A whole class of microcars, called by an unusual word for us - quadricycle, has gained extraordinary popularity in Europe. In Russia, on the contrary, it is extremely difficult to find equipment of this kind. However, in 2013, quadricycles were identified as a separate category of vehicles. What is this miracle of technology and what is needed to control it?
Let's start with what a quadricycle is. Wikipedia says: according to the Russian classification, this is a four-wheeled motorcycle vehicle with a maximum speed of at least 25 km/h, engine power of no more than 20 horsepower, weight not exceeding 400 kg, intended for use on public roads. In other words, quadricycles are four-wheeled motorcycles or mini-cars that require the same documents as a car or motorcycle. When purchasing such vehicles, a Vehicle Passport (PTS) is attached.
Do you think you have never seen such a miracle of technology? You are wrong! It has been familiar to us since Soviet times. Remember the wheelchair of the Serpukhov Automobile Plant (for example, in the film “Operation “Y” and other adventures of Shurik”). Unprepossessing appearance, manual controls, lack of any hint of comfort (except perhaps a roof over your head). Some of you may remember this “misunderstanding” of Soviet engineering with a whirring motorcycle engine.
Meanwhile, in Europe, this four-wheeled vehicle looks more like a car. If in Russia a regular frame is used as a body, then in Europe the body is difficult to distinguish from the body of a car.
QuadCycle vs QuadCycle
Until 2013, you did not need a driver's license to drive a quadricycle, just like a moped. However, with the emergence of many new subcategories, things have become more complicated. And drivers began to get confused about which type of transport requires a license and which does not. The most common disputes were caused by the concepts of “quadcycle” and “quadcycle”. Most people either do not read these words properly, perceiving them as the same concept, or consider them to be the same vehicle. Meanwhile, this is far from true - ATV and quadricycle are completely different type transport. Let's learn to quickly and accurately distinguish one from the other.
Despite the similarity in names, there is a huge difference between an ATV and a quadricycle. An ATV is a motorcycle vehicle that has all the controls like a regular motorcycle.
The only difference is the presence of four wheels, as well as the restriction on their use on public roads. ATVs, like motocross motorcycles, go-karts, etc., are pseudo-vehicles that do not require a driver's license to operate, so driving them on public roads is strictly prohibited. Either off-road or closed areas. ATVs are designed for off-road use, which means they are widespread among hunters and fans of extreme sports. As a rule, the driver sits in a special saddle, and the accelerator, clutch, and, accordingly, brakes are controlled on the steering wheel. It also has no interior at all, and the number of seats does not exceed two, including the driver. The steering wheel of the ATV is also motorcycle-style and is presented in the form of a pipe, which the driver holds on to at both ends. To drive an ATV you need an A1 license, that is, exactly the same as required to drive a tractor. This happened because the ATV is considered an off-road self-propelled vehicle. Also, to obtain a license, you will need a medical certificate allowing you to drive tractors.
Externally, some similarities can be found between an ATV and a quadricycle, which is expressed in the same compact dimensions and the presence of four wheels of a small radius. The rest is the complete opposite.
Landing at the helm of a quadricycle is carried out in the same way as for a car - these are seats located at right angles. In addition, there may be four or two such seats, which already implies some interior space. Most types have a primitive roof, but no doors, which makes it easier to board a small quadricycle. The accelerator, clutch and braking system are controlled using pedals located in the lower part of the cabin. Pressing them involves using your feet. In addition, the steering is the same as on a passenger car, and the presence of a steering wheel is mandatory. Gear shifting is carried out by a special lever, the same as on a car. Quadricycles also have restrictions on traveling on public roads. This is due to their low speed, as well as the lack of necessary safety systems. However, they have found wide application in organizations that have huge areas and require economical transport to move personnel. An example of a quadricycle is also the small cars used to ride from hole to hole on golf courses.
Quadricycle license
According to traffic regulations, quadricycles with a motorcycle seat or motorcycle-type handlebars, weighing less than 400 kg (or less than 550 kg for cargo vehicles), the engine power of which does not exceed 20 horsepower, are equal to motorcycles, which means that to drive them you will need a license with the category "A".
If the weight exceeds the specified standards, the vehicle is reclassified into category “B1”. It is affixed automatically when exchanging an old-style license with an open category “A” (only for vehicles with a motorcycle seat or motorcycle-type steering wheel) and/or “B” (only for vehicles with a car-type steering wheel). In other cases, for category “B1” you will have to study and take an additional exam.
And owners of light quadricycles (with an engine capacity of no more than 50 cubic meters) must have a license with category “M” - moped.
And was it worth it to “fence a garden” and separate it from the rest for the sake of a tiny amount of such transport? The question is controversial. Perhaps the time for quadricycles in our country has not yet come... We'll wait and see.
Finally, it is worth recalling that according to the current traffic regulations, both quadricycles and ATVs are classified as motor vehicles. This means that, in accordance with clause 2.1 of the traffic rules, their drivers are required to carry with them and hand over to the traffic police officers the documents provided for by law, for the absence of which a fine will be issued. And if the vehicle is not registered in the prescribed manner (with an engine capacity of up to 50 cubic cm, this is not required), and the driver cannot confirm ownership of such equipment, then it is subject to detention and impoundment.
To drink or not to drink? Where to ride and where not to ride all-terrain vehicles? We decided to understand the peculiarities of using all-terrain vehicles on the roads of our country, so we took two types of these vehicles for a test drive.
In European cities you can often see a lot of ATVs on the streets. They are used as a daily means of transportation instead of a motorcycle or scooter. Yes, it takes up a little more space on the road, but it still remains nimble and fast, and parking is less of a problem than with a car. But for us this type of vehicle still remains an expensive toy.
Structurally, all-terrain vehicles are divided into two types - UTV (utility task vehicle - utilitarian) and ATV (all-terrain vehicle - off-road). The first ones are also called side-by-side. That is, in it the driver and passenger sit shoulder to shoulder. The latter have a classic motorcycle fit. And the legislation of our country divides these vehicles into quadricycles and quadricycles. Such is the verbal-literal passage of the legislators. One letter in the name - and such different destinies.
First, let's look at the CFMoto Z8 800 EFI. This is a UTV or side-by-side by design and a quadricycle by law. The term "quadricycle" in accordance with Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated November 25, 2010 No. 611, four-wheeled mechanical vehicles with automobile-type control drives and a curb weight of no more than 550 kilograms were named. That is, a quadricycle is nothing more than a mini-car, with pedals, a steering wheel and a gear shift lever. To operate it you need category B license. By automobile-type steering we mean a steering wheel, a steering wheel. Well, since the quadricycle is allowed to live on public roads, they are equipped with all the necessary lighting devices, including direction indicators and seat belts.
If we talk about the purpose of the CFMoto Z8, then it can be described as a sports-utilitarian all-terrain vehicle. It has an aggressive design and looks more like an adrenaline rush buggy than a workhorse. The dimensions of the body also hint that it will fit not a boar carcass, but equipment.
Even though the driver and passenger are surrounded by a strong safety cage, a helmet is required to operate this thing. If you hit your head on the frame, nothing good will happen. I didn't have a helmet, so I just promised myself to be careful. In the meantime, I settled down behind the wheel. The steering wheel, pedals, seat - everything is the same as in a regular car, but ergonomics is a far cry from a UTV, although the steering wheel and driver's seat are adjustable. With my height of 190 cm, I fit right next to each other. Luckily there are only two pedals. The seat belt is almost racing, four-point. Instead of a door there is a protective mesh. Its main purpose is to prevent you from reflexively putting out your arm or leg when tipping over. All controls are automotive-style, except that the turn signals are activated by a double-armed button; on the front panel there is a small glove compartment where the control panel for the built-in winch is stored. By the way, I didn’t have to use it.
Under the small body behind the riders’ backs lies an engine with a capacity of 800 cc and a solid 63 hp. The engine is V-shaped, two-cylinder, water-cooled. I didn’t have much time for a test drive, so I figured out the features of the quadricycle on the go. The engine starts in a car style by turning the ignition key. Quiet work you can't call it a motor. Behind his back he rumbles so much that when talking with a passenger you have to strain your vocal cords.
Between the two seats there is a transmission control lever. The position of the lever is somewhat different from traditional automobile ones; you have to push it away from yourself rather than toward you. At first I was confused, but then I got used to it. Although the information content of the drive is not so great, it is difficult to switch modes blindly. The lever positions are standard - P, R, N, H, L. Mode H corresponds to automobile Drive. Well, here we go. We'll figure it out as we go.
Torque from the engine to the wheels is transmitted through a V-belt variator. From a standstill, this almost buggy handles no worse than any other sports car. Official data claims that the CFMoto Z8 accelerates to 60 km/h in 3.2 seconds. And this is in rear-wheel drive and on a dirt road. Maximum speed is 100 km/h.
This is really primarily an adrenaline rush. Speed on a forest dirt road with holes and rifts is 60-80 km/h. Wow! The suspension of this all-terrain vehicle - like the Belarusian economy - endures holes, dips, ups, downs, and sharp turns. The engine roars, the transmission howls, the eyes sparkle. Thanks to the electric power steering, the quadricycle is easy to control. Only in high-speed turns should you be careful. The wheels bite into the ground, hardly slip, and the center of gravity is quite high, so there is always a risk of tipping over.
To make this thing stop going off-road, we still have to try, although it is possible. The ground clearance of the Z8 is 280 mm, the front and rear suspensions are independent, on double wishbones. By default, the quadricycle is rear-wheel drive, the front axle is rigidly connected by pressing a button on the front panel.
If necessary, you can lock the front differential and use a reduction gear. This arsenal is enough to climb in the most inaccessible places. Steep hills, sand, mud - everything can be overcome if you drive wisely. If you are crazy, then there is a front winch. Well, we still don’t forget about the risk of a coup. The quadricycle does not allow you to use a common technique - transferring the center of mass. This is the lot of ATVs.
So I smoothly move on to studying the second type of all-terrain vehicle using the Polaris Sportsman 850 SP as an example. This is, one might say, a classic all-terrain vehicle with a motorcycle seat and a motorcycle handlebar.
In Belarusian traffic rules he received the term "quad" or an all-terrain vehicle, and it does not belong to any type of vehicle that is permitted to participate in road traffic. It does not need to be registered and you do not need a driver's license to operate an ATV, but you should remember that they cannot be driven on public roads. Arises good question: “Why can the traffic police inspectors charge me if they stop me on an ATV on a public road?” Traveling on the road on an ATV will be qualified in accordance with Part 5 of Art. 18.12 of the Code of Administrative Offenses: “Untimely registration or re-registration of a vehicle, or failure to present it without a valid reason within the prescribed period for state technical inspection, or driving a vehicle that is not registered in the prescribed manner or has not passed state technical inspection - entails a warning or a fine in the amount 1−3 b. V. In addition, repetition has been introduced for this offense, and for a repeated offense within a year, the offender will receive a fine of 2 to 5 b. V."
In the head nurtured by the Soviet mentality, the question immediately arises - what if a drunk person is driving backwards through the forest on an ATV? What will happen? It's simple. Although you do not need to register your ATV, it is still a vehicle. And if you are caught in a field or forest drunk while driving, Article 18.16 of the Code of Administrative Offenses comes into play, according to which “driving a vehicle by a person intoxicated or in a state caused by consumption narcotic drugs, psychotropic, toxic or other intoxicating substances, or transferring control of a vehicle to such a person, as well as refusal to undergo a test (examination) in the established order to determine the state of alcoholic intoxication or the state caused by the consumption of narcotic drugs, psychotropic, toxic or other intoxicating substances , - entails a fine in the amount of fifteen to thirty-five basic units with deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of three years.”
So, I’m not allowed on public roads, but driving along the asphalt road past the traffic police crew, I didn’t attract their attention. However, I did not test my patience and turned into the forest at the first opportunity. Actually, there all the delights of this type of vehicle are revealed.
Polaris Sportsman 850 SP is a kind of elite representative of ATVs. Largely due to the special design. This model is notable for the presence of electric power steering, which, in addition to its direct function, acts as a damper when driving over uneven surfaces. As a result, the steering wheel does not tear out of your hands when passing, for example, protruding tree roots. To be honest, I realized this fact after the trip. The transmission has three modes - rear-wheel drive, automatically engaged all-wheel drive and all-wheel drive mode with engine braking on a descent.
All-wheel drive here works as follows: as soon as the rear wheels begin to slip, the system automatically locks all four wheels. If the rear wheels gain traction, the transmission switches to rear-wheel drive mode. Interesting and unusual. In principle, for a touring ATV, which the Polaris Sportsman 850 SP is, this is convenient. I set the switch to all-wheel drive mode and forgot. In a difficult situation, electronics will do everything itself. I tested it in a deep sandy ditch and was pleased. Indeed, you don’t have to think about which blocking to enable in this or that case. Not going? We turn on the downshift and all-wheel drive. If it still doesn’t move, we get off the ATV and push it while pressing the gas. It is important not to stumble here.
Two more interesting design features of the Polaris Sportsman 850 SP can be noted. The rear independent suspension uses an anti-roll bar, which is an extraordinary solution for such equipment. The 850cc engine produces 78 hp. and has balance shafts. As a result, the motor operates practically without vibration. The contrast was especially stark after I rode the Polaris Sportsman 850 SP after a shaky idle CFMoto Z8. The Polaris seems like just a luxury limo. And there’s no need to talk about dynamics. There is no mad rush from a standstill, the ATV begins to accelerate smoothly and softly, but very quickly. And at the same time, the noise from it is so small that you can communicate with the rear passenger by only slightly turning your head towards him.
Off-road tires on asphalt are extremely unsafe. Even at low speed (about 60 km/h), the ATV begins to wander slightly along the trajectory and slide in turns. I don't want to drive fast at all.
But off-road it’s just the opposite. The Polaris Sportsman 850 SP turned out to be a very soft and flexible device, even a girl can easily handle it. A typical “tourist” that can last for dozens of kilometers. You just need to remember that the tank here is 17 liters, and on off-road an ATV with such a large and powerful engine can easily consume 30 liters per 100 km. For the rear passenger, our configuration included a comfortable seat with a backrest and handrails. It's funny because most of the instructions for this type of ATV say that it's best to dispense with the passenger. So that.
And of course, the Polaris Sportsman 850 SP still requires much more specific skills from the driver than side-by-side. The ability to transfer the center of mass using your own body is a key technique for an ATV rider.
And one of the most traumatic habits of an inexperienced rider is trying to stop a side rollover by placing his leg as a support. This usually ends with nothing but a fracture. But it is extremely difficult to overcome the instinct within yourself, but only until the first fracture.
Well, let's continue the sad topic. Price. Polaris Sportsman 850 SP costs 954,000 Russian rubles(28,760 Belarusian). The price of a well-equipped budget sedan. The Chinese CFMoto Z8 is a little cheaper - 810,000 Russian rubles (24,420 Belarusian rubles). This is a little cheaper than its famous analogues, but at the same time all sorts of useful things like a winch are included in the basic configuration of Chinese equipment.
We remember
CFMoto Z8 800 EFI
If there is strong shaking, it is difficult to see anything in the rear-view mirrors, but in the city they will come in handy 
The transmission selector positions differ from the usual “car” ones. 
The multifunctional display “blinds” in the sun, but otherwise is very informative 
Rear suspension has 200 mm travel 
The electric power steering motor is clearly visible on the steering shaft 
All-wheel drive modes are activated by buttons on the front panel and are equipped with “fool protection” Polaris Sportsmen 850 SP
In the rear suspension you can see the stabilizer struts - an unusual solution for an ATV 
All-wheel drive modes are activated using a button on the steering wheel 
The front “trunk” of Polaris is very modest in volume 
The narrow motor provides a comfortable seating position for the driver 
Polaris weighs 350 kg, so difficult situation additional human power is used We would like to thank the official CFMOTO dealer in Belarus, JSC Elitavto, for the equipment provided.
Quad cycles, quadricycles and tricycles. What are the differences?
Surely you are already familiar with such a vehicle as quadrocycle... It turns out that a regular driver's license is not suitable for driving it. And you will learn a little about which ones are suitable. We will also talk about different types of ATVs and even mention snowmobiles.
But we will start our excursion with a new category of vehicles "B1" - tricycles and quadricycles. These names, unlike “ATVs,” are not yet familiar to us and it is extremely difficult to find such vehicles on Russian roads.
In fact, many people believe that category “B1” allows you to drive a car with an automatic transmission. But no, this is a completely new category of transport, until recently unknown to us. Although, of course, everything is relative. It’s just that previously existing similar transport was classified in other categories.
What is a quadricycle and a tricycle?
Quadri cycles are four-wheeled motor vehicles (tricycles - three-wheeled), intended for use on public roads and subject to the traffic police in the general order.
An example of a quadricycle is the Soviet car-motorcycle SZM-S3D “Invalidka” (on the left in the figure). Some of you may remember this “misunderstanding” of Soviet engineering with a whirring motorcycle engine.
Tricycles (photo in the center) are very common in Asian countries as cargo-passenger three-wheeled motorcycle transport (our analogue is the Ant scooter).
But a three-wheeled motorcycle can only be seen in major cities and only if you try really hard. It’s just that such tricycles are found only among motorcycle aesthetes or handy Kulibins.
By the way, large quadricycles are quite often called Road ATVs, and in the West they are abbreviated as GG-Quad, Also Moto Quad, Quad Bikes etc.
Any of you, if desired, can easily acquire at least a tricycle... A flurry of enthusiastic and curious glances at you on the road is guaranteed!
An example of a commercially available tricycle - "Roadster Spider"
Undoubtedly, modern three-wheeled vehicles look very impressive, but this miracle costs... almost as much as a full-fledged car. Also, according to one of the owners, unlike two-wheeled motorcycles, you will have to stand in traffic jams on such a device no less often than on a car, and the comfort will be much less. Especially in inclement weather.
Roughly speaking, quadricycles are either three- or four-wheeled motorcycles, or mini cars, which require the same documents as a car or motorcycle. When purchasing such vehicles, a Vehicle Passport (PTS) is attached.
Example of a Vehicle Passport (PTS)
What category of rights is needed to drive a quadricycle and tricycle?
On November 5, 2013, a new category appeared in driver’s licenses “B1”* - tricycles and quadricycles.
This is of course all true, but there are some important nuances in determining the category of driver's license required to drive such vehicles...
Let's try to figure it out.
What is the difference between categories “M” - moped, “A” - motorcycle and “B1” - tricycles?
With an unloaded mass of such a vehicle. more than 400 kg, the driver must have a license with an open subcategory “B1”.
And owners of light tricycles and quadricycles (with an engine capacity of no more than 50 cubic centimeters) must have a license with category "M" ** or have any other open category of driver’s license.
__________
* - less than 550 kg for cargo transportation.
Those. Tricycles and quadricycles, depending on the required categories of rights to operate them, can be divided into:
"M"- light tricycles and quadricycles (mopeds);
"A"- tricycles and quadricycles, including those included in the junior category "A1"
"IN 1"- heavy tricycles and quadricycles (over 400kg);
And was it worth it to “fence a garden” and separate it from the rest for the sake of a tiny amount of such transport?
The question is controversial. Perhaps the time for tricycles and quadricycles in our country has not yet come... We'll wait and see.
An example of the Toyota-i-ROAD electric tricycle concept
ATV and snowmobile licenses
ATVs are motorized off-road four-wheeled vehicles (all-terrain vehicles, all-terrain vehicles) with a motorcycle-type seat and a motorcycle-type steering wheel, intended for driving off public roads.
On some ATVs, the steering wheel and driver's position are no different from a car.
The main document of the ATV is Self-propelled vehicle passport (PSM). Similar passports are also issued for tractors and other construction equipment, so an ATV can safely be called a mini tractor.
Example of a Passport for a self-propelled vehicle.
It is necessary to register * ATVs (as well as all-terrain vehicles, snow and swamp-going vehicles and even snowmobiles) with the Gostekhnadzor authorities and to drive them you must have a tractor driver's license.
To be more precise: a certificate of a tractor driver (tractor driver) category "A1"- off-road motor vehicles.
* - to register an ATV, the owner has no more than 10 days from the moment of its acquisition; (- or until the expiration of the registration marks “Transit”). These registration deadlines apply to any and are defined by paragraph 1 “Basic provisions for the approval of vehicles for operation...”. By the way, such vehicles are also required to undergo technical inspection.
How to get a license for an ATV (snowmobile)?
A tractor driver's license for category "A1" can be obtained from the age of 16. To be admitted to the exam, you need to obtain a medical certificate with permission to drive tractors (self-propelled machines) and prepare for the qualification exam, which is conducted by employees of the State Technical Supervision Authority.
Updated form of the Tractor Driver (Tractor Driver) Certificate.
The exam for obtaining a tractor driver's license consists of theory and practice. The theory is accepted on tickets approved by the ministry Agriculture Russian Federation, and the practice takes place in two stages on a closed site (tractor track).
You can take the practical part of the exam only after successful completion theories. Surrendered theoretical exam, valid for 3 months. If this deadline is missed, then before admission to the practical part, you will need to successfully pass the theory again.
On first practical stage you need to do the following exercises:
- starting from a standstill on an uphill slope;
- turning around with a limited width of the territory with a one-time gear shift;
- putting a self-propelled vehicle into a box in reverse;
- aggregation of a self-propelled vehicle with a trailer (trailer);
- braking and stopping at various speeds, including emergency stopping;
Second The practical exam stage is taken on a special route under conditions of actual operation of a self-propelled vehicle.
Repeated exams are scheduled no earlier than 7 days later. But if you fail the internship 3 times in a row, then on the next (4th) attempt you will be required to provide documents on additional training.
An example of an ATV that requires an “A1” tractor driver’s license
A day off, a trip to nature, high spirits, active recreation... This series of phrases can be continued for a long time and with the expected associations of a pleasant pastime, but it will not be complete for a car enthusiast without the words: ATV, ATV.
These two words are similar to each other, and the self-propelled chariots that characterize both types of transport are almost the same. However, quadricycles come with different characteristics! Moreover, for those who do not notice such a difference, they may be charged with a very specific violation, such as driving without a driver’s license. And this is a big fine! So, to understand which quadricycles you can ride and which you can’t, with driver's license certain category, we wrote our article.
How does a quadricycle (motorized stroller) differ from an ATV (all-terrain vehicle or self-propelled vehicle)
Words that differ by one letter seem to lead to very noticeable changes. Let's start with the fact that neither the Federal Law “On Safety traffic“, you will not find a definition for a quadricycle in any other technical document, but the definition for a quadricycle is in GOST R 51815-2001 “Quadricycle” dated October 8, 2001.
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This standard applies to four-wheeled motor vehicles with a maximum design speed of at least 25 km/h, a maximum engine power of not more than 15 kW, a curb weight of not more than 400 kg (550 kg for vehicles intended for the transport of goods), excluding the weight of batteries in the case electric vehicles (hereinafter referred to as quadricycles) intended for use on public roads, as well as their components and individual units. 3.1.1. Lightweight quadricycle: Dry weight - less than 350 kg, not including the weight of batteries in case The term "motorized stroller" is used as a backup term for quadricycles with 3.1.2. Quadricycle other than those defined in 3.1.1: |
We can say that quadricycles are small cars. Moreover, if such a car has the characteristics of a PASSENGER quadricycle (see above), then you can drive it with a license of category A (if it is a motorcycle seat and handlebars) or B (if it is not a motorcycle seat and handlebars). This is stated in the Federal Law “On Road Safety” (Chapter IV, Article 25, paragraph 1):
Moreover, in paragraph 7 of the same article
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The Russian national driver's license, which confirms the right to drive vehicles of category "A", also confirms the right to drive vehicles of subcategory "A1" and subcategory "B1" with a motorcycle seat or motorcycle-type handlebars, category "B" - subcategory "B1" ( except for vehicles with a motorcycle seat or motorcycle-type handlebars), category "C" - subcategory "C1", category "D" - subcategory "D1", category "CE" - subcategory "C1E", category "DE" - subcategory "D1E" ". A Russian national driver's license, confirming the right to drive vehicles of any of the categories or subcategories listed in this article, confirms the right to drive vehicles of category "M". |
And here, note that there is a clarification regarding the motorcycle seating position and motorcycle-type handlebars. At the same time, category B allows you to sit only on a seat like in a car and with a classic round steering wheel. And for category A license holders, this can be a seat similar to that of a motorcycle and a steering wheel similar to that of a motorcycle. There are two important conclusions here:
The most important thing here is not that there is this special type of steering wheel or seat, but that such quadricycles are intended for use on public roads!
And secondly, what is IMPORTANT, ATVs can be with a motorcycle seat and handlebars like a motorcycle and with a regular seat and handlebars like a car. After all, the Federal Law says ... and subcategories "B1" with a motorcycle seat or motorcycle-type handlebars ... and category B1 is tricycles and quadricycles.
That is, if we talk about what an ATV and a quadricycle are, then we can say that a quadricycle is in the legislation of the Russian Federation, and an ATV is nothing more than a folk one. However, it is ATVs that are on everyone’s lips, but this name is not entirely correct. If a quadricycle is not intended for public roads, then it is no longer a quadricycle, but an all-terrain vehicle. It is these types of all-terrain vehicles that are usually passed off as ATVs.
Moreover, such ATVs, or more correctly, all-terrain vehicles, are provided with passports for self-propelled vehicles (PSM). Everything is written about this in the same GOST if you read it. And in order to operate a self-propelled machine, you must have a tractor operator’s (tractor driver) license. However, this is a completely different story, we will return to our quadricycles...
Which quadricycles (motorcycles) can be driven with categories A and B
Motorcycles with an internal combustion engine displacement not exceeding 125 cubic centimeters and a maximum power not exceeding 11 kilowatts;
- tricycles and quadricycles (with a motorcycle seat and motorcycle handlebars);
Tricycles and quadricycles (without a motorcycle seat and without a motorcycle steering wheel);
- mopeds and light quadricycles.
Again, we repeat that in most cases, a quadricycle is a means of transportation on public roads. That is, there will be a bunch of standards regarding lights, bumpers, brakes, etc., that will be observed. But the so-called ATVs - all-terrain vehicles - are intended primarily for off-road driving.
As you know, from April 1, 2014, driver’s licenses with many subcategories were introduced. In particular, this is category “M” for mopeds (scooters) and category “B1” for tricycles and quadricycles.
Holders of a driver's license with category "B" can also drive vehicles of category "B1". The media circulated this news with an error, calling ATVs ATVs, and then the owners of all-terrain vehicles were delighted with what they read: finally they can legally drive their ATVs! But it was not there.
A quadricycle and an ATV are completely different (especially according to the documents!) units! And units that differ according to documents require various documents for management.
What is a quadricycle
A quadricycle is a four-wheeled vehicle intended for use on public roads, subject to registration with the traffic police. The document for the quadricycle is a vehicle passport (PTS). Simply put, this is a motorized stroller with three (tricycle) or four (quadricycle) wheels.
GOST R 51815-2001 - Quadricycles. General technical requirements
This standard applies to four-wheeled motor vehicles with a maximum design speed of at least 25 km/h, a maximum engine power of not more than 15 kW, a curb weight of not more than 400 kg (550 kg for vehicles intended for the transport of goods), excluding the weight of batteries in the case of electric vehicles intended for operation on public roads, as well as their components and individual units.
To operate such equipment, a license with category “B1” or “B” (old) is required. These licenses are issued by the traffic police.
Look what it looks like back side a new driver's license issued by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. The pictogram of a category “B1” quadricycle doesn’t even have anything in common with an all-terrain vehicle!
There are also light quadricycles and tricycles (with an engine capacity of less than 50 cc); driving such vehicles requires a license with category “M” (mopeds).
What is an ATV
An ATV, in contrast to a quadricycle, is a four-wheeled motor vehicle, not intended for driving on public roads, having a motorcycle-type seat and a motorcycle-type steering wheel (and also called an all-terrain vehicle or all-terrain vehicle).
The conflict here is that the word “quad bike,” which is well-established in our country, is not entirely accurate; ATV (All-terrain vehicle) is correctly translated as “all-terrain vehicle.” We drive all-terrain vehicles.
GOST R 52008-2003. four-wheeled off-road motor vehicles.
General technical requirements. This standard applies to motorized off-road four-wheeled vehicles (hereinafter referred to as all-terrain vehicles) with tires, the internal pressure of which is not more than 69 kPa (0.7 kgf/cm2), having a seat with a motorcycle seat and a motorcycle-type steering wheel, designed to carry the movement of only one person (driver) and driving off public roads.
The above-mentioned all-terrain vehicles are not subject to mandatory certification and belong to off-road motor vehicles, their registration (like all-terrain vehicles, snow and swamp-going vehicles and snowmobiles) is carried out by the Gostekhnadzor authorities, and they are ensured by the Federal Customs Service authorities self-propelled vehicle passports(PSM).
The document for an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) is a passport of a self-propelled vehicle (PSM). All-terrain vehicles are registered with the Gostekhnadzor authorities and to operate them, a tractor operator’s license (UTM) with category “A1” is required. If your ATV comes with a PSM that says “all-terrain vehicle” or “snow and swamp-going vehicle”, it requires a UTM; no “regular” driver’s license “B1” gives the right to drive an all-terrain vehicle.
Short
If your vehicle has a PTS, you need a driver’s license with category “B1”, which is issued by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate.
If your vehicle has a PSM, you need a tractor driver’s license with category “A1”, which is issued by the GTN.
When studying in a driving school for category “A1”, the exam is taken not by the traffic police inspector, but by the Gostekhnadzor inspector.
