Quad bike safety

5 posts
Wed, 08/29/2012 - 19:22 #1

Member for

13 years
dennisb
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/15/2011 - 20:24

Quad bike safety

I live on a reasonably slopping block in the Latrobe Valley.

I also own a Honda TRX500 Quad Bike.

We all know how dangerous Quad Bikes can be on sloppy uneven ground.

Does anybody own a Quad Bike that has ROL ( Roll Over Protection ) fitted.

Whether as a standard accessory or as an aftermarket purchase.

Either way where can a hobby farmer like myself purchase one of these units.

 

Dennis Bawden

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Fri, 08/31/2012 - 15:20 #2
Farmed-Out
Last seen: 05/27/2013 - 10:55
Joined: 03/12/2012 - 09:44

Tried using Google?

Personally I wouldn't install such things, I don't beleive that on a decent hill they do as good as they are claimed to. I know the sellers claim people who oppose these "safety devices" base their ideas on flawed information but I'd say that too if I wanted to sell them. Watch enough videos of them and you'll see that most of them are created under ideal situations, hard ground, minimal slope etc and while in the cases they show on video the bikes don't roll completely over there is a many cases where the rider could still be in a serious situation they can't get out of.

Prevention is always better than the cure, learn to drive any vehilce to the conditions and the risks are minimised. We run several quad bikes over our 7 properties in Gippsland and as you say the hills are sloppy and uneven and some are 60-70 degrees but we've never had an accident simply because we recognise the risks and don't push past them.

I'm not saying people shouldn't buy these things because only an individual can put a price on their own peace of mind (as opposed to safety, any company can put a price on your safety) but at the end of the day common sense if free. If you were that way inclined you could whip up something similar that does same job in a relatively well equiped workshop in about 30 mins and it might cost about $100 in parts.

 

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Fri, 08/31/2012 - 18:25 #3
dennisb
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/15/2011 - 20:24

Hi Farmed out,

Thank you for the information.

I see where you are coming from.

Example if it looks unsafe, it probably is unsafe.

I ride my Quad Bike normally a little fast than walking pace.

And a lot slower on sloppy or uneven ground

Common sense states it would not take much for the bike to topple over.

Being over 50 years of age.

Ones sense of adventure wanes somewhat.

 

Dennis Bawden 

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Fri, 08/31/2012 - 17:58 #4
Farmed-Out
Last seen: 05/27/2013 - 10:55
Joined: 03/12/2012 - 09:44

I know our area isn't unique for hills, plenty of places have them but we have some serious hills from Lenogatha eastward and with all the rain in recent months driving anything around the paddocks really does take common sense.

The worst thing I have seen is people who are over confident because of what they have. Not actually a farm related comparison but consider the 18 yr old driver on the road with and expensive highly rated car, airbags, abs etc etc who thinks because of all the safety features he's safe to drive at 150kph. Worse still is when people rely on those safety fetures and forget that it's far easier to not put yourself in a position to need them than it is to see just how well they work.

As stated I wouldn't talk people out of such a purchase but I would ask them why they consider they need it when it's much easier to not risk themselves. (I wouldn't make a good salesman for safety products, it's lucky I sell only computers, webpages and web related things to farmers :) )

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Fri, 08/31/2012 - 18:54 #5
charlie
Last seen: 12/26/2018 - 09:21
Joined: 05/31/2011 - 09:44

Hi Dennis,

You raise a good point regarding quad bike safety. Not many people realise that quad bikes were the leading cause of serious farm injury and death during 2011. A number of these were children. You can view further information on quad bike safety here.

Education and training has a big role to play and I don't believe that one piece of safety equipment will stop all of the injuries or deaths from occurring. However, if a roll bar can save one life I believe that it is money well spent.

You can buy the Quadbar (crush protection device) online.

Charlie

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