Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/105105
BUYER'S GUIDE UTVs AND SIDE-BY-SIDE GUIDE Prowler 550 XT (MSRP: $10,999) Arctic Cat's Prowler 550 XT features an all new Baja racing-inspired round tube canopy, new digital gauge and heavy-duty 14-inch aluminum wheels. Arctic Cat's 550 H1 engine is a 545cc, SOHC, single-cylinder that is liquidcooled and designed for a wide torque curve. Electronic fuel injection helps deliver smooth power throughout the rpm range. The Duramatic automatic transmission features dynamic engine braking with Low, High, Neutral and Reverse. Storage adorns the 550 XT from one end to the other. Lift the hood and you will find a compartment that can hold 25 pounds of gear or double as a drainable ice cooler. The composite tilting cargo bed has a 600-pound payload and a pickup-style tailgate. Sculpted dual bucket seats with three-point seat belts and dual 12-volt accessory plugs highlight the interior features. The Prowler has a center console complete with drink holders and an automotive-style, console-mounted parking brake. The front and rear suspensions are fully independent with a double-A-arm design that produces 10 inches of suspension travel and 10 inches of ground clearance. Spring preload adjustable shocks are used on all four corners for terrain and load adjustability. A front locking four-wheel-drive differential with an allin-one 2WD/4WD/Diff Lock rocker switch button means quick engagement when conditions get nasty. A rear-mounted sway bar helps provide stability for better cornering. Arctic Cat; arcticcat.com; (218) 681-9851 Commander 800R XT (MSRP: $13,199 Yellow, $13,799 Camo) BRP brings Can-Am DNA to the side-by-side market by introducing the 2011 Can-Am Commander line-up. The five-model series with two engine options delivers on the Can-Am promise of cuttingedge design, meaningful innovation and a focus on convenience, maximum value and more usability for the consumer. This unique side-by-side family has been designed to bring a new level of power, handling and user-focused features to the industry. Power comes from two engine options: a powerful Rotax 800 V-Twin EFI engine and now a Rotax 1000 V-Twin EFI engine. "Capitalizing on the Can-Am brand growth momentum, we are entering in a new business segment with the Commander, which completes our product offering for on- and off-road customers," says José Boisjoli, BRP president and chief executive officer. The Can-Am Commander line reflects BRP's commitment to offering side-by-side customers a machine that does not force the rider to compromise performance for functionality. Innovative features include a dual-level cargo box, TTI rear suspension and anti-dive, front-end geometry. Throttle-by-wire through its Intelligent Throttle Control (iTC) system, a 2-inch-diameter rollover protection system (ROPS-approved), the most fuel capacity in the industry (10 gallons) and lots of cockpit storage are distinctions of the Commander. BRP CanAm; can-am.brp.com; (715) 848-4957 Prowler XTZ 1000 (MSRP: $15,599) The Prowler XTZ 1000 features Arctic Cat's powerhouse H2 1000, which is 951cc 4-stroke V-Twin coupled with its Duramatic automatic transmission that has dynamic engine braking with Low, High, Neutral and Reverse. Electronic power steering reduces the torque necessary to steer the XTZ when changing direction with a loaded cargo box or when navigating tough obstacles like rocks, deep mud or logs. Combining one of the industry's largest engines with sport-inspired suspension geometry makes the Prowler XTZ one of the most versatile machines built. The suspension was race-bred and performance-calibrated with additional ride-in, which means it squats roughly two inches (depending on driver/ passenger sizes) while providing 10 inches of ground clearance and 10 inches of suspension travel. The lower ride height and lower center of gravity means you can put all that power to good use with aggressive cornering and good high-speed handling. The suspension geometry is augmented with upgraded gas-charged monotube shocks. Arctic Cat; arcticcat.com; (218) 681-9851 Big Red MUV (MSRP: $11,699) Honda's Big Red Multipurpose Utility Vehicle (MUV) has a number of automotivebased technology features, including an automotive style transmission with hydraulic torque converter. The newest model boasts increased load carrying and towing capacity, revised suspension, a contoured bench seat that allows easier entry/exit, Maxxis Big Horn tires and a Roll Over Protection Structure (ROPS) that meets OSHA requirements. The new cargo bed capacity is 1,000 pounds and the towing capacity is now 1,500 pounds. The new Maxxis Big Horn tires feature a stronger sidewall and more aggressive pattern for increased traction. Front and rear shocks revise suspension settings and preload adjustability. The ROPS is now certified to meet the requirements of OSHA 1928.53. Honda, powersports.honda.com; (866) 784-1870 Teryx 750 FI 4x4 (MSRP: $11,299) Kawasaki's versatile Teryx is powered by a fuel-injected V-twin engine mounted in a sport-tuned wide-body chassis. Recent design innovations include new front-end styling, a forward-tilting hood, improved engine cooling and a sturdier tilting bed. Kawasaki's 749cc 90-degree eight-valve V-twin is known for its durability and power. The 90-degree cylinder configuration provides balance and smoothness throughout the rpm range. An advanced digital fuel-injection system compensates for changes in altitude, adjusts idle automatically and makes for easy starting with an array of sensors for inlet air pressure, throttle position, crankshaft position, rpm and water temperature. An ignition cut-out won't allow the Teryx to be ridden when the parking brake is engaged. The Teryx's CVT Belt Protection System automatically retards ignition timing if the system detects engine operation at high rpm for more than two seconds while the rear wheels are motionless (i.e., the belt is slipping) and warns the rider with a flashing light on the dash. The Teryx fits in a standard pickup bed, yet it's wide enough to offer a roomy cab and a stable ride. The wide-track frame design uses large-diameter, thin-walled tubing to combine rigidity with light weight. The upper frame provides roll-over protection around bucket seats with retractable three-point seat belts. The rider can choose two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive with the flip of a switch, and a cockpit-adjustable variable front differential control lets you finetune front-end traction for slick or tricky terrain. Long-travel, four-wheel A-arm double-wishbone independent suspension, adjustable Kayaba gas-charged shocks at all four corners, a rear stabilizer bar and mid-ship engine placement all work together to tame tough trails by reducing body roll. Braking gets done with dual discs up front and a high-tech, sealed oil-bath braking unit in the rear. Kawasaki, kawasaki.com; (800) 661-7433