But my friend has one and took it to Sand Mountain and said it was a dog at 5000 feet in the sand with and without paddles. His xp1000 could walk all over it, so now that narrows it down to sea level sand riding unless you start to mod one out.
I realized while riding in Lake Havasu when we got into some tight waterfall ravines that you would have been smoking the clutch to wind your way up and out vs a cvt setup with low gear.
I really think Yamaha missed the mark to be a "true" sport by limiting to such a small market. If they would have done a low range or a granny first gear they would be killing it. But the fact is their sales aren't that great considering you could go buy one off a show room floor anywhere and everywhere.
Setting aside the fact you didn't do your homework on this. The YXZ was never claimed to be the End All Be All SXS. Yamaha did not make this to be a crawler or technical trail machine crawling around in low gear. This was purposely built for people who like to drive their machines FAST..Dunes, Desert, trails and fire-roads.
Instead of "my friend said" try it out yourself. There are plenty of people on this forum that have been to Sand Mountain and areas in higher elevations and this machine runs great.[/QUOTE]
I have drove his, not at sand mountain but down here in the valley. And like I said at the first part of the post it was fun for high speed. But when 4 different guys that rode his machine in the sand, all have rzr's and sand rails and they all say it was a dog there trying it both with paddles and without I will tend to listen.
And lets not "set aside" that I didn't do my homework. I research more on these SxS's than probably 80% of those that ride, expecially if it interests me. A true sport SxS should handle more than just FAST terrain. Yamaha claims that this is the only TRUE SPORT sxs, but who defines "sport"?? Wide open dunes, desert or fire roads are all that can be classified as sport?? I classify sport as being able to do dunes, desert, tight trails, rocks, mud (if thats what you are into). And I classify Utility being putting around with the family on fire roads, using the bed to haul stuff (wood, dirt, rocks, etc) and something you use around the ranch but can still have fun. So for someone that wants to spend $20k for a all around True Sport SxS the yamaha missed that mark. And their next step down is the wolverine which is a glorified Rhino.
I really hope Yamaha makes a few changes because I feel they left some on the table. If Yamaha were smart they would have made 1st gear lower, and spread out 5th. Anyone that says 1st gear is not too tall is just making an excuse to justify that it does ok down low. And 5th gear while it is goverened at the 78 mph you are still taching 8,000-8,500rpm. Why didn't they push 5th out a little so you could run 65-70mph lower in the tach range. Ive driven it and while its fun it only makes great power at 7,000rpm and up, anything below that it just isn't that "quick" feeling.
Now if I rode all dunes you betch your ass I would own with with a turbo because there is no stopping it then. But I use a SxS for everything sport related to me (dunes, desert, tight rocky trails).