Bike

You can go out and buy a 'bog standard' quad from any of the big four Japanese manufacturers, Yamaha (Banshee & Raptor), Honda (400 EX), Suzuki (Z400) or the Kawasaki 400 and all of them are excellent base machines.

 

Yamaha's Raptor 660R

But before you can start racing them you have to equip them with, under international race regulations, important safety devices. Nerf bars are designed to protect the rider in the event of the inevitable collision with other machines and a kill cord, attached securely to the riders’ body, will, as the name suggests, kill engine power in the event of rider and machine becoming separated.

 

After that you can start to think about adding all those extras, some that will actually make the bike go faster and those that just make it feel like the bike's going faster.

After market products such as Renthal's Suzuki Quad Racer Bend handlebars, exhaust pipes from Duncan Racing or K&N air filters will all make a dramatic improvement on the bikes performance and handling. And the Zip non-slip seat, pictured below is a great accessory if your aim is to stay on the bike.

For youngsters entering the sport or parents thinking about buying their offspring a quad RCR recommend quads manufactured by E-Ton, a South Korean company who are new to the market but who offer a range of bikes with exceptional safety features.

You can find out more about their products here . . .

As with lots of things in life, it boils down to the rider's individual preferences.

Helmet

The use of a good quality helmet cannot be over stressed - it's absolutely vital to buy a helmet that is not only going to protect you in the event of a crash but is also comfortable. Richard Cole says, "Over the years I've tried a lot of different helmets from different manufacturers and I have to say that, in my opinion, Arai are without doubt the best in the world. They're comfortable, well ventilated and most importantly offer the rider maximum unrestricted vision. Some riders forget that long hair should be well tucked away inside the helmet because it's possible for loose hair to become entangled with moving parts on the bike."

Boots

When choosing boots it's important to consider the degree of ankle support and shin protection. Richard says, "I've been using Gaerne boots for quite a few years. They're very comfortable and a nice mixture of leather for protection and plastic supports in the right places. Richard says, “I’ve seen people getting on bikes wearing flimsy training shoes and I don't think these people realise the danger, laces can get caught up in the running gear and they just don't offer enough protection from flying debris."

Clothing

Race jeans and shirt have to protect you from debris and mud flying off the track, allow unrestricted movement but also to look cool. Cole recommends Zipwear's excellent range. It's important to wear close fitting gear that doesn't flap around and therefore cannot get wrapped up in the bike's moving parts.

 

Ok, so perhaps you don't always look so cool

 

Goggles

 

Good eye protection is another vital accessory. Richard comments, "You need a pair of goggles capable of standing up to stones and other stuff that will come flying at you. I choose Oakley's, they don't steam up, are a nice, comfortable fit inside the helmet and they don't restrict your vision.

 

Body Armour

Even the very best riders will take a tumble at some time. Body armour that is comfortable, light weight and will absorb impact is an essential.

Gloves

There's plenty of gloves to choose from but you need a pair that will not only protect your hands but, very importantly, aren't too inflexible therefore causing blisters.