Yamaha

-- 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…

-- 2-stroke power to break the sand barrier -- By the staff of Dirt Wheels, photos by Pat Carrigan CT Racing’s 400cc Banshee kits have been a popular kit for years. CTR originally marketed a 370cc, long-rod kit for the Banshee, but after the 4mm stroker cranks proved dependable, it discontinued the 370cc kit and replaced it with the 400cc kit. They are basically identical kits, but the 400cc kit has a longer stroke. The cylinder bore sizes are the same. The added 4mm of stroke works amazingly on the Banshee. It adds…

-- Checking out a great quad conversion -- Gerald Tramble is a Dirt Wheels reader who lives in France. Just like many of us in the USA, he has a strong passion for ATV racing. ATV motocross is very popular in Europe too. As expected, Yamaha's YFZ450 is a machine many Europeans choose to race. For Gerald though, he wanted his YFZ to have a two-stroke power plant. So, he set out to remove the 450 4-stroke engine and replace it with something else. KTM is a company that still puts two-stroke engines into a lot of its dirt…

-- A manual-shift Yamaha that works! -- By the staff of Dirt Wheels -- What do you do if you already have a high-powered Polaris RZR XP 1000 punched out to 1100cc? If you are Brian Carle, you buy a stick-shift Yamaha YXZ1000R to add to the stable. He is fortunate to live where he has plenty of room to drive. He stays with his trusty RZR for slow and technical outings and turns to the YXZ for faster, more open conditions. He lives in a rural desert area and has many opportunities to hit the trails, and he is often out…

Yamaha recently released an all-new youth model, the Grizzly 90!

-- Great updates for an older quad -- Yamaha first introduced its Warrior 350 back in 1987. The production run lasted for 20 years, so there has been many sold in that time. The four-stroke engine was virtually bullet-proof and has proven to  offer Warrior owners with a long, trouble-free life. Therefore, there are plenty of these machines still out on the trails today. However, as with any older quad, they could use some refreshing to get back to the same shape of their younger days. Or, it doesn't hurt if they get the…

-- Not all 3-wheelers were Hondas -- Adam Cook is a Dirt Wheels reader in Ohio. He has owned many quads and a few dirt bikes over the years, but one of his favorite machines in this 1985 Yamaha Tri-Z 250. There's just something about riding a 250cc two-stroke that feels good, no matter how many wheels it has. The engines are simple and easy to work on, and that sudden blast of power is just plain addictive. You quickly learn how to work the shift lever to always keep the revs in the fat part of the power band. This…

-- HERE ARE THE COLORS TO CHOOSE FROM -- Yamaha's biggest and baddest sport quad still looks good for 2019. The only question is, which color would you choose? Drop us an Email and let us know at [email protected] FOR MORE INFO ON THE YAMAHA RAPTOR 700, CHECK OUT THESE ARTICLES: https://dirtwheelsmag.com/yamaha-announces-2019-atv-lineup/ https://dirtwheelsmag.com/2006-raptor-700r-still-looks-brand-new/ https://dirtwheelsmag.com/history-of-the-raptor-660700-a-sport-quad-still-alive/…

-- Arriving at Yamaha dealers now -- PRESS RELEASE: Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, announces pricing and retail availability of the new 2019 YXZ1000R and YXZ1000R Sport Shift (SS) pure sport Side-by-Side (SxS) vehicles. The new 2019 models introduced in June are now coming off the Yamaha assembly line in Newnan, Georgia, and shipping to dealers nationwide. Updated for 2019 to deliver the ultimate high-performance off-road adventure on a wide variety of terrain – from open deserts and dunes, to muddy trails and rough, rocky…

To Get More Hot Off The Press Action, Subscribe to Dirt Wheels HERE! -- Here's the story and the top speed numbers the Dirt Wheels crew got with Yamaha's 2-stroke twin. The test took place back in 1994, but this "Blast From The Past" is still relevant today. Keep reading... .

-- Here's a good letter from a Dirt Wheels reader -- Hello Dirt Wheels, My name is Tony Cooper and I wanted to share some before and after pics of my 2003 Yamaha Banshee build.  This is my second submission to Dirt Wheels with my first being a 2011 KFX 450 that made it into your great magazine last year. I bought the Banshee as a project in early 2017.  It was a complete and somewhat running ATV, but it wasn't until I started the tear down that I realized just how much of a project quad I had bought.  The only real…