Quads have no diffs?

[dudders]

I've never had a quad 'bike' before, just a UTV 3-seater for the last 17 years. I'm looking for a 2wd electric quad just now and asked a dealer if his models had a diff lock, which would be important with 2wd. He said all quads have no diffs on the rear axle - it's a solid connection between the back wheels. I'm astonished - that's like having a diff-lock on all the time, which must make steering really difficult and carve up the ground no end. Please tell me he's wrong.

 

[Stewartry hill]

He is right some have one wheel drive and a form of lock

 

[Farmer_Joe]

all honda ive ever had just locked as you say, never really seems an issue

 

[davidroberts30]

All I've had are straight bar,no diff

 

[ollie989898]

This 100% 'locking differential' is why so many of them are so tail happy and such great fun.

 

[nonemouse]

Some of us grew up on the old 3 wheel bikes (again solid rear axle) totally different riding style to get round corners at speed after being used to 2 wheels

 

[Tubbylew]

I would say it depends on the bike, certainly the yamaha 450 grizzly I had, had diff front and rear

 

[Fat Lamb]

Some of us grew up on the old 3 wheel bikes (again solid rear axle) totally different riding style to get round corners at speed after being used to 2 wheels

The 3 wheelers were a totally different ballgame compared with quads. Taking off with them(ie being airborne) was fine but coming back down could prove quite problematic at times!

 

[Tony1989]

I would say it depends on the bike, certainly the yamaha 450 grizzly I had, had diff front and rear

I’ve never seen a grizzly with a rear diff, they are solid

 

[TripleSix]

It was really only the older Kawasaki quads that had a selectable locking rear diff.

Most other stuff doesn't have a rear differential.
Theyball tend to have a front differential, sometimes this is a limited slip unit, sometimes it has a locking function.

 

[Universe]

Only time that you carve up the ground is when riding the same track constantly while turning, riding on ground that you shouldn't (too wet) or riding like you stole it. As tyres have small knobblys it's not so bad. You can assist by leaning the wrong way, as it were, but not advised unless you're very good or you just like hospital dinners

 

[Renaultman]

Some of us grew up on the old 3 wheel bikes (again solid rear axle) totally different riding style to get round corners at speed after being used to 2 wheels

Yeah great fun, especially if you're used to 2 wheels. Forcing your body to lean the wrong way.

 

[Tubbylew]

I’ve never seen a grizzly with a rear diff, they are solid

I stand corrected, your absolutley right.

 

[Al R]

All under 3 year old but 1 Yam doesn’t have diff but has 2/4wd. the new one has 2wd, 4wd and diff. The Polaris Ranger UTV has 1wd, 2wd and 4wd

 

[milkloss]

Used to have a suzuki king quad years ago and it had a rear differential. Absolute joy to use until the pikeys chaffed it.

 

[Moors Lad]

It`s amazing how well they steer with a solid rear axle - you can see the inside wheel turning too fast when someone else is piloting them round a sharp corner. The only real drawback is an healthy appetite for rear tyres if there`s a lot of road/hard surface work to be done...

 

[Limcrazy]

my honda has a very poor turning circle I'm sure a diff would help. usually quicker to jump off and herd an animal than try to turn it.

 

[Munkul]

If you're sending it on, a quad cocks the inside rear wheel anyway so doesn't really scrub the wheels.

It's going really slowly on hard surfaces that you'll ever notice it.

 

[TripleSix]

If you're sending it on, a quad cocks the inside rear wheel anyway so doesn't really scrub the wheels.

It's going really slowly on hard surfaces that you'll ever notice it.

And turning into a gateway from tarmac when you crash into the gatepost because your front wheels have slid on the gravel....

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Some of us grew up on the old 3 wheel bikes (again solid rear axle) totally different riding style to get round corners at speed after being used to 2 wheels

When you race grass-karts you notice all "the old guys" who had trike training, we lean outwards

the younger ones who never knew trikes but quads, they lean in