As the rising sun slowly began to warm the frigid sand of St. George, Utah, a sense of intense anticipation filled the air. Today would be the day Kawasaki unleashed the long-awaited Teryx 750, ending what seems like an eternity of rumors and speculation. Nobody has had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of this highly talked about side-by-side until now! Is it all that it's been cracked up to be? I'm no paleontologist, but if I were judging on first impression alone, I'd say Kawasaki has unearthed a creature that could possibly find itself at the top of the food chain. And without giving away too much up front, you may just find the results as shocking as we did.
In case you weren't already in the know, Kawasaki is no stranger to side-by-side vehicles, as its Mule has been hauling barbed wire and transporting hardhats since its debut in 1988. It was just a matter of time before Kawasaki jumped in and delivered a recreational vehicle with a sportier vibe while still maintaining the ability to accomplish hard work around the farm or on the job. After countless hours of market research, the staff at Kawasaki understood that people in the side-by-side market have a versatile list of needs. Many will use their side-by-side for recreation while others may take advantage of its workhorse abilities. And that's why Kawasaki coined the term Recreational Utility Vehicle (RUV) for the new Teryx 750.
The Heart and Circulatory System
Bringing life to the new Teryx 750 is a reliable and very powerful 90-degree, four-stroke V-twin engine. Reliable, you may ask? Well, the Teryx borrowed its powerplant from the ever-popular Brute Force 750, if this gives any indication. This robust V-twin has earned quite the reputation of being a complete power monster with unmatched reliability. With 749cc of pure muscle harnessed under the hood (or center console in this case), the Teryx now has the largest displacement in its class. For its debut year, dual 34mm Keihin CVKR-D carburetors deliver fuel to the twin cylinders. For those who were expecting electronic fuel injection, you'll have to look toward the future, as we're sure Kawasaki will soon jump on the EFI bandwagon. Putting the power to the ground is Kawasaki's proven CVT which incorporates an impressive engine-braking system. The CVT drive has been retuned to better accommodate hard-acceleration shifting in the Teryx. This transfers power from the engine to the ground in a commanding fashion. Another modification to the tranny is an all-new vented aluminum cover that promotes airflow keeping the drive system cool. A claimed belt life of 200 hours ensures more time on the trail and less hours spent in the garage performing maintenance. This package provides riders with great performance while remaining in complete control.
For conquering tough terrains, the Teryx incorporates an effective selectable four-wheel-drive system. There will be times when four-wheel-drive alone just isn't enough to keep you moving forward. For these situations Kawasaki has integrated its popular variable front-differential system. By simply pulling a lever you can control how much or little the front differential is engaged. The differential lever has been strategically placed next to the shifter, which has a natural feel and can be utilized without ever taking your eyes off the trail.