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One-month wonder By the staff of Dirt Wheels Few people would question Jeremy McGrath’s dedication as a racer. His Supercross career is unrivaled with two 125cc SX championships and a championship—the first of eight—in his rookie year in the 250cc (then the Premier class) class. Some of our staff watched as he attempted the nation’s toughest motorcycle hill-climb in Billings, Montana, where he missed winning the event by one-tenth of a second riding borrowed bikes he had never sat on before. In another lesser-known…

Eyes wide open By the staff of Dirt Wheels If you are a woods ripper, desert dueler or track tamer, a quality goggle is important to help you go fast and keep having fun. When vision decreases, your chance of an accident increases. Nine2 is a fresh company to the goggle market, and the Tech8 goggle kit is its debut offering. We picked a few up and outfitted our test riders with them for trail riding and racing. CONSTRUCTION The Tech8 goggle from Nine2 is trying to play ball with the big boys, and we think it can…

The Deluxe edition By the staff of Dirt Wheels, Photos by Kevin Wing Here is a fun fact: the recreational utility ATV market is still Honda’s bread and butter in the four-wheel category. When Honda had multiple sport quad models on dealer floors, the ranch-style performers easily had double or more sales. Honda 4x4s have a reputation for being the most durable and long-lasting in the business, which obviously helps sales. People purchase 4x4 ATVs for work and recreational performance and enjoyment. It is quick and…

MACHINES JEREMY McGRATH’s KAWASAKI KRX Four-wheel “Showtime” 2020 HONDA RUBICON DELUXE Bigger engine & better features 2020 Yamaha YXZ1000R SS XT-R Built for the rough stuff 2020 KAWASAKI BRUTE FORCE 750 4X4i POLARIS RANGER 150 TEST Tiny but mighty FEATURES ROUGHEST RACE IN THE WEST 2020 King of the Hammers TRAIL GEAR: THE SMART CHOICES What our readers take on rides WIDE-OPEN RACING IN ARIZONA 2020 Best in the Desert opener TOP QUADS OF WORCS Pro racers & their fast rides…

The perfect power equation By the staff of Dirt Wheels Power is something humankind craves, but off-road riders lust for it entirely. We want engines that push more ponies and rocket our wheeled steeds onward with an epic forcefulness you won’t feel elsewhere. There are a variety of methods that will let your machine gain more power, but some come at a cost. We filled this article with all the info you need to figure out what will work for your horsepower needs with some help from Duncan Racing International.…

Tough in the rough By the staff of Dirt Wheels Most of our favorite sport quads have slid sideways off of major manufacturer production lines, which means the mass quantity of used ones are getting older and more beat up. The only way to keep our cherished steads in good shape is proper maintenance and protection products. We went to Ricochet Off-Road to pick up a $131.20 full-frame skid plate and a heavy-duty swingarm skid plate for $157.45 for a Honda TRX450R. Most parts can be easily replaced on a Honda. However,…

Bring out the big gun By the staff of Dirt Wheels We affectionately address Polaris’ 2020 Scrambler XP 1000 S as the “Beast.” It has set new standards in the ATV world. Polaris decided to take an existing sport 4x4 platform, strengthen it, widen it and add more suspension travel. It boasts 89 horsepower from the ProStar engine, and jaws drop at its massive appearance. They may also drop for its hefty $14,999 price tag. We will let you decide if the price is worth the Scrambler XP 1000 S pure-sport experience.…

The cold never bothered us anyway By the staff of Dirt Wheels The winter temperatures are dwindling just as the snow on the mountaintops melts away. Temps are on the rise, but the cold and wet weather isn’t entirely over as spring rounds the corner. We ventured out to find the last of the heavy rain and snow to test a Klim gear set that we are enthralled with. The Traverse gear and Aggressor base layers may be a hit to the pocket book, but they are worth the investment if you ride in harsh conditions. WARMTH FROM…

Simply a showpiece By the staff of Dirt Wheels After only four years in production (1986–1989), the Honda Fourtrax 250R became the most popular sport ATV of its time, and they sold tens of thousands of them easily. In the 1990s and early 2000s, many were transformed into masterpieces like what you see here. It was a time without current production machines to build and compete with, but that didn’t stop hungry racers from using the best, and at that time, it was hands down the best 250R two-stroke. Today, modern…

Built for abuse By the staff of Dirt Wheels Building a project machine is always rewarding, but we like it best when we get to start with a great machine. Collin Duffy is our project specialist, and he set his sights on Polaris’ RZR XP Turbo S Velocity for an epic adventure build. The goal for this RZR, which we have named “Rocky,” was to tackle nasty desert obstacles like you’d find in Southern California’s Johnson Valley, home of the infamous King of the Hammers UTV race. To do so, you must protect the machine’s…

Friction is key By the staff of Dirt Wheels If you want to go fast, you need to be able to slow down quickly. While you may think that is counterintuitive, the quicker you can stop, the longer you can hold the throttle open. With that logic in mind, we went to DP Brakes for a set of $39.95 SDP Pro-MX sintered brake pads and $109.95 Moose Racing OEM replacement brake rotors that are made by DP for a Honda TRX450R. The old pads had seen their day, the rear rotor was bent and the fronts had some warping, so it was time…

Computer shocks for all By the staff of Dirt Wheels Computerized suspension arrived in the UTV world with the Polaris Dynamix. And while it may sound lazy, after you have suspension that you can instantly adjust from inside the car, you are spoiled. There are many times when you will gain performance and comfort by adjusting your UTV suspension, but most people don’t bother when it means stopping the car, climbing out and manually adjusting the shock adjusters. Then, of course, you need to stop and put them back to…