(The 2011 Quadro 4D Scooter- Could having 4 wheels be its downfall?)
What is there NOT to like about the radical 2012 Quadro 4D concept? Yes, it’ll be heavier than your standard 2 wheeled maxiscoot and more expensive to replace tires, but watch the video and look at the stability that four wheels offers the motorbike platform.
You can read all about this fancy contraption on other sites, I mostly want to pose a question. How do you think this scooter would be received in the USA? Not, by the consumer but by the regulating government agencies? Do you think the Auto Lobby would squash it for tip-toeing too close to their territory? Will they require seat belts and airbags before they will allow it on the streets? Will it be confined to “off road” use like other quads? I know they are hopeful and so am I. I think there should be better criteria for labeling a car versus a motorcycle. Four wheels, does not “a car” make… especially in this case. Opinions? Shouts to Clive and Lorenzo for the scoopage!
6. October 2010 at 9:54 am
Well that is a very interesting beast. It’s hard to say how it might be regulated. It is prettier than their 3-wheeler and a pretty good looking piece of equipment. I’d love to test ride one!
6. October 2010 at 1:42 pm
Cheers Steve for getting right on it and giving me a shout.
No I don’t work for them but I sure would love to have been that guy riding that one in the vid.
Since thats not possible I hope to settle for being one of the first to ride one here.
I bet I’ll be grinning!!!
6. October 2010 at 5:16 pm
It’s cool, great design, plus, much better contact patch for turning, braking, handling in the rain. Big safety plus there. “Traction available for turning is not also available for braking” at least not at the same time….
6. October 2010 at 6:39 pm
at what price? Looks expensive
6. October 2010 at 7:39 pm
Cool find Steve.
6. October 2010 at 9:38 pm
I’ll buy one tomorrow… That’s a fact, not sarcasm.
6. October 2010 at 10:07 pm
I’ll tell you exactly how it will be received: NHTSA will point out that U.S. law sez any motorized vehicle with four wheels is a CAR, and therefore must meet CAR safety standards (well, unless it’s a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle. :P). Airbag, seat belts, crumple zones, etc. No can do on a scooter. End of discussion. Somebody already tried something like this, and the scenario I describe is exactly what happened to them.
May I ask what the point of this thing is? A scooter is simple, basic transportation, is it not? How is making an inherently simple device needlessly complicated improving on it? Okay, it won’t need a center or side stand (I assume it has a parking brake), making it easier to park. But other than that, WTF?
__Orin
Scootin’ Old Skool
7. October 2010 at 3:16 am
Thats quite a sad view Orin.
Here in the UK it will thankfully be seen as a new kind of (futuristic?)scoot but nonetheless a scoot which it actually is.
For me as I wind through the twisting Northern Irish roads I will no longer constantly worry about gravel, potholes, drains, and muck of all kinds which currently keep me from a level of fun that I cannot currently enjoy safely.
I don’t want a car but I do want something less risky than my current scoot that can push on a bit to another level and so it will need to have at least a 300cc engine for me.
I hope that the USA regulators will not destroy the opportunity for people to drive a safer vehicle. That would be a bit silly.
I really hope this bike is actually very good and really takes off and I really look forward to more news and info. Normal 2 wheel scoots will still be available and more likely cheaper and more economical but for me I want this 4D to work like no other bike I’ve wanted before. Even the 3D looks quite good but I wonder if the 2 back wheels give some extra comfort and load ability as well as traction and breaking.
One possible danger is just going crazy and flying round corners like nothing else on the road before and surprising a few other drivers!
They’ll get used to it.
4. December 2012 at 5:55 pm
Interesting comment. I hope it makes it through all of the bureaucracy.
7. October 2010 at 5:42 am
As Chief Editor of a french website, I was at Quadro’s unveiling. The new italian company is a spin of Marabese Design in Milan. They are the people behind Piaggio MP3 technology. The Piaggio design is know 10 years old and they’ve been working on improvements since then. The result is Quadro 3D.
The for wheeled prototype that was showcased on the 29th sept. is design around the Tesseract concept quad made for Yamaha (Tokyo Show 2007). The engine seems not yet ready for mass production but will be a 40hp single from Aeon.
Talking with Damian Scavo, the Globla Sales Manager, he admit having a big issue with US regulations. They’re trying hard to make Quadro 4D approved as a four wheeled scooter and not as a car. The last option means crash tests and airbags as far as I know.
In Europe, they may fill the quad and SSV requests.
3D will be the first model to hit the french roads. In Paris and south of France, we bet it will have a immediate success as many Piaggio MP3 owners are actually looking for a new ride.
The 4D model will also be welcome, officialy late 2011 (translate march 2012). It will be seen as a more secure urban vehicle and will offer more power and torque than the MP3 LT 400 with a simple car driving licence. As prices are announced around €7300 for the 3D and less than €9500 for the 4D, it’s still cheaper than a small car.
In our cities, scooters and motorcycles fly over traffic jams by riding between car lanes so car owners are very often used to watch after us. So Quadro 4D will more a object of curiosity and desire than a risk for its riders.
One people I trust had the opportunity of a very short ride on this first 4 wheeled scooter. I’ve been told it is completely different of any ride ever and feels easy to handle at slow speeds.
24. November 2011 at 11:01 am
I doubt that it would sell very well here in the U.S. with that price tag . For what ever reason scooters in general don’t do well here , so I doubt that a scooter , even a 4 wheel scooter with a price tag like that would do very well . Cool idea though and I would love to take one out for a test drive .
TheReaper!
1. December 2011 at 1:18 pm
In Europe, quads are not allowed on motorways, so quad rating would be a shame…it’s a 500 cc, so if it is scooter, you will need a motorbike licence (other than for national use, e.g. the French 7-hour training course for 125′s and 3-wheeled devices), so personally I hope it’s rated as a car in Europe, which will mean I can drive it on my car licence and use the motorway.
9. October 2010 at 10:09 am
Wow, was quite impressed by the water circle and touching the ground, nice concept. Maybe not totally for everyone, but I’m sure there are folks who would like the extra stability without sacrificing agility
9. October 2010 at 3:18 pm
Outstanding–However, it will be regulated to death when it is tried in the US. By the time everything is added to meed Automobile standards, it will be a Smart car that is not very smart.
9. October 2010 at 10:53 pm
A fantastic idea, It resembles my wife’s Fuoco 500 with a similar front end but enhansed with an independent rear end to suit. Surely the next step for Fuoco – Piaggio MP3 owners. The ability to traverse kerbs and steps at an angle with complete stability is awesome. I love it and look forward to seeing them here in Australia, eventually, I hope.
12. October 2010 at 7:14 pm
I’ve had this concept in mind since the late 70′s knowing that it would never take-until Piaggip had the MP3 become more accepted. My wife has one of those and absolutely loves it. Stick a 700+ in it for the American market and my bet is it would be a grand hit. It’s all about the ride. Loving the ride, and riding what you love.
23. October 2010 at 2:39 pm
How about licensing as an ATV? In many states, they’re roadable with proper lighting.
It’s a kluge, but at least we could get them in here.
23. October 2010 at 7:24 pm
What is the advantage of the 4 over the 3 wheel?
27. October 2010 at 4:09 am
Great Bike!!!
I’d love to try that one. Especially like the way it crosses the train rails, from which we do have an awfully lot here in my hometown. Perhaps those 3 wheel motorbikes are already good but this looks like more fun and stability.
2. November 2010 at 6:13 am
nice one, but it needs a roof and 4WD for a cold snowy south ural winter
4. February 2011 at 2:46 pm
Getting there … an electric version with a 100+ mile rang and 75mph top end and a fold away roof like the Benelli Adiva would also be nice.
I had an MP3 400 for a couple of years loved it when it ran, still loved it when it developed expensive faults but cost too much in maintenance in the end …. just wish Honda would make one.
4. September 2011 at 5:30 am
The definition of Motorcycle in the U.S. will need to be revised to include 4 wheels. Currently it is defined as 2 or 3 wheels.
As far as I see Passenger Vehicles in the U.S. do not specify how many wheels ( I might be wrong ) but I have looked and do not see any reference to the number of wheels in passenger vehicles ( Cars ). It only states that passenger vehicles can only hold 10 passengers or less.
I love the Quadro 4D and would buy it if we can get it in the United States.
8. October 2011 at 2:29 pm
Aha! I’ve been wondering about that. I was skeptical about peoples opinions about the 4 wheels=car conundrum. I’m interested to know whether motorcycle laws could be better defined, that allows for this innovation as well as others for future, not presently existing or certified, designs. I think a broader definition, of what a motorcycle is, needs to be enacted.
1. December 2011 at 1:23 pm
So you have to pass a motorbike licence to drive a vehicle which is far stabler and does not countersteer?
12. September 2011 at 3:21 pm
I just want to know from the company what they are doing to bring the Quadro 4D to the US.