difficult to insure with regular insurers. Insurance can therefore become a hassle for quad bike riders, including insurance for farm quads.

To find suitable insurance you may wish to check out a specialist provider. Looking for cover for your quad with your car insurance provider may not be worth the hassle. One of the reasons why general high street insurance providers do no offer insurance is down to the fact that there are so many different types of quad bike for different things. You may be able to get a typical third party fire and theft policy for your ATV or farm quad, but what if you want more comprehensive insurance, such as protection for a breakdown of your quad, cover for accessories or you wish to have legal expenses covered? A specialist quad bike insurance company may be the only place to get all the insurance coverage you need.

Even when taking out insurance for your quad with a specialist it pays to check out the terms and conditions. Almost all insurance providers will require you to keep your quad bike under lock and key and they may also require the use of a chain and lock. Some may even ask that you have a tracking device installed on your quad bike. As your quad is a large investment and, when purchasing a farm quad it is generally a much needed piece of equipment, it pays to have adequate insurance.

Avoid quad bike theft with police safety suggestions

Diane — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 09:59:07 +0000

Police are appealing for information following quad bike thefts in early November from two farms in the Lockerbie area of Scotland.

Two Honda quads were taken in separate incidents, one from Smallholm Farm in Hightae, and another from Broomhills Farm. Police are eager to receive information from anyone who may have been in the area and seen anything suspicious.

Unfortunately quad bike theft is becoming increasing common, especially in rural areas. Indeed, in March this year, police in the Cotswolds and Stroud issued advice on keeping quad bikes secure, following a spate of thefts in their area.

On the most straightforward level, police advise that overnight you should keep your quad bikes indoors, in a garage or storage area that is securely locked. Additionally, police give the simple, but sometimes forgotten tip, to remove the ignition key when not using the bike.

Police also advise fitting your quad bike with a hidden transponder, making it potentially trackable should the worse happen.

Additionally, take photographs of your quad bike from more than angle, especially capturing any unique, or “standout” marks or insignia. It can also be a good idea to have a video of your quad bike in action, which will further assist identifying your vehicle.

A drive-on clamp ramp, combined with resilient, padlocks, is also advisable.

Quad bike retailers, especially in busy farming areas such as Lancashire, are always happy to advise you on bolstering quad bike security, and will be delighted to supply you with relevant accessories, as required.

What to expect from a Quad Bike training session

Rick — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 08:49:38 +0000

With its outlandish size, ‘moon buggy’ looks and the ability to conquer handle difficult terrain, the quad bike has all the qualities of a dream boys’ toy. What’s more, for off-road use, you need the landowner’s permission, and precious little else in terms of qualifications or certification to set off on your first quad bike adventure. This all sounds most enticing, but quad bikes have a serious side too. For instance, they are used widely on farms and estates for such tasks as managing cattle and covering difficult terrain.

For both types of use, leisure and professional, some safety training, is simply a must.

During a safety session you are likely to cover at the least the following points:

-Children can ride quad bikes off-road but must be supervised by a responsible adult, or adults, at all times

-Quad bikes handle and turn very differently from cars and motorbikes, so turning and cornering techniques should be acquired before setting off

-Riding over different types of terrain such as deep water

-Recovery from a failed hill climb

-Appropriate safety gear to be worn, particularly a helmet, protective gloves and recommended padding.

A more comprehensive session, perhaps for agricultural employees, may additionally cover such points as:

-Relevant health and safety legislation

-Basic maintenance, including tyre pressures

-Practical towing exercises

Dealers of quad bikes in Lancashire and the surrounding areas will be happy to advise you on any accessories you’ll need, and any relevant regulations, to ensure that using your quad bike is both a safe and rewarding experience.

Quad Bike stolen from Castle Howard

Diane — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:31:17 +0000

Castle Howard, the stately home in North Yorkshire, and famous for its role in the TV series Brideshead Revisited, recently experienced a theft on the estate, where valuables worth around £16,000 were stolen. These included a quad bike. This incident, experienced by one high-profile residence, is by no means an isolated occurrence: quad bike theft is on the rise, especially in rural communities. For instance, in March of this year quad bikes were targeted by thieves across the Cotswolds, with two bikes being taken from a village in one day alone. And in Worcester, over the summer, a disabled Afghan war veteran had his quad bike stolen.

The good news is that there is now a concerted effort under way from police, bike owners, quad bike clubs, and retailers to stop the thieves in their tracks.

Amongst the recommended prevention measures are:

- Fitting quad bikes with concealed transponders – these make the bikes less appealing to the thieves, and also make a safe return to the original more likely should a stolen bike be recovered.

- Ensuring quad bikes are locked in secure premises overnight

- Taking photographs of the bike from different angles, and noting down any unique or distinguishing marks.

- Fitting mechanical immobilisers, such as U-locks.
- Registering off-road bikes with the DVLA
- Chaining your quad bike to an anchor embedded in concrete.

Combined with increased vigilance such measures, fully backed by a responsible community of bikers and retailers of new and secondhand quad bikes, can really make a difference.

ATV crime prevention is in your hands

Mat — Mon, 31 May 2010 09:16:44 +0000

Owners of all-terrain vehicles up and down the country are constantly targeted by thieves. The popularity of quad bikes for rural work and pursuits, combined with their portability, make them easy targets. So just how can you stop your pride and joy being taken? With some planning, you can make it difficult for the thieves, and probably save some money on your insurance bill too.

One fundamental precaution is to make sure you secure your ATV to the ground. In just a few seconds, two people can have your quad bike in the back of a van, no matter how many handlebar clamps, chains and alarms are fitted. If it isn’t bolted down, it can be carried away easily and the thieves can deal with chains and clamps at their leisure. Invest in a good quality ground anchor and make sure your bike is secured to it when not in use. If the ground anchor is fitted inside a secure garage, fitted with an alarm, then you’ve just put another serious barrier in the path of thieves.

It could be argued that you’ll never stop a truly determined thief from taking away your quad bike. They’ve been known to use bolt croppers, angle grinders and all sorts to get past security devices. Quad bikes are valuable items and it’s worth making sure you do everything you can to deter them in the first place. If the worst happens, you can at least make it easy for the police to recover your property by fitting a tracking system. ATV owners can take real steps toward cutting out Quad bike crime.