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Words & photography: Chris Pearson - ROAD LEGAL QUADS from ...
Words & photography: Chris Pearson - ROAD LEGAL QUADS from ...
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Machine test | Quadzilla RS7<br />
“<br />
The big names in the game had better keep a<br />
close eye on Dinli<br />
”<br />
<strong>Mor</strong><br />
Words & photography: Chris Pearson<br />
for less<br />
Need a big, powerful utility quad, but can’t face shelling out £6,000-plus<br />
in these uncertain times? Well, the Government’s paltry VAT cut won’t<br />
help, but this new offering from Quadzilla just might…<br />
The all-new Quadzilla RS7 is a real<br />
powerhouse of an agricultural<br />
four-wheeler. The chunky, 698cc,<br />
fully automatic, engine gives<br />
stomping power and torque<br />
at all times and, thanks to the<br />
well set up CVT transmission,<br />
that power is always on tap<br />
and ready to mete out a furious<br />
impact upon this big quad’s<br />
trajectory. The machine is built<br />
for Quadzilla by Dinli, the huge<br />
Taiwanese manufacturer with a<br />
long history of putting together<br />
quality machines, especially<br />
since merging with the mighty<br />
Cannondale. With every new<br />
Dinli, lessons have been learnt,<br />
culminating in some great<br />
designs of late, each one ticking<br />
the boxes required for a topquality,<br />
high-specification quad.<br />
Based on this latest model, the<br />
big names in the game better<br />
keep a close eye on Dinli.<br />
won’t tackle with great enthusiasm.<br />
With an on-road top speed of about<br />
65mph, it makes for a great way of<br />
getting around too, so no need to<br />
get changed or slip into a different<br />
vehicle for that trip into town. The<br />
RS7 we tested was equipped with<br />
tyres better suited to hard terrain, and<br />
yet it still retained its go-anywhere<br />
competence. Having a good go at soft<br />
and muddy ground, the four-wheeldrive<br />
transmission, with differential lock,<br />
helped out no end with the seemingly<br />
impossible task of getting in and out<br />
of deep, boggy areas. On the hard<br />
stuff, the quad is well equipped with<br />
powerful brakes. Its suspension is well<br />
set up too, but is a bit on the hard side<br />
for serious off-road work. Even so, as a<br />
good all-round base setting, enabling<br />
the rider to just get on and enjoy, it’s<br />
eminently workable, as it comes, out of<br />
the crate. With each wheel having its<br />
own suspension, the ride is smooth and<br />
flat, with few of the unwieldy turning<br />
mannerisms that are usual on big quads.<br />
As a result, you stand a good chance of<br />
keeping most, if not all, of the wheels in<br />
contact with the terrain, keeping them<br />
driving along nicely.<br />
Big, friendly giant<br />
Standing tall and proud, the big<br />
quad looks business-like, even<br />
while stationary. The highmounted<br />
front lights give it the<br />
looks of a Chelsea tractor, while<br />
the dangling look of the running<br />
gear allows an impressive amount<br />
of ground clearance. The RS7<br />
is sturdily put together, making<br />
for a tough all-rounder that will<br />
take most knocks in its stride<br />
while also having the ability to<br />
punch back. It’s equipped with a<br />
versatile transmission, and there<br />
isn’t much that this machine<br />
QUAD Magazine February 2009 www.quad.tv www.quad.tv February 2009 QUAD Magazine
NEW<br />
ONLINE SHOP<br />
NOW LIVE<br />
.co.uk<br />
OVER 350 BIKES IN STOCK<br />
<br />
UK’s biggest Quadzilla ®<br />
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dealer<br />
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£4599<br />
Brand<br />
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“With an on-road top speed of<br />
about 65mph, it makes for a<br />
great way of getting around”<br />
Machine test | Quadzilla RS7<br />
roadlegal<br />
Ride on full car license<br />
New lower price RRP inc VAT<br />
£4599<br />
RL 500<br />
• 500cc liquid cooled engine • Weight 400g<br />
• CVT transmission with<br />
high & low range<br />
• Electric start<br />
• Carry rack for spare wheel<br />
• Spare wheel included<br />
• LCD digital dash<br />
• Alloy wheels<br />
• Bucket seats<br />
• Winch and towbar<br />
brand<br />
new<br />
model<br />
Advantage pack RRP inc VAT<br />
£1499<br />
Quadzilla ®<br />
OFF ROAD ATVS<br />
ZR50 MID SIZE JUNIOR QUAD £850<br />
R50 £899<br />
R100 £999<br />
PRO-SHARK 100 LQ £1199<br />
PRO-SHARK R 100 MX 08 £2199<br />
NEW PRO-SHARK 100S £1299<br />
WHITE KNUCKLE 70 DIRT BIKE £499<br />
PIT BUG 110<br />
• 110cc 4 stroke air cooled.<br />
• 3 speed automatic clutch with reverse.<br />
• Twin independent drive shafts.<br />
• 4 wheel independent suspension and a-arms.<br />
• 16x7-8 front and rear.<br />
• Triple hydraulic discs.<br />
• Weight - 180KG<br />
• Fuel capacity - 5.5L<br />
• Other features - LED Gear display, 2 point<br />
harnesses, rain canopy, race type bucket seats<br />
models available at Midlands Superbikes<br />
BUGGIES/ON & OFF ROAD<br />
RV MICRO BUGGY MK III £799<br />
PIT BUG 110 £1499<br />
MIDI RV £1399<br />
PGO BUGRIDER 250E £3599<br />
RL300E MKII BUGGY £2899<br />
RL 500E Buggy £4699<br />
PGO BUG-RACER 500I LTD ED £7299<br />
We will match any new Quadzilla price!<br />
ON-ROAD QUADS<br />
STINGER 250E £2199<br />
300E XLC 2008 £2799<br />
320E CVT SPORT £2750<br />
CUV 300E TIPPER £3999<br />
CUV 500E 4X4 TIPPER £4999<br />
320E 2X4 £2699<br />
320E 4X4 07 MODEL £2999<br />
300E XLC STINGER £2799<br />
Now in<br />
Stock<br />
450 RS £3799<br />
450 SPORT R £3999<br />
500E 4X4 £3499<br />
500E LWB 4X4 £3699<br />
500ES 4X4 £3999<br />
500ES (LWB) 4X4 £4295<br />
XLC 500E DD NEW 08 £4599<br />
NEW 525 V-TWIN 4X4 £3699<br />
www.midlandssuperbikes.co.uk .co.uk 01858 469164<br />
St Mary’s Business Park, Albany Road, Market Harborough, LE16 7QJ Open: 9am-8pm Sat: 9am-5pm Sun: 10am-4pm Bank Holidays: 10am-4pm<br />
Practically plush<br />
Looking around the RS7, it’s easy to be impressed,<br />
particularly with the vehicle’s comparatively low price when<br />
weighed against the specification. Clearly a lot of thought<br />
has gone into the day-to-day ergonomics; in each rear<br />
mudguard, there is a sizeable, easy-to-access compartment,<br />
covered by elasticated netting. There’s also a locking glove<br />
compartment in the front shield. There is a pair of sturdy<br />
luggage racks, one fitted to the front and one on the rear,<br />
and a handy backrest for pillion use too. Further down at<br />
the rear end, there is a tow-ball for hauling a trailer, greatly<br />
adding to the machine’s lugging ability. After all, the big<br />
engine shrugs nonchalantly at the idea of pulling huge<br />
loads. The front end could do with some kind of crash-bar,<br />
to protect the lights and plastic bodywork. The finish is<br />
top-notch, though. The bike we rode was a pre-production<br />
sample, and it will actually be available in red and white,<br />
rather than orange, but this machine is still representative<br />
of the finished product and, as such, is very well put<br />
together.<br />
In use, the RS7 is a breeze to drive; simply select a high<br />
or low ratio – or reverse, if going backwards is your thing<br />
– with the gear lever on the left-hand leg-shield and away<br />
you go. The CVT transmission takes care of the rest. The<br />
choice of two- or four-wheel drive is selectable using the<br />
handlebar switches, as indeed is the differential lock. The<br />
drive method is selected on the right-hand side, while the<br />
left-hand side switches the lock, and both require the quad<br />
to be at a standstill before changing. In four-wheel-drive<br />
mode, the RS7 loses none of its manners; the light steering,<br />
present when the rear end alone was pushing it along, is<br />
still silky smooth when the front wheels are sharing the<br />
work. Likewise, the feel through the bars remains light,<br />
almost as though the steering is power-assisted. On the<br />
move, the informative digital dash is compact but easy to<br />
read. The big speed readout runs across the top of the<br />
screen, with fuel contents and gear indicator in the corners,<br />
and the various warning lights running up each side. It’s a<br />
neat layout, based on previous Dinli designs.<br />
Space for lunch: Handy<br />
storage compartments on<br />
each side<br />
Left-side gear selector is wellpositioned<br />
and easy to use<br />
10 QUAD Magazine February 2009 www.quad.tv www.quad.tv February 2009 QUAD Magazine 11
Machine test | Quadzilla RS7<br />
Verdict<br />
Based on our first impressions, this new<br />
machine is an instant winner and should<br />
prove a popular machine. Anyone looking<br />
for a powerhouse quad that can go<br />
just about anywhere will be pleasantly<br />
surprised by the RS7. And when they see<br />
HYBRID<br />
the price-tag, that surprise may just turn<br />
to elation. Is this quad missing anything?<br />
Well, a sizeable tow-hook for the front<br />
could add to the usability, especially if it<br />
ever gets stuck, but, that apart, Quadzilla<br />
has got it just about spot-on.<br />
Specifications Quadzilla RS7<br />
Price: £5,499 (inc. VAT)<br />
Engine: Single-cylinder liquid-cooled<br />
DOHC four-stroke<br />
Capacity: 698cc<br />
Bore x Stroke: 102 x 85mm<br />
Power: 40bhp @ 5500rpm<br />
Torque: 39ft-lb @ 4500rpm<br />
Transmission: 2-stage CVT,<br />
selectable high/lo and reverse,<br />
2/4wheel drive with differential lock,<br />
shaft final drive<br />
Starter: Electric with recoil back up<br />
Frame: Steel cradle<br />
Front suspension: Adjustable oildamped<br />
shock absorbers<br />
Rear suspension: Independent<br />
A-arms, adjustable oil-damped shock<br />
absorbers<br />
Front brake: 22mm disc singlepiston<br />
floating-calipers<br />
Rear brake: 180mm disc mounted<br />
on drive shaft, single-piston floatingcaliper<br />
Front wheel: 25 x 8-12<br />
Rear wheel: 25 x 10-12<br />
Length: 2208mm<br />
Width: 1211mm<br />
Wheelbase: 1305mm<br />
Dry weight: 298kgs<br />
Fuel tank capacity: 20ltrs<br />
Colours: White, Red<br />
Contact: 01507 52290,<br />
www.quadzillaquads.com<br />
For ultimate vision<br />
Removable tear-off trim to stop water running behind tear offs<br />
Mask for extra face protection and reduced external fogging<br />
Anti-fog, anti-stick, anti-scratch, impact resistant and UV protection lens<br />
Silicone lined strap and ultra comfort face foam<br />
T: 01483 811844<br />
E: info@ripnroll.co.uk<br />
W: www.ripnroll.co.uk<br />
T: 0845 450 1448<br />
E: sales@racefx.co.uk<br />
W: www.racefx.co.uk<br />
12 QUAD Magazine February 2009 www.quad.tv www.quad.tv February 2009 QUAD Magazine 13