Race Report – Desert Cat
To say the King of the Hammers event is a tough race but might be a fun challenge is a little like saying a Badger has a slightly intolerant disposition but would otherwise make a fine family pet. To even enter the event raises a whole host of questions, especially when you consider that almost 60% of those who start the race never finish, and in some classes the attrition rate is much higher than ... Read more
Project Quad – 2011 KFX450R, Part II
If you read our coverage of the stock 2011 KFX450R, you probably know that we think quite highly of the Kawasaki. It doesn’t boast show-stopper numbers as far as horsepower or suspension travel, but its great feel, performance, and overall fun factor earned it great reviews from our test riders. It was a natural on the XC course, and we even put in some surprising finishes on the MX track in bone-stock form against many ... Read more
Tech Tip – ATV Front End Fix
Ever had that feeling your ATV or Side x Side didn’t know where it wanted to be on the trail, darting from one side to the other like a beagle chasing a rabbit and you were just along for the ride? You’ve most likely got a front end alignment problem, but luckily a quick and easy atv front end fix can keep you on the straight and narrow. Toe-In Basics It’s easy enough to determine ... Read more
Best Sport ATV – Playmate of the Year
Most riders use their ATVs for trail riding, for work, and even as a hunting buddy, but the best times are when out play riding with friends. For the simple joy of play riding on the trials or the dunes, we want an ATV that offers all-day comfort, a sporty look and nimble handling, and an excellent engine with enough power to conquer hills and provide plenty of thrills. Kawasaki’s KFX 450R fits the bill ... Read more
The Big Ten – Honda’s Top Ten ATVs
No company in the history of ATVs has had more influence than Honda. Other than a few six or eight wheeled amphibious vehicles that found a niche with sportsman and work crews for their ability to traverse wet or dry terrain, it was the cute, little trike, the 1970 model ATC 90 that grabbed immediate acceptance and launched a sport. Suddenly those that were intimidated by riding a motorcycle off-road had another option, and even ... Read more
Test Ride – The Kawasaki KFX450R
Maybe you’ve heard of the expression, “the whole is greater than the sum.” That’s the theory of synergy. It’s the idea that if you combine two or more components, the potential of their cooperation together is higher than that of their individual potential. In the sport ATV world, the best example of synergy would be the Kawasaki KFX450R. If we had to pick an example of synergy as it relates to sport ATVs, it would ... Read more
Ride Tested – The Polaris Scrambler 500 4×4
When it was introduced almost two decades ago in 1995, the Polaris Scrambler 400 made tracks into fresh territory. Before it there were only two ATV categories, sport and utility. The Honda 400EX, the Yamaha YFZ 450R and the Can-Am Outlander 800 weren’t even on the drawing board, and custom built chassis ruled the racetrack, while the utility quad world was heavy on the utility side. Single cylinder, 400cc engines were the big bore powerhouses ... Read more
Yamaha’s 2011 Special Edition Dune Event
There are, quite possible, many times in an editor’s daily duties, when one might pause in the midst of various editorial activities, look around at their surroundings and breathe a deep sigh, thinking to oneself “How did I ever get so lucky to have been given this job?” As I stood just outside the ring of Camping World supplied toy haulers circled neatly at Pad 2 in Glamis, CA just before sunset, I had that ... Read more
NEW POLARIS RZR XP900 FIRST REVIEW!
The new Polaris RZR XP 900 features a new engine and a unique long travel suspension, and we just got done thrashing it in the desert. Look for a full article review and video Thursday at 10am! You’ll love it!
Best Crossover Class Side-x-Side – The 2011 Kawasaki Teryx 750 FI 4×4 Sport
The Kawasaki Teryx is one tough-as-nails UTV! It’s no wonder racers love it for its chassis. On our last jaunt across hundreds of miles of extreme desert, out of our group of eight Teryx mounted riders, we didn’t have a single failure or mechanical problem! We were extremely impressed! The Teryx isn’t limited to just high speed adventure, however. The term “Crossover Vehicle” applies perfectly to the Teryx for its ability to perform many different ... Read more
Best 450cc Hi-Performance ATV – The 2011 Yamaha YFZ 450X
Yamaha set the pace in the Hi-Performance ATV world with the introduction of their original YFZ 450, then upped the ante when they built a second generation racer, the YFZ 450R. The new ‘R came with a high tech aluminum chassis, fuel injection, a powerful engine, and racing quality, long travel suspension. Whether in the hands of a pro racer or an intermediate class rider, it made every rider better. Many riders hit the trails ... Read more
Best 300cc Class Sport ATV – The 2011 Yamaha Raptor 250
In our original review of the Yamaha Raptor 250, we said that it’s the best ATV there has ever been for new sport riders, and we still stand by that statement. What makes the Raptor 250 special – and the entire Yamaha Raptor family – is that it’s a true sport machine designed for superb handling, with a snappy, fun powerband from a bullet proof motor capable of decades of reliable riding. No other quad ... Read more
