Quadro4 trial

Menus

• The four-wheel scooter
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• Contact
• In the city
• On the highway
• On national
• Braking
• Comfort
• Consumption
• Convenient
• Conclusion

The four-wheel scooter

Finally the Quadro4 arrives and doubly deserves its name now since it took almost four years to see it arrive with its four wheels and especially since its first presentation at EICMA. And the Quadro brand now fully justifies its brand with the four-wheeler which completes the Quadro 3D 350 which later became 350 S.

The constraints of a four-wheeler have nothing to do with a three-wheeler with many additional constraints would only be at the level of the obligation to have a differential to manage the speeds of the wheels, different in a turn. . It is therefore with emotion but also a strong expectation that we have responded to the invitation to test this vehicle of a new kind, if only to answer the question: is it really better than a three wheeler? City test and expressways ….

Discovery

From a distance and from the front, nothing really distinguishes the three-wheeler from the four-wheeler. And for good reason, nothing has changed before. We find in particular the HTS system (Hydrolic Tilting System) doubled here, the technology which replaces the mechanical balance of the Piaggio MP3 by three hydraulic cylinders constituting, at the front, an adjustable hydropneumatic pendular fork..

For the rest, the Quadro4 includes 78% new parts from the new wheels to the dashboard, LED lights and indicators and above all a new frame. And indeed, when we get closer, we see all the differences, if only the quality of the finish and the painting at the level of the best productions..

The engine placed very low is now attached to the frame and we note the two transmission belts at the rear to turn the two wheels at different speeds.

Under the passenger seat, there is a small box to store a full face helmet. The trunk is equipped with a light, but it goes out when the ignition key is removed. You almost wonder why the vast majority of scooters incorporate a light that is turned on with or without contact. As a result, few riders have not found the dead battery at least once, because the seat was left ajar with the light.

In terms of practical details, there is a 12V socket in the front storage compartment but also in the trunk. At a time when we depend on GPS, Smartphone and electronics, these are advantages for everyday use.

We then find the 4-stroke, 4-valve single-cylinder which now delivers 30 horsepower at 7,500 rpm, which is very close to the red zone at 8,000 rpm. The maximum torque is obtained earlier at 2/3 of the speed at 5,000 rpm.

In the saddle

We get on the Quadro. We can even say that the rider of 1.70 climbs it despite a saddle only 770 mm but wide. Suddenly, even at the end of the saddle, we barely touch the ground. And sitting normally in the saddle, no foot touches any more. Regardless, there are four wheels. And indeed, the four wheels mean you don’t have to dismount, to start or to stop. And since the brake also locks the front steering, we remain stable. We therefore climb to the stop above to place our feet on the wide step.

Under the eyes, we discover a complete dashboard with counter and analog tachometer which frame a digital display with clock, "honeycomb" fuel gauge, partial double trip, totalizer, air temperature, air temperature. ‘oil and some witnesses like the one warning of the badly closed trunk.

No beep here to signal locking or unlocking. You just have to accelerate for the front axle to unlock.

Contact

The Quadro snorts, vibration-free. You twist the right grip and the four-wheeler rolls off smoothly, and even more so than with the usual lightness of a motorcycle handlebar, you definitely feel a heavier steering which significantly dampens any movement. So instead of having a vehicle that falls immediately if we are not careful as on some three wheels, the Quadro4 remains on its axis. We must thus forget the Quadro 350S, which reacts much more naturally, here, it is necessary to put more control or on the contrary to let go, because everything is done smoothly. In fact, there is as much of a difference between a bicycle steering and a three-wheeler, as there is between a three-wheeler and the Quadro4 in the steering. The first few meters are therefore cautious, especially in the parking lot with maneuvering at reduced speed and yet, if you do not try to rush, the Quadro4 winds up.

In the city

After the first few meters, the Quadro4 naturally takes to the road. In a straight line, we even forget the first feelings of heavy steering. You have to push a little on the handlebars, but it tilts easily and willingly to be able to perform short dodging. It then fits naturally into the circulation, including interfile, especially fast. On the other hand, it regains a form of inertia at slow speed in interfile and with a size despite everything more imposing than a 125 or other three-wheelers, the interfiles between cars tightly stopped require a little precaution.

In the roundabout, the Quadro4 always seems to want to tilt a little more and without falling. Because you can fall with a three-wheeler, but the Quadro4 can tilt up to 45 ° and without falling! It then remains at the cleat of its shock absorbers but remains "upright" without ending up lying on its side. Suffice to say that in normal use, we never reach those famous 45 ° that few drivers reach on two wheels. It is then enough to always press a little more on the handlebars to realize that we still have a lot of room to tilt and turn..

On the highway

With its 257 kilograms and only 30 horsepower, one would have thought that we would have a heavy model uncomfortable on the highway. However, it quickly reaches 110 km / h and then climbs regularly to 130 km / h, before nibbling another ten km / h to reach 140 km / h (counter, or 130 km / h real) in limit red zone at 8,000 rpm.

At this speed, the large bubble provides good protection on the bust and does not generate any eddies or parasitic noise in the helmet. We can therefore let ourselves be cruised quietly, with the handle toc, even if the vibrations perceived from the single-cylinder are then felt appreciably at its maximum speed..

We especially appreciate the comfort of the saddle and the suspensions, which cushion the road surface well and allow you to plan to take the road on board. On board, that’s what they say about a four-wheeled vehicle, no ?

On national

With its higher maximum speed, the Quadro4 therefore naturally returns to national and just as much to departmental. The big curves are taken with ease, especially once you have accepted to take a little time to take it in hand and not hesitate to press on the handlebars to counter-steer and thus obtain – almost – the same behavior as a two-wheeler.

If the pace picks up on the other hand, you have to anticipate the next tight turn a little more so as not to get carried away because you do not recover a bad trajectory with a simple finger and you should not hesitate to put the weight on it and push hard on the handlebars to counterbalance. However, in tight mountain bends, it supports the machine so much and holds the machine so much that, on the contrary, tight bends at normal speed are more easily taken..

In fact, kilometer after kilometer, we start to take it in hand, so much we have to forget certain motorcyclist reflexes. I would even say that a short test will risk discouraging the tester when in fact you have to accept to take your time to begin to appreciate its qualities..

Braking

4 240 mm discs, full braking with left lever and pedal, front wheel braking with the right lever…. there are mechanics and equipment. The braking is there, natural and powerful but it is nothing too much in fact for an effective result and above all enormous stability on very heavy braking, especially with very little roll-off. Do not hesitate to take the strong levers to obtain a powerful and expected result, unless you test the front right pedal which acts much more violently but is not the rider’s first reflex. A little new habits to take so.

Comfort

The saddle is really comfortable, whether for the rider or the passenger. The suspensions then do an excellent job of absorbing the defects in the pavement. This is not the Pullman but it is in the top category in terms of comfort for a large displacement scooter.

Consumption

Quadro reports a consumption of 5 liters per hundred, which with a 13-liter tank should give around 250 kilometers of range depending on driving. The tank fills up after raising the saddle (once the green cap has been removed); a revord prevents gasoline from leaking into the trunk.

Convenient

The front storage compartment offers a 12V socket, as well as the trunk: a practical everyday feature to power not only a GPS that will integrate perfectly with the handlebars but also charge smartphones whose autonomy decreases as they go. gain in functionality.

The trunk has lost capacity compared to the 350S, going from two helmets to one. We must therefore add a large top-case, which will integrate perfectly with the overall size of the model.

Conclusion

With the Quadro4, Quadro brings a new type of vehicle, which we hardly dare call a scooter anymore because it stands out in terms of technology and handling. Massive but elegant, rewarding thanks in particular to its quality of finish, the Quadro4 should attract motorists who seek the ease of insertion into the circulation of a two-wheeler but the stability of a four-wheel closer to their habits. The comfort at the rendezvous should make it possible to pair up and store it more easily in the city than with a car. Only the price of 12,490 euros places it at a selective price which should reserve it for an elite able to appreciate all its qualities..

Strong points

• look and finish
• stability
• comfort

Weak points

• weight
• storage
• price

The Quadro4 technical sheet

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