Bump and grind
For the thrill seeker, quad bikes provide an adrenaline rush but are also safe when handled properly. Available in Cyprus for safaris, we sent four musketeers out to give them a go
Think of quad bikes and images of (probably) men racing round the muddy countryside usually spring to mind. The bikes themselves were actually designed to be used as farm vehicles (and indeed still are) although in Europe and America they are now far more likely to be used as a means to celebrate stag nights or for an alternative means of transport for a safari.
In Cyprus too the trend is catching on and quadding safaris are now available in various parts of the island. The 400cc Bombardier Outlander automatic is reckoned to be one of the easiest rides it is possible to get on four wheels. Tested in the Chilean mountains at altitudes of up to 5,250 metres, where it was ridden over volcanoes, frozen salt lakes and even minefields, it was sure to stand up to a morning jolly around the Akamas. Barrie, Peter, Dave and Skevi set off in convoy from the Tombs of the Kings to the Akamas, where the fun started.
Dirt and dust flying in your face means goggles, or at least sturdy sunglasses, are essential. Clothes too are likely to get splattered with dust or mud depending on the season and those with a health problem such as asthma would be well advised to wear a proper dust mask throughout the trip.
“It was indeed an adventure, a great one. I’ve ridden loads of motorbikes, so I had to adjust to driving the quad but I did feel safe as the machine is big and makes you feel extra secure,” said Dave. Peter was as enthusiastic: “I’m a bit of an adrenalin junkie and certainly quad biking satisfied my craving that day, I’ll certainly do it again but this time I’ll invest in proper safety goggles as the dirt and dust are difficult to cope with. To be honest, I’d now love to be able go out and buy my very own quad bike”.
Loud and fast, quad bikes have acquired something of a live fast reputation, and in the wrong hands they can indeed by dangerous. In what became a very public incident, Ozzy Osborne broke a vertebrae in his neck, his collarbone and cracked six ribs in a quad bike accident on his estate. Then, comedian Rik Mayall spent five days in a coma after his quad bike landed on top of him. Both these celebrities made the mistake of treating this recreational vehicle as a fun, outdoor toy forgetting it’s a powerful machine that needs to be treated with a great deal of respect.
Safety is something that owner of Funbuggy and Quad Safaris, Jim, drums into clients before setting out on daily safaris. “Safety is a priority, we insist on clients paying attention to our demonstration and familiarisation of the vehicle before allowing them to have a ride. We always travel in convoy, making sure to keep an eye on everyone and we insist on safety helmets being worn at all times.”
Dave, an ex traffic policeman in the UK, has only one leg and has worn a prosthesis for years. He was impressed with the emphasis on safety: “Jim gave instructions that were excellent, he also has full knowledge of the tracks we took, stopping regularly to make sure we were well briefed about what and where we were going on each stage of the four-hour adventure. After about one hour everybody felt they were comfortable and able to relax a little but you certainly have to take and maintain control – that’s the secret.”
Peter too, retired from the UK fire service is used to flying around in big things making a noise, was concerned about how to handle the machine. “I was expecting it to be a bit dangerous, and it could be, if you haven’t first had some professional training, I found the steering a bit difficult to start with, those are big wheels you are trying to control so that took some getting used to.”
Ruling the bike is key to riding safe on a quad – you have to be at one with what’s between your legs, so you can then churn up the earth in full accordance with health and safety regulations; the quad is basically the modern equivalent of the horse in that you have to always hold the reins tight and be ever the master of the machine.
At different stages during this flying dust storm of a safari, Jim stops the convoy to explain the different types of terrain about to be covered, giving clear instruction and essential tips on how to drive through them in safety. Tipping the bike over is an initial fear for many first-time riders but, as Jim explained, “that only happens when a person is being foolish and loses control, if the ground is greasy the rear end can slide out but, overall, the quad is much easier to ride than a motorbike. The other daft and exceedingly dangerous trick is standing up while driving, that’s when you can be felled by a branch.”
Taking these safety concerns on board, quads can be great fun. “The quad has the superior advantage of being able to get to places other vehicles cannot venture so our trip was exciting; I’d never ventured to those parts of the Akamas,” Dave said.
DESIGNER IN ACTION
Roberto and Teresa Piona have owned an Aeon 300cc quad bike for five months that was imported from Italy, but made originally in Taiwan, at a cost of £3,500.
This racing green beauty is used by the couple on mountain trails, picnic trips and non-tourist beaches. Roberto, an experienced Ferrari driver, knows all about balancing speed and safety. “First, any powered vehicle is only as safe as its driver, stupid people on quads can cause accidents to themselves and others in the same way they can with tractors, bikes, speed boats, jet skies and motor vehicles, so learning how to control the quad is vital, also safety helmets are a must. Key to enjoying the quad is that you master and consistently manage the power it can deliver; this is no toy car to be casually played with or raced up and down streets filled with pedestrians, so some sense of responsibility has to be at the forefront of your mind when you own such a vehicle.”
Stella, the Piona family’s Maltese poodle, also goes along on the rides. She is, of course, always swaddled in a bespoke carrying bag created by a Milanese designer.
QUAD HISTORY
Quad bikes, also known as all-terrain vehicles or ATVs, are essentially four-wheeled motorbikes. The first production-model ATV was made by Honda in 1970, but with three wheels it was relatively unstable. The first quad to be mass-produced for recreational use was Suzuki’s Quad-Runner LT125, which came on the market in 1983.
They can have either manual or automatic transmission, and steering is done via a set of handlebars. The engines are similar to those of a motorbike, typically ranging from 50 to 1,000cc.
Today’s bikes fall into two broad categories: sport ATVs are two-wheel drive and capable of speeds of up to 120kph; while four-wheel-drive utility vehicles are primarily designed to handle rough terrain and have a top speed of around 100kph. There are even amphibious quads (AATVs), invariably with six to eight wheels.
Prices range from £800 to in excess of £9,000.
WHERE TO GO
Fun Buggy and Quad Safaris, Paphos. Tel: 26 912491, 99 118250 or 99 325 753
DK Buggies Rentals, Paphos. Tel: 26 930337
DMS Motorsports, Paphos. Tel: 99 912857
Sayious Motorsports Ltd, Limassol. Tel: 25 366525
Force 8, Limassol. Tel: 25 579919
Cyprus Quad Safari, Pissouri. Tel: 25 827020
CKJ Motorsports, Nicosia. Tel: 22 780280
Force 8, Nicosia. Tel: 22 760010
Bitten by the bug
Vasia Markides gets rough on a buggy safari in Limassol
While driving along the windy roads en route to Asgata, rather than slow your car down for a group of mountain goats, you may have to do it for a team of dust-laden four-wheel buggies crossing the road ahead of you. The shepherd of this herd is Andreas Lofitis, the owner of Sayious Motorsport Adv
entures, who leads daily off-road safari tours throughout the backcountry region of Asgata, close to Limassol.
An avid lover of motorcycles and off road riding, he started this family run business with his wife and two sons just ten months ago and now leads daily tours by appointment only. The experience requires some psychological preparation and a deep desire for adventure. You may not see lions preying on antelope or hippos cooling themselves in the river, but you will be led to a number of worthwhile historic sites, over dramatic bridge overpasses, and to local village hotspots; this all after a jaw chattering, bumpy ride along rugged mountain trails with breathtaking views. Lofitis stressed that this ride is very safe for people of all ages, as long as one rides with care. There is also a racetrack at the headquarters of Sayious for those intent on a different type of fun.
At first the foreign object which one finds oneself driving feels eccentric and unpredictable, but within minutes the robustness of the vehicle becomes evident, and the sharp corners, sudden dips and boulders are more confidently maneuvered. Ninety-five percent of the trip is off road riding in an ATV buggy, a hybrid between a car and a motorcycle with engine powers of 150 cc.
The Sayious route includes excursions through nature trails and along farm roads, a scenic drive over the Kalavasos Dam as well as a stop at the Kalavasos mine, where the tour guide offers some historical insight into the region’s gold and copper mining industries. The final stop is at Lenia’s Restaurant in Asgata for a cold brew, or a coffee and a succulent traditional Cypriot sweet. The panoramic views on our ride back demand our undivided attention and as we reach the headquarters, there is a feeling of both satisfaction and disappointment; the satisfaction from the adrenaline rush of the ride and the disappointment with the journey’s end. This experience inevitably leaves one wanting more.
For those concerned with the environmental impact of such a sport, rest assured that the crew of Sayious Motorsport Adventures is very careful to remain on the designated trails. If you are considering partaking in this Safari adventure, do make sure you bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and above all do not wear flip-flops, as they make the driving more difficult. Juice and coffee are complementary and helmets, suits and wireless communication devices are also provided.
Sayious Motorsport Adventure
£20 per hour (with a 90-minute minimum). Operating Hours are: 14:30 – 17:30 on Monday through Friday, and 10:00 – 13:00 and 14:30 – 17:30 on Saturday and Sunday Age limit is 18 or above for drivers, and 15 or above for passengers, with parental permission. Tel: 25 366525 or 99 534827, www.sayious.com, [email protected]
