UTV TEST: 2024 KAWASAKI TERYX KRX 1000 SE

2024 KAWASAKI TERYX KRX 1000 SE

The ultimate sport SxS for comfort and ride quality By the staff of Dirt Wheels

Kawasaki entered the 1000cc sport UTV market in a big way with the 2020 Teryx KRX 1000, then added the Special and Trail Editions and the 2021 eS version with Fox 2.5 Podium IBP Live Valve shocks and Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension (KECS). For 2024, the Teryx KRX 1000 line remains the same with the base model, Special Edition, Trail Edition, and KRX 1000 eS all getting new color choices. We got our hands on the 2024 KRX 1000 SE for this test. 

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT THE KRX 1000 SE?

All KRX 1000s have 18.6 inches of front and 21.1 inches of rear travel with 2.5-inch Fox Podium piggyback shocks, but the base, SE and Trail have mechanical LSC (low-speed compression) adjusters with 24-position clickers. The LSC Podiums don’t have Internal ByPass (IBP) shock bodies, but do have adjustable preload and cross-over rings. Special Edition upgrades include a Warn VRX45 winch, front bumper, SE color and graphics, and a Hifonics Bluetooth/AM/FM audio system with two door speakers and a subwoofer in the bed. The Trail Edition upgrades include a KQR roof, sport front and rear bumpers, Warn VRX45 winch, nerf bars, and Trail Edition color and graphics.

The KRX 1000 eS adds Kawasaki Electronic Control Suspension (KECS) with Fox 2.5 Podium Live Valve IBP shocks and selectable three-mode semi-active damping system, KQR roof, TFT color instrument, and Sport front bumper. KECS is a six-axis control system that reads throttle position, wheel speed, gear selection and steering angle to constantly adjust shock damping to level the ride during acceleration, turning and braking. KECS instantly adjusts compression damping during turning, hard braking and hard acceleration to stiffen front, outside, and rear shock damping, respectively. Also, the KRX eS TFT screen has a suspension page that shows the damping setting (scale of 0–10) of each shock in real time and also tells you which mode it’s in—Soft, Medium or Firm.

HOW DOES COST COMPARE?

The Teryx KRX 1000 is $23,899, the SE is $25,899, the Trail is $26,399, and the KRX eS with Live Valve Fox shocks is $26,399. Arctic Cat’s Wildcat XX is $24,299 for the Limited, $25,899 for the Special Edition, and $28,999 for the Black Hills Edition. Polaris’ RZR XP 1000 Sport is $20,999, while the Premium is $22,999, and the Ultimate is $25,999. Honda’s (2023) Talon 1000R is $21,099, and the Live Valve Edition is $23,499. Segway’s Villain SX10X is $14,999 and $16,999 for the Premium, and the 72-inch SX10 W is $17,999. Yamaha’s YXZ1000R Sport Shift is $20,899, and the XT-R is $23,699. For those considering the family version, the KRX4 SE is $28,199, the eS is $29,199, and the eS SE is $30,699.

HOW FAST IS THE 999cc TWIN?

Fast enough but not turbo-fast. The stock 112-horsepower KRX will top out slightly above 70 mph in High and 32 mph in Low range in Sport drive mode, but it takes a while to get there. The 999cc inline twin has 92mm pistons with a 11.5:1 compression, a stroke of 75.1mm, two 50mm EFI throttle bodies feeding eight valves, XZ-10R intakes and a Donaldson-style airbox. It makes 76.7 pound-feet of torque at 7000 rpm in Sport, but is seriously limited in Low power mode, which we never use.
WHAT ABOUT THE CVT/4X4 DELIVERY?

It’s as good as a CVT gets. The KRX has a centrifugal clutch between the crank and drive pulley to protect and extend the life of the CVT belt, and the final drive selector is a dash-mounted dial with servos quickly carrying out orders. The locking front diff is great for rock crawling and mud, and KRX axles are bulletproof. We’ve never seen one break. The range selector is slick and positive, and the KRX has a mechanical parking brake on the console and very effective four-wheel EBS. 

WHAT ABOUT TERYX KRX 1000 HANDLING?

It’s super stable, even under hard cornering. With a 98.8-inch wheelbase and 21.1 inches of rear travel, the KRX is great in whoops and over high-speed chop. The KRX has a width of 68.1 inches, and 46/54 (front/rear) weight bias for great handling and turning predictability. It’s 4.1 inches wider than a RZR XP 1000 and can be slammed into turns hard. Front and rear sway bars fight body roll in turns. Shock Therapy’s bump-steer delete kit makes handling crisper still.

HOW IS THE SUSPENSION?

Excellent. High-clearance A-arms and trailing arms and Fox 2.5 Podium LSC shocks provide 18.6 inches of front and 21.1 inches of rear travel. Kawasaki did a great job on damping and spring rates for trail riding, but duners and whoop-pounders will want heavier-rate springs. Hard driving in dunes will bottom both ends, even with compression cranked up. Stock settings are 12 out on front and 18 out in the rear. The arched suspension arms and high-clearance lower radius rods are awesome for rock crawling, too.

WHAT ABOUT ROCKS AND MUD?

The KRX rocks in both. With almost 14 inches of ground clearance and the high-clearance arms mated with a great engine and CVT tuning, the sporty Teryx rips in rocks, especially with the tall tires aired down. Its 1,944-pound weight keeps it hooked up, too. In mud, the KRX’s weight is a factor, and mud riders will definitely want Kawasaki’s accessory over-fender kit ($509.95) and taller mud tires, which KRXs have the power and torque to turn. Kawasaki has a KRX Mud package with wide fender flare set, mud flaps, Warn VRX45 winch, KQR full-glass windshield, windshield wiper/washer kit, KQR poly rear panel, two tow hooks, KQR tail box, KQR roof, and dash net with anti-slip tray for $4,271.95 ($3,728 for the eS, which already has the KQR roof). Stock, the front Carnivores fling mud into the air, and it comes down inside the lined doors with the stock fenders. Mud riders will appreciate the KRX eS model; run it on Firm for extra ground clearance and dealing with the extra weight of mud buildup.

HOW STRONG ARE THE BRAKES?

Army strong! Twin-piston hydraulic calipers ride on all four 10-inch (258mm) brake rotors. Front calipers have two 38mm pistons each, and rear calipers have two 32mm pucks. They’re fitted with high-quality brake lines and backed by mechanical parking brakes on the rear calipers and a stellar EBS. Tires are some of the best to come on a stock sport UTV—31x10R15 8-ply Maxxis Carnivores on beadlock aluminum wheels.

WHAT ABOUT TRAIL COMFORT?

The Teryx KRX 1000 has the best ride quality and roomiest cabin of any sport UTV with lots of leg and elbow room. Seats offer a lot of support and waterproof gripper covers, and both are easily adjustable. Kawasaki designed the KRX with plenty of storage room behind the comfortable seats, and PRP makes great bags to optimize that storage. Shoulder room is plentiful, and both seat bases are removable to access the battery and EFI fuel pump. The right door liner even has a holder for a fire extinguisher or water bottle.

The passenger T-bar is adjustable and has jet-ski grips, and the tilt steering wheel has great over-molding for comfort and thumb-nubs for sport. Cell phones ride in the top center bin with a latching lid, and the KRX has a cubby hole below for gloves or radios. There are seven pop-out blanks for accessory switches in the dash, and the glove box is large. The digital dash is very easy to read with a large analog tach, numerical speedometer, and large bars for fuel level and temps. In rough terrain, we hit our knees on the center console edges, but PRP makes a pad kit for comfort. The KQR roof keeps sun and rain from the cabin, but it has a clear center section to let in light.

CONCLUSION 

All of the Teryx KRX 1000 models pack a lot of performance with excellent power, delivery, suspension, handling and comfort. Build quality and durability are top-shelf, and the frame is as rigid as the cockpit is roomy. The KRX 1000 is the defending NA 1000 champion in Legacy desert racing. It’s also an excellent rock crawler and adventure machine. It’s backed by a six-month warranty, and Kawasaki offers one-, two- and three-year Kawasaki Protection Plus packages. For those KRX owners who want to race, Kawasaki supports them with contingencies for Best in the Desert, King of the Hammers, SCORE, WORCS, Ultra4, Legacy, VORRA and DP4.