ATV Tests

-- Suzuki 250 2-stroke vs. Suzuki 450 4-stroke -- This 1991 Quadracer 250 and 2011 Quadracer 450 are 20 years apart. How are they different and how are they the same? Find out by reading this reprint below from the April 2011 issue of Dirt Wheels. Get $25 gift card here> https://hi-torque.com/product/dirt-wheels-holiday/ . . .

-- Testing the best-selling sport ATV of all time -- By the staff of Dirt Wheels Yamaha has so much love for sport ATVs that they keep the best-selling ATV in the category on dealer floors for you to buy today! It’s no secret, the struggle of the economic downfall in 2008 hindered the market and kick-started the decline of sport quads. Compounded with the rise in UTV technology, the sport ATV category had its heyday. Now we consider certain 4x4 machines sport models. Honestly, those 4x4s are very sporty in our…

-- 300 2-stroke & 450 4-stroke from 2004 -- You may have heard of the ATVs with the funny name that were made in Spain. The Gas Gas quads were actually fast machines, whether you got the 300 2-stroke or the 450 4-stroke. Even though they're no longer available now they are a part of ATV history, along with Cannondale, that you should know about.  Dirt Wheels tested the two Gas Gas quads in our January 2004 issue and you may want to read the reprint of that article below. . .

-- Looking back at Trinity Racing's Banshee build of 2003 -- The 535cc Cheetah cylinders were the popular choice for Banshee builders back then and Trinity started with that for this project Yamaha we featured in our May 2003 issue.  With a bore and stroke of 72mm x 64mm and 26 ports this twin cylinder two-stroke cranked out 138.7 hp on the dyno.  We have a reprint of that original article you can read below. . .

-- The screaming yellow 2-stroke -- Here is the first test of Yamaha's all-new Tri-Z 250 as it appeared back in the August 1984 issue of Dirt Wheels magazine.  Honda riders were nervous that this all-new machine from Yamaha would dethrone their ATC250R. This was Yamaha's ad for the Tri-Z 250 that appeared in Dirt Wheels. Below is what the Dirt Wheels test riders said about  this 1984 Yamaha 3-wheeler. . . .

-- High-Performance ATV Test --  By the staff of Dirt Wheels Yamaha’s YFZ450R isn’t simply a sport quad, it’s an experience. The smooth body lines fade into aggressively angular points, so the YFZ looks fast and focused just sitting still. But, you don’t really get the thrill until you firmly depress that little start button. The EFI and the ignition brings the Yamaha YFZ450R’s potent powerplant to life. To further intensify the excitement, shift into gear, boost the rpm and release the clutch. We have been seeing…

-- Converting a ATC250R into a quad -- FRONT COVER BACK COVER COVER 3 When the 1985 Suzuki Quadracer 250 came out it instantly won our shootout between Honda's ATC250R, Kawasaki's Tecate 250 and Yamaha's Tri-Z250. At that point everyone knew that Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha would have to come out with 250cc, 2-stroke quads too. While waiting a year for that to happen, 3 to 4 wheel conversion kits became available. The Dirt Wheels crew got a hold of one and turned a ATC250R into a quad. Below is the full…

-- High-performance 2-stroke 3-wheeler -- There it was on the front cover of our April 1984 issue, Honda's big bad ATC250R, back when it was still air-cooled. So, what did the Dirt Wheels test crew think of this machine back then? Well, read the original test below as it first appeared to the world 35 years ago. . . .

-- Building a pro level WORCS race quad -- By the staff of Dirt Wheels, Photos by Pat Carrigan Logan Huff has dominated his Pro-Am ATV class competition in the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) for the last two years. He landed his second Pro-Am championship in 2018 and made his Pro class debut at the first round of WORCS in Primm, Nevada. Huff decided to make his first WORCS Pro showing on a fresh Yamaha YFZ450R build. We got to catch up with him and cover this build the day before he shifted his YFZ into…

-- How do these machines compare out on the trail? -- Can a big 4x4 quad hang with a fast sport quad through the woods? Can a fast sport quad run with a big 4x4 quad through mud and water? The Dirt Wheels crew set out to answer those questions in this sport versus 4x4 comparison. Although the shootout took place in our June 2011 issue, the information and results still holds true today. GET YOUR $25 GIFT CARD HERE> https://hi-torque.com/product/dirt-wheels-holiday/ . . .

-- First test of the wild new Sherp ATV -- By the staff of Dirt Wheels There are a lot of firsts going on here for us: first time in a Russian off-road machine, first time with 63-inch tires and first time we truly understood the concept of letting nothing stand in our way. The letters “ATV” have become a name or a model designation, but they are actually an acronym for “all-terrain vehicle.” If we are totally accurate, most all-terrain vehicles are really multi-terrain vehicles, and most ATVs actually perform better…

-- Comparing the best models from the previous decade -- Not everyone has a ton a money to go out and buy a new quad. We understand that many people rely on finding good deals on used ATVs. That's why we like to provide them with info on models that are a few years older.  If you're in the market for a mid to big size 4x4 quad you'll certainly find a good price on a 2007 model. Without many hours on the clock it should still have many miles left. So, of the machines from 12 years ago, which one would suit you the best?…