Yamaha

-- Looking back at the December 2003 issue of Dirt Wheels -- The Kawasaki Mules, Polaris Rangers and John Deere Gators were tame, utility minded machines designed to help get chores done around the farm. Yamaha was the first to say, "Hey, why don't we make one of those  steering wheel machines with a more sporty attitude and able to get down the trail with the speed of a quad." After building it and testing it, they liked it and decided to sell it. For 2004 Yamaha added the Rhino to its line up and the off-road world was…

-- Raptor, Banshee, Z400, DS650 & Cannondale 440 -- Since the first issue of Dirt Wheels back in 1980, the editors and test crew have done shootouts to see which ATV is best. We did that again in the January 2003 issue. At that time the five fastest machines were Yamaha's Raptor and Banshee, Suzuki's Z400, Bombardier's DS650 (Can-Am) and Cannondale's 440. So, how did each one rate for power, handling and suspension? Well, you can find out by reading the article below as it originally appeared.…

Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, supported ATV and Side-by-Side (SxS) racers are taking an early lead in 2019, kicking off a number of series with notable bLU cRU wins already this year. “There’s no secret to success other than the power, performance, and durability Yamaha provides, combined with the highest level of talent, determination, and grit these racers bring to the track each and every round,” said Donnie Luce, Yamaha's MX / ATV / Off-Road Coordinator. “This will be another exciting season for Yamaha Racing, the bLU cRU…

-- Hey wait, that's a 4-cylinder engine! -- Upon further review that's not a single cylinder engine. It's got 4 exhaust pipes and 4 intake tracks, so there's no way it can be a YFZ450 engine. Maybe we should read what James Masephol said about his quad in his Email to us. Well, it did indeed start out as a 2005 Yamaha YFZ450. However he took the engine out and installed the engine from a Yamaha R1 street bike. Those 1000cc 4-cylinder engines make about 180 horsepower stock, and James figures his gets more like 200 with the…

-- DIRT WHEELS READER REPORT -- For today the Dirt Wheels crew gives a thumbs up to Sirik Hendrijckx in Kinrooi, Belgium. In case you don't know, Belgium is a country in Europe and they ride ATVs there too. In fact, we sell many magazines there every month as well as a lot of other countries around the world. Anyway, Sirik sent us this photo in an e-mail and here's what he had to say: Hello Dirt Wheels, This is my very first quad. It's a 2006 Yamaha Raptor 700R and as you can see it still looks like it just came…

-- Reader hops up his Yamaha 450 quad -- Modern 450 quads like Yamaha's YFZ450  have such high-tech engines it's hard to extract much more power than what they come with stock. David Armitage in Illinois found away around that rule. However, you may say he cheated when he took out the single-cylinder 450cc engine. Instead he installed a Suzuki GSXR 4-cylinder street bike engine in his YFZ. When those things are revving up past 10 grand they produce around 160 ponies. That's about three times the horsepower of a stock YFZ.…

-- YAMAHA'S UTV LINE UP FOR 2019 -- YAMAHA YXZ1000R/YXZ1000R SPECIAL EDITION The YXZ1000R line gained a wealth of upgrades for 2019. Lower transmission gearing helps propel larger 29-inch Maxxis Bighorn tires. The radiator was relocated to the rear of the vehicle to keep clear of mud and debris while reducing in-cab heat. The front rotors on the SE were enlarged for better stopping power. The frame was updated as well. Engine type DOHC triple Displacement 998cc Suspension: Front Dual A-arm/16.2” Rear Dual…

-- What to look for when shopping for a good deal -- As the UTV market expands, there are a lot of enthusiasts purchasing new machines and putting their old ones on the market. Those used machines can be where a smart buyer stakes their claim on a handsome deal for a (new to them) UTV. With sites like Craigslist and atvtrader, there are many options to view the available herd of UTVs, and begin the process of narrowing down the quality values and weeding out the not-so-promising SxSs. Research is key when it comes to…

-- 20 years worth of readers' rides -- When it comes to quad riders, which group is the most passionate, enthusiastic and hard core of all? Well, we'd have to say the owners of two-stroke quads. Honda TRX250R riders are certainly fanatics and the same can be said for Suzuki Quadzilla owners as well. However, those two machines were only in production for around four years. On the other hand, you could buy new Yamaha Banshees from 1987 to 2006 here in the USA, and beyond that in Canada and other countries. Based on 20 years…

THE HISTORY OF YAMAHA'S BIG SPORT QUAD -- The 1990s maintained a stagnant state of limbo for ATV manufacturers of sport quads. Of the potential manufacturers, Yamaha was the strongest player with the famed Banshee 350 and Blaster 200 two-strokes and the Warrior 350 four-stroke. Yamaha had a strong hold on the market, but it also knew that those beloved two-strokes would slowly be forced from the line-up by increasingly strict emissions standards. The fight to stay ahead of the competition lit a fire beneath…

-- Adding skis & a trax system to a Banshee is not a new idea -- Ever since our very first issue back in 1980 the Dirt Wheels crew has been into hopping up machines for more power and better suspension. When it comes to ATVs we've also been known to try some wild and crazy things. We liked riding in snow and we wanted to improve our quads for that. Back in 2001 we found a company that specialized in setting up quads with skis and a trax system. They put their conversion kit on a Yamaha Banshee and a Yamaha Warrior, so…

Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, has earned the 2018 Field and Stream Magazine Best Hunting and Fishing Gear of 2018 honor for the Wolverine X2 Side-by-Side (SxS). “The perfect hunting rig needs to be roomy enough to carry a couple of hunters and all their gear, powerful enough to get them into hard-to-reach places, and quiet enough to not send deer bolting in every direction,” wrote Field and Stream contributor Rick Sosebee. “The new Yamaha Wolverine X2 does all that, with a killer warranty and a surprising extra that’s perfect…