UTV Off Road Magazine

CONTENTSFEATURES

EVERY ISSUE

50 5630

08 EDITOR’SNOTE

12 INDUSTRYNEWS

14 GONEPOSTAL

21 THEOFF-ROADERS

22 PRODUCTSREVIEWED

38 HOLIDAYBUYERSGUIDE

64 WHEELIN’&DEALIN’

66 COLORINGCONTEST

34

16 EASTCOASTMUDNATIONALSHigh Lifter brings mud racing to Georgia.

20 2010KAWASAKIMODELSKawasaki adds some new styling to the Teryx.

30 POLARISRZR170We check out the only youth UTV from Polaris and find out whether or not it can go the distance.

34 1STDESERTRACER-INTERVIEWWe sit down with Cory Sappington and learn how UTV Racing all started and check out his original Yamaha Rhino.

48 2009HOLIDAYBUYERSGUIDEIt’s that time of year again, and we’ve packed this issue full of new items for your UTV.

50 2010KYMCOUXVKymco freshens up their line with a new LE version.

56 GSX-RZR-BUILDINGA175HPMONSTERSuper ATV shows us the fastest RZR on the planet!

56 ARIZONAATVOUTLAWJAMBOREERide along with us as we visit the cool pines of Northeastern Arizona at the 6th annual Arizona ATV Outlaw Jamboree.

60 MODGARAGE-Ranger700BuildWhat do you get when Dirty Dawg Performance and Racer Tech team up? One wicked Ranger.

ON THE COVERGetting deep in the mud. High Lifter brings mud racing to Doles, Georgia for the first of many East Coast Mud Nationals. Photo by Harlen Foley

GAME ON!

Every issue as we get ready to send the final product to the printer, we

spend a lot of hours on last-minute additions or changes and final tweaks

to give you the best product possible. Sometimes I need a break to get

away from the computer and decompress. While I would like to just get out

and go riding to escape, there just isn’t the time, and sun has gone down

over the horizon yet another time. One thing I found for a quick escape

that is almost as good (and only takes a half hour) is watching one of the

most entertaining shows on TV. Can you guess? This show features one

of the best MX Freestylers around, none other than Travis Pastrana. You

guessed it – I’m hooked on watching Nitro Circus on MTV. What makes my

escape from reality so relaxing is the time I get to share with my son Tanner.

With the DVR set to record every episode so we don’t miss out, we usually

end up watching a few even if we have seen them before. For a good hour,

we sit back and enjoy one of our many common bonds, watching anything

action-packed and motorized, and have a few laughs in the meantime.

Beginning with Season 2, Nitro Circus finally featured something a little

closer to what we are familiar with. They got ahold of a few Redlines for a

dirt party at the Nitro Playground. One Riot (side-by-side) and one Revolt

(single-seater), and it was Game On! They started off jumping both cars

over a decent-sized gap, then proceeded to push the limits of either the

Revolt or the driver. In some cases, I think it was both. The main focus of

the show is for pure entertainment purposes, and we definitely got our

money’s worth. As they ended up the sequence with the Revolt, they

tried something that no one should try (and something that I really didn’t

think anyone would try.) It’s hard to describe, so I took a few photos of my

TV to help explain. Basically, Special Greg (Travis’ cousin) got up to speed

and hit a dirt ramp at an angle, launching the Riot nose up in the air and

almost completing two revolutions before landing on the roof. From what

I could tell, the vehicles held up to a pretty good beating. This episode has

become one of our favorites.

Speaking of favorites, this issue, because of the time of year, is one of my

favorites. It always brings out a lot of new products that we have never

seen before, and we wonder why it has been kept so secretly. Lucky for

you, we were able to get our hands on it and share it with you in this year’s

Holiday Buyers Guide. Check out all the great new products starting on

page 38. From everyone here at UTV Off-Road Magazine, we hope you

have a safe and fun Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!

Troy [email protected]

UTVOFFROADMAG.COM10

www.utvoffroadmag.com

Publisher: Troy and Don Merrifield Editor-in-Chief: Troy Merrifield - [email protected] Advertising Exec: Don Merrifield - [email protected] 480-990-2143 Advertising Exec: Tracey Waslefsky - [email protected] 480-229-9602 Advertising Exec: Clark Silver - [email protected] 602-451-3160 Advertising Exec: Damon Flippo - [email protected] 602-748-0515 Finance: Amy Smith - [email protected] Financial Advisor: Gary Goff/North Star Marketing Group Contributing Editors: Lisa Breshears, Harlen Foley, Don McNeilly, Jeff Henson Contributing Photographers: Harlen Foley, Don McNeilly, Jeff Henson, Rich Paynes

Subscriptions: 480-229-9602 or [email protected] & Change of Address write: Please notify us of any change of address. All subscription

correspondence should be addressed to:

UTV Off-Road Magazine

20280 N. 59th Ave. Ste. 115-245

Glendale, AZ 85308

UTV OFF-ROAD MAGAZINE® is published bi-monthly (6 times a year) by Open Matrix Group, LLC. Exclusively distributed by Curtis Circulation Company, LLC, New Milford, New Jersey. Reprinting in whole or by any means- electronic, graphic or mechanical, including photocopying or information

storage and retrieval systems is forbidden without written permission from the publisher.

One-year subscription rates (6 issues) US $19.95 payable to:Open Matrix Group, LLC

Please allow 10-12 weeks for delivery.

Editorial contributions are welcomed, but editors recommend that contributors contact us first. Contribution must be accompanied by return postage, and we assume no responsibility for damage or loss of material. Manuscripts must be typewritten, and all photos have to have

captions. Photo model releases of all people in photos must accompany manuscript. UTV OFF-ROAD MAGAZINE reserves the right to use material, and we reserve the right to edit material to meet publication requirements. E-mail contributions or inquiries to: [email protected].

WARNING: Some of the photos in this magazine portray actions performed by professional drivers under controlled circumstances. We are not responsible for the actions of our readers. We encourage safe and responsible operation at all times. Wear a helmet and safety restraints while operating a UTV/Side-by-Side and never drive beyond your capabilities. Do not drink and drive while operating a UTV. We also encourage you to “Tread Lightly” while respecting the outdoors

and other outdoor enthusiasts. Use your head and enjoy the ride.

©2009 Open Matrix Group, LLC

Printed in the USA

UTV Off-Road Magazine is printed on 20% recycled (10% post-consumer waste) paper. All inks used contain a percentage of soy base. Our printer meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) Standards.

UTV Off-Road Magazine // Issue 22 // Jan/Dec 2010

industrynewsLATEST UTV&SIDE-BY-SIDE

Holz clinches WORCS Championship

Holz Clinches WORCS Championship with RANGER RZR S

Mark Holz and his Holz Racing RANGER RZR S took another “UTV Class 1” win and the overall clinching the WORCS 2009 Championship, at Straddleline ORV Park, in Olympia, Wash.Holz clinched the championship with two rounds remaining due to his overwhelming point lead. He has four first-place and overall wins with a total of 98 points, 46 more points than second place. “My RANGER RZR S performed perfectly all season and was dominant on the track. The power provided by the Kroyer modified engine allowed me to holeshot every race, even when we were up against 1000cc Side-by-Sides,” said Holz. “All in all it was a great season and I look forward to more racing in the future.”Doug Eichner and his RANGER RZR S also are leading their WORCS division, “UTV 3,” with a total of 99 points. Eichner took first in the class at Straddleline and second overall.

The next WORCS race is September 25-27, in Devore, Calif. Holz’s next race is the Best In The Desert Silver State 300 September 25-27. Holz’s Sponsors are Holz Racing Products, Kroyer Racing Engines, Polaris Industries, Fox Racing Shox, Maxxis Tires, Walker Evans Racing Wheels, Utendorfer Graphic Design, Gear Works

PRC Ranger Club Correction

Redline Riot GiveawayWinner!

WE HAVE A WINNER! Congratulations to Jennifer Gitroudacis as she is the lucky winner of our Redline Riot Giveaway. She is extremely excited and can’t wait to take her new toy out on the trails! A funny thing happened upon delivery, the Riot wouldn’t start. Yep, no gas. We were happy to fill up her tank and watch her take it out for her first spin! Thank you to over the 8,000 people who entered to win our Redline Riot Giveaway. And a big thank you to the folks at Redline for providing us with this Riot and for designing such a great machine. For more information about this exciting Side-by-Side vehicle go to: www.redlineperforms.com.

Off Road Innovations is pleased to announce our new line of UTV products. Off Road Innovations is one of the largest chains of aftermarket Truck, Jeep and now UTV accessories.

Michael Hawes, president of Off-Road Innovations, known for helping off road enthusiasts turn their hobby into a career by offering them the opportunity to own their very own ORI retail store. For several years now, ORI corporate has offered a turn key start up for off road enthusiasts. ORI corporate has just completed a state of the art training facility to assist with location assessment, product and showroom design and a grandfathered discount structures where future store owners are competitive against the local competition.

For details on owning your own off-road shop call the staff at ORI and start turning your hobby into a career.

Call:1-800-809-6088 or visit: www.offroadinc.net.

Get your ownOff-Road Shop!

Due to an editorial mishap in the Oct/Nov issue, part of the sponsors were left off as well as the paragraph about the PRC Ranger Club. This was an unintentional mistake and was not meant to leave out these fine vendors who made the Ranger project possible. Project Sponsors:• Polaris Industries • RangerWare • Lakeside Motorsports • Ranger Pro-Lift • ATV Outfitters • Super ATV • UTV Crap • Jagged X • Rubberdown Customs • Dragonfire Racing • SSV Works • Motoalliance • Bikeman Performance • EMP • UTV Tech

More About PRC Ranger Club:The PRC Ranger Club can be found on the web at: www.prcforum.com. PRC’s goal is to provide a family oriented, internet based forum where Polaris Ranger owners from all over the world can come together and conduct open and friendly dialogue between its members regarding all aspects of owning a Polaris Ranger.

UTVOFFROADMAG.COM14

The Pit Bull Tires UTV King of the Hammers race will be held on Thursday February 11th, 2010 as part of the week long Hammerking Productions event in Johnson Valley, CA. The first place purse for this stand-alone race will be $5,000. There will also be multiple contingency opportunities.

Pit Bull Tires has stepped up to the challenge and is proud to be the Title Sponsor of the UTV King of the Hammers race. “I believe that this is the next big race. You have to want to win this race, to even complete it,” said Mike Green

of Pit Bull Tires. “We are very excited to be the title sponsor.” Pit Bull Tires is adding to the purse a set of their UTV tires for the first three finishers and the last place finisher.

All of last year’s drivers, and many of the current Griffin King of the Hammers drivers, have committed to racing. The driver application will be online at www.kingofthehammers.com within the month. There is currently no cap on entries, and Hammerking Productions expects a great field of celebrities, seasoned racers, and enthusiasts that just want to come out and experience this epic adventure. In 2009, the exhibition UTV race was held and completed within four hours. The five racers took their vehicles and tested them in the desert and in some of the most extreme rock crawling environments. This year, the course will be a little longer, a little harder, and will utilize some of the King of the Hammers rule-book which includes no spectator help, only competitor help. The length of the course has not been determined at this time. There will be additional information available soon on www.KingOfTheHammers.com.

Hammerking Productions, Inc. created the “King of the Hammers” off-road race in 2007(www.kingofthehammers.com). The first UTV King of the Hammers race was held in 2009 as an exhibition to see how the UTV’s did in these extreme conditions. In 2010 the Pit Bull Tires UTV King of the Hammers will grow into a full fledge race.

Pit Bull Tires: www.pitbulltires.com

Pit Bull Tires UTV King of the Hammers $5,000 Purse Largest in History of UTV Racing

gonepostal

Do you have a great photo that you would like to share? We know you have a camera, so send it in for our reader mail section for everyone to enjoy. E-mail your photos to: [email protected]

UTVOR READER MAIL

Muddin’inMichigan

UTV Off-Road, Here’s some fun we were having at the jamboree.

Picture 1: My Wife Donna Ostrander in her 08 Polaris Ranger XP Orange Crush running in the St Helen Michigan ATV Jamboree. Ranger is Michigan Street Legal with a 2” lift, 28” Dot Super Swamper TSL tires mounted on 14” ITP SS Wheels. Donna took a first in the UTV class of the pull later in the day! Her first time ever in competition!

Picture 2: Me (Rick Ostrander) in my 08 RZR. It also is completely road legalized. Running on 29.5 outlaws in the mud run and 28” DOT Swampers on the trails and road. 2” lift and Gorilla axles. I took first in class with it at the St Helen Mich. ATV Jamboree.

Picture 3: My nephew and partner in crime Joe Sims in his 08 Yamaha Rhino 660. Running in the bog on 28” Mud Lites but normally on 28” Super Swamper tsl’s on black ITP SS Wheels. Equipped with a 686 bore piston, Snorkels, 3” Super ATV lift and host of other goodies. Joe took 3rd in the bog at St Helen’s.

We all have a blast with our side-by-sides running the trails and back roads in Northern Michigan. We would like to thank the town of St Helen for making it such a UTV ATV friendly place to ride! We are all planning on attending the jamboree next year!

Thanks to UTV Offroad Mag. for such a great magazine, and keep up the great work !

Rick & Donna OstranderJoe SimsChase, Michigan

Via E-mail

GONE POSTAL

Bethany S. Age 10Second Place is a pair of goggles from Utopia

FIRST PLACE! SECOND PLACE!

Kelly N. Age 11First Place is a helmet from HJC Helmets

Honorable Mentions

Madison A. Age 7 Kolby H. Age 11 Haily S. Age 8

Congratulations to our first and second place winners! We recieved over 100 entries of super cool colorings of Lil’R. Send in your entries for our next contest located in the back of UTV Off-Road Magazine, or to download and print it yourself, go to:www.utvoffroadmag.com/coloringcontest/

Thank you to our panel of 5 youth judges ranging from 7 to 10 years old. They had a hard time choosing their favorites, so we added a few honorable mentions that were close. Also, thank you to all that entered. We hope you had fun and continue to send in more entries. Remember, deadline for our next drawing ends December 20th.

UTVOFFROADMAG.COM16

TRY SOME

EAST COAST

BY LISA BRESHEARS // PHOTOS HARLEN FOLEY

HIGH LIFTER MUD NATIONALS

MUD FOR A CHANGEUTVOFFROADMAG.COM18

TRY SOME

EAST COAST

BY LISA BRESHEARS // PHOTOS HARLEN FOLEY

HIGH LIFTER MUD NATIONALSTHEHIGHLIFTERATVMUDNATIONALSHAVEHADMUCHSUCCESSWITHTHEIRANNUALSERIESTHATHASTYPICALLYBEENHOSTEDINTHESTATEOFTEXAS.Over the years, the only complaint from those who like to get down and dirty has been that the event should be expanded to include locations on the East Coast. Now UTV and mud addicts have gotten their wish.

Creek Bottom ATV Trails in Doles, GA recently played host to the first ever High Lifter ATV East Coast Mud Nationals. Located in the southern region of the state, The Creek Bottom ATV Trails facility sits on 500 acres that includes miles and miles of scenic trails that range in skill level from beginner to expert with streams and water crossings, and of course, lots and lots of mud. Thousands of mud enthusiasts flocked to the facility for the first ever High Lifter East Coast ATV Mud Nationals to show off their machines and participate in some of the most exciting mud races the region has seen.

The High Lifter events are known for having a wide variety of displays, with some of the top aftermarket vendors and manufacturers in the industry in attendance, and this first ever event certainly lived up to the High Lifter reputation. Vendor row was packed with a variety of companies offering their aftermarket goods and services for attendees. There were plenty of manufacturers on hand as well, including Polaris, Arctic Cat and Can-Am, all displaying their new 2010 models. Yamaha, however, went one step further and brought in a team of experts to provide free mechanical services to Yamaha ATV and SxS riders, and that service was well utilized over the course of the weekend, as the Yamaha area seemed to be a constant flurry of activity.

Despite the prediction of rain for the region, Mother Nature showed her better side as she spared the area from any foul weather, much to the delight of those in attendance. High Lifter’s well organized event started off with the Bad to Da’ Bone Show & Shine on Friday, that allowed everyone to get a good look at some of the tricked out side-by-sides and ATVs before they had a chance to take a dip in some of the monstrous mud holes during the Poker Run or get caked in the thick Georgia muck in the ever popular Mudda Cross event.

The Polaris High Lifter Teams dominated the podium in the Mudda Cross RUV class. Blake Mann of the High Lifter Polaris Racing team was the lucky UTV racer to take the win in the Mudda Cross event aboard his Polaris RZR. “We had a really

MUD FOR A CHANGE

great time out there. High Lifter put together a great event and I plan on coming back for the next one,” said Mann.

Bryan Robertson would claim second place in the Mudda Cross, while his wife Maggie Robertson, who is one of the few women who regularly participate in the Mud Nationals, took third place. “We go to all the Mud Nationals and we always have a great time. It’s a great event for families and there’s plenty to do for everyone,” said Maggie Robertson.

Saturday morning the main mud bog events began with the crowd going wild as the first side-by-sides took to the mud pit. As the mud flew and the engines revved, it was Offroad Powersports’ Jay Laycock, who was the lucky contestant to win the Bad to Da’ Bone event with his impressive looking Polaris RZR, that would take the win in the RUV class. “We had a fantastic time out here. The mud was good, the competition was good, and it was close to home for us,” said the Georgia native. When asked if he planned to attend future events, Laycock’s answer was simple. “Absolutely!”

Jay Laycock may have been unstoppable in the UTV class, but Blake Mann looked totally in control as he made his way through the pits to take second place in the RUV Mud Bog and Brian Robertson would hang on for a third place finish. “These events are competitive, but that’s only half the fun. We get to meet so many different people; it’s always a good time,” said Robertson graciously.

After the racing wrapped up on Saturday evening, the Bomb Squad freestyle team put on an amazing show with brothers Caleb and Colton Moore performing a tandem backflip that wowed the audience. After a slew of freestyle tricks, Caleb Moore brought out the team’s Polaris RZR and proceeded to choose a lucky participant from the crowd to ride with him as he took the UTV off of a 30 foot jump. To see a UTV take to the air like that was impressive to say the least. Moore made the stunt appear effortless as he hit the ramp once again, much to the delight of the crowd.

Saturday night’s award ceremonies were also well organized and entertaining as trophies, cash, and prizes totaling more than $17,500.00 were handed out to racers. “We have some really great sponsors that back our events and enable us to put together events that people really enjoy. We had a good turnout and

UTVOFFROADMAG.COM 19

Ah, heck, 4 out of 5 ain’t bad. Not sure if you can tell, but we think the middle one has dentures. Can you eat corn off the cob with dentures? That would really suck if you couldn’t. We’re just kidding. That’s Colton Moore from Bomb Squad showing off his new teeth. Check out below right photo to see what he can do with an RZR.

What the? Yeah, we know. That’s what we thought, too. Ain’t it cool, though? Scott Smith of High Lifter really went out on this 2010 Polaris Ranger Crew. We think he should change his name to Scott High Smith. Every year he seems to out-do himself. His creations just keep getting bigger and bigger with a lot of thought and engineering as well as off-road appeal.

EAST COAST MUD NATIONALS

really positive feedback for this event, so we definitely are planning on another East Coast Mud National,” said Traci Engi, event coordinator for High Lifter, Inc.

A good time seemed to be had by all that took part in the first ever High Lifter East Coast ATV Mud Nationals and with the promise of more events on the East Coast, in addition to the already popular Texas event, mud enthusiasts everywhere will have something to look forward to. And if mud is your thing, the next High Lifter Mud National will be held in the great state of Texas in April of 2010. But if you want to get in a little more practice in the mud, High Lifter promotes several other events throughout the year with locations in Texas and Georgia that have classes to accommodate just about everyone.

RZRs are very popular at mud races. But just like other competitive events, we are starting to see a lot more of the Kawasaki Teryx.

Yeah, this is real. And it is all done with a stock Polaris RZR! The Bomb Squad not only did this once, they jumped off the freestyle ramp multiple times with a perfect landing each jump. Kids, please do not try this at home! This stunt is performed by professionals.

UTVOFFROADMAG.COM20

2010 KAWASAKI TERYX750FI

2010 KAWASAKI TERYX

2010 Kawasaki Teryx™ 750 FI 4x4 Specifications

Engine: Liquid-cooled, 90-degree, four-stroke V-twin

Valve system: SOHC, four valves per cylinder

Displacement: 749cc

Starting system: Electric

Bore x stroke: 85 x 66mm

Compression ratio: 8.8:1

Fuel system: 2 x Mikuni 34 mm throttle bodies

Ignition: Digital DC-CDI

Transmission:Continuously variable belt-drive transmission with high and low range, plus reverse, and Kawasaki Engine Brake Control

Final drive: Selectable four-wheel drive with Variable Front Differential Control, shaft

Frame: Large diameter, thin-walled, high-tensile tubular steel

Front suspension / wheel travel: Adjustable dual A-arm with gas charged shocks / 7.5 in.

Rear suspension / wheel travel: Adjustable Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) with gas charged, reservoir shocks /7.5 in.

Front tires: Maxxis 26x8-12

Rear tires: Maxxis 26x10-12

Front brakes: Dual hydraulic discs with 2-piston calipers

Rear brake: Sealed, oil-bathed, multi-disc

Overall length: 116.4 in.

Overall width: 58.5 in.

Overall height: 75.8 in.

Wheelbase: 76.0 in.

Ground clearance: 11.6 in.

Lighting: (2) 40W headlights, (2) 8W taillight, 27W stoplight

Cargo bed capacity: 500 lbs, 44.2 W x 32.7 L x 11.1 in. H

Towing capacity: 1300 lbs

Curb weight: 1395 lbs

Fuel capacity: 7.4 gal.

Instruments:

Multi-Function Digital Meter with speedometer (mph or kph), fuel gauge, clock hour meter, odometer, dual trip meter and parking brake, R/N/P/4WD, water temp and oil pressure indicators

Color: Sunbeam Red, Super Black

MSRP: $11,699

2010 Kawasaki Teryx™ 750 FI 4x4 LE Color: Metallic Ruby Red

MSRP: $12,349

2010 Kawasaki Teryx™ 750 FI 4x4 CAMO Color: Metallic Ruby Red

MSRP: $12,349

2010 Kawasaki Teryx™750 FI 4x4 SPORT

Front suspension / wheel travel:Adjustable dual A-arm with aluminum-body gas-charged shocks with piggy-back reservoirs, fully adjustable preload, and adjustable rebound/compression damping / 7.5 in.

Rear suspension / wheel travel:Adjustable Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) with reservoir-equipped gas-charged shocks with adjustable preload and adjustable rebound/compression damping / 7.5 in.

Color: Lime Green, Super Black

MSRP: $12,699 / $12,999 UTVOFFROADMAG.COM22

UTVOFFROADMAG.COM 23

productsreviewed

LATEST UTV&SIDE-BY-SIDE

TESTED

DIAMONDBACK UTVKAWASAKI TERYX BED COVER

THE SKINNY

THE BOTTOM LINE

Not only do they make it for the Kawasaki Teryx model years from 2008 to 2010, but they also produce covers for other popular UTVs.

Construction: .08” thick Tread Brite Aluminum Diamond Plate (Compare to standard truck tool boxes at .063” thick). Stainless Steel Exterior Hinges and Bolts ensure a rust-free product. DiamondBack UTV Covers are designed so that the large hinged panel can be removed in seconds, providing you full use of your bed. Full cover can be removed using simple hand tools. Six high strength nylon tie-down cleats make securing any load a breeze. Perfect for securing hunting or work tools and hauling tree stands, big game, hay or feed and construction supplies.

DiamondBack UTV Covers offer total security for your UTV bed.Keep Weather Out: The 3/4” neoprene gasket of the cover seals with the top edge of the box, sealing out rain and snow from your hunting or work supplies.Keep Thieves Out: Feel secure when leaving your hunting or work supplies in the bed of your UTV. The DiamondBack Cover locks BOTH the cover and the tailgate with one keyed lock. The lock rods of the cover are 3/8” galvanized steel rods locking into aluminum brackets.

Style: DiamondBack UTV Covers are available in either Polished Aluminum Diamond Plate or Black with LINE-X XTRA® Coating.

This product is a great addition to any UTV for keeping cargo in its place and out of the elements. The top deck has a carrying capacity of 250 lbs, and with four tie down cleats on each corner and two in the back you can secure any load. Perfect for hauling a spare tire on trips or hauling out game.

We find the cover handy for loading everything we need on a trail ride and find satisfaction that it will all be there when our trip is over, dust free and dry. The Diamondback cover seals tight all the way around the bed. A great feature is that the cover is easy to install and no drilling is required. It mounts to stock screw hole locations. The lid is easily removable without having to unbolt anything.

We also like the fact that you can lock the cover and keep your valuables secure. They have updated this unit over previous units, adding a lip that hangs over the back end of the tailgate. On previous units, you could just open the tailgate and get into the back. Adding the extra lip allows for more security to the unit, keeping your valuable safe inside. Also available now with Black LINE-X XTRA® Coating to blend in with your UTV while keeping it looking new.

This is a solid unit and a great investment for those wanting to increase their storage capacity inside the bed while keeping items dry and secure. It also allows you to stack and secure items on the cover for additional storage capacity.

Go to: www.diamondbackutv.com or call: 877-245-5080

$499-Line X – $399 Raw

DIAMONDBACK UTVKAWASAKI TERYX FLOOR MATS Go to: www.diamondbackutv.com or call: 877-245-5080

RATED

DiamondBack Floor Mats add style and protection to the floor of any UTV. They come in both Polished Aluminum or Black with LINE-X XTRA® and are cut to fit your UTV.

THE SKINNY

THE BOTTOM LINE

Floor mats are a great way to protect your plastic floorboards. If you use your vehicle for work, then Diamondback has the answer. If you tend to throw in heavy objects on the floor while on the jobsite, you no doubt will end up damaging or cracking them. Covering them up will make them last longer and save you costly repairs in the long run. When it comes to play time, Diamondback UTV has you covered, as well. On some UTVs like the Rhino and Ranger, aluminum floor mats actually protect your feet from objects like rocks or tree limbs from busting through the floorboards. While the Teryx is a little more protected, there are some areas for branches to find their way through the openings of the skid plates. We ordered ours with a black Line-X coating to blend in with the rest of our interior, but if you want to save $40, they offer them in a polished diamond plate finish, as well.

$129-Line X – $89 Raw

UTVOFFROADMAG.COM24

productsreviewed

LATEST UTV&SIDE-BY-SIDE

TESTED

RATED

THE SKINNY

THE BOTTOM LINE

Go to: www.utvcrap.com or call: 623.934.3070

$59.95UTV CRAPSUN VISOR

Have you ever been out riding and the early morning or late evening sun is just burning a hole in your retinas? Sometimes even with sunglasses the ball of fire in the sky is just too much. Well, lucky for you, UTV Crap has come up with a great addition to your UTV. A simple universal clamp-on sun visor that fits on 1-1/2” and 1-3/4” tubing. The visor is made from ¼” thick dark tinted acrylic that not only diffuses the sun but still gives you the ability to see through it.

Mounting to your cage is simple via the simple billet aluminum clamps that do not wrap around the entire tube. This is perfect for UTVs with roofs, making installation fast and easy. The visor can be adjusted to any angle while driving and easily flips up out of the way when not needed, just like in your truck or car. The adjustment knobs tighten down snug, and there is no need to worry about the visor flopping around while driving off-road. For us out in the Southwest with lots of sunshine, this is a great addition to our frequent dune trips.

UTVOFFROADMAG.COM26 UTVOFFROADMAG.COM26

UTVOFFROADMAG.COM 27

productsreviewed

LATESTUTV&SIDE-BY-SIDE

TESTED

BUggIeBAg UTV DUST COVER

THE SKINNY

THE BOTTOM LINE

Go to: www.buggiebag.com

RATED

The BuggieBag is a fashion cover for your utility and off road vehicle. It uses a special fabric that stretches to fit your vehicle, covering it completely to protect the surface from environmental contaminants and the elements. An elastic band sewn around the hem of the BuggieBag holds it firmly in place, securing your vehicle with a simple pull of the drawstring closure.

The BuggieBag also acts as a short-term cover for those instances when the weather catches you off guard. Whether it’s a sudden dust storm that comes up while you are off-roading or if you want to protect your investment while in the store or having a meal, the BuggieBag is quick and efficient to use. It is also a great investment for those times when you have to store your buggy overnight at the dunes or the garage.

If you are particular about keeping your UTV dust free while sitting in your garage until your next adventure then BuggieBag has the answer. This is dust cover is also handy at the dunes when stored for the night or through a blowing sand storm during the day.

One of the great features of the BuggieBag is that it comes in a variety of fabric patterns or colors to match your individual personality. No more boring grey colors. BuggieBag is not a water repellant product. This product is made of very heavy-duty stretch material made to wrap you vehicle and it is UV Rated just like a swimsuit. If it gets dirty, it is completely machine washable.

Storing your BuggieBag is easy with its integrated bag so you don’t have to worry about two pieces getting separated from each other. And if you add a light bar or any other add ons the BuggieBag will still fit. Not only is it available for your UTV you can also get it for your sand car, truck, motorcycle, ATV, or even your boat.

This will be a hot holiday gift this year for all off-road enthusiasts.

The BuggieBag is the latest innovation in the off-road industry in short-term Dust Covers. The BuggieBag is not a water repellant product, it is made to shed water and moister only. This product is great for short-term dust cover at the dunes or indoor storage for your vehicles.

The BuggieBag is a bandana for your buggy and the special high fashion stretch material allows one bag to fit many types of vehicles and still look like a custom cover.

SSV WORKS AUDIO SySTeM UTV UniVerSal OVerHead aUdiO SYSTem

UTVOFFROADMAG.COM28

SSV WORKS AUDIO SySTeM UTV UniVerSal OVerHead aUdiO SYSTem

THE SKINNY

Go to: www.ssvworks.com

THE BOTTOM LINE

New SSV Works Overhead made new for the iPod. This weatherproof audio system is for the Rhino, Teryx, Ranger, Mule, and Kubota. The WP-OU4 bolts in overhead to your stock cage, installs in 15 minutes with a simple 2-wire hookup and is totally weatherproof. No more radios. Simply dock your iPod into the watertight box. System includes charging dock for iPod with built-in 50-watt x4 digital amp designed around UTV batteries, waterproof speakers, wireless remote control, and like all SSV Works systems is constructed of fiberglass for maximum durability and the best sound quality. All systems include wiring, hardware and instructions.

We received the first production unit of SSV Works new overhead audio system for our 2009 Kawasaki Teryx. Just like all of SSV Works products, it has flawless fit and finish and arrived in a well-packed package. With no damage to the unit, we started the install. The first time always seems to take a little longer, so we stretched the said 15-minute install to about 35 minutes. To do it again, it is no more than a 15-minute install.

The unit fits in between the top two rails of our Kawasaki Teryx. Wanting to keep access to our overhead rear grab bar, we simply flipped it around, which used up most of our time. Once positioned into place, we drilled 4 pilot holes in the cage. From there, 4 screws hold the mounting brackets in place. Next, we ran the included wire loom down to the battery under the driver’s seat, zip tied the wires to the cage, and we were ready for some tuneage.

In the weatherproof case, there is a power button you will need to turn on as well as the power button on the provided remote, which controls the volume. With your iPod connected, let the tunes begin.

With 4 speakers and a 50 -watt amp, the sound is crisp and has good base without the assistance of a subwoofer. With it right over your head, the volume is plenty loud in the cab area while sitting as well as driving. The overall unit blends in with the OEM factory black cages and there is plenty of headroom for 6’3” occupants wearing a helmet.

Overall, SSV Works has come up with a solid, self-contained weatherproof audio system that works for a variety of vehicles. With a great track record for making quality sound systems for UTVs, you can’t go wrong with this unit. It also comes with a nice billet aluminum remote holder that you can mount on your dash.

RATED

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productsreviewed

LATESTUTV&SIDE-BY-SIDE

TESTED

NAPIeR SPORTZ TRUCK TENT III

THE SKINNYGo to: www.sportzbynapier.com or Call: 800-567-2434

Set up camp wherever your truck will take you with the only truck tents on the market with a PATENTED SEWN IN FLOOR.

Sportz Truck Tents allow you to sleep high and dry off the cold, dirty ground and in the bed of your truck. They set up in just 10 minutes in the back of your open-bed pickup, creating a comfortable, restful sleeping area for two people. Sportz Truck Tents are available in 11 models to fit almost every truck on the market.

Have you ever had a last minute thought to just get away, a thought that doesn’t involve taking up valuable time packing up your toyhauler? This trip you just want to go light for a change. Well, load up your UTV and a Sportz Truck Tent by Napier and head for the hills!

Napier has developed a whole line of Truck Tents for a variety of vehicles to make tent camping more enjoyable. The great feature of the Sportz Truck Tent is that it gets you off the ground so you don’t have to worry about water or critters getting into your sleeping quarters. We’ve seen too many tents in our time that have been flooded out or blown away, ruining many people’s camping fun. With this unit, the tent sides fit over the truck bed for protection against water and also comes with a rain fly for additional top protection. It connects securely to your truck so you don’t have to worry about your tent ever blowing away while you’re gone on a trail ride.

The Sportz Truck Tent has 2 large mesh windows as well as ceiling vents for extra ventilation. The inside of the tent has a roomy 5’-5”

of headroom, making it quite roomy in the bed of our Chevy short bed. Set-up is relatively easy. For our first time setting the tent up, it took us about a half hour, but should go much quicker the next go around. And when you are ready to pack up, it breaks down quicker and all fits into a nice tight case that is included. Tent camping just got a whole lot more attractive, and we plan on getting closer to the outdoors more frequently thanks to Napier.

THE BOTTOM LINE

$249.95

KW MAChINe WORKS GOPrO VideO mOUnT

THE SKINNY

Go to: www.kwmachineworks.comor Call: 951.699.6338

KW Machine Works is keeping pace with the latest and greatest in Action Cam photography by providing a Precision Machined Billet Camera Mount and adapter for the very popular GoPro cameras. It provides a solid and secure mount for your camera, enabling great video or stills while traveling down the trail or track. Easily adjusted with one hand to capture all of your adventures inside or outside of your UTV, Sand Car, Motorcycle, Trophy Cart, etc. Available in all popular tube sizes.

The Bottom Line

Taking video of your next UTV Adventure is a great way to share the experience with your friends. KW Machine Works has perfected the ability to mount your valuable camera in any position. This is by far the most flexible mount on the market today for the UTV video enthusiasts. The mount can be securely adjusted in virtually any configuration you can think of. With multiple swivel points, the attached camera will always have the best viewing angle for your next adventure. Made from 6061-T6 billet aluminum and a nice satin black anodized finish, the mount will last forever with no noticeable failure points like typical plastic mounts.

We mated the KW Machine Works mount with a GoPro Hero wide camera ($139.99), and to give it the best test we could think of, mounted it to a desert race UTV. The video result from the camera was great but the mount was what made the video excellent. In a hundred miles of desert racing, the mount yielded smooth video footage, and the best part was we were not concerned about ever losing our camera. This product is perfect, and we honestly can’t find one thing wrong with it. If you are wanting to capture your next adventure on video, check out www.kwmachineworks.com for mounts and cameras. They also have a few videos for you to check out.

$89.95 Camera mount for GoPro Video Camera (camera sold separately)

TESTDRIVE

POLARISYOUTH RZR

170BY JEFF HENSON

YOUTHMODELSIDE-BY-SIDEISPUREFUN,BUTCANITGOTHEDISTANCE?

2010 POLARISRZR170

YOUTH RZR170

RiDiNg gO-CARTS wiTh My COuSiNS ON TheiR 3-ACRe eSTATe iN MiSSiSSiPPi iS PeRMANeNTly iNgRAiNeD iN My MeMORy. Every summer when I would visit, we tore the snot out of my aunt’s meticulously groomed lawn, a masterpiece that she slaved over for at least two days a week – every week. I was just thirteen.

That was the highlight of my summer for several years, a 3-horse lawn mower engine wound out and sputtering just as fast as it could go, while pushing a simple tube frame, with zero suspension, well beyond its breaking point. We had very little to protect us, no seat belts and/or cab frame, as we blazed seemingly out of control. Our butts skimmed the ground by only centimeters. My parents were horrified, but for me it was an ultimate thrill that I never wanted to end – whipping the cart violently sideways in some mad figure 8’s, painfully jumping it off of the patio curb and getting the shock of my life each time I’d flip the engine kill switch against the exposed spark plug tip. At the time, I was convinced that life just couldn’t get any better…ah, yes…good times!

TODAY…KIDSARESPOILEDHaving spent a full day of shooting and driving the new Polaris RZR 170 verified this. Despite its smallish displacement, the youth model 2WD RZR has got more power than my cousins and I ever thought we would need. It also has usable suspension and the safety features that we always took for granted, and it will go far more places than Aunt Rachel’s front yard. Now, don’t get me wrong, as I’m not comparing the RZR to a go-cart. But if I would have had the option of a RZR 170 back in the day, the go-carts would have been melted down and turned into desk lamps.

LET’SHITTHETRAILS!For our weekend of testing the mini-RZR, we headed to Arizona’s upper Sonoran Desert region, just an hour north of Phoenix. Our test pilot would be 13-year-old Justin Flippo, an accomplished off-road junkie that fit our test rider requirements perfectly. In the navigator seat, we buckled in Tanner Merrifield. UTV Off-Road publisher Troy Merrifield and I also got a little seat time, but the majority of our research was compiled from these two sand rats. Both found the size of the RZR 170 more to their size and liking.

SAFEANDCOMFORTABLESliding into the driver’s seat, Justin described the feeling as being “comfortable everywhere.” The RZR 170 comes with individual bucket seats that are smaller, yet similar to that of its full-size brother, the RZR 800. Both the driver and passenger seat can be adjusted forward or back for different size riders, up to around 5-foot 8 inches in height. Full-sized adults, for whom the RZR 170 was never intended, will find the cab cramped and confining, but it is possible for a 6-plus-foot tall parent to ride along with their child as they teach them the basics.

The RZR 170 comes ready to ride, and Polaris even throws in a pair of mandatory DOT certified helmets. Both seats are equipped with a three-point seatbelt that keeps the driver and passenger securely inside the cab frame, while still allowing for a good range of movement when checking out the scenery. Side nets keep arms and legs tucked inside the cab using a dual fastener design. The passenger also gets an adjustable dash mounted grab bar for when the ride gets bumpy. Both Justin and Tanner claimed they never felt exposed, unsafe or claustrophobic.

All controls are within easy reach, including the steering wheel, gear shifter, ignition and choke. The accelerator and brake pedal assembly is placed well for all-day foot comfort, and a hand activated parking brake is located between the shifter and cab floor.Storage on the RZR 170 is limited to a small cargo net compartment behind the cab. There is no actual storage bed like that of the full-size RZR. There’s also no in-cab storage for little things, not even drink holders.

Helmets are required equipment when off-roading in any side-by-side. Polaris includes two helmets with the purchase of the RZR 170.

All driver controls are located within easy reach, and there’s even a grab bar for the passenger.

Doors, which attach to the cab frame with two quick connect fasteners, are made of cargo netting material that safely keeps arms and legs inside.

This buggy whip is included to keep the RZR 170 visible when the vehicle drops out of site.

This netted compartment is the only place you’ll find for storage on the RZR 170.

TESTDRIVE

TACKLINGTHETERRAINFront and rear preload adjustable shocks tame the terrain with 5 inches of suspension travel. The front suspension utilizes a single A-arm design, and a dual shock equipped swingarm can be found in the rear. Both Justin and Tanner said they felt the ride was smooth and painless. “I could drive this machine all day,” claimed Justin.

Six inches of ground clearance is all the RZR affords, and it’s noticeable when trying to crawl over large rocks or dropping off of ledges. We highly recommend you find a good belly skid plate if rugged terrain is part of your agenda. We did incur a little damage to the thin lower frame rails. On the other hand, we feel a low stance is a fair tradeoff when you consider it keeps the center of gravity low. Cornering is stable at any speed and the 48-inch width makes it legal for ATV trails.

The Duro tires are a great intermediate terrain choice for the small RZR. They track and grip well over most surfaces, and resist punctures with a strong sidewall. We pushed the RZR hard all day and never noticed any loss of air pressure of chunking in the tread. The brakes also work excellent, and make use of steel braided brake lines and front and rear hydraulic discs for optimal braking control.

HOTWHEELS!Polaris has your kids covered with their own RZR side-by-side. This machine not only provides an exciting, trail capable ride, but it’s perfect for tagging along with mom and dad on those all-day trail caravans. The RZR 170 can and will go the distance – Ride On!

REVUPANDGO!The 169cc engine puts a surprising amount of power to the ground, especially when you consider this vehicle has a small engine and weighs 500 pounds. Justin basically described the power as zippy with a fair amount of grunt. He went on to say, “It’s fast and has a lot of power. It only slowed when going up some of the steeper hills.” Unlike the full-size fuel injected RZR 800, the RZR 170 is carbureted and will require some fuel/air mixture carburetor adjustment for different altitudes. We did notice a slight amount of engine sputter at almost 4000 foot elevation, but nothing that drastically affected performance. The 2.5 gallon fuel tank also provides a fairly long range of operation for this small engine.

The RZR does have an adjustable rev limiter located at the accelerator pedal. Parents can use it to restrict power output, and then increase available power as their children’s driving skills improve. They, as well as others, can also keep track of the vehicle’s location by spotting the cab mounted safety whip and caution flag. Front daytime running lights and a rear tail/brake light are also standard equipment.

The engine is air cooled with assistance from an electric fan. The motor never showed any sign of over-heating or fatigue during our long day of riding in the Arizona heat, even while loaded to full capacity.

Gear selections include forward, neutral and reverse through an automatic CVT transmission, and shifting is smooth and precise. A final chain drive feeds power to the straight rear axle.

The cab will fit two average size teenagers very comfortably. We found that the stock Duro tires offer up great gripping and tracking abilities and come with puncture resistant sidewalls. On rocky terrain like this, we occasionally found six inches of ground clearance wasn’t quite enough over rough spots, but we prefer the lower stance for its safe and precise cornering characteristics.

2010 POLARISRZR170

If your kids are hard on equipment like our test riders, a belly skid plate is strongly recommended.

After a long day trail riding in the desert, the RZR 170 proved that it can go just about anywhere a full-sized UTV can go. Perfect for tagging along with Mom and Dad on an all-day trail ride.

The rear suspension utilizes a straight axle design with dual preload adjustable shock absorbers.

POLARISRZR170SPECIFICATIONSEngineType: 4-stroke; 2-valve Displacement: (cc) 169 Cooling: Forced-air/fan Lubrication: Wet sump OilCapacity: 1.3 quarts Carburetion: 22 mm VM Keihin Fuel: 2.5 gallons Starting: Electric BatteryType: 12V PrimaryDriveType: CVT FrontSuspensionType: Single A-arm, preload adjustable FrontSuspensionTravel:5 inches RearSuspensionType: Swing arm with 2 Spring preload adjustable shocks RearSuspensionTravel: 5 inches FrontBrakes: Hydraulic disc RearBrakes: Hydraulic disc ParkingBrake: Manual lever Wheelbase: 65 inches DryWeight: 500 pounds Length/Width/Height:(in) 85/47/55 Lighting:2 Daytime Running Lights 15W Tail/Brake LightsMSRP:$3,999available in Indy Red or Pink Power colors.

1STDESERT

RACERWECATCHUPWITHCORYSAPPINGTONANDFINDOUTHOWHEGOTSTARTEDIN

RACINGUTVsANDLEARNSOMEHISTORYBEHINDTHEUTVRACINGASSOCIATION.

BY TROY MERRIFIELD // PHOTOS TROY MERRIFIELD

UTVOFFROADMAG.COM36

I recently had the opportunity to ride with Cory Sappington on this year’s Vegas-to-Reno Best-in-the-Desert race. Unlike years past, this race would be a 3-day event that would total 1000 miles in the roughest terrain any vehicle would pass over. What I hoped would be a thrilling 3 days of racing turned into 3 days of education on just what it takes to get ready for a desert race, and what it takes to keep a vehicle going. After a total of 3 top ends that our team worked on in the pits, far from ideal conditions, we managed to make it only a total of about 100 miles. From the words of Best-in-the-Desert Casey Folks, “Never Quite!” Cory and our team worked around the clock to keep the car on the track, but in the end it just wasn’t our race. I had a newfound respect for Cory and his dedication to this race and to this sport still in its infancy. Without pioneers like Cory who paved the way for others to enjoy their passion, desert racing in a UTV might not exist. I learned from this experience that Cory is one of the hardest working individuals that I have seen in the UTV industry.

Knowing little about the history, I was wondering were UTV Racing all started. So I sat down with Cory Sappington, owner of Desert Toyz and Founder of the UTV Racing Association, to get some insight on how he first started up racing the first UTV.

So tell us how you got into UTV racing. I was a quad racer. And I bought a Yamaha Rhino for my wife so that she would have something to drive around with the kids at the races. And we took it up to the Cinders (Riding area in Northern AZ) and rode it around through the forest up there, and if felt like a little dune buggy and felt like a little car that I had ridden in desert racing with my dad. My dad had recently passed away, so we decided to try to build the world’s first UTV racing machine, and that’s how it all started.

What year was that? 2005.

What was your first race? Vegas-to-Reno Best-in-the-Desert. I called up Casey Folks and told him I wanted to race a Rhino, and he said: What the hell’s a Rhino? I told him it was a little mini truck with a quad engine and 4-wheel drive. And he said as long as I passed the safety requirements, I could race in the Safari class, class 1800. So we entered that race, and we traveled 216 miles, averaged 30 miles an hour and broke the belt. Didn’t have a spare belt. Didn’t know you could break a belt. And so we finished second in the class because we went the second furthest.

Right after that you started up UTVRA. Why did you start up UTV Racing Association? After the first race, Vegas-to-Reno, the response on the telephone and e-mails was so great with people that wanted to race the UTVs, and they wanted to know what rules to follow and what they could and couldn’t do. And so I decided to start the UTV Racing Association to help all these people that were contacting me wanting to build racing UTVs. The phone was literally ringing off the hook. I mean, it was like 10 phone calls a day for the first 3 weeks, and everybody wanted to race them and wanted to know how to do it. And so I started the association so there would be a good baseline for everybody to start with, so safety would be the number one priority and we wouldn’t have a fragmented group of machines.

So how has your experience been with Best-in-the-Desert? Just an awesome organization to work with. Professionalism and the strong desire to treat everyone fair is just, you know, incredible compared to other series. They really make the UTV class feel like we are just as welcome as the trophy trucks and the Class 1 cars, the big budget teams. They don’t treat us any less than. We get the same treatment. We get to be in the drivers meetings with the big name drivers, and we are not made to sit in the back or anything. And with our class when vehicles do break down on the course, they go out of their way to make sure the UTVs get towed in so that they can get repaired. They are not left out in the desert like a secondhand class. They are very flexible and willing to make adjustments to make the class happy. For instance, we used to run behind the cars and trucks, and this is the first year that we’ve tried running in front of them. And it’s worked out so much better for the UTVs, because now the course isn’t destroyed so much and the ruts aren’t so deep, and there are more UTVs finishing and we have more time to finish the race.

That was a big decision for BITD to commit to that, because they knew that they might get some discussions from bigger classes who were going to catch these vehicles, the UTVs. So I thought that was really cool that they are willing to change it up and try things around. And if they work, then it’s for the benefit of the class.

So you recently started officiating at Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing. Tell us about that experience and what you do there. I help develop the class rules for the UTV class, as well as do the tech inspection for UTVs, Trophy Karts, buggies and trucks. I’m also a track official that helps roll cars over, watch for rough driving, wave the caution flag, those kind of things. But in the UTV class, my position is tech inspection and to help develop the rules and also kind of be a liaison between the racers and the Lucas Oil guys that are running the show. I guess a good description would be a class representative. As the UTV class representative for Lucas, I go around into the

RACER This is how Cory’s Rhino looked the morning we were supposed to leave for the race. I could tell this was going to be a long night. We finished the car about midnight and headed off to Nevada, getting in around 6:00 am with no sleep.

6:00 am start of the first day. Cory and Matt head off into the dust. They made it to pit one 7 minutes ahead of the next UTV but traveled 15 miles with no water in the radiator. Top end number one begins.

After changing out the top end at pit one, they made it to pit two and we changed out another to start the second day. In the first two days of racing, each team is allowed one DNF day.

through, the ruts and the silt was just incredible. So it really gave me a good awareness of the advantage of getting to start ahead of those vehicles in those types of races. So we had fun, and came back -- and like I said, could never figure out what was wrong with that engine, so we built a new one and headed off to Silver State.

How do you recover mentally from problematic races? I used to get really frustrated and upset about it. But my new approach is that I have raced a lot of races, and just like anything, it’s an odds game. When you race 40 or more times, you have a better chance of having a problem once or twice. When you’ve only raced 10 or 15 times, you have less of a chance because you’ve done it less. So, that’s just the way I think of it in my head. And I go, you know what, you’ve raced over 40 races and you’ve finished most of them. So, it’s easier for me to swallow, I think, because I know that I’m perfectly capable of getting to the finish line, but sometimes Lady Luck just doesn’t shine upon you.

So you haven’t had problems with the motor up until this race, correct? Correct. I’ve always had an engine that was bulletproof. I have broken the cases twice over the last 4 years, but other than that, I have had no engine problems as far as overheating or engine failures. So yeah, it was really a strange thing for me to have this problem. But that is the thing about desert racing that makes it so appealing to me is that everybody has the same chance of winning on any given day, and it’s a pretty even leveled playing field out there.

So tell us about what you’ve done to your Rhino. It’s a 2005 Yamaha Rhino with a full chromoly tube race cage that has been tested multiple times. The cage is still the original cage that I built 4 years ago. We put racing seats in it, 5-point harnesses. We have a fresh air system that blows fresh air into your helmet. We have a GPS system that allows us to track where we’re going and also follow along the course. We recently put an aftermarket oil cooler in it. Got the oil cooler out from in front of the radiator. We have a PWR radiator, Elka shocks, and fuel cell. And then I just finally after 4 years of racing built a 4-inch over A-arm kit for it which is absolutely incredible.

Yeah, I bet that is a welcome relief. After running stock A-arms for almost 3500 miles, switching over to a suspension kit is just amazing how smooth that car will run through the bumps. It has an Elka shock combination; they have the reservoirs that go inside the cap so we can adjust the hard/soft as we’re going down the road. And it’s just an awesome package. I would highly recommend it to anybody that is going to go out and race.

What type of work have you done to the motor? High compression piston, but I run a stock bore. And then I do a WebCam. I do Web rockers and valve springs. And then I got FCR carb, K & N filter, Yoshimura exhaust, and then a Desert Toyz clutch kit. And that’s it.

What horsepower does it produce? We ran it on the dyno just before Silver State, and she made 40 horsepower. So that was the most I’ve ever seen. Typically, I see 36, but we did recently put a Benchmark Performance cylinder head on there with their porting job and the oversized Kibblewhite valves, so I think that’s what made the difference. That Benchmark head was good for 4 more horsepower, which is awesome. Money well spent.

pits and talk to the racers and get a feel for how the track conditions are, if there’s anything we can do to make it better for them. Also try to help with bringing contingency sponsors to the class and developing any rule changes, those kinds of things.

Where do you see UTV racing in the next 5 years? Well, I think that for being around only 4 years so far, we’ve come a long way. The quad racing and the motorcycle racing have been around for a long time in a lot of these sports, and we’ve paralleled them with the amount of support that we’ve gotten from the promoters. And for being a new class, a new type of vehicle entering the off-road world, I think we’ve come a long ways. And 5 years from now, I hope to see more manufacturers producing UTVs and producing more sport models for people that do want to be a bit more aggressive but like that small size. And I’d like to see a little bit more television coverage for the whole sport of off-road racing, as well as UTV racing. Maybe some more programs geared towards the sport on some of the sports channels.

What advice do you have for somebody wanting to get into UTV racing? Do your homework. Call lots of shops and talk to different people, call the racers and talk to different racers, check out the web sites and do a lot of homework first. Because you can save yourself a lot of money by doing your homework, finding out what is out there, what works, what doesn’t work so you are not buying parts twice. Talk to people that are doing it and gain from their experiences before you jump in. And the big thing with UTV racing is that it’s a vehicle you can pretty much work on yourself and maintenance is not going to be as much as a big truck or a buggy, but you still get that same safety feature of a roll cage and 5-point harnesses.

Recently, I had a chance to ride with you as we attempted the 1000-mile Vegas-to-Reno. Obviously, we had our share of problems. Tell us a little bit about what happened in that race. We had some sort of a cooling issue with the engine, and we ended up changing 3 top ends in 2 days and traveled a total of about 100 miles in 2 days and couldn’t keep a head gasket in the car. So we never figured out what was wrong with that engine, and we ended up building a whole other one. Didn’t get to see much of the course. It was interesting that we made it to pit 1 both days ahead of the cars and trucks, but then left as the last car on the course. And the difference between the racecourse before the 300 or 200 vehicles came

Coming into pit one on day 2 yet another blown head gasket. We pulled the motor to do another top end. We were the last to leave the pit and the last on the course. We made it about 5 miles before pit two before the motor let loose. Unfortunately, our day ended here. No more time and no more parts.

DESERTRACERWhat was your top speed at the last Silver State race? Silver State, our top speed was 66.7 miles an hour. And our average high speed was between 55 and 60. And then our average speed running over 290 miles was 39.4, which is close to what the Class 7 and 8 trucks run. So we were really impressed with how fast the car ran.

So you’re probably one of the only ones that I know of that run 2-wheel drive. You don’t even have a front diff in your car. Tell us a little bit about that theory. You know what’s funny is it wasn’t really a theory at all. The second race, which was Henderson 2005, after that race, the driveline was vibrating really bad and making a noise, so I took it out. And we were in such a rush to get to Parker the next year in 2006, we never got a chance to put it back in. So we ran Parker with the diff in there but no driveline. And after running 3 races and not really having any issues with getting stuck, we decided that we’d just leave it out. And if we ever needed 4-wheel drive, we’d put the drive line back in. And then after about a year of running the diff in there but no drive line, we decided to take the diff out.

I notice you’ve got a lot of stickers on your car. Are those all sponsors, and what kind of help do they give you if they are sponsors? Yeah, all the stickers that are on there, those are companies that are actually helping me out in one format or another. Most of them are with free parts, or a few of them are on discounted parts. I don’t have any money sponsors these days. When I first started racing, there were a few sponsors that were passing out money. But with the economy the way it is, those money sponsors are pretty difficult to find. But they do offer you some product. Like Maxxis sponsors me with tires, and that is a huge benefit. Tires, like we all know, are 125 bucks per tire, and in desert racing you go through a lot of tires.

So how does one go about getting sponsorship? Do they have to prove themselves first? Not always. That’s a good way to start, but no, not always. I think that the first step is kind of a face-to-face meeting with whatever company you’re trying to get involved with, even if it’s just, you know, showing up unannounced and visiting with the receptionist or something. These days, sponsors, I think, are kind of looking for people that stand out, that are going to bring them the most exposure for the sponsorship. So that’s a good way to start. Also, I guess, before you even get to that point, you need to put together a resume and a proposal. And the proposal needs to have a little bit of history on yourself, and also should include what racing series you plan on racing in and what states you’re going to be traveling in, and kind of give the sponsors an idea of where they’re going to get their exposure and how many people are going to see you and your team.

Speaking of your team, who makes up your team? My team these days includes my wife and me as the drivers. And then a new guy on my team is Donovan Cain, and he is a mechanic fabricator that’s been around off-road racing for a little while and recently joined us. And then my sister Kelly, who now is a navigator and also helps out with our kids. And then my brother Darren who is a driver but isn’t able to be with us until probably middle of next year when he gets home, and will pick up where he left off. My 2 kids are a big help, they give us water and towels and stuff in the pit stops. And then I have Matt Seay, and Matt’s been with us for 3 years, and he’s a very good navigator and he’s a driver in training. He’s been riding with us, and we’ve been trying to teach him how to be a driver. So he’ll be moving up to that level maybe next year. The rest are volunteers and friends that we try to recruit to come with us. And some will come one race a year, and some will do 3 or 4.

Thank you, Cory, for spending some time with us. Thank you. Check out www.utvra.com for more race information and rules.

Cory built his own long travel +4 kit for his Rhino. He did something a little unique from the standard Rhino kits out on the market today. Can you tell the difference? He took some of the engineering design from a Polaris RZR rear set-up and adapted it to the Rhino. Rather than the shock mounting in the center of the A-arms he moved them in the back. With this set-up, the Rhino runs smooth through the whoops and level.

On the front, Cory beefed up the stock bumper for the occasional tap to slower drivers. Typically, you only get one tap followed by a harder one if you are not getting the idea.

OMF Performance Type R 12” Billet CenterThe latest offering in OMF Performance’s line of Billet Center 12” wheels is the Type R Billet Center. You can purchase the Type R Billet Center as a complete wheel, or, if you have a set of the OMF Performance Billet Center wheels you can purchase this new center to update the look of your existing wheels. Custom colors and finishes are available, contact OMF Performance Products for details. Go to: www.omfperformance.com or Call: 951.354.8272

OMF Performance Stock Polaris Ranger& Ranger RZR Wheel Beadlock ConversionOMF Performance can convert your factory aluminum wheels to beadlocks for the best of both worlds at a very reasonable price. For $549.95 per set of four 12” wheels, we will convert your factory wheels to a beadlock using our scalloped style beadlock, in either a raw or polished finish on the beadlock ring. You can also choose to have the beadlock ring or wheel powder coated to really change and personalize the look of your Polaris for an additional $9.95 per ring, and $44.95 per wheel. We cover the shipping in the Continental U.S. Go to: www.omfperformance.com or Call: 951.354.8272

RZR Cab Back by Extreme Metal ProductsFits: RZR (not RZR - S)Protect your back side with this rear cab back from EMP. Made from 3/16” thick scratch resistant polycarbonate to ensure it will not rattle. You can easily remove it without any tools. It mounts with “EMP quick connect clamps”. Simply remove four thumbscrews and it is ready to install again. MSRP: $179.99Go to: www.extrememetalproducts.com or Call: 216.267.5335

2010 Polaris Ranger Cab System by Extreme Metal ProductsFits: 2010 Ranger 500 and 800 (not 400) (less doors)You will get the following three items. Laminated safety glass windshield with a hand operated windshield wiper, Hard Top with LED dome light, and a cab back.Windshield • Hard Top • Cab Back MSRP: $1200.00Go to: www.extrememetalproducts.com or Call: 216.267.5335

Dakota Digital RZR Billet Door SillDakota Digital is proud to introduce the UTV-6190 billet aluminum door sill covers for 07-up Polaris Ranger RZR and RZR-S. CNC machined from billet aluminum, these covers will hold up to abuse for years to come while keeping your stock plastics free from rocks, brush, and your feet. Made in the USA.Go to: www.dakotadigital.com or Call: 877.240.9420

Dakota Digital SpeedometerThe unmistakable look of Dakota Digital, now available for your 2007-UP Polaris RZR. Directly replacing the factory Polaris speedometer, this new direct plug-in cluster adds a ton of new features! Displays included:

Speedometer (selectable MPH or KM/H and adjustable for custom tire sizes or gearing), Tachometer, Oil Pressure & Water Temperature

(available with separate sensor package), Voltmeter, Fuel Level, Clock, Odometer, Trip A & B, Programmable

Service Hours and Miles Countdown. All standard factory indicators such as Gear, Engine and Four-

Wheel Drive also included. Made in the USA.The UTV-1500 series retail pricing starts at $449.95 and offers a 24-month warranty against manufacturer defects!Go to: www.dakotadigital.com or Call: 877.240.9420

OMF Performance Super Light Beadlocked WheelOMF Performance Products has a new feather weight wheel for the world, the 12” Super Light beadlock and Billet Center. The weight is decreased so much the 12x6 wheel picture weighs in at an astonishing 9.2 lbs per wheel!! Custom sizes, bolt patterns, styles, and colors are available.

Go to: www.omfperformance.com or Call: 951.354.8272

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Accutronix License Plate Frame & Led LightThe hot new LICENSE PLATE FRAME & LED LIGHT. This item comes complete with all mounting hardware, license plate frame, and exceptionally bright LED light. Designed to fit 4-1/8” x 7-1/8” License Plates without trimming the plate. This exciting LICENSE PLATE FRAME & LED LIGHT is customized to fit Yamaha Rhinos and Polaris RZRs, as well as anything with comparable dimensions. RETAIL: $59.95 Go to: www.AccutronixOffRoad.com or Call: 623.516.9600

Accutronix Rear View Mirror Side Mount New from Accutronix Offroad, custom SIDE MOUNT MIRRORS! These custom mirrors are designed to work on all offroad vehicles with 1 1/2” 1 3/4” and 2” Tubing. These custom side mount mirrors clamp to the frame and provide excellent rear views while providing a custom look. Available in Polished finish, this side mount mirror is a great addition to your custom project.Go to: www.AccutronixOffRoad.com or Call: 623.516.9600

The new Pre Runner Bumper for the RZR 170This new bumper is set up for the VISIONX Solstice 10watt LED lights. Installs in minutes and changes the look and fuction of the RZR 170 $295Go to: www.tmwoffroad.com or Call: 480.969.9261

New 1” RZR Billet Aluminum Wheel Spacers from TMW $151.00Go to: www.tmwoffroad.com or Call: 480.969.9261

Inline Oil Pressure Sending Unit Housing by UTV CrapGet rid of all the heachache and hassle of drilling and tapping into your UTV with this UTV Crap 3/8” inline oil pressure sending unit housing. Has a 10/24 ground screw as well as a 1/8 npt sending unit hole. $29.95Go to: www.utvcrap.com or Call: 623.934.3070

Trail Armor Polaris RZR170 Full Skids with Integrated Side Nerfs and Rear Swing Arm SkidProtect your RZR170 from the hazards of the trail as well as your backyard! Get the best in under vehicle protection for your RZR170 with Trail Armor’s full skid plate set with integrated side nerfs and rear swing arm skid. Made from 1/2” high density polymer, these plastic skids absorbs shock to the bottom of the vehicle with no dents or rust and are lighter than traditional metal skids. Strategically placed drain holes allow dirt and debris to wash out - you don’t have to remove them to clean out the belly your vehicle. They come in easy to install jointed sections that cover the full length of the vehicle with all hardware and instructions. MSRP: $329.00 Go to: www.trailarmor.com or Call: 866.665.3955

Trail Armor RZR170 Debris and Mud ShieldsWith Trail Armor’s custom built half-door style debris shields and mud guards for the Polaris RZR170, you can enjoy Mother Nature, not wear her. They are made of 5/8 solid high density polymer and bolt to the roll cage. Set features new rotary door latches and powdercoated hinges and strike plates. They open straight out for easy entry/egress and the slim-line profile allows for easier navigation in tight spots. Installs easily with photo-documented installation instructions. Lightweight and durable, these shields have a factory-like fit and finish. MSRP: $469.00MSRP: $329.00 Go to: www.trailarmor.com or Call: 866.665.3955

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SSV Works NEW iPod Stereo System SSV Works new Made for iPod Weather Proof audio system for the Rhino, Teryx, Ranger, Mule, Kubota. The WP-OU4 bolts in overhead to your stock cage, installs in 15minutes with a simple 2 wire hook up and is totally weather proof. No more radios. Simply dock your iPod into the water tight locker. System includes charging dock for iPod with built in 50watt x4 digital amp designed around UTV batteries, waterproof speakers, wireless remote control and like all SSV works systems is constructed of fiberglass for maximum durability and the best sound quality. All systems include wiring, hardware and instructions. MSRP $549Go to: www.ssvworks.com or Call: 818.991.1778

SSV Works NEW RZR iPod Stereo System SSV Works new Made for iPod Weather Proof audio system for the Polaris RZR and RZR-S. The WP-ORZ clamps in overhead to your stock cage, installs in 15minutes with a simple 2 wire hook up and is totally weather proof. No more radios. Simply dock your iPod into the water tight locker. System includes charging dock for iPod with built-in 50wattt x4 digital amp designed around UTV batteries, waterproof speakers, wireless remote control and like all SSV works systems is constructed of fiberglass for maximum durability and the best sound quality. All systems include wiring, hardware and instructions. MSRP $449Go to: www.ssvworks.com or Call: 818.991.1778

Bikeman Performance Plus Prowler 1000 XTZ Bolt-On Performer KitMake your Prowler into a monster with this BMP Bolt-On Performer Kit. Start by adding a couple 2” flow rites into the top of your airbox to get some airflow. Next add our high performance camshafts to get amazing low end torque, along with high revving top end power. Bolt up our 2 into 1 performance header and lightweight muffler for great horsepower gains all across the board. With all these mods your Prowler will need to be fed more fuel, so plug in our Boondocker EFI controller for optimum performance. We are seeing 20% gains in horsepower with this kit! With Stealth Black Exhaust : $1,699.95 With Ceramic Chrome Exhaust: $1,749.95Go to: www.bikemanperformance.com or Call: 715.294.4575

Bikeman Performance Plus RZR Bolt-On Performer KitKit Includes: BMP Full Velocity Exhaust System - Our RZR exhaust is second to none! Gain 5-7 true horsepower and tons of low-end torque. This full system has a deep throaty growl without being too loud. The Full Velocity exhaust adds useable power throughout the rpm range so you have power where you need it for trail riding, mudding, or dune riding. Supertip Clutch Kit - We utilize the Supertip weights because the profile is aggressive, has great throttle response, and you can add up to 30 grams for the ultimate in tuneability. K&N Filter and TFI Fuel Controller - This ingenious EFI controller allows you to richen the fuel settings on your Polaris 700 or 800 EFI Ranger or RZR. Allows you to control fuel delivery at low, mid, and high throttle positions independently.Go to: www.bikemanperformance.com or Call: 715.294.4575

MX ATV WashX-Tream Clean XTC MX / ATV Wash is a new cleaning product directed toward the UTV and any off-road vehicle markets. XTC MX / ATV Wash is an excellent cleaning product that will dramatically reduce cleaning time on all your fun machines. Tough stains and spots, mud, dirt, grease, sand and general grime can now be easily washed away without brushing or scrubbing. XTC MX / ATV Wash is environmentally friendly, readily biodegradable, phosphate free, non-corrosive and non-chalking. This product will not attack anodized or aluminum parts. It is safe on all surfaces and will not leave your machine looking dried out.Go to: www.xtremeclean.com or Call: 704-236-4391

Mud GuardX-Tream Clean XTC Mud Guard is a new acrylic polymer based product that provides a protective barrier and a shielding agent to help prevent water, mud, dirt and general grime from sticking hard to your dirt machine. XTC Mud Guard enables dirt, mud and general grime to be easily removed from your machine when sprayed with water. Saves you time and energy to allow for quicker wash-ups and cleaner results. No brushing or scrubbing. Easily spray on clean machine and wipe off to an even film. XTC Mud Guard provides a lasting shine that is resistant to multiple washings. This product can be used on any parts and surfaces. It does not contain any solvents and is non-corrosive, non-toxic and biodegradable.Go to: www.xtremeclean.com or Call: 704-236-4391

More Juice for the Teryx by Velocity Replacement programmable ECU for the Kawasaki Teryx 750EFI. Remaps the timing and fuel for optimum operation and can be preloaded for your setup. It produces gains of 6HP to the ground from idle to redline. Engine runs cooler, increases revolution limiter and higher top speed. Price: $465US. We produce units for other machines including the Rhino 700EFI. Go to: www.velocitydevices.com or Call: 403.668.7470

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Looney Tuned RZR ExhaustTo get maximun performance out of your RZR, look no further.Looney Tuned Exhaust has a full dual, tapered, equal length exhaust. Made out of 304 stainless steel with billet silencers that are re-packable and comes with a removable USFS approved spark screen. Retail $879.00Go to: www.lteracing.com or Call: 707.485.7438

Looney Tuned Teryx ExhaustWith a 23% increase in HP, Looney tuned Exhaust has the ultimate package for the Teryx. The pipes are manufactured out of stainless steel and wrapped port to silencer with header wrap. Silencers are billet aluminum with a stainless core, and come with a USFS approved spark arrestor.Quiet cores and Supertrapp kits are options, as well as powder coat colors and ceramic coatings. Retail $899.00Go to: www.lteracing.com or Call: 707.485.7438

The High Lifter Radial Outlaw Returns!The new Radial Outlaw is custom-made for extreme off-road conditions. Designed by High Lifter it offers an unparalleled riding experience on mud, hard-pack, ice, snow and steep inclines.Go to: www..highlifter.com or Call: 800.699.0947

New – RZR S Conversion Kit by Super ATVWant the RZR S drive without the RZR S price? Upgrade your RZR with a SuperATV RZR S conversion kit. Go from stock to +5 with the most affordable and function kit on the market. With this kit you will receive a complete +5 (per side) suspension with everything you need at an unbelievable $799.95. Kit includes:

- A-Arms- 4 Axle Shafts (with a 1 year warranty)- Tie Rod Extensions- Swaybar and Swaybar link- Heavy Duty Racing Heim Joints for full adjustability- All necessary hardware and installation instructions.

Parts come in a black, powder coated finish for added durability. This kit can work with stock shocks or upgrade to our remote reservoir Titan Shocks. Also available are complete axles. Kits are in stock and ready to ship. MSRP: $799.99Go to: www.superatv.com or Call: 812.574.7777

Yamaha Rhino 5” Long Travel Kit by Super ATVIf you are looking to upgrade your Rhino, look no further. SuperATV now has a premium 5” long travel kit at an unbelievable price. This is the most functional kit on the market offering a complete 5” (per side). Parts are made of chromoly tubing and are guaranteed to be superior quality. This price includes:

- 8 Heavy Duty Chomoly tubed A-Arms- Rhino Brand Axle shafts with clips (with a 1 year warranty)- Heavy Duty Racing Heim Joints for full adjustability- Tie Rod extensions with Heim Joints- All necessary hardware and easy-to-follow installation instructions

We have left out no details on this exceptional long travel kit. You can finally feel confident attacking the track, trail, dunes, or water with this SuperATV long travel kit. Optional Upgrades are: HD shock springs, Complete HD Rhino Brand Axle assemblies, and remote reservoir Titan Shocks. MSRP: $1,199.95Go to: www.superatv.com or Call: 812.574.7777

MSD Powersports Charge Fi ControllerFor The Yamaha Rhino 700i & Kawasaki Teryx 750iFrom the trails to the track, The Charge FI fuel and ignition controller delivers unparalleled performance to your Rhino and Teryx. Select from one of our performance calibrations or create your own custom fuel and ignition curve for any engine configuration. Features:• Direct Plug-in Connectors. • Fully sealed controller. • Low speed limiting curve. • Increased vehicle speed. • Adjust fuel and ignition for any engine modifications • PC Programmable for the custom tuner. • Less then ten minutes to install. • Overrides reverse rev-limiter.Yamaha Rhino 700i PN 4243 $355.50 Kawasaki Teryx 750i PN 4244 $450.00

Go to: www..msdpowersports.com or Call: 888.258.3835

Long Travel Industries new Radius Roof Cage for the Kawasaki Teryx With safety and sleek lines as the priority, Long Travel Industries has built a four seat cage that adds protection and class to a Teryx. Cages for the Kawasaki Teryx are constructed of 1-3/4 x .095 wall tubing. The B-pillars are engineered away from the driver and passenger heads for additional safety. The Kawasaki Teryx cage includes a dash bar, a seat belt harness bar with welded in 3/16” tabs and a rear seat mount. Included are front and rear grab handles that are rotated in. Comes with a aluminum roof that highlights the lines of the cage. Also unique to Long Travel Industries, they built this cage 3-4” lower than the factory cage so your Teryx will fit under most models of Toyhauler rear beds. Shipping is available. Go to: www.longtravelindustries.com or Call: 714.783.7491

DMC RHINO TWIN EXHAUSTSDMC Twin Systems for the Rhino 660 and 700 offers greater performance with reliable power that responds smoothly all the way from low-end to top-end. Get the power you need at a sound level that keeps you legal! Shown: Rhino 660 Twin / $884.95 Go to: www.dmc-on-line.com

DMC RZR 800 TWINTop end power? Smooth powerband? Sound? Stump pulling torque? Better throttle response? The DMC RZR Twin Slip Ons provide all this and more. 21.2% increase in torque and just under 18% increase in horsepower, this monster gives your RZR a new personality. Slip Ons and Systems available for RZR and RZRS models. Shown: RZR 800 Twin Slip On/ $799.95 Go to: www.dmc-on-line.com

Long Travel Industries New Kawasaki Teryx Long Travel KitLong Travel Industries introduces their new Kawasaki Teryx Long Travel kit designed to be a 100% bolt on kit, it gives the Teryx a 5” over stock increase in A-arm length per side. After extensive R&D on the Kawasaki Teryx suspension needs, Long Travel Industries produced a 5” over stock increase in A-arm length per side with a wheel base alteration combined total of 2”. The wheel travel has been set at 14” in the front to prevent C/V binding at full droop with the wheels turned, and a matched 14” of travel in the rear. Both front upper and lower A-arms use a 7/8” stainless steel Teflon coated bearing with at spherical bearing to handle the punishment, replacing your stock ball joints. Long Travel Industries 17-4 stainless steel misalignments / taper pins and adapters are used for maximum articulation to compliment the larger bearing. The kit includes four King Shocks specifically valved for Long Travel Industries and is also complimented by Long Travel Industries own front and rear 300M axles. All of the kits ship with all 4 spherical bearings preinstalled for your convenience.Go to: www.longtravelindustries.com or Call: 714.783.7491

Twisted StitchAggressor SeatTwisted Stitch Seats is proud to introduce the Aggressor Seat Conversion Kit for the Polaris Ranger. The dual seat conversion kit requires no cutting, grinding or welding of the vehicle and gives Ranger owners unmatched comfort and containment to the factory bench seat. The seats can be ordered with fixed or adjustable headrests if they are being mounted in an aftermarket cage or low back with headrest covers if a factory cage is being used. Seat are available from a Twisted Stitch Seats dealer starting at $850.00. Go to: www.twistedstitchseats.com or Call: 714.773.0233

Twisted Stitch BoosterThe Twisted Stitch Booster seat was designed to give smaller off-road enthusiasts the same suspension seat comfort and containment offered in the larger Twisted Stitch seats. The Booster can be placed on a seat or rear bench and secured with a safety harness or it can be ordered with mounting tabs and bolted to a roll cage. The Booster is available in an array of colors and materials that can be matched to existing seats. The Booster is available from a Twisted Stitch Seats dealer starting at $217.00.Go to: www.twistedstitchseats.com or Call: 714.773.0233

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Discount Tire TrailfinderThe Trailfinder ATV tire combines large chevron tread blocks and aggressive shoulder blocks to provide excellent off road traction in rocks and mud. The Trailfinder has a 6 ply rating for durability and true inner and outer rim guards for wheel protection. The Trailfinder is available in 12 and 14 inch sizes to fit most ATV and UTV applications. Go to: www.discounttiredirect.com or Call: 866.895.8034

POLARIS RZR 170 +3 MTS KIT RHINO PARTS AND PERFORMANCE WITH LONESTAR RACING HAVE COME UP WITHA MTS +3 KIT FOR THE POLARIS RZR 170The extended A-arms for the Polaris RZR 170 are 3” wider per side to give the mini a more stable ride. They are designed to work with the stock length shocks but aftermarket shocks are recommended for the best performance. The arms are made from 1” diameter 4130 chromoly steel and available in your many powder coat colors. The kit includes 2 lower A-arms, extended tie-rods, and extended brake lines. (Line clamps sold separately)RETAIL $495.00 RAW BLACK OR SILVER FINISH $549.00Go to: www.rhinopartsandperformance.net or Call: 480.982.4866

POLARIS RZR 170 EXHAUST SYSTEM Kit is a complete system & includes hardware. Easy install, really sounds great, wake up that little beast. RETAIL $279.00Go to: www.rhinopartsandperformance.net or Call: 480.982.4866

Beaver Pro RZR CabRide in style with the hard cab enclosure. Safety glass windshield, lightweight, lockable doors, lift off hinges.Heaters and wipers are a few of the cab accessories available.MSRP $2285.00Go to: www.beaverpro.com or Call: 877.380.3335

Beaver Pro Deluxe Rhino CabRide in style with the hard cab enclosure. Safety glass windshield, lightweight, lockable doors, lift off hinges.Heaters and wipers are a few of the cab accessories available.MSRP$2289.00Go to: www.beaverpro.com or Call: 877.380.3335

Web Cam Racing Cams for the Kawasaki Teryx and Polaris RZRWeb Cam Racing Cams offers performance profiles for all your ATV / UTV applications. We have profiles for everyone, from the professional racer with the newest ride, to the weekend family rider who wants to get a little more performance out of their older ride. In a lot of cases, this is a simple upgrade anyone can do! Please see our web site for the most up to date information and pricing for your application.Go to: www.webcamshafts.com or Call: 951.369.5144

Kawasaki Teryx

Polaris RZR

Factory UTV RZR 170 BumperFactory UTV offers a front bumper for your RZR 170. Constructed from aluminum tubing to maintain a light weight while providing superior strength. Bumper comes in a brushed aluminum finish while the main plastic section is a full impact resistant 3/8 inch UHMW plastic covered in high-gloss plastic skins to match your 170’s color. Bumper mounts using existing mounting locations on the RZR 170. MSRP $349Go to: www.factoryutv.net or Call: 916.207.8335

Factory UTV RZR 170 ExhaustFactory UTV offers a complete replacement exhaust system for the RZR 170. Our header is constructed using high strength 304 stainless steel and tig welded, and our silencer features Silent Sport packing for long life and low sound levels, a removable USFS qualified spark arrestor and billet end cap. We also offer an optional db quieter core cartridge to lower noise levels without killing performance. This pipe really brings the 170 to life! MSRP $419 Go to: www.factoryutv.net or Call: 916.207.8335

Mendozas Custom Suspension SeatsSuspension seats available for makes of UTVs. Let us make you look good. Call us for all of your seating needs. Priced from $220.00 to $600.00. Go to: www.mendozasoffroad.com or Call: 888.430.5543

Mendozas Off Road Custom SportsbarsCall us for all your custom sportsbars for all makes of UTVs. Priced from $600.00 to $1500.00 Go to: www.mendozasoffroad.com or Call: 888.430.5543

Seizmik Total Cab System for the Yamaha RhinoThe Seizmik total cab system can be configured for any weather or climate. Leave the skins off the doors for open air driving, or seal off the cab with the modular doors, full windshield and soft top with hybrid roof cage insert. The full windshield is an impact resistant acrylic windshield that keeps the wind, dirt and debris out of your face. The Seizmik modular doors can be taken off and put back on with ease. Riders have the option of a full door, half door, window down, and without the skin. All of these can be configured without tools for quick, on the trail changes.Total MSRP Total Cab System: $1,200.00 SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL PRICE: $899.95Go to: www.seizmik .com or Call: 866.838.3366

Seizmik RZR Rear Rack SystemThe Seizmik Occam’s Polaris RZR Rear Rack is the latest of their new high performance cargo transport systems. Ultra functional, sturdy and solid, this system doubles the bed floor space by adding a second level over the factory bed. The full rail basket allows users to strap cargo down securely. The rack also flips up like a car trunk to provide access to the cargo bed, and locks back down securely into place. Never worry about losing gear on rough trails with Seizmik high performance cargo transport solutions.MSRP-$269.99 SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL PRICE-$199.99Go to: www.seizmik .com or Call: 866.838.3366

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Afterburn Street Force by GBC MotorsportsThis is our newest DOT and ECE (european e-mark) approved street tire. Speed and load rated (on the sidewall) at 57N (Load rating of 57 = to 504lbs) (N speed rating = 87mph). 100% for street application. 4 ply rated for lightweight. Aggressive directional siped tread great for wet and dry traction. 2 sizes will be available for UTV applications, 25x8.00R12 and 25x10.00R12.Go to: www.gbcmotorsports.com or Call: 800.946.9412

The Original Buggie Bag for your UTVThe BUGGIE Bag is a fashion cover for your utility and off road vehicle. It uses a special fabric that stretches to fit your vehicle, covering it completely to protect the surface from environmental contaminants and the elements. An elastic band sewn around the hem of the BUGGIE Bag holds it firmly in place, securing your vehicle with a simple pull of the drawstring closure. Go to: www.buggiebag .com or email: [email protected]

Trail Logic “Rhino Horn Bumper”The Trail Logic Rhino Horn Bumper is designed with a unique look that closely fits to the Rhino’s hood lines, thus maximizing space in your Toy Hauler. Included is a dimpled aluminum plate that protects your radiator from mud and other debris. You can order in any combination of silver/black powder coat ($195) or unfinished ($150)Go to: www.traillogic.com or Call: 520.705.7444

Trail Logic Rhino Bumper Cover This great Trail Logic replacement Bumper Cover for the Yamaha Rhino really cleans up the look of your machine. It replaces the bulky looking plastic stocker while still protecting your oil cooler and radiator. Gives your stock bumper a custom look on the cheap! Made from .120 5052 aluminum and comes powder-coated in textured black to match the Rhino’s factory bumper and includes new mounting hardware. $53.50 Go to: www.traillogic.com or Call: 520.705.7444

Muzzys New Exhaust for the TeryxMonths of dedicated Teryx race engine development led to the design of a new exhaust system specifically for big bore engines like the Muzzy 800,840 & 916. The new Muzzy PRO features large diameter, triple stepped headpipes that merge into an exclusive siamese collector and out into large diameter 16” mufflers. This 2-1-2 design allows for proper scavenging effect with no restriction in flow. The result is seemingly unlimited top end power with low and mid range increases that ordinary dual exhaust systems can’t touch. Available with polished, brushed or black Teflon® muffler finishes.MSRP $924.96 Go to: www.muzzys.com or Call: 541.385.0706

Muzzys New Exhaust for the 1000 ProwlerThis is the ultimate exhaust choice for 1000 Prowler. Fully tuned equal length headpipes create the most powerful Prowler exhaust available. The oval aluminum canisters feature billet aluminum inlets and outlets. Each canister comes standard with the Muzzy Modular Endcap system that includes a removable USFS approved spark arrestor and quiet core. The integrated oxygen sensor bung allows the addition of an air/fuel meter. The dual oval muffler design helps keep sound levels to a minimum while maintaining the incredible Muzzy exhaust tone. Exhaust wrap included. Detailed installation instructions are included. MSRP $899.95Go to: www.muzzys.com or Call: 541.385.0706

Racer Tech RZR 170 ProductsRacer Tech is now offering a full fabricated product line for the RZR 170. Products include roll cages, rigid mount bumpers, nerf bars, doors, grill inserts and a 4-point seat belt kit. What better Christmas present for the little ones than to add some safety and stylish looks to their mini RZR 170. Go to: www.goracetech.com or Call: 616.928.0616

Racer Tech 2” RZR Lift KitIf you still haven’t heard of the Racer Tech lift kits, do youself and your RZR a favor and get on the forums and search for this kit! This is hands down the most valuable improvement for your RZR above anything else. This kit not only provides the much needed additional ground clearance you’re looking for, but also handling improvements and chassis reinforcement. RZR S $195 —Standard RZR $250 Go to: www.goracetech.com or Call: 616.928.0616

SLP Front and Rear Bumpers for the Polaris RZRWhether bajaing down a nasty trail or creeping across rocky, rugged terrain, these bumper kits are sure to protect against the gnarliest conditions. Front bumper features 2 winch points, as well as mounting points for Baja Lights. Rear bumper incorporates a spare tire mount, freeing up trunk space. Front Bumper $400.00, Rear Bumper $375.00. Go to: www.startinglineproducts.com or Call: 208.529.0244

SLP Rocker Armor for the Polaris RZR Defend against rocks and other hard objects with Rocker Armor from SLP. Whether you are a trail rider or someone who likes to find the gnarliest terrain out there, these rocker guards not only look great but they also protect body panels from those hard hits without losing valuable ground clearance. They are made of high tensile steel for maximum strength, then powder coated for durability. Protects from wheel well to wheel well and into the stock skid plate. $255.00 Go to: www.startinglineproducts.com or Call: 208.529.0244

IFM Front BumperNeed a new custom look for your UTV? Whether out riding in the Baja 500, a trail or the dunes, this bumper can handle anything you can throw at it. IFM’s bumper is light weight and stronger than your UTV’s stock bumper. The IFM bumper comes complete with full skid plate and light guard. IFM’s front bumper easily mounts into the stock mount points on the frame and installs in minutes. Available for Teryx, Rhino, Ranger and Prowler $359.95 Go to: www.wefabit.com or Call: 602.938.6500

MCX-USA Arctic Cat Prowler XTZ Turbo KitsThe MCX-USA turbo kit for the Arctic Prowler XTZ produces 125 rhwp, which is 66 rwhp more than stock or roughly 112% gain in HP. Just like all their other proven kits, the Arctic Prowler XTZ Turbo kit is intercooled, runs on high octane pump gas, and maintains stock drivability and reliability. This is achieved with no turbo lag due to our proven system of 3rd injector fueling, lowered compression, and automatic boost control that maintains sea level HP at any altitude. Go to: www.mcx-usa.com or Call: 719.539.3989

Razor heavy duty rack & pinion - # g1-10010Gear one razor rack, direct factory replacement - 300m pinion, 6061 billet body, 300m clevis, comes w/ 5/8 heims & tie rods to attach to factory threads.$650.00 Go to: www.gear-one.com or Call: 623.934.6913

RZR Heavy Duty Rack & Pinion by Gear One

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Polaris Ranger 2009-2010 Long Travel Kit by XMFXMF has developed a long travel suspension kit to meet the demands of taking your UTV to higher speeds and rougher terrains. Our race winning kits have been proven on the track, in the desert and on the dunes. XMF kits are one of the most agile kits on the market! The adjustable front camber allows this kit to corner with ease. You can rip through the whoops and cruise around camp in comfort all in the same day. The kit installs with ease. Call for pricing. Go to: www.xtrememf.com or Call: 623.465.9689

Kawasaki Teryx Billet Kit by EMF includes - shift Plate, Shift Knob, Differential Lock Button, Light Switch, glove box handle ignition bezel available in Polish and Black special colors on request $165.00Go to: www.xtrememf.com or Call: 623.465.9689

XMF Billet MirrorsBillet aluminum panoramic Rear View and the new and improved Side Mirrors. Many mounting options available for 1-1/2” - 2” tube and also weld in mounts. Available in Polished or Anodized black as a standard, also available in red or blue as a special order. Please allow 2 weeks delivery for special orders. See website for Complete Pricing. Go to: www.xtrememf.com or Call: 623.465.9689

KW Machine Works Camera MountKW Machine Works is keeping pace with the latest and greatest in Action Cam photography by providing a Precision Machined Billet Camera Mount and adapter for the very popular GOPRO cameras. It provides a solid and secure mount for your camera enabling great video or stills while traveling down the trail or track. Easily adjusted with one hand to capture all of your adventures inside or outside of your UTV, Sand Car, Motorcycle, Trophy Cart, etc. Available in all popular tube sizes. GOPRO MOUNT $89.95GO PRO ADAPTER for all KW Camera mounts $24.95Go to: www.kwmachineworks.com or Call: 951.699.6338

MCX-USA 2009+ Kawasaki Teryx FI Turbo KitsThe MCX-USA turbo kit for the Fuel Injected Kawasaki Teryx produces 96 rwhp, which is 57 rwhp more than stock or roughly 150% gain in HP. Just like all their other proven kits, the Kawasaki Teryx Turbo kit is intercooled, runs on high octane pump gas, and maintains stock drivability and reliability. This is achieved with no turbo lag due to our proven system of 3rd injector fueling, lowered compression, and automatic boost control that maintains sea level HP at any altitude. Go to: www.mcx-usa.com or Call: 719.539.3989

NEW Side x Side Graphics Kits from AMR Racing Graphics“AMR Racing Graphics has partnered with Ed Hardy Motorsports to produce a new signature line of Side x Side graphic kits. These graphics have amazing detail and the same great quality and thickness that AMR Racing is known for. Graphic Kits can be purchased at www.amrracing.com and selected motorsports dealerships”Go to: www.amrracing.com or Call: 702.312.2217

Billet Wheel Spacers for the RZR 1704 billet 2 inch wheel spacers for the Polaris RZR 170 youthThese are sold as a complete set .This will make your ride look like it has long travel suspension under it and make it more stable for safety reasons. Made in the U.S.A. Dealers are encouraged.Go to: www.dunegear.com

Baja Designs Inc. releases their Kwik Jak™ At only 4.5 lbs, the billet aluminum Kwik Jak™ is lightweight but performs like its heavy duty cousins. It is powered by standard 3/8-24 CO2 cartridges and can lift up to 2400 lbs. in just seconds. Its collapsed height adjusts from an easily stowable 12.5” up to 18.5” and it has a 6” stroke. The standard jack is only $224.95 retail.Go to: www.bajadesigns.com or Call: 760.560.2252

Darkness got you down? Strike back with the Strykr™! The leader in off-road lighting is at it again with the introduction of the Strykr 2” LED Adventure Light. The Strykr’s 700 lumens and long li-ion battery life guarantees that darkness won’t hold you back. With tool-less mounting options for mc/bike helmets and mc/bike handlebars, a head strap, and a hand strap, the Strykr is the most versatile adventure light available. With battery MSRP: $298.95 Vehicle powered MSRP: $188.95Go to: www.bajadesigns.com or Call: 760.560.2252

WBM Re-manufactured ATV/UTV EnginesWolf Brothers Motorsports is your source for complete discounted re-manufactured ATV/UTV engines. WBM engines come complete with a 6 month warranty. All WBM engines have new internal components such as crankshafts,bearings, pistons, rings, valves, gaskets, etc. The engines are completely disassembled, cleaned, inspected, and measured to meet factory specifications, followed by precision assembly. All you have to do is send your old engine core, WBM ships you a complete engine ready to install. Performance packages are also available. Call or email today for pricing and get riding soon, with a little extra money in your pocket! Go to: www.wbmengines.com or Call: 812.985.3500

Progressive Rate Stock Replacement Springs Makin’ Trax Suspension feels they have found the “ANSWER” to many peoples dilemma of what to do about sagging stock springs and fading stock shocks without having to purchase aftermarket shocks. King Progressive Rate Stock Replacement Springs are specifically engineered to provide the correct ride height and rate for each model of UTV. These are the best, most affordable performance enhancement you can buy!• Engineered specific to the model • Smooth Ride• Eliminate Bottoming • Eliminate Bucking• Increased Ride Height • Adjustable Rate by Preload4- Spring Kit with Adapters for RZR & RZR “S” $425.004- Spring Kit for Rhino SE Shocks (no hardware necessary) $340.00Go to: www.makintraxsuspension.com or Call: 951.782.1479

RZR 170 Billet Shift Knobs from Dune Gear

These are the billet shift knobs to replace both the emergency brake and the forward nuetral and reverse knobs.Black, red , anodize machined finishes are availablemsrp $55.00 per setDealers are encouragedGo to: www.dunegear.com

The Axia Alloys 9” wide panoramic rearview mirror is the latest addition to the AXIA mirror line, and like its 17” wide big brother it offers a low distortion crystal clean view with its shatter resistant glass insert. These mirrors are only convex in the horizontal direction so that your surroundings appear exactly where they are in relation to your vehicle. This rearview also offers infinite adjustability and can be post mounted horizontally or vertically with its 3/8-16 thread post or clamp mounted horizontally or vertically. This mirror also offers adjustable mounting ball tension so that it can be tightened up for demanding off-road environments. As with all of the Axia Alloys patent pending modular roll cage mounting system products, these are available for 1.0”, 1.25”, 1.5”, 1.625”, 1.7”, 1.75”, 1.875”, and 2.0” cages. Available at www.axiaalloys.com Price for post mount $99.95 Clamp mount $114.95Go to: www.axiaalloys.com or Call: 480.216.6266

Panoramic Rearview Mirror by Axia Alloys

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KYMCOUXV 500

TEST DRIVE

4x4BY DON McNEILLY

2010 KYMCO UXV 500 4X4

KYMCOUXV 500

4x4

We had the outstanding opportunity to go to the Vanderbilt Biltmore estates in Ashleyville, North Carolina to get the first look and test ride on the 2010 Kymco UXV side-by-side machine. What an awesome opportunity to ride in the beautiful Blue Mountains of North Carolina. As we arrive at our test area, the skies are clear but they have had lots of rain in the past few weeks. The 18-wheeler is set up with all the new vehicles for everyone to look over. I immediately set my sights on the new red Kymco UXV side-by-side. The beautiful red finish looks great next to the bright green grass. After taking a few photos, we gathered together to go over our riding area along with the agenda for the day.Ergonomics

Before we hit the trails, we like to take a look over the machine to familiarize ourselves with where everything is located. The fit and finish of the beautiful red body looked excellent. One of the first things I notice is the side netting that comes halfway up the door to help keep your legs inside the vehicle and protected from nature. As I climb into the cab area, I am surprised that even with the netting it is very easy to get into the machine. This is an excellent safety feature that is very effective and non-obtrusive. As I scan the dash from left to right, I notice a button to the left of the steering wheel to push to engage the 4-wheel drive system. On the right side there is a choke pull cable (of course we would like to see an integrated EFI fuel system) which worked very well. Below the choke is a full differential lock lever to fully engage the locking 4-wheel drive system. In the center of the dash is a Speedometer that includes a Fuel Gauge, Speedometer, Odometer, Trip Meter, High Beam Indicator, Neutral/Reverse Light, and Temp Light. One thing they did very well is the extra storage with a large locking glove box along with an open box in the center of the dash. There is also a 12-volt accessory plug near the center of the dash. One convenient feature was the parking brake. It is out of the way under the center of the dash but very easy to work, although if you forget to release the brake you may overheat the brakes. We like the Polaris Ranger feature that disables the engine if you have the parking brake on. The seats are firm yet comfortable along with a standard seat/lap belt. Another thing we would welcome is some built-in cup holders in the cab area. A very unique feature is they have a locking gas cap. It uses the same key that starts the vehicle and locks the glove box.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION:Kymco uses a 499.5 cc motor that puts out 36 HP. At trail speeds this seems to have plenty of power. They mated it with an automatic CVT transmission that features high, low, neutral and reverse. When we are doing a short test ride, we put the transmission through its paces as we were constantly changing gears back and forth. We never had the least bit of trouble with hitting the correct gear while on our ride. To help put the power to the wheels, Kymco uses a shaft drive system. Using a shaft drive improves the power delivery and reliability. They also outfit the UXV with an 8.45 gallon fuel tank which should be enough fuel for an all-day ride.

LET’S RIDEOur test area was to be on a part of the Land Rover test track cut out on the Vanderbilt Estate. The area had had plenty of rain, so the mud holes were full. The first part of the trail goes through some of the vineyards on the property before turning into the heavy wooded area. On our way to the woods, there was a large sweeping high-banked turn where we could try out the stability of the side-by-side on the extreme off-camber turn. The 75.2 inch wide stance of the UXV made the machine very stable. Even going slow we never felt the least bit like we were going to tip over.

Next, there was a steep hill to climb over. As long as you put the machine in low range there was no problem going up and over any hill or obstacle.

Once in the woods, there were a lot of deep mud holes filled with water. Here again, the Kymco side-by-side worked great. With a push of the 4-wheel drive button it would trudge through the thick mud pits with ease. On one of the mud holes I decided to hit it hard. I guess I was a little too aggressive, as when I dove into the pit it was so deep that the water and mud came crashing completely over the hood and into the cab. What a mess, but at least I made it through without any problems. Even though we went through lots of mud and water, we had no trouble stopping the 1157 lb (dry weight) vehicle. This is due to the front dual hydraulic and rear hydraulic disc brakes.

We traded out the regular model for the UXV 500 LE and did some high speed runs through the heavily wooded trails. This trail was similar to a GNCC race course. The suspension on the Kymco side-by-side seemed very balanced. With its independent front and rear dual arm suspension with 7.5 inches of travel, the machine handled the tight wooded trail easily.

For our last test we wanted to see how well the 4-wheel drive system worked. We approached a pile of wet, moss-covered logs on the trail. What better way to check out the clearance of the vehicle along with the full locker. The first pass, I went up and over the logs without even touching the undercarriage. With 12.2 inches of ground clearance, you don’t have to be quite so picky about your line. On the next pass, I started spinning the tires and was unable to get any traction in 2-wheel

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drive mode. I pulled the full locker lever on the dash and walked over the logs with ease. A great feature on the Kymco UXV is, even if you are in 2-wheel drive, if you pull the full locker lever it automatically locks the machine into 4- wheel drive. With the locker engaged, it walked over the log without spinning a wheel. There was also a large log that had fallen across the trail, so I thought it would be fun to see if the UXV would be able to jump over this obstacle. The Kymco side-by-side flew over the big log without even so much as a whimper. What a blast!! Unfortunately, the day is coming to an end and we must leave the gorgeous grounds of the Vanderbilt Biltmore Estates. At least we were still a few miles from the staging area so we had a chance to once again blast through the tight trails for one last time.

CONCLUSION:Although we were hoping for a larger displacement this year, we still like the Kymco UXV. The vehicle is definitely a player in the 500 market. The engine and automatic CVT transmission work well together. The shifting is very precise and smooth. The 4-wheel drive system is very easy to engage, and we like the full locker capabilities. At $8,099 for the base model, we feel this is a very capable trail/work machine.Kymco has an agreement with Kolpin Industries to make products that specificity fit their vehicles. The LE model comes outfitted with Alloy Rims, 3,000 lb Winch, Full Soft Enclosure, Full Windshield, Gear Rail Package, and a Fuel Pack. The full enclosure should be a big hit in the colder regions of the country.

We did not get a chance to test the 1212-pound towing capacity or the 420-pound tilt bed capacity on our initial test. Look for a more in-depth review when we get our hands on our own test unit.

SOME HISTORY ABOUT KYMCOFounded in 1963, Taiwan’s Kwang Yang Motor Co. Ltd. spent the first half of its 46-year existence as a Taiwan-based manufacturer for Honda Motor Co. Ltd. It started marketing KYMCO brand product in 1992 and now operates research and development, production and testing campuses in Taiwan and other countries.Headquartered in an 80,000 sq. ft. facility in Spartanburg, SC, the company now doing business as KYMCO USA imported and distributed its first KYMCO scooter in 2000, its first KYMCO ATV in 2003, and today serves as the exclusive KYMCO representative in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories in the Caribbean.

Features Headlights, Taillights, Trailer Hitch with Tilting Cargo Box, Front Bush Guards, a Digital Dash (Fuel Gauge, Speedometer, Odometer, Trip Meter, High Beam Indicator, Neutral/Reverse Light, Temp Light) and a 1 Year Limited Factory Warranty. C.A.R.B. Certified. Forestry Approved Spark Arrestor.

KYMCO UXV 500 4X4 TEST DRIVE

Model UXV 500 4x4/LE

Retail Price $8,099

LE $9,499

Engine

Type 4-Stroke DOHC

Displacement 498.5cc

Horsepower 36hp

Bore x Stroke 92x75

Carburetor Kwang Yang CVK 38 mm

Cooling Liquid

Fuel System Carbureter

Lubrication Wet Sump

Oil Capacity 3.8 Quarts (Full Capacity)

Starting Electric

Drivetrain

Drive System 4x4

Transmission CVT Automatic L-H-N-R W/Differential Lock

Rear-Wheel-Drive Shaft w/Hi/Low Gear, 2WD/4WD

Suspension and Tires

Suspension-Front & Rear/Travel Independent Dual A-Arm/7.5”

Tires-Front 25x8-12

Tires-Rear 25x10-12

Brakes

Front Hydraulic Dual Disc

Rear Hydraulic Disc

Parking Hand Operated

Dimensions

Wheelbase 75.2”

Claimed Dry Weight 1157 lbs.

Ground Clearance 12.2”

Length/Width/Height 113x59x72.8”

Fuel Capacity 8.45 gal.

Load Capacity

Rear Cargo Box/Rack Standard Tilting/420 lbs.

Towing Hitch Standard/1212lbs.

Electrical

Alternator 310W/5000RPM

Instrumentation

Fuel Gauge, Speedometer, Odometer, Trip meter

Digital

Colors Red, Green, Gray - Black LE

Warranty 1 Year Factory

Spark Arrestor Forestry Approved

CA Green Sticker Compliant Yes

SPECIFICATIONS

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KYMCO UXV 500 4X4

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In 2008 Polaris revolutionized the off-roading world with the introduction of the RZR and almost immediately the RZR craze was on. For us at SuperATV it was love at first drive. We’ve run stock, lifted, long travels,

and put them through some intense situations but we wanted more. We wanted to give the RZR a complete makeover, engine and everything - the ultimate performance machine.

If you walk around our shop and office, it is clear the RZR is the current machine of choice. Finding a RZR was not the problem, deciding what to put in it, however, took some thought. We wanted a high-powered, extreme machine that would surely turn some heads. While discussing the future of the project, in rode one our technicians on his Suzuki GSXR 1000 motorcycle and magically the GSX-RZR project began.

The first step was to purchase a 2006 175 HP GSXR 1000 motorcycle motor. Our tech, being very familiar with them from year of riding, started working on the frame finding a place for the new motor that was nearly fifty percent larger than the Polaris 800 motor. To achieve this multiple things needed to be shaped, moved, and manipulated. The passenger seat and gas tank moved forward four inches and various parts of the frame needed to be cut

GSX-RZRand notched. After placing the new motor, our next obstacle was to make the motor drive the wheels.

Building a 175 hp Monster

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GSX-RZR After completing the suspension and motor it was time to make the GSX-RZR start looking like the ultimate performance machine we had envisioned. We started with a custom paint job – a lime green base topped with black zebra stripes. Next came custom fabrication. A new roll bar and body armor kit were added for strength and safety. The armor kit included front and rear fender protectors, hood protectors, front and rear brush guards, and nerf bars, all manufactured by and available at SuperATV. To finish it off with a little shine, we added complete billet accessories. To maintain safety we installed a full set of four point harnesses, a line lock brake kit, and addition grab bars for passengers.

After nine months of though, work, engineering, and fabrication, we were able to put the machine to the test. The GSX-RZR is fully capable of running the trails, dirt, water, and pavement. It’s most impressive performance came when our engineer did ten consecutive zero-turn doughnuts on pavement – something few other RZRs will ever be able to match. To see some of our videos check out www.superatv.com. We are now developing a kit for other enthusiasts to make the same conversion, which will be available in early 2010. Keep an eye out for the GSX-RZR, but don’t blink, you must just miss us go by!

After much thought and consideration, we decided to integrate the stock Polaris transmission and differentials with one of our billet aluminum sprague carriers and use the Suzuki motorcycle transmission. Using dual transmissions we were able to keep the 4WD and reverse intact giving us a total of 12 gears: six in high, six in low, and even six in reverse! Using an electrical shifter mounted on the steering wheel we were able to move through the gears with ease. In addition to this we added a manual shifter right behind the center console.

Bringing the motor to life proved very challenging. If we were to use the GSXR RPM and speedometer display, we would have to combine both the RZR and GSXR wires into a highly developed integrated wiring harness. After many hours of cutting and splicing, the motor fired up. It was time to add everything needed to keep it running at the level we wanted, starting with an oversized radiator and fan driver oil cooler to keep everything cool at the high RPMs this motor produced.

With the tremendous speeds this vehicle is capable of, we needed adequate suspension keep the RZR stable. The solution was one of our six-inch billet aluminum long travel kits with Titan Shocks. Using 200 pound front springs and 250 pound rear springs, 8” stroke shocks, and adjustability in the mounting location of the new A-Arms, we were able to fine-tune our suspension to the different riding conditions we face. To complete the suspension we turned to Rhino Brand Axles for their reliability and strength.With all of the power this could produce, we needed our tires and wheels to be ready for anything. Here we used our SuperATV all-terrain tires to plant the power to the ground. With our beadlock wheels we installed 30x10x14 tires on the front and 30x12x14 tires on the rear ensuring supreme grip.

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If you have never been to a Jamboree, you don’t know what you are missing. This event is touted as “The best darn party in the West.” The event is held in the towns of Eager and Springerville, AZ, located in the beautiful White Mountains of Northeastern Arizona. The White Mountains have the 2nd highest peak in Arizona, which is close to 10,000 feet elevation with gorgeous wooded mountains. There are plenty of camping spots available at the rodeo grounds, which is where they have a rodeo scheduled for the wrap-up on Saturday. Without the sponsors of an event like this it would not be possible. The major sponsors for the event are RideNow Powersports (they were even giving away a Polaris ATV) Discount Tire and Suzuki. The good folks at Suzuki put on the excellent BBQ dinner for everyone on Friday night. Polaris and Can-Am both had trailers there with most of their lineup for you to sign up and test ride on a small track on the grounds. I took full advantage of this late Friday afternoon to test many of the machines and ended up a muddy mess, but had a huge smile on my face. Of course, this would not have happened had it not been for Hank & Debbie Rogers and the Apache County ATV Roughriders Club. One other major contributor was Bill Stinson. Unfortunately, Bill lost his battle with cancer shortly after the 1st Jamboree, but he did get to witness the fruits of his and Hank’s labor before he passed away. I was fortunate enough to have known Bill and went on many trail rides with him. He, like Hank, was extremely passionate about keeping our trails open to everyone. In memory of Bill, trail ride #18 is the Bill Stinson Memorial Ride. The ride is approved for both UTVs and ATVs, just as Bill would have wanted.

Sign-in for the event began on Tuesday with the trail rides starting on Wednesday. Most of the participants sign up online at www.azoutlawtrail.com. This year there were 21 guided rides to choose from. They have trails from beginner to advanced. They also do an excellent job of giving the rider an overview of the trails they are picking and what is needed to make it from start to finish. Some of the rides require carrying extra fuel, such as trail ride #15, the Coronado Trail Marathon. This trail ride is approved for UTVs as well as ATVs. It was run only on Wednesday, with the group leaving the rodeo grounds at 7:00 a.m. and then spending the night at gorgeous Hannagian’s meadows. There are cabins available and plenty of elk in the area for everyone’s viewing pleasure. This is an advanced, fast-paced ride with warm clothes being a must, as the elevation reaches over 9000 feet.

THERE ARE 21 TRAILS TO CHOOSE FROMIf you come to the Jamboree, there are trails for everyone to choose from. This year there were 21 trails to choose from ranging anywhere from just a few miles in town to the Casa Malpais archeological site to an overnight

210-mile run, with everything in between. The riders are limited to 20 riders per ride max, so you need to sign up for what you want as soon as possible. Weather can and usually does play an important part in what equipment you will need to bring. You need all the usual gear plus extra rain gear along with warm clothes and gloves. In this area, the weather can change 30 degrees in a matter of minutes. Be prepared or be miserable. There is tons of history of the Old West in them thar hills, and you may run into a few outlaws along the way so keep a watchful eye along the trail. The trail guides will tell you many stories of the history of the area, as well. I rode with Hank several years ago and was absolutely amazed at all the history that happened in this beautiful area. There is abundant wildlife in the area as well, so be sure to bring your camera. A few years ago when riding in the area we came across elk, deer, antelope, big horn sheep and even a wolf that ran in front of us. You may even see a bear along the trail or several small critters.

Some of the trails are only for vehicles with a maximum width of 53” so make sure you can fit on the trail if you go on these rides as they have large boulders that you will not fit through.

This year the Jamboree turned into quite a mud fest. There was either rain or hail almost every day. I arrived late Thursday night at the rodeo grounds in Springerville, AZ. I was eager to get up and around on Friday morning,

ArizonA ATV ouTlAw JAmboree

6th Annual

BY DON McNEILLY// PHOTOS DON McNEILLY

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ArizonA ATV ouTlAw JAmboree

and I was able to see a ton of campers just to the south of me. There was also a place for the tent campers to hang out together, although with all the rain that would be a bit tough. Along with the rain, it was on the cool side temperature wise. It was in the 50’s at night, which was a welcome relief for me coming from the summer oven of Phoenix where it was 115 the day before.

I was scheduled for trail ride #4, which is called Robbers Roost Trail. The name came about because many of Butch Cassidy’s gang was known to come to Apache County after the break of the “Wild Bunch.” This ride requires you to trailer 16 miles from the rodeo grounds to Green’s Peak Lookout turnoff. Green’s Peak is the highest point along the Outlaw Trail at 10,134 feet. As we are unloading the rigs to the south of us, we can see the snow runs cut out of the woods from Sunrise ski lodge. I brought along a 2009 Polaris Ranger HD. Can’t wait to see how it does with all the mud along the trail. With its power steering and self-leveling rear shocks, it should be like riding in a Cadillac.

Once everyone is in line, the final instructions are given and we head off on our ride. As we turn off of the main road, the trail shows the evidence of the large rainstorms that have passed through the area in the last few days, as there were lots of large mud holes in the road. The Ranger never missed a beat in the mud. All you have to do is hit the 4-wheel drive button, and if you have 10% slippage in the rear wheels, the fronts automatically lock in. You never feel a thing and it works perfectly every time. Personally, I enjoy riding in the rain or mud except for the cleanup. The area we are riding in has Quaker aspens, blue spruce and many other varieties of trees and ferns along with vast open grasslands. I had a passenger along that had not driven a UTV before, so I thought now was as good a time as any to let them take the wheel. That may have been a mistake, as they were having so much fun driving the Ranger that I had to wrestle the steering wheel away from them to get back in the driver’s seat.

After a ride through the woods, we came out on the road to the top of Green’s Peak. The switchback ride to the top of the peak had some incredible views along the way. At the top there is a forest ranger fire tower along with several cell tower sites. It seems that you can see forever, except the rain clouds to the south were hiding the mountains. This was a perfect place to take a break and meet some of the riders.

From here, we traversed many narrow twisting forest service roads throughout the forest until we came upon a trail that took us to the top of another smaller peak that again let us take in the tranquility of the beautiful White Mountains of Northeastern Arizona. What a great spot to take a break for lunch. Off in the distance we could see the rain clouds pounding the area south of us. Our guide Hank Rogers made a cell phone call to the rodeo grounds where he was informed that the group headed on a 100+ mile ride to Hannagian’s meadow had turned back due to the 6 inches of hail that fell from the sky. That is an incredible amount of hail, and I don’t blame them for turning back one bit. I had heard the owners of Hannigans meadow

restaurant and cabins had put up some of the riders the day before that were drenched. It is nice to be in a small town where people have compassion for one another.

As we headed back down the trail, the plan was to stop at Canaro Spring. This is a natural spring that comes out of the mountain. The vegetation is very green and lush. As we walked up the spring to see the water pouring out of the mountain, it started to rain. There was time for only a few photos before the heavens opened up on us. It had rained off and on along the way, but this was a downpour. Everyone that had taken their rain gear off was scurrying like mad to get it back on. Since it was raining hard, we made a beeline for the trucks and loaded up for the trip back to the rodeo grounds.

Friday night there was a fabulous dinner that was sponsored by Suzuki along with activities in the blue building on the rodeo grounds. Be careful or you may get thrown in jail by the local sheriff. On Friday night, a local judge got thrown in jail along with Senator Sylvia Allen and Rusty Bowers who is running for Congress. The crowd really enjoyed the antics of the lawmen along with the storytellers. Every night there are also lots of drawings to be given away to the participants. The guys from Discount Tire did an excellent job on stage making the drawings entertaining. There were even 2 ATVs to be given away on the last day.

The next day was the start of the big parade with police escort. The route was from the rodeo grounds through the town of Eagar around the corner

BY DON McNEILLY// PHOTOS DON McNEILLY

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to Sprinngerville and back to the rodeo grounds. Many of the participants had candy to throw to the kids along the route. There must have been 300-plus UTVs/ATVs stretching down the road. That was impressive, to say the least. Both of the towns go all out to welcome all riders to the event. They have found this to be a huge boom to their economy. During the Jamboree, it is hard to find a room at the inn, as they are all full.

After the parade, there is a series of rodeo events that are planned for ATVs or UTVs. In past years there were many more UTVs that signed up for the competition. For some reason, this year they were holding back. So I entered my Ranger in the sled pull, hoping to get some more UTVs involved. It must have worked, as the Polaris Ranger came in at 97 feet to lead the sled pull. Seeing a UTV in the competition, a Joyner Trooper got in line. I was impressed as he bettered my mark. Next, a 4-seater Joyner lined up and blew away the competition with almost a full pull. What a blast. Speaking of a blast, the next event was having 2 riders on an ATV with the back rider shooting blanks at balloons set up in an obstacle course. The blanks have enough power to pop the balloons. The one with the most balloons popped in the fastest time wins.

The last event was the mud bog. With all the rain, they didn’t have to worry about there being enough mud. The only UTV in this event was the Joyner that won the sled pull. He didn’t fare as well in the mud bog as he sunk up to his frame about ¼ of the way into the run. To end the mud bog, there was a dash for cash through the mud pit by any of the females that wanted to give it a try. Wendy has won for the last 3 years and was leading the pack up until about 20 feet from the end when she slipped and fell down.

What a fun way to spend a few days with family and friends and get to enjoy some outstanding trail riding. To give you some idea of how popular this event has become in a mere 6 years, here are some interesting figures. There were 323 participants and 120 volunteers. People came from 16 states to attend the event. They are AZ, NM, CO, UT, GA, TN, CA, NV, MO, TX, NE, MI,

OH, ND, MN, and NC. The one that traveled the longest distance was from the Netherlands. Wow!!! Hugh Renard was the oldest rider at age 89, he rode 200 miles in 3 days. Way to go, Hugh! The oldest volunteer was Glenn Stewart at 90. He is also a member of the Apache County ATV Roughriders Club. The youngest rider/passenger was 4 years old. No matter what the age, all the participants had a blast. There were several people that had some form of disabilities that if it were not for being able to ride or drive a UTV/ATV, there is no way they would ever be able to enjoy all of our National forests.

After the cleanup, there were fireworks and the final drawings to give away the ATVs. The Grand Prize drawing was a Polaris 500, 2-up machine that was donated by RideNow Motorsports and Polaris. It was won by Chuck Giberti from Coleville, CA. The 2nd biggest prize was a Kymco 70 that was donated by Logan Motor Sports. It was won by Shane Walker. A big thank you to all the sponsors that make this event so fantastic.

If you support keeping OUR forests open to motorized as well as non-motorized activities, you need to support the people such as Rusty Bowers who is running for Congress (a very outspoken Pro American that is working hard to keep our trails open) and Senator Sylvia Allen who is also fighting to keep our public lands open. We were fortunate enough to have these people along on the trails with us.

We can’t wait until next year to see an even bigger, better event. For more information about the Jamboree, go to: www.azatvoutlawtrail.com.

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602 246 4011CALL US & ORDER TODAY!

602 246 4011CALL US & ORDER TODAY!

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whAT do you geT when dirTy dAwg PerformAnce And rAcer Tech TeAm uP? one wicked rAnger.

The day that Polaris announced the new 09 Ranger platform Curt Wood knew three things would occur. The first was that his 05 XP was going up for sale. The second was that he would be making a trip to Lakeside Motorsports in Mecosta Michigan to pick up a new 09 XP. The third was that his new 09 XP would not remain stock long.

The first call was to Dale Hilton at Dirty Dawg Performance, where Dale suggested that the 700 be converted to an 800, and that, along with a new DDP cam, ported head, bored throttle body, 11:1 pistons, Boonedocker fuel controller, and DDP ECU, would take the XP from 40 to 70 Horsepower and installing a DDP Team Roller secondary clutch kit with adjustable weights would help get that power to the ground, The parts were shipped out, and after a long day in Curts shop the XP was up and running likePolaris never intended. The next step in the process was to relocate the bed 4 inches back, and install a snorkel for the occasional deep mud run, as well as to allow the 800 to breathe better.

Bulldog adhesion promoter was sprayed on the stock green plastics to make the paint stick, and a couple coats of General Motors Switchblade silver, and several coats of clear were added for a little color. Once that was done it was shipped off to Casey at HP Graphx , where he created a unique blue flame design that worked well with the silver body panels.

With all of the added power of the DDP mods the stock suspension could not keep up. After comparing several UTV suspension performance companies Racer Tech was selected. They created new +3, two inch forward boxed a arms with heim joints replacing the stock Polaris ball joints for the front and new +3 rear a arms, all with dual rate springs. The performance gains are impressive to say the least, and allow the XP to utilize all the power available to it. The wider, forward suspension allows the use of 28 inch

HP Graphics provided the graphics package.

PHOTOS RICH PAYNES

Dirty Dawg Performance supplied the 800 kit, cam, bored throttle body, ported head, ECU, Boonedocker fuel controller, and Team roller clutch kit with adjustable weights.

Racer Tech +3 rear A-Arms

Racer Tech +3 front A-Arms with dual rate springs for a ride that does an amazing job soaking up the bumps.

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Gorilla Silverbacks for playing in the mud and 27 inch Maxxis Bighorns for trail riding and thrashing in the rough stuff. Racer Tech then created a new Baja style full rollcage that connects to the rear frame for the ultimate in protection, as well as a new front bumper.

The final touches were a new billet rear view mirror, billet hinges, billet grab bar, and billet flag mount from Super ATV, to provide that extra bit of flash. The final product is a machine that turns heads as well as it handles the rough stuff.

The three piece Billet rear view mirror from Super ATV adds a lot of class as well as the Billet grab bar.

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF THE SPONSORS FOR THIS buILD. Dirty Dawg Performance • www.dirtydawgperformance.comHP Graphx • www.hpgraphx.comRacer Tech • www.goracertech.comSuper ATV • www.superatv.com

The stylish cage and rear bumper by Racer Tech is not only good looking but functional.

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wheelin’anddealin’

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WHEELIN’ANDDEALIN’

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COLOR Randy Rhino AND WIN!KIDS!KIDS!

Have Mom or Dad copy this on some plain paper or download it from our website at: www.utvoffroadmag.com/coloringcontest and enter it into our contest.

Name AgeAddressCity State Zipemail or phone #:I would like to see more coloring pages like this? Yes No

Sorry, we can’t return your entries, but we will print our favorites in a future issue.

Mail your entry to: uTV Off-Road Magazine • 20280 N. 59th Ave. #115-245 • Glendale, AZ 85308

first is a Helmet from uTV Crap

UTV Off-Road Magazine wants to help keep your kids safe. Make a copy of the drawing to the left on a plain sheet of paper, or download it from our website at: www.utvoffroadmag.com. Let your creativity loose and color it with any type of medium you choose (colored pencils, crayons, markers, paint).

1) Contest is open to kids 12 and under. 2) All entries have to be postmarked before December 20, 2009. 3) Employees of UTV Off-Road, their children or relatives or not eligible to enter the contest. 4) All entries have to have all information filled out on entry form. Parents, please note: UTV Off-Road Magazine will not print or distribute personal information. Only first name and age will appear in magazine. Addresses will only be used for the purpose of this contest to send contest prize to winners. Employees of UTV Off-Road Magazine will judge entries. By submitting your entry, you give permission to publish submitted artwork in UTV Off-Road Magazine. Have fun, and good luck!

Second is a complete set of Lil’R Jewelry

See page 57 for larger photos.