IT''S UNBELIEVABLE - BUT NOT UNINSURABLE!
05 November 2006 - Bikesure

World''s first ''Ducati'' 4-wheeler.

What do you get when you create a quad out of a motorbike? Well, an extra two wheels, obviously, but in the case of Wayne Heathfield''s Custom Quad Shack, something far more startling than a conventional quad.

The Duquati.

This magnificent one-off beast is based on a Quadzilla Stinger but using an authentic Ducati 750 engine and other components from old Ducatis. Looking almost reptilian, the end result has incorporated six months of his spare time, and while it contains the best of both Quadzilla and Ducati, it''s clear that it''s his own labour and love that marks it out as something special.

The Duquati is turning heads everywhere it goes. ''Turn your back on it, and you wouldn''t know it wasn''t a bike. It sounds the tits!'', says Wayne Heathfield. ''Not loud, just real. But it handles like a go-kart.

''The British are terrific at appreciating good engineering, but they don''t always give credit to the labour that goes into it'', he adds. ''I spent six months of my life building the Duquati, and I wanted it to go to someone who knew how much of me went into it and how lucky he was to have it.''

That lucky someone was Stu Swales, a bike racer who has long experience of Ducatis and was looking for a quad bike that offered something different. Retired from official racing, he''d long been pressing Wayne to build something - anything - with a Ducati heritage. So when Wayne had finally finished, he didn''t need to look far for a customer who was worthy.

The sticking point in owning this machine could have been insurance - but it wasn''t. It was Stu Swales who had the task of getting cover.

''Insuring a standard quad is already hard enough'', said Stu. ''Getting a quote on a one-off road-legal quad might have been a nightmare. But Bikesure were able to do it straight away. And people should know this. They were the only ones I found who can cover custom quads.''

As well as doing the custom jobs, the Custom Quad Shack is also selling quads and off-road buggies - and recommending Bikesure for customers'' insurance.

''The quads like the Duquati coming out of Wayne ''shack'' are amazing'' says Robert Balls of Bikesure. ''He''s the only one we know in the UK who''s doing custom quads, but we reckon we can insure almost any custom quad, even if they are outlandish, as long as they''re road-legal of course.''

Bikesure has a huge range of specialist policies for the motorcycle enthusiast, including schemes for trikes and quads. For details freephone the Bikesure quote line on 0800 089 2000, email the company at bikesure@adrianflux.co.uk or visit www.bikesure.co.uk

www.bikesure.co.uk

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