PowerSports Business

Powersports Business - May 25, 2015

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www.PowersportsBusiness.com ATV/UTV Powersports Business • May 25, 2015 • 25 ment on any of our machines, which I found to be truly impressive considering the rocky and rutted terrain. The product was built at Yamaha's Georgia factory to address needs of comfort and confi- dence that were not being addressed by com- petitive models, Hollins said. To do that, the suspension incorporates adjustability and functionality that adds to the comfort level. The 708cc Wolverine R-Spec features 9.7 inches of travel in the front and 10.6 in the back. In addition, plus or minus 10 mm of preload is available to allow for fine-tuning of the driving style. For instance, the unit with the spare tire and accessory bar ramped up the preload a bit, but the standard suspension set- ting worked ideal at Brimstone. As Hollins said: "Having suspension that you can tune, adjust and make the way that you want it to establish the type of ride you're look- ing for is important. Not everybody wants the same type of ride. With our suspension, we've incorporated more adjustability and function- ality than any other model in this category." With more than 2 inches of sag built into the rear suspension and almost 2 inches in the front, the impressive ruts were no match for the Wolverine R-Spec. I didn't think it was going to be possible to stay on the high side of one particularly rutted part of the trail, but the tires held their ground, and I was brewing with confidence. That, of course, led to me speeding things up on some parts of the trail system, and I expected a few jolts from bottoming out. But with full-length skid plates, I never got one of those "Ugh!" moments. Some of the most intriguing moments aboard the Wolverine R-Spec came when Biolsi, leading the media ride, would stop and provide a couple of different plans of attack for the highly technical parts of the ride. Typi- cally some combination of rocks and ruts were involved, and with some mud. Most often, the end result was a smooth, predictable and natural ride. That's why they built the Wolverine R-Spec, and that's why I'll ride it again at first chance. PSB Above left: Whether on slick rock found in creek beds or any of a variety of terrain, the Yamaha Wolverine R-Spec felt at home. Above right: When a hard day's work is done, drivers can settle in with the Yamaha Wolverine R-Spec in public camping areas at Brimstone. Inset: A drone's-eye view of the staging area and rental cabins alongside New River at the Brimstone in Huntsville, Tenn. Photos by Frank Hoppen.

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