"Clean" and "classy" are two...
"Clean" and "classy" are two words that fit the interior of this machine. I almost felt bad for getting it dirty.
In the safety and comfort department no expense was spared. If you are familiar with the RZR, you know the stock rollcage leaves much to be desired. NLMS fabricated a custom rollcage that was complemented with a set of custom door skins and roof. In the cockpit a set of Twisted Stitch Blade seats and Crow 2-inch safety restraints guarantee that the driver and passenger are firmly planted while attacking the dunes. One really nice feature NLMS included in the cockpit is a custom SSV stereo system. Simply plug in your iPod or other MP3 player and you can rock out to your favorite tunes.
Externally, a Fullbore Innovations body kit was installed and given a custom paint job by Streight Edje to make this SxS stand out in a crowd. This wild paint job along with the polished billet goodies that were added to this machine give it a very custom look. For those people who like their rides to extend well into the darkness, a Knockturnal headlight conversion kit was added to the stock headlights as well as to the aftermarket Hella lights mounted on the front bumper. Sure, all of this sounds great on paper, but we wanted some real-world experience behind the wheel of this machine to see if it could really hang in the dunes. A day was scheduled to meet with Padilla out at Glamis, California, to give the RZR the ultimate test.
Let 'r Rip
Since our opportunity to test this Polaris was about a month before the typical sand season starts, the dunes were virtually untouched and the dry weather made them extremely soft. After a quick adjustment of the tire pressure, I threw on my lid and hopped in the RZR as excited as a kid going on his first roller coaster. While I found the Twisted Stitch seats were much more comfortable than the stock seats, I didn't feel that they held me in as tightly as other race seats I've previously sat in. I secured myself into place with the Crow harness and turned the key that brought the this bad boy to life. I was ready to make some tracks on the virgin dunes.
Once the engine warmed up I didn't hold back and mashed the skinny pedal to the floor, which had the ITP tires throwing sand to the sky. As I flew across the flats on my way to the dunes, I had the chance to test this RZR's high-speed stability as I weaved around bush after bush. The extra width from the A-arms gave me great confidence while making full-throttle power slides. This is also where I have to mention the performance of the iTi anti-sway bars and what a great upgrade they make to a serious performance enthusiast. These offered high-speed maneuverability with minimal body roll, which was an awesome feeling.
Combining the CST +3-inch...
Combining the CST +3-inch long-travel suspension kit, Walker Evans Racing shocks and the iTi Performance anti-sway bars made for the perfect handling RZR in the dunes.
Once at the larger dunes it was time to see what this machine could really handle, and I was ready to push it to its limits. As I blasted around the large bowls there was no shortage of power. The Two Brothers exhaust system roared as I climbed up the dunes and cranked the steering wheel to whip the rear end around spraying a wall of sand skyward. I glanced about and looked for a good takeoff that could really test the limits of the suspension and what kind of abuse it could take. What I found was a jump that offered a full-throttle approach and had a series of rolling whoops leading into a face that would preload the suspension just enough to spring me off the uneven lip of the dune.
I made my first approach at half throttle to see how the machine would react and instantly came to the conclusion that this machine could handle a lot more. I circled back around and started my 150-yard run at full throttle and glided over the almost unnoticeable whoop section and soared into the sky. Even with an uneven takeoff, the RZR leveled out and soaked up the impact almost as if I was landing on a bed of feathers. What I found out was that this machine lived up to all of my expectations and even reached beyond.