Cheap motorbike insurer rides off into, er, the water?

As cheap motorbike insurers know too well, when you first fall off your bike, you're told to pick it up and get back on it aren't you? And dusting yourself down, and relocating your collarbone to where it began its life, you do just that. If you're an expatriate, London-based New Zealander who ploughed into a dinghy, knocking 4 occupants out, and injuring three in the process, then once again, you pick yourself up, and invent a jet ski that can drive on the land don't you? It goes without saying really. So, as cheap motorbike insurer - Bikesite.co.uk - found out, that's exactly what clumsy Multi-millionaire, and resilient entrepreneur, Alan Gibbs has gone and done. Sometime inventor of an amphibious car, according to the cheap motorbike insurers, he has now created a land-going jet-ski, called the Quadski. Brushing off the dinghy incident by saying he was unfamiliar with the 1200cc power of the craft that upset those in the drink, he told the cheap motorbike insurer that he'd rather channel his nuisance value into something slightly more productive. Hence the Quadski. "I just love them," Mr Gibbs said, clearing up any confusion by adding that the accident was an "accident". As said, it's not his first tentative steps into aquatic lunacy, as Gibbs Technologies previously launched the Aquada, as discovered by the cheap motorbike insurer when trawling through some murky invention depths recently. The high speed sports amphibious vehicle some three years since that could travel at 48km/h on water, and 160km/h on terra firma.

So, to his latest watery/land combo plaything. And does it work for a start? Well, yes. Its been proven by those of wetsuit manifestation that The Quadski is an amphibious quad bike capable of negotiating virtually all terrestrial surfaces and converting to a jet ski at the press of a button. A statement that's backed up by a press release. When tackled over cost, Gibbs estimated it would retail for around $25,000, considerably less than the Aquada's $200,000 price tag - although both figures were said to be both hypothetical, and American, as only a handful had been produced and as yet, no licensing deals had been secured to manufacture the vehicles. Put on the spot, Gibbs said; "You can't ring up and buy one tomorrow. They are not in production yet so a final price has not been determined. It will be a bit cheaper than buying a quad bike and a personal water craft." But more expensive than buying a lilo and a decent motorbike suggest the cheap motorbike insurers looking slightly bemused with the whole concept.

Clearly offended by the cheap motorbike insurer's distinct lack of respect for his hair-brain idea, Mr Gibbs fired off this salvo. Which we forgot to record but recall hinted at commercialisation of the vehicles was at least two years' away, and that he has largely funded the "considerable" development costs himself. Money, parted, soon, fool and his - just five words readily springing to our now vacant minds. For those that still care, the Quadski has a top speed of 72km/h on both land and water, a proprietary jet propulsion system and wheel retraction system. Which we have to agree is pretty ambitious from an engineering perspective. To safeguard his 'invention' sixty patents have been taken out on the unique design. Just in case anyone else with large sums of money, and equally large chunks of 'fooling around' time, wanted to steal the idea. Sensing that we were perhaps taking the Michael, Gibbs came back strong; "The Quadski fills a vital gap for farmers and other outdoor workers who need amphibious flexibility in their transportation. Of course, it will also delight off-road enthusiasts who refuse to stop at the water's edge." Well, he would have had those words not tumbled from his chin. Still, not one to be put off, he concluded his PR-ing with much gusto; yet little aplomb; "The Quadski has all the flexibility of a top-of-the-line quad bike, but you can also cross the Cook Strait in it."

Designed by a New Zealand-based team, the Quadski shares a number of features with the Aquada. When entering the water, the driver can hit a button and in seconds retract the wheels into the vehicle's body and detach them from the steering column. It has a range of 600km, and is not legal in all countries for on-road use. Which may well spray a little water on his keenly lit marketing bonfire.

London-based Mr Gibbs didn't rule out pulling another record-breaking stunt with the Quadski, like Richard Branson's now-beaten crossing of the English Channel , which was roundely achieved in the Aquada. "It's rather tempting," he said as he walked away towards the shore. For those without sea-legs, cheap motorbike insurer - Bikesite.co.uk - can tend to your every cheap motorbike insuring need that much is true.

Date - 24/10/2006