Gibbs Quadski

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The Quadski driving on land Quadski on land.jpg
The Quadski driving on land

The Gibbs Quadski is an amphibious quad bike/ATV, launched in October 2012 by Gibbs Sports Amphibians. The Quadski is a 4-stroke amphiquad that converts from a quad bike/ATV to a personal watercraft. It can attain a top speed of 72 km/h (45 mph) on both land and water. [1] The Quadski uses a marine jet propulsion system as well as wheel retraction, allowing it to transition between land and water.

Contents

The Quadski, developed and manufactured by a team based in Detroit, shares several features with the Gibbs Aquada. It is powered by a marinised version of BMW Motorrad's 1.3-litre engine from the K1300S, producing 100 kW (140 PS). [1] However, on land, the power is reduced to approximately 60 kW (82 PS). [2] To switch to water mode, the driver presses a button that retracts the wheels into the vehicle's body and disconnects them from the drive train. [1] In water, the Quadski uses a stone guard-protected intake to draw in water, which is then propelled by an engine-driven impeller through stator blades and a nozzle. Steering is controlled by a nozzle at the rear, directed via the handlebars.

The Quadski can travel for about two hours on water and has a range of approximately 600 kilometres (370 miles) on land.

About 1,000 Quadskis were produced in Michigan [3] between 2012 and 2016, when production ceased. The vehicle is no longer manufactured by Gibbs or under any official licence. A Chinese company, Hison, [4] has attempted to copy the Quadski, but their version uses images of the actual Quadski in marketing materials and lacks strong evidence of functioning as a true amphibian vehicle and is legally questionable.

Official Quadski parts and technical support are supplied by Gibbs Amphibians in New Zealand. [5]

Appearance on Top Gear

A Quadski was used in a 2014 episode of British motoring show Top Gear, when Jeremy Clarkson raced it across Lake Como against an Alfa Romeo 4C driven by co-host Richard Hammond. [6] Despite arriving at the finish line first, Clarkson proceeded to concede the race to the Alfa. [7]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gibbs Quadski Review: Top Speed, HP, Specs, Prices [Video]". JetDrift. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  2. "After Years of Teasing, Gibbs is Finally Ready to Produce an Amphibian". FastAmphibians.com. 17 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  3. "Gibbs Quadski". quadski.com. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  4. "HS-006J5-product,Jet-Ski, amphibious motor boats, power surfboard - Jiujiang Poseidon". www.hisonjetski.com. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  5. "Quadski". Gibbs Amphibians. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  6. Radu, Vlad (29 August 2022). "The Gibbs Quadski Was a Revolutionary Amphibious Vehicle That Deserves To Be Remembered". autoevolution. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  7. "Alfa Romeo 4C vs Gibbs Quadski (Series 21, Episode 2)". Top Gear. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2022.