There are many fast-paced adrenaline sports on four wheels and you might think that quad biking falls into that category… but you’d be wrong.
Quad biking is less about speed and adrenaline and more about skills and tactics and being at one with your machine.Quad bikes are great fun and the woodland course at our Warwick site has some very challenging areas, especially during the winter. The chances are, you’ll not really get out of second gear though… but that’s the whole point.
Quad biking – fun for everyone (really) at any time of year
Like many of our activities, the misconception of adventure sports being just for men is simply not true. Quad biking appeals to both men and women, and the beauty of quad biking on our site in Warwick is that the sessions are completely tailored to the individual person or team.
Quads can be dangerous when not ridden correctly and safety is always at the forefront of our activities. If you don’t feel comfortable then neither do we.
We have many groups who are more than happy to just ride around on the grassy test area for the majority of their session and that’s enough for them. There are some cones to navigate, which is easier said than done when you’re on a quad bike for the first time. Some people will show a thirst for more, so we’ll move onto more complicated course with a few more bumps and a bit more mud before we really are certain that you can handle the woods.
We make sure that the quad biking is accessible for everyone, no matter how brave (or otherwise) you’re feeling…
When you arrive you’ll be given the normal briefing and safety talks. You’ll be reminded that riding a completely open and very heavy machine deserves respect and understanding. Luckily, it’s very easy to get into and you’ll soon be at one with your beast.
First of all you’ll need some attractive gear to cruise through the mud in. By all means wear your own comfortable clothes and we’ll kit you out in overalls and a helmet and gloves to protect your head, face and hands (mainly from the brambles and branches).
Next it’s time to get to know your quad
Our quad bikes are Honda Fourtrax 250 ES. They’re a 2x4 rear wheel drive bike with a 250cc 4-stroke engine. They’re a very capable machine offering electronic gear shift (so there’s no complicated clutch to worry about). They offer great suspension, a comfortable riding position, high-grip off-road tyres, and they’re easy to control.
The seating position is important. The quad bikes here at Adventure Sports are rear wheel drive, so sitting upfront as close to the petrol tank as possible is essential if you don’t like performing wheelies! Basically you need the petrol tank touching your crotch for maximum centre of gravity.
The quads don’t have a manual clutch, and the gears are simple to operate. The up and down electronic buttons on the left hand side of the handlebars are simple to use. Reverse (should you get stuck) can be found with a combination of brake lever and reverse button and then down on the gears. You’ll spend most of your time in 2nd gear on our Honda quads as first gear is too vicious and tends to jolt the bike.
The accelerator is a simple thumb lever on the right handlebar. The trick with a quad is to use a smooth motion and bring on the power gently - not jerking like a learner driver on their first day (kangaroos don’t belong in our Warwick woods!).
To stop you need to use the brake levers. Pull both towards you and the quad bike will stop. The brakes are exactly the same as a push or motorbike and for most people are instinctively simple to use.
A word of warning on brakes: Once you’ve been through a few puddles and gathered up some mud, they won’t perform anywhere near as well as they do on the simple test at the beginning. You won’t really need to make any emergency stops but just make sure you don’t tailgate your friend in front!
In normal situations you can just stay seated and ride but when you hit some slopes and odd gradient you will need to move slightly to the side to counter balance your quad bike. Don’t worry as again this is fairly instinctive – hopefully your own balance will come into play.
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