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By CJ Rena Johnson
Modern Age Dinosaurs
that Rock: Welcome to the New and Improved
Teryx!
Aftermarket
Accessories are available for all the
Teryx Models.
Comfort and Style are both a part of the
Teryx Experience.
Demo Course Obstacles
Demo rides at the 2009 Kawasaki Dealer
Event.
Inside the Teryx LE
Teryx Modified for Racing |
Often referred to as the T-Rex, these
incredible machines are starting to dominate the
off-road world. If you have ever considered
buying a side x side, the new
Kawasaki Teryx 750
FI 4x4 takes the guesswork out of which way to
go. It has everything ATV enthusiasts love and
then some!
I had the exciting opportunity to
test ride the new 2009 model on a very extensive
course staged for demo rides at the 2009
Kawasaki Dealer Event in Dallas, Texas. I was
completely amazed by the stability, handling,
and comfort that were all a part of this dream
machine experience.
With me, being used to
riding utility quads that I treat like sport
quads, the Teryx was everything I wanted.
Admittedly, it would have taken a couple more
trips around the mile long course for me to
really get the hang of turning, but everything
else came naturally.
The 2008 model had me
interested with its versatile, sporty look and
rugged durability. However, the 2009 model with
its choke-free Digital Fuel Injection, Digital
Instrument Panel and tilting bed, had me hooked
right out of the gate.
We went through
gullies, down hills, over rock piles, logs, and
other obstacles. We climbed hills and even flew
over a jump or two, and we did it all in comfort
and style.
The new Teryx has something for
everyone. You can pick between the six varieties
as they come standard and be able to take center
stage on any trailhead out there. No matter
which Teryx you choose, there are also tons of
aftermarket accessories that you can add to turn
your new toy into the envy of everyone out there
digging up dirt anywhere you go.
The
Teryx
750 FI 4x4 with a MSRP of $10,899 comes from the
factory with a body chassis that is narrow
enough to navigate most trails systems, and wide
enough for the additional stability and plenty
of room for work and play. It comes standard
with a four-stroke V-twin engine, excellent
ground clearance and plenty of cargo space,
including an easily accessible glove box area.
It has a simple servo-control switch the driver
can use to activate the 4WD and a hand lever
that lets the driver select how much the wheels
are locked together via the front differential
control. Like the sport ATV, the back wheels are
always locked and turn together which allows the
Teryx to slide around turns in what they call
“drift” style. It comes equipped with 26-inch
Maxxis tires, designed specifically for the
Teryx which are great in navigating rough
terrain and getting over obstacles.
Its great
stopping and starting power also impressed me.
During the demo ride, I tested the brakes by
telling my riding companion to hold on; and by
the time the words were out of my mouth, we were
dead stopped. Then I hit the gas. We immediately
spun out and took off. I was in love! When we
got back, I looked underneath and found the
front brakes are hidden inside the wheels to
protect them from obstacles out on the trail.
The back brakes are sealed to make them more
reliable even in the wettest or muddiest areas.
Bucket seats and three-point retractable seat
belts keep the driver and passenger safer and
more comfortable no matter where you are riding.
The instrument panel includes a speedometer,
fuel gauge, parking brake indicator, hour meter,
clock, odometer, and trip meters as well as
warning lights including a water temperature
gauge and oil pressure indicator. It comes with
a standard 500-pound cargo capacity, 1300-pound
towing and a tilting cargo bed including a cargo
net and tie down hooks in all four corners. The
standard color for the Teryx 750 FI 4x4 is
sunbeam red.
Teryx Camo
Teryx 750 FI 4x4
Teryx NRA Outdoors
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My personal favorite is the
Teryx 750 FI 4x4 LE with the MSRP of $11,549. It
comes with all the same features as the standard
model but adds other great features such as a
cab roof, painted bodywork, half-windscreen, and
retractable cup holder. The LE version comes in
Metallic Titanium and Candy Thunder Blue.
The
Teryx 750 FI 4x4 LE Camo version has everything
the LE version has, but the body work is painted
with Kawasaki’s Realtree™ Hardwoods Green® HD
camouflage. The MSRP of the camo model is
$11,849.
You can take all that a step further
with the
Teryx 750 FI 4x4 NRA Outdoors version.
(MSRP $12,149) It has everything the LE version
has plus Realtree APG HD camouflage to the
bodywork, dashboard, roll bars, hardtop, and all
four wheels. It also comes with Kolpin gun
scabbards. This is the perfect vehicle for the
hunters and nature photographers out there.
My second favorite is the
Teryx 750 FI 4x4 SPORT
version. The MSRP seems about on par at $11,899.
It is slightly smaller than the LE version, but
with all the same luxuries, except the cup
holder, sun top cover and half-windscreen. It
does have the sporty aluminum rims you would
expect from a sport edition. This unit comes
standard in Lime Green.
The
Teryx 750 FI 4x4
Monster Energy (MSRP $12,199) version has all
the same specifications as the sport model but
with the Monster Energy graphics set.
These vehicles are also great products for
anyone with disabilities to consider as they do
make them available as hand-controlled vehicles,
and there is plenty of storage for a wheelchair
or other accessories in the back.
Please keep
in mind that while they do look safer for a
child than a regular ATV or motorbike, they are
still very powerful and heavy machines. Remember
this when considering letting your children ride
in or drive one of these vehicles and take every
precaution to keep your child safe.
This is a
great vehicle for anyone ready to make the
crossover from an ATV to a side x side or from a
more work oriented utility vehicle such as the
mule, over to a more trail friendly and sportier
RUV. You will still have all the great fun,
performance and durability of a rugged ATV while
maintaining the workability of a side x side. In
addition, it will dramatically increase family
fun and togetherness. Family members and friends
that have not previously been allowed or able to
go ATVing can now climb in the passenger’s seat
and take off with you. Now you can have a
companion right beside you to spur you on or
just to be there with you to enjoy those moments
you usually have to wait until the next stop to
share with someone that was not with you at the
time.
Another thing I found very interesting
about the Teryx was the racing aspect of it.
Typically, when a new model comes out it usually
has to work its way through the ranks to the
top. The Teryx, however, did not wait politely
at the back of the line. It shot straight to the
front its first time out. That in itself says a
lot about this product.
So go ahead, stop by
your local Kawasaki shop and look at these new
machines. They are definitely worth a second
glance. Maybe one day you will run across me out
on the trail on my own Teryx.
As always,
decide now to have an awesome day!
For
more specifics on each of these models, please
refer to Kawasaki’s very informative website at
http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/SubCategory_RUV.aspx
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