Thread: Honda lashes out at " disappointing " mandatory roll bars for quad bikes

I think Yamaha has said the same thing.
I wish I could find the article I read a few months back. One of the reasons Honda is so up in arms about putting "roll bars" onto quads is the safety benefit was based on very little research and more based on political knee jerk reaction. Some of the designs of the roll bars made the quads even more top heavy and the risk of roll over was proven to increase. Honda believes that their was greater risk of injury if the quad had a roll bar VS without.
Some of the designs also take away their original usability.

The regulators have stopped the manufacturing of certain types of spray tanks that were designed to go onto the rear rack as it was proven that it changed the stability and steering dynamics.

So I can understand why the manufactures are up in arms to be able to design a safe and effective roll bar system that will be fit for purpose without affecting the original design functionality. There would be countless hours of R&D by the manufactures. Would it be worth it for the limited numbers that are sold in Australia where up to date no other country wants them to have them.
does not matter what they come up with their will ALWAYS be deaths contributed to them.
Prime example - has Australian road deaths been SIGNIFICANTLY reduced with all of the road safety designs and improved safety features on todays cars - NO.

My 250 quad has warning signs for not to be used by under 16 year olds.

Quads (and 3 wheelers and snowmobiles) all have a particular riding technique - if you get this down pat they are a lot of fun to ride. Quads are heavy and can be unsettled very easily.
A lot of people think they are "safe" because they have 4 wheels and will put under aged riders on them. Now I ask who would buy their 12year old or younger a 250cc 2 wheeled motorcycle as their first bike- I can not think of any but are more than happy to put their 12 year old or younger on a 500cc quad.

What about the wringing of hands over injuries caused to teenage girls by horses. In my direct experience I know of two broken backs and a badly broken leg yet there is no outcry about the death toll which seems to be largely unpublished.
There was some publicity recently over the eventing deaths of a couple of girls but these were organised competition events , not recreational riding which relates to the incidents I am familiar with.

All full size quads are plated as 16 years and over and have been for as long as I can remember. The tragic incident alluded to above involved a small "kids" quad and could have just as easily occurred on a peewee 50 or similar.

On the quad bike front I can see that there may be benefits to having roll devices and remember the same outcry over tractor ROPS. Most tractors have them now (there are exclusions where a ROPS would limit usefulness such as in orchards) but they were largely a success. I'm not sure why the manufacturers are so against them ,probably because we are the only country that has a big enough nanny state to demand them and that if we had them it may create a precedent for other markets to sue over accidents where a protection device is not fitted.

I dispute claims that quads are inherently unstable, how can you say this in comparison to a motorbike that only has 2 wheels? There is definitely a technique to riding them and just like a 500cc bike if you push it to the limit you will come unstuck. We use helmets on the farm for the quads and they perform a task that could not be replaced by a side by side as many seem to suggest. Jobs such as mustering stock are not able to be done in a glorified golf cart (or a 4wd)

Regards,
Tote

Originally Posted by shanegtr

Whats next, training wheels for 2 wheel motorbikes...

But that would make them a quad (three wheels at the back and one at the front)

Regards,
Tote

It should’ve been a requirement years ago - quads are incredibly dangerous. The issue with them is that by dint of their design their centre of gravity is high, and they also don’t lean when turning, so over they go.

BTW, about 40 years ago Honda sold a quad with a full roll-bar - the Odyssey (no, not the people-mover).

High centre of gravity, short wheelbase, soft flotation tyres. No wonder they trip and fall when operated on slopes.

Safe work Australia, Quad Bikes. EDIT . I'd be the first to admit my lack of knowledge about quad bikes, so I thought I had better find out a bit about them. And about the regulations surrounding them.


Quad bikes | Safe Work Australia

Originally Posted by Arapiles

It should’ve been a requirement years ago - quads are incredibly dangerous. The issue with them is that by dint of their design their centre of gravity is high, and they also don’t lean when turning, so over they go.

BTW, about 40 years ago Honda sold a quad with a full roll-bar - the Odyssey (no, not the people-mover).

More of a small buggy than a quad

Originally Posted by Arapiles

BTW, about 40 years ago Honda sold a quad with a full roll-bar - the Odyssey (no, not the people-mover).

Yes was a light weight tube roll over protection system that would easily work on a quad and not add much weight higher up honda odyssey buggy - Google Search

The pics I have seen of quads with ROPS just have a heavy bar behind the seat - not a light weight bar system like the Odyssey had.

Garry