Thread: Farm bike vs quad

I can see the argument for both, but I wouldn't want to go back to balancing loads like this on a 2 wheeler on a muddy track or in hill country. Not only do you knock yourself around its damned exhausting (especially after a big carry).
As far as safety goes, I think you make your own safety through your riding behaviours. No matter how many wheels are under you.

4 wheels verse 2. Carried a 221 lb boar and a mate out of the bush couple of months ago.on a quad no problems.
Have carried whole deer and the odd big pig on my Tx 400 on the flats no problems, buuuuuuuuut try coming down a steep hill with no weight on your front wheels is just stupid as I have found out the hard way.

All good fellas. Worth remembering there ain't gonna be any big loads! When I'm on my own, I struggle to get a red deer onto the rack of a quad, thanks to multiple surgeries. I'm all about boning it out in the bush now, hanging it up in meat bags overnight if necessary.

This is pretty much the best I can do now, on my own... I can get it onto the rack if I really try, but twice now, that's just resulted in another hernia and my intestines trying to escape.

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

You dont have to be doing a lot wrong at all to end up with a quad on top of you, just ask my friend Quentin...oh, actually, you wont be able to ask him....
The problem with quads has been pointed out clear as day here and it's the fact they lull people into a false sense of security and give the user confidence that they shouldn't have

Hence why I said you need to understand the limitations of quads.
The reason why so meany experienced riders crash them is due to getting complacent and taking for granted what they can and cannot do.

The thing with a 2 wheeler is a novice or inexperienced rider can easily make a hash of things, and when you are tired wet and muddy in the middle of the bush shit inexperience multiplies rapidly. I've ridden some nasty trails on my 2 wheeler that you would never dream of taking 4 wheeler on, but it could have gotten nasty real quick.

For a general farm hack I'd personally have a 2 wheeler, but for a hunting bike that is going to be loaded up with gear and going down known bad trails I'd go for a quad.

It doesnt even take being complacent, genuine accidents do happen and when they do, they can be fatal very easily. My buddy that died on a quad was riding up a track in the fading light, realised the track was washed out so he did a three point turn to turn around and head back down the track, as he reversed and turned at the same time one of the front wheels rode up over a large rock and it was enough to unsettle the bike a bit, it shunted backwards in a straight line instead of turning a bit which was enought to drop the opposite rear wheel off the side of the track and over it went, he had no chance to bail on the uphill side of the bike and it seemed he had tried to bail on the downside and jump forward of the bike, but it came over as he performed that maneuver, got his leg stuck between the front wheel and the guard and then rolled about 40 times down the bank with him attached to it. Freak accident. Closed casket funeral.

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

It doesnt even take being complacent, genuine accidents do happen and when they do, they can be fatal very easily. My buddy that died on a quad was riding up a track in the fading light, realised the track was washed out so he did a three point turn to turn around and head back down the track, as he reversed and turned at the same time one of the front wheels rode up over a large rock and it was enough to unsettle the bike a bit, it shunted backwards in a straight line instead of turning a bit which was enought to drop the opposite rear wheel off the side of the track and over it went, he had no chance to bail on the uphill side of the bike and it seemed he had tried to bail on the downside and jump forward of the bike, but it came over as he performed that maneuver, got his leg stuck between the front wheel and the guard and then rolled about 40 times down the bank with him attached to it. Freak accident. Closed casket funeral.

Its a very good example to describe. Its really not that hard to get all tangled up with the things in those circumstances and you can't see your wheels.

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

It doesnt even take being complacent, genuine accidents do happen and when they do, they can be fatal very easily. My buddy that died on a quad was riding up a track in the fading light, realised the track was washed out so he did a three point turn to turn around and head back down the track, as he reversed and turned at the same time one of the front wheels rode up over a large rock and it was enough to unsettle the bike a bit, it shunted backwards in a straight line instead of turning a bit which was enought to drop the opposite rear wheel off the side of the track and over it went, he had no chance to bail on the uphill side of the bike and it seemed he had tried to bail on the downside and jump forward of the bike, but it came over as he performed that maneuver, got his leg stuck between the front wheel and the guard and then rolled about 40 times down the bank with him attached to it. Freak accident. Closed casket funeral.

Thats a horrific story.
A friend of mines father fell of his 2 wheeler and somehow his hamd ended up in the chain and rear spoket, cut his pinky finger clean off.

While there is definitely a higher degree of crushing risk with a quad, they still have their place, freak accidents can occur with anything unfortunately.

Hey great thread - I've ridden horses all my life but the current one isn't making it easy . . . . seems to find stuff under the saddle blanket regular, the bastard hasn't killed or lost me yet but its a close contest!

Anyhoo - what is the minimum CC/power or lightest quad that would be useful for hunting etc - bear in mind I'm happy and like going slow and won't be going near any steep stuff?

Originally Posted by Tentman

Hey great thread - I've ridden horses all my life but the current one isn't making it easy . . . . seems to find stuff under the saddle blanket regular, the bastard hasn't killed or lost me yet but its a close contest!

Anyhoo - what is the minimum CC/power or lightest quad that would be useful for hunting etc - bear in mind I'm happy and like going slow and won't be going near any steep stuff?

And you wont get a quad through this without a winch

Originally Posted by DavidGunn

And you wont get a quad through this without a winch

Attachment 123541

Hahaha nice. Might need more than a winch too! Best thing of all is they basically self clean after being in a mudhole (maybe sometimes ya have to scrape a patch for the saddle!)

Most of the 4x4 quads start of at 400cc and around the same weight, it just comes back to how much money you want to speed,
suzuki 400 solid rear diff and basic.
I like having reliable machines i hate been miles from no where and breaking down with shit gear. also spending a bit more when buying a bike should save you money in the long run.
Most farmers get rid of there bikes when they start costing to much money to service

The suzuki 300 king quad is a good little machine, high/low/super low-diff lock. Only 300cc but our one has taken a real thrashing over the years towing overloaded trailers through the mud and brash and it’s still going strong.


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A lot of variation in 2 wheelers too. Farm bikes, enduro bikes, cross country bikes and motorcross bikes etc are all different. Personally if I was going to use one for hunting then I would probably set up an enduro bike with heavier spring in the rear to handle the extra weight. Maybe make up a rack for the back too like a farm bike. Good power, gearing and suspension and romp on around those hills.

None the less, I’ve been riding 2 wheelers my whole life and would prefer to take a quad if it was for hunting.

Originally Posted by MSL

The suzuki 300 king quad is a good little machine, high/low/super low-diff lock. Only 300cc but our one has taken a real thrashing over the years towing overloaded trailers through the mud and brash and it’s still going strong.


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Yup the LTF300 is just what I have in mind . . . . what sort of Km's/hours would one of these typically remain reliable up to (presuming a reasonably well looked after example)

Originally Posted by Tentman

Yup the LTF300 is just what I have in mind . . . . what sort of Km's/hours would one of these typically remain reliable up to (presuming a reasonably well looked after example)

Generally, the one's you see still running around are roughly 20 years old. It all depends on maintenance and the terrain it's used in. Dairy farms and beaches reduce all ATVs to rust in a few short years.