Roll the mountain bikes out of the way, put up those dusty boxes, and make room in your garage for the newest side-by-side to hit the dirt-the Kawasaki teryx 750. sporting a colossal name but still squeezing into the bed of most fullsize trucks, the '08 Kaw comes equipped with a powerful 749cc v-twin powerplant that will propel you up and over the kind of obstacles that would make even some of the beefiest 4xs think twice. though at $10,000 we are still suffering from a bit of sticker shock, five minutes behind the wheel of one of these do-it-all wheelers and we knew why they are filling up truck beds and trailheads across America. similar to the explosion of Jeep Rubicons in the early part of the decade, the side-by-side revolution has caught notice from aftermarket manufacturers to private land owners and continues to steam ahead. so don't let soaring gas prices, killer taxes, and ever-increasing insurance rates drag you down! When the weekend rolls around, simply strap on your helmet and leave your worries and your daily driver behind.
Tech Specs
Price As Tested: $9,799
Engine: 749cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke v-twin
Drivetrain: Continuously variable beltdrive with H, L, n, and R, selectable 4WD with lever-actuated locker
Brakes: Hydraulic disc
Suspension: independent front and rear with adjustable gas shocks
Dry Weight (Lbs): 1,276
Wheelbase (in): 75.8
Ground Clearance (in): 11.3
The seating area of this 750...
The seating area of this 750 rocket is all business as the smooth hardened plastic allows the mini-wheeler to absorb continuous abuse. Even though the iFs tended to carry a wheel from time to time, rockcrawling was simply a blast. As easy as shifting into 4WD low and pulling the leveractuated locker into place, you'll soon get the meaning of "let the good times roll."
Utilizing every square inch...
Utilizing every square inch of a fullsize pickup bed, we managed to squeeze the '08 teryx in the back of both our 1500 and 2500 Dodge Rams. though the 3/4-ton (shown) didn't seem to notice the Kaw, our 1/2-ton truck definitely showed signs of the added 1,000 pounds and could have benefited from a set of airbags or a set of adda- leaves to deal with the load.
With 11 inches of grounds...
With 11 inches of grounds clearance, adjustable gas shocks, and differential lockers right out of the box, the teryx transitions from mud to rock to sand without a care. And with one of the industry's widest side-by stances, it will give you confidence in the corners and off-camber obstacles.