Quadro Qooder test

Menus

• The four-wheel scooter for motorists
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• Contact
• In the city
• On the highway
• On departmental
• Comfort / Duo
• Braking
• Consumption
• Convenient
• Conclusion
• The Quadro Qooder in video

The four-wheel scooter for motorists

Before there was the 3-wheel Quadro (350D and 350S) and the 4-wheel Quadro or Quadro4. But that was before. Today there is the three-wheeler and the Qooder! The Qooder is the 2018 evolution of the four-wheel Quadro … an evolution that mainly involves an engine increased to 400 cm3 instead of 350 cm3. What to take the step with a power that was sorely lacking in the previous model? But the developments are also elsewhere. Detail review and test.

Discovery

Quadro … for those to whom the brand does not say anything, it dates from 2010 and is now present in 20 countries with its scooters. And to those who think – still Chinese scooters – it is not so since Quadro is a Swiss company, which has also developed itself the technology used on its scooters with the famous HTS for (Hydrolic Tilting System). And if some consider that the brand must be confidential, it has still sold more than 5,000 scooters in France since 2012 for an overall turnover of nearly 100 million euros..

The Qooder is still the four-wheel version of the scooter based on HTS, this technology which allows to have an oleo-pneumatic axle ensuring stability, here also in place at the rear compared to the three-wheel model. The Qooder thus wants to provide even more stability than a three-wheeler while offering the mobility of a two-wheeler. A French specificity linked to the legislation which explains why the flagship markets for 3 wheels and 4 wheels are in France, as well for Quadro as for Piaggio besides. However, Yamaha has even gone further than a three-wheel scooter with its Niken, based on the engine of the MT-09 and therefore a real motorcycle with a real engine in it. But with the Qooder, not 900cc, but a simple 400cc. Quadro regulars will not be disoriented with this new model which evolves aesthetically in the details. To others, the Qooder looks like a three-wheeler at the front but has two real wheels at the rear and not a side-by-side axle with two wheels side by side. This technical detail explains why we also have at the rear the HTS technology but also two transmission belts, one for each wheel. Thus, the four wheels can turn at a significantly different speed, while all four tilt at the same time. And when the scooter reaches 45 ° of inclination, the system comes to a stop but does not block, thus allowing the angle to be taken, an angle that few drivers use on a daily basis; in any case scooter users.

In the saddle

The saddle is not that high at 780mm, which is the average height of a roadster, but is wide. Suddenly, the driver of 1.70 will hardly put the tip of his feet on the ground. But like the three wheels, the four wheels make it possible to stand up on their own and therefore not to dismount when stationary. The position here is ideal with arms that rest naturally on the handlebars and an almost ideal triangle of wrists, feet and seat: no legs that go up nor arms that go up. The overall ergonomics will also suit large riders who will have room to sit on board. Once the steering lock system is deactivated, we feel the overall inertia of the scooter, further reinforced by an overall weight of 281 kilos, the weight of a small road. On the other hand in overall size, despite the exterior impression, we are indeed in the same dimensions as a Piaggio MP3 and not close to a Smart as one might have the impression, especially with this prominent front axle which seems to raise the front face.

Contact

Once on board, nothing changes compared to a traditional scooter and there is therefore a complete dashboard with speedometer and tachometer, completed by a digital display in the center with in particular the fuel gauge; on the other hand, no on-board computer to give neither instantaneous consumption nor average consumption. On the other hand, some indicators such as the trunk poorly closed or the parking brake. If the organization of the dashboard remains identical to the previous model, it has been redone in terms of look, more modern and more pleasant.

In the city

For bikers, the first impression is the heaviness of the front axle. For those used to MP3, this heaviness is less obvious even if the front seems heavier. In fact, all maneuvers are as if dampened with a scooter that tilts gently and rises gently. The fact of not setting foot on land easily reinforces this first impression of difficulty which disappears after a few kilometers and usually. The advantage is that there is no behavior or sudden reaction of the scooter but on the contrary a gentle accompaniment in each maneuver. The advantage of this new engine, which now cubs 398.8 cm3, is the gain in power and torque, respectively 11 and 15% to deliver 32.5 horsepower. It is at the same time little and a lot compared to before, especially to train the 281 kilos all full made of the machine. The previous vintage was worth it while the 2018 vintage offers a less strenuous driving experience. We do not have the same potato as a 500 cm3 MP3 and a fortioti of a maxi-scooter 530, but that is not the objective of Quadro either. Quadro insists on providing additional stability to the four wheels, initially targeting motorists who want easy mobility with a two / four wheeler. A motorist does not have the same type of driving as a motorcyclist and even less than a "scooter" and he will not be disoriented or surprised with the dynamics of the Qooder. But thanks to a standard template for a scooter, the interface is done naturally, without special precautions.

On the highway

If the 3-wheel Quadro was struggling on the motorway, it was even more the case with the 4-wheeler, heavier, with difficulty above 120 km / h, unacceptable for intensive peri-urban use or even for leave for a weekend. With the 50 cm3 more, the Qooder finally offers an acceptable speed of 129 km / h real … which is materialized by a 135 km / h counter once started. Be careful, however, of false flats, which can significantly lower the top speed in duo to 125 or even 120 km / h. On the other hand, it offers the same stability at these "high" speeds as at low speed without causing sway or blurry steering as we sometimes see on mid-displacement scooters. Something to reassure to keep the handle toc, without risk for his license.

On departmental

The Qooder follows naturally on small roads, especially since it inclines willingly, gradually, but with ease. It does well up this impression of stability on the angle and solid support, which suddenly gives confidence to the driver who generally turns straight. The times are reasonable here, especially as a duo, but not anemic for all that since this new vintage. We can therefore drive quietly or at a good pace.

Comfort / Duo

The shocks do an excellent job of erasing the defects of the pavement and the four wheels also allow you to forget the longitudinal lines which usually jostle the driving a little..

The saddle is wide and comfortable for the rider, enough not to make you feel the slightest pain even after half a day, the duration of our test in the Paris region. The passenger has a saddle a little thinner but sufficient, with well positioned handles. On the other hand, the footrests are quite far from the saddle and the intermediate rim between driver / passenger can cause discomfort depending on the overall position..

Braking

The Qooder offers full braking with AWBS (All Weels Brake System) braking but no traction control; traction control not necessary in view of the four wheels anyway, a front / rear wheel being always in contact with the ground to ensure the necessary grip.

The front brake offers a good feeling despite a little limited power taken alone. On the other hand, when you take the two levers at the same time, the braking power is there, never brutal. But do not hesitate to take the two levers at the same time or use the brake pedal which is not only there for the decor.

Consumption

Quadro announces an average consumption of 5.3 l / 100, which offers a range of about 250 km with the 14 liters of the tank.

Convenient

The trunk under the passenger seat can accommodate a modular (by overturning it, see video) and that’s it. This is the weak point of a scooter that deserves to be able to carry two helmets, or a helmet and a case. Fortunately, Quadro offers an accessorized version with screen and top-case in particular, which fills the original gap..

On the other hand, we have a storage compartment on the right and another central one, central storage compartment which offers a USB socket, duplicate USB socket at the level of the trunk.

And with 281 kilos to push to park it, we could almost start dreaming of a reverse gear, which would unfortunately add a few extra pounds, but which would facilitate certain maneuvers..

Conclusion

The Qooder is the ideal scooter for the motorist that the motorcycle or the two-wheeled or even three-wheeled scooter would scare away. It will gain a surplus of stability and comfort in the rain in particular, for a price close to maxi-scooters, but significantly lower compared to the first prices of the Quadro4 which was initially launched at 12,490 euros and which is no longer today. ‘hui qu’ to ‘10,990 euros. Above all, he benefits from the possibility of a large scooter with just his car license and a seven-hour training course. And then, there is an additional color in the range beyond white, black, red and gray with now a blue. But above all the 2018 evolution with more power and torque compared to the previous vintages almost finally offers a mature machine that deserves that we start to be interested, unless we wait for the electric version announced for 2019 . And for the curious living in Paris, Quadro opens its first Q-Stores avenue de la Grande-Armee and boulevard Beaumarchais, enough to go take a look and or try..

Strong points

• stability
• comfort
• new engine

Weak points

• small chest
• weight
• price

The technical sheet of the Qooder

Test conditions

• Itinerary: small varied roads + interurban highways with a bit of town

The Quadro Qooder in video

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