What are Quads and ATVs and into which categories they are divided
ATVs (All-Terrain Vehicles), also commonly called Quads, are four-wheeled vehicles designed for driving on various types of terrain, including dirt trails, meadows, hills and more. These vehicles are known for their versatility and ability to tackle a wide range of conditions. The types of quads can be divided mainly into three categories:
Sports Quad
This category of quads is primarily designed for sports racing on dedicated tracks or specific terrain. Usually equipped with powerful engines and manual gearbox, sport quads offer high performance and an adrenaline-filled ride. However, in recent years, this category has suffered a decline in popularity on the market.
Quad Utilities
Originally designed for working purposes such as farming and ranching, utility quads offer a balance between performance and functionality. These vehicles have sturdy suspensions and are often designed to tow trailers or haul cargo. They are prized for their drivability over rough terrain and their ability to tackle a wide range of tasks.
Agricultural Quad
These vehicles, also known as “yellow plates”, are approved for agricultural use and are designed for specific operations in agricultural and forestry environments. They have characteristics such as excellent driveability, towing capacity and suspension suitable for difficult terrain. In recent years, regulations have also allowed private individuals to register agricultural quads, opening up new opportunities for use.
What license do you need to drive a Quad ATV
The regulations on driving quads were updated in 2013, making it necessary to have a B or B1 license to drive these vehicles. In the past, the A and A1 license allowed the driving of quad bikes, but this provision has been changed. The B1 license was introduced for 16-year-olds, allowing them to drive quads with an unladen mass of up to 400kg and a maximum power of 15kW. However, to drive the quads chosen by us, a B license is required, which has no mass or power limitations.
How to best use the quad
To make the best use of a quad, it is essential to abandon the idea that it is a combination of car and motorbike. The quad's masses are concentrated in the engine area, and its stability and handling are very different from those of a motorbike. The driver literally sits astride the engine, and the position of the latter in relation to the ground and chassis influences the driving style.
Each quad has unique structural characteristics, influenced by the arrangement of the masses and the performance of the engine, which determine its off-road behavior. It is not necessary to become an expert driver, but it is important to understand the vehicle you are driving and find its limit without exceeding it, always keeping safety in mind as an absolute priority.
Move safely
These are some of the fundamental rules to be respected during our organized Quad Tours:
- Turning by tailing/countersteering/dridding is prohibited: Always maintaining safe behavior during turns is essential for the safety of the driver and that of other participants.
- Do not attempt jumps or travel on two wheels: Avoiding risky behaviors such as attempting jumps or riding on two wheels is important to prevent accidents and injuries.
- Maintain a linear layout (avoid zig zags): Make sure to maintain a linear route and preferably in the center of the road, without zigzagging, to avoid collisions with other participants.
- Prohibition on overtaking and/or coming alongside other quads: To ensure the safety of all participants, it is prohibited to overtake or come alongside other quads during the tour.
If you have never driven a Quad ATV and don't know this world, don't worry! Taking part in one of our Quad Tours a stone's throw from Florence is the best way to start. Before each experience there is a training briefing held by our expert guides during which both the safety rules and the fundamental information for driving will be illustrated. Furthermore, before the start of the Quad Tour, all participants will have the opportunity to try out the Quad entrusted to them in a protected car park, testing all the main functions (cornering, acceleration, braking, starting, turning off, emergency manoeuvres, etc. ) with the supervision of the instructors.
