Road Legal Buggy?

[Flintstone]

I'm toying with the idea of getting a road legal off-road buggy for local pottering and a bit of green lane and MOD land exploring. A friend has a Joyner 650 which he recommends and there are a few other brands around including a Goka 650, anything with a smaller engine wouldn't really do.

They're all chinese of course and I'm not going for anything as good as a Pirhana (not even sure they're capable of being road legal) so I suppose it's a case of identifying the lesser of the evils. Any suggestions?

[bigblock]

I think Joyner is made in the USA. It has a pretty big following over there and is probably the most robust of that size of buggy. The main thing you need to look for is adequate suspension travel and ground clearance. Most of the cheaper buggys are severely lacking in both of these.

I find that youtube is a great research tool if you want to find out what a particular buggy can and cannot do

[Flintstone]

See now, I thought Joyners were american but having viewed one close up they don't seem to be much better quality than the chinese ones. The frame paint falls off quicker than TVR powder coating (and I've owned a few of those).

[anonymous-user]

Flintstone said:

I'm toying with the idea of getting a road legal off-road buggy for.... MOD land exploring.

Trespassing you mean?
MOD land isn't public/common land. Salisbury Plain is the most common example of abused MOD real estate. Unless you're in something big, green and tracked you can only use the public rights of way, same as anywhere else.
Do a bit of searching and you'll stumble across the tale of the bloke who had his Trooper crushed plus a £20,000 fine for his efforts near Larkhill.

[Flintstone]

Crossflow Kid said:

Trespassing you mean?

Nope. I have contacts from my days in uniform who have given me permission.

Assumptions, eh?

[anonymous-user]

Flintstone said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Trespassing you mean?

Nope. I have contacts from my days in uniform who have given me permission.

Assumptions, eh?

Ah, the old "My mate the range warden"...who turns a blind eye.
Yeah, great until it all goes Pete Tong, and your insurer asks why you were there, and the MOD (in an official capacity) know nothing and have no record of you being there.
Assumptions indeed, unless of course your "contact" is the Secretary of State for Defence?

[Flintstone]

Crossflow Kid said:

Flintstone said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Trespassing you mean?

Nope. I have contacts from my days in uniform who have given me permission.

Assumptions, eh?

Ah, the old "My mate the range warden"...who turns a blind eye.
Yeah, great until it all goes Pete Tong, and your insurer asks why you were there, and the MOD (in an official capacity) know nothing and have no record of you being there.
Assumptions indeed, unless of course your "contact" is the Secretary of State for Defence?

Oh dear.

Why are you getting into such a twist? I'm not getting into one with you, nor am I going into detail. I know several people of sufficient rank who have granted me permission to be on certain areas of land. Sorry if this peeves you but there it is. As far as I'm concerned that's the end of it.

[y2blade]

Flintstone said:

I'm toying with the idea of getting a road legal off-road buggy for local pottering and a bit of green lane and MOD land exploring. A friend has a Joyner 650 which he recommends and there are a few other brands around including a Goka 650, anything with a smaller engine wouldn't really do.

They're all chinese of course and I'm not going for anything as good as a Pirhana (not even sure they're capable of being road legal) so I suppose it's a case of identifying the lesser of the evils. Any suggestions?

Quadzilla are one of the better cheapo brands..have you looked at those?

http://www.quadzillaquads.com/rlbuggy.htm

these are all road legal (not Agri only) and can be bought here in the UK from a proper shop with a warranty

http://www.quadzillaquads.com/locate.htm

[xPOW]

there's also plenty of MOD land which is legally opened up to the public via 4x4 clubs (pay and play sites) where you can go and have fun until your heart's content (or until you break your toy!), usually for around £15-£25 per day

[Flintstone]

y2blade said:

Quadzilla are one of the better cheapo brands..have you looked at those?

http://www.quadzillaquads.com/rlbuggy.htm

these are all road legal (not Agri only) and can be bought here in the UK from a proper shop with a warranty

http://www.quadzillaquads.com/locate.htm

Thanks. Yup, seen those around. I have to say that the Joyners do look a little less wide and less top heavy. Well, not exactly heavy because the weigh naff all but some buggies do look a bit...round. Is it just me?

Not entirely sure a 500cc engine will cope too well on the roads either. Obviously motorways are to be avoided but...

Edited by Flintstone on Thursday 10th March 15:04

[Sarge 4x4]

I am happy with my Can-Am Commander 1000XP, puts those other toys to shame.

Andy.

[y2blade]

Sarge 4x4 said:

I am happy with my Can-Am Commander 1000XP, puts those other toys to shame.

Andy.

that goes without saying
although I got the impression the OP wasn't after something of that "calibre"
otherwise I'd have mentioned the Can-Ams and Polaris models too


any pics of your Can-Am?

[Sarge 4x4]

y2blade said:

that goes without saying
although I got the impression the OP wasn't after something of that "calibre"
otherwise I'd have mentioned the Can-Ams and Polaris models too


any pics of your Can-Am?

Will put some up this evening.

Andy.

[Skywalker]

Sarge 4x4 said:

y2blade said:

that goes without saying
although I got the impression the OP wasn't after something of that "calibre"
otherwise I'd have mentioned the Can-Ams and Polaris models too


any pics of your Can-Am?

Will put some up this evening.

Andy.

Top drawer. Looking forward to those.

[Sarge 4x4]

First one is of my son doing an AWDC trial and the other two are after the latest additions.





This is a great bit of kit and fully road legal.

[anonymous-user]

Flintstone said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Flintstone said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Trespassing you mean?

Nope. I have contacts from my days in uniform who have given me permission.

Assumptions, eh?

Ah, the old "My mate the range warden"...who turns a blind eye.
Yeah, great until it all goes Pete Tong, and your insurer asks why you were there, and the MOD (in an official capacity) know nothing and have no record of you being there.
Assumptions indeed, unless of course your "contact" is the Secretary of State for Defence?

Oh dear.

Why are you getting into such a twist? I'm not getting into one with you, nor am I going into detail. I know several people of sufficient rank who have granted me permission to be on certain areas of land. Sorry if this peeves you but there it is. As far as I'm concerned that's the end of it.

Nah, not in a twist at all and not at all peeved.
Bottom line is, your mate the Lt Col might let you on his training area, but if you do come a cropper there's still the quetion of why he felt the need for you to be there, other than being a mate, obviously.
But yeah, that's the end of it. Training areas are pretty dull anyway.

[Flintstone]

Crossflow Kid said:

Bottom line is, your mate the Lt Col might let you on his training area, but if you do come a cropper there's still the quetion of why he felt the need for you to be there, other than being a mate, obviously.

That, plus my continuing contribution toward officer training.

[anonymous-user]

Flintstone said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Bottom line is, your mate the Lt Col might let you on his training area, but if you do come a cropper there's still the quetion of why he felt the need for you to be there, other than being a mate, obviously.

That, plus my continuing contribution toward officer training.

So you'd be calling it a recce then, obviously?
Thing is, you need to remember if something untoward happens, (even if it's not your fault) you'll end up dealing insurer to insurer, as opposed to gentlemanly agreements with mates.
And some civil servant in Whitehall won't give a toss who your friends are.

[Flintstone]

Thanks, I'll bear that in mind.