Kawasaki Teryx - Extreme Off-Road Terror!

When building a high-performance UTV it is essential to have beadlock wheels and bulletproof tires if you plan to push your machine to the limit. UTVs are much heavier than ATVs, and an ATV tire just isn't designed to the increased standards of a UTV-specific tire. The additional weight of these type of wheels and tires is another issue to address, so when choosing our wheels I decided that HiPer Technology's extremely light, carbon fiber, double beadlock Dakar wheels would best suit our needs. This lightweight design lets us run a taller 14-inch wheel without increased wheel mass. It also means there will be less sidewall on our tires reducing sidewall flex. The Dakar beadlock wheel offers a unique feature that no other wheel offers. Since they are three-piece wheels not including the two locking rings, individual components can be purchased in case you find yourself losing a battle with a large tree or rock. The composite material in which HiPers are manufactured is nearly impervious to unsightly scratches that typically tarnish the look of their competitors. I happen to have a set on my personal machine that I've been seriously abusing for four years to back up this bold statement.

The world's best wheels would mean nothing without tires that are equally impressive. To put the power to the ground a set of 26-inch ITP BajaCross meats have been wrapped around our HiPers. These tires are constructed with the UTV in mind and feature eight plies to carry the additional load presented by the UTV and resist punctures. The newest ITP tread pattern rides the fine line between providing adequate traction without being overly aggressive. This is a desired feature when driving like a mad man and needing to overtake obstacles as they are rapidly approached.

Crawling through the window like the Dukes of Hazzard just wouldn't look cool if we were jumping into the stock seats that resemble those from a bass boat. We made the decision to install Beard's Super TSX seats that look awesome and fit like a glove. The curvature of the seat hugs your waist keeping the driver and passenger snugly in position when thrashing the machine through anything in its path. They are designed to be used with a four-point harness, and this combination of fit and safety is a must for any UTV owner. Speed Industries is a cousin to Beard Seats, and this works out well because they manufacture the necessary four-point harness to keep you firmly planted in the cockpit. Its trick steering wheel also comes in handy when paired with a polished aluminum Gear One quick-release hub to make that Duke boy's entrance smooth and easy. I'm sure I would get along just fine with the stock shifter knob, but how could I resist Speed's leather-wrapped knob that matches my bling-bling steering wheel?

Driving at night delivers an entirely new level of excitement to the already thrilling sport of UTVs. The only drawback is that the stock headlights aren't capable of producing adequate light for aggressive driving. I discovered Rigid Industries recently at a trade show as they were attracting a massive crowd at their E Series LED lighting display. These are the only lights I've seen being drug behind a truck for miles, then beat to oblivion with a two-by-four before having a magazine of 5.56mm rounds unleashed from an AR-15 into the light bar. No, it wasn't an unrecognizable pile of parts after this abuse but remained a fully functional light bar that was ready for action. There's no need to explain why I insisted these lights be a part of the ATV Rider project after describing the impressive display. The low-wattage LED light bars are offered in sizes ranging from 4 to 50 inches, and we had the optimal space to install a 40-inch light on our cage and neatly tuck a 10-inch light into the SDR bumper where it would be well protected. The light kits come complete with all necessary wiring and switches. Let's just say that you'll have to see these lights for yourself to fully comprehend the overwhelming intensity of their output.