Words And Photos: Rick Sosebee

When you think of true performance mobility, have you ever considered an off road vehicle as a hot rod? I’m not talking about your 4WD truck or rail buggy kind of off road vehicle but a little smaller in the ever-evolving world of Side-By-Side (SXS) or Utility Task Vehicle (UTV).

The realm of heavy cargo load capacity and towing ability in the utilitarian side of SXS, as well as some with incredibly high horsepower, has become a hot bed of add-on performance. This is true especially for the guys and gals who love to go fast in the really rough terrain of the desert or through the twisting tree lined trails in the mountains. With many major companies stepping up their game it just might be time to take notice.

This Kawasaki Mule Pro FXT is built for work and heavy hauling but if the desire to trail ride came up it will do that as well and very comfortably.

When you look at the working rancher on the farm, the SXS is now commonplace among the tractors, taking over the seemingly smaller tasks. Some ranchers will use their SXS vehicles to feed cattle or work a fence line while others will use these off-road two, four or even six passenger vehicles to get close to their favorite fishing hole or hunting stand.

In a more performance related direction if you look around at the speedways, or say an NHRA event, you will likely see more of these machines running around carrying people or pulling racing equipment. It’s casually taking the place of the slightly less capable golf carts, because with more power you can tow more, and with better suspension you can be more comfortable doing so. All of these things are evolving in the SXS industry and getting some pretty big names following with their checkbooks.

It could be difficult for someone who has not had the chance to drive one of these rigs to understand just what features make them good, better, or best. One thing is for sure, once you get in the working utility SXS, then slip into the seat of a beastly big bore or turbo charged machine, you will feel the difference in your soul. Just a quick look around the cab of either of these types of machines will invite you to want more.

There are features like power steering and high back bolstered seats made to hug you like grandma used to. Another impressive feature we all need is more storage, so many manufacturers are adding to this wish list with things like removable water resistant (or even waterproof) storage boxes. We used to think that if you got two drink holders you had a Cadillac, but those are standard and often overlooked for the next big feature. Ranchers will dissect the spec sheets for how much the vehicle can tow, while the sporty enthusiast buyer will want to know how fast he can go.

More recently the gearhead or off-road enthusiast has begun to treat the off-road rig as the new type of hotrod. It is safe to say that the biggest portion of press received in the Side-By-Side industry today is on the versions of these radical machines that go 80 mph through 3-foot deep whoop sections of the harshest desert terrain. It seems people are becoming more impressed with not just how much power can be built in a stock machine, but how much more they can add for that fun factor.

In the world of UTV, the industry is gaining a reputation for dropping the big “T-word” quite often. From some manufacturers, you can get a turbo-charged machine straight from the factory. Although pressures are most often limited to below 10 psi from the manufacturer, if you understand the dynamics of pushing air you can boost that subject much more. Pun intended.

If you are brave enough and have a bottomless pocket book you can go to your local nitrous dealer and spray the hell out of the engine for extra power as well. There are even guys who will take a 650cc engine and plug it out to over 1000cc’s with forged pistons, custom ground cams, and bench flowed heads just to drop it in a mud bog race or to sand drag the beast. Of course all of this requires the addition of protective custom roll cages and safety harnesses, which is just as common in on-road hot rodding these days.

Recently a manufacturer released their version of a completely capable performance off road vehicle with an extremely revolutionary power plant with a transmission that will make any gearhead grin. The 2016 Yamaha YXZ1000R is powered by a fuel injected triple cylinder, 12-valve DOHC, liquid-cooled 998cc monster that boasts an 11.3:1 compression ratio. Each individual cylinder gets its own throttle body and coil pack for a tuned air/spark delivery. Innovation that is unmatched in the industry.

This high horsepower machine is built for two, and the companies crawling out of the woodwork with performance parts are becoming limitless. It is rumored that the triple cylinder in this rig creates over 110 hp in its stock form. But this is just the tip of the iceberg my friends. In terms of changing the industry, most of these rigs have automatic belt driven transmissions; however, to gain a more intense hot rod feel, this YXZ1000R machine has the industry’s first floor-mounted clutch pedal and a sequential-shifting gearbox.

Imagine for a moment that you are sitting in a rally car style cockpit, the gear shifter is center console mounted and first gear is engaged by simply pressing the clutch while pushing the short throw shift lever one time forward. Once in motion there are four more gears waiting with just a slight tug rearward on the shift lever as your course speed grows.

It is hard to say where this growing industry will be in five or ten years, but one thing is for certain, with an engine that spin happily to the 10,500 rpm range and a sound like no other, for a true gearhead the hair will stand up on your arms. And that’s a promise.