Features

-- Testing the hottest X3, By the staff of Dirt Wheels -- When it comes to Can-Am’s Maverick X3 line, criticisms we make of the performance are truly nit-picking. In spite of the stellar performance of the X3 line, the AWD system is one area where the competition has an edge. Of course, that was before the X3 RC models arrived. Both of the RCs are specially equipped X3s designed to handle all technical trail situations including rock crawling. Can-Am’s Smart-Lok, true on-the-fly, front fully lockable differential with…

We had a double feature this weekend for our CST Athlete Spotlight, and both riders took on Loretta Lynn this weekend for the ATVMX championship. Fellow spotlight athlete Nick Gennusa took 4th for the day and 5th overall in the Pro class, while Brown finished 2nd for the day and placed 3rd overall.

-- Testing a fast GNCC-style YXZ, By the staff of Dirt Wheels --  Teixeira Tech (TXT) is located in California, so when we heard the aftermarket company had a trick Yamaha YXZ1000R, we assumed that it was a typical desert build—wide and wild with monster tires. We were wrong in a big way. Teixeira sponsors East Coast GNCC UTV champ Cody Miller’s YXZ, so he built something of a replica of the woods racer. As you might expect, the build is quite different from what we are used to seeing! Yamaha’s YXZ1000R doesn’t…

-- Trying to predict the next new technology for our rides -- By D. West . The first issue of Dirt Wheels hit the newsstands way back in 1980, and ever since then we’ve been speculating and predicting what the next new technology for our sport might be. Right now, 38 years later, every ATV and UTV seems so good, it’s hard to imagine what new improvements could suddenly develop for them. If I had to make a guess, I’d look for something different in the CVT style of automatic transmissions. For one thing, they…

-- Something you don't see every day --     Who remembers the Husqvarna 500 three-wheeler? There were actually a few of these running around in Southern California back in the early '80s. The big 500cc two-stroke motors made these vehicles a ton of fun to ride, but only for the most skilled three-wheeler riders. Mike Dunn is a Dirt Wheels reader who fits into that category and here is his Husky that he had restored back to its original condition. Even though it looks perfectly pristine it doesn't sit parked in a museum. …

Over the course of the next 12 weeks, we will be teaming up with CST tires to showcase some of their sponsored athletes. We hope to give you an inside look into what it takes to race and how these athletes got there; the legends behind the names.

-- TIRE TESTING By the staff of Dirt Wheels -- A Dingo is a wild dog found mostly in the wilds of Australia. It is a tough and wily survivor that adapts well in the wild. Considering that definition, the CST Dingo is well-named. In 30-inch, the Dingo only comes in 30x10.00R14 and is designated a front. We mounted our set on four stock Polaris front rims, then tested them on a Polaris RZR Turbo 4 Dynamix. THE TREAD CST Tires has given the Dingo a rounded profile with aggressive tread lugs that have medium spacing…

-- Bolting on just about every accessory part available -- Russell Porter has the enthusiasm of a happy-go-lucky child in a man’s body. Buggy Whip, his successful family company, needed a rolling UTV showcase to help promote its products. Russ jumped like a kid in a candy store at the prospect of turning a Can-Am Maverick X3 X rs into a wicked display car. Buggy Whip has a great reputation, so many leading companies were ready to participate in the build. Russ was able to pick and choose, but he did a lot of choosing,…

-- Testing a tiny electrical miracle --  By the staff of Dirt Wheels Once we were happy to have jumper cables on hand when our hauler vehicle or our electric-start off-road machines needed a shot of electrons to get started. Later we thought it was cool when we had a 5–10-pound jump box for the same purpose, but now we have the Antigravity Batteries Micro-Start XP-1 jump-starter. The 1-pound device comes in a carrying case that looks like a slightly bulky cover for a tablet. The actual jump-starter unit is smaller…

-- How to improve your Raptor & give it a new look -- Yamaha’s Raptor 700 is the best-selling sport quad of its age, and for good reason. The four-wheeled powerhouse has a big-bore motor with a lot of torque, it handles well on all types of terrain and is comfortable to ride. This project Raptor started life as a fun racer in the hands of Russell Blake. It is a 2014 Special Edition model that was grey and black, but after a spill on the track and a lot of broken parts, the Yamaha is back and exceeding its former…

-- Make sure you get a copy of this one -- The September 2018 issue of Dirt Wheels just went on sale and there's a ton of good stuff inside you'll want to see, but please, no pushing and shoving while racing to the newsstand. Or, you can get us to deliver a copy right to your home. Put your name on the list here> hi-torque.com/product/subscribe-to-dirt-wheels/ Below is a preview of what's inside the September 2018 Dirt Wheels magazine. . . .

-- Testing a great set up for the dunes -- When we last headed for the sand dunes, we knew we wanted some traction royalty, so we called AMS about the Sand King tires. Some sand tires are buffed before paddles are vulcanized on, but the 14-paddle Sand King rear is molded like a normal four-ply tire with a large-volume, high-flotation 30x14 carcass. The Sand King front is a traditional-appearing, high-flotation, high-volume, smooth tire with a solid center rib flanked by two segmented ribs. Both sets of tires were…