Back To The Future: The Ultimate Hybrid ATV

After a few runs around our course I signaled our rider to come in for one final look over the freshly built machine to ensure everything was good to be run hard and find out his initial impression. He said the machine felt as if there was plenty of power on tap and that first and second gear definitely seemed taller than his race machine, which runs stock internal gearing. Even with the difference in the gear ratio he felt there was no lack of bottom-end when he needed it. On that note, I gave him the green light to run the machine hard and see what the custom package really had to offer. As he rolled on the throttle the exhaust tone let you know just how hard he was pushing as did the wall of roost thrown as he hammered through the huge berms. The dirt was moist from days of being saturated by heavy rains and provided great traction for the Goldspeed tires as he hammered out lap after lap with great consistency.

As I called him off the track, he rolled to a stop sporting a huge grin on his face. This was a sure sign of his approval for the hybrid. He was stoked on this engine package. With this being his first time aboard this quad, the suspension settings were not dialed in for his personal liking, so his opinion could go in any direction. I was surprised when he claimed to be pleased with the suspension. "The suspension handles the rough track really well for not having been dialed in for me. I can tell that there are a few harsh spots in the travel, but I feel that the light weight of the machine helps to make it less noticeable," our test rider claimed. He felt the Elka shocks on this machine worked really well and that this would be an extremely competitive machine for racing. "Whether I'm charging through the deep whoops or hammering the quad into the corners, the overall feel of the machine allows me to feel comfortable anywhere on the track and push hard," he continued.

When I questioned him about the power in comparison to his race bike, he was very surprised at how different the motor in the YFZ450R and the engine out of the YZ450F dirt bike were. "Being a pro racer I need to have my engine built by a performance company to be competitive with other racers in my class. I feel that the engine in this machine is very close if not more powerful than my race bike, which is surprising. I can't wait till we get this kind of technology in ATVs from the factory," he exclaimed.

After an afternoon of testing and shooting amazing photos, we only encountered a few minor problems, some of which I expected to happen. First on the list had to do with the kickstarter system. After being ridden on a sandy track and having the engine torque itself in the frame, the extension piece that went from the shaft to the kicker would get hung up from time to time. Second was an occasional overheating problem when being run at low speeds or in conditions that represent a tight, technical course. Without an electrical system to power a fan, the radiator would overflow at times.

Aside from these minor issues, the Big Gun/Laeger's Hybrid YZ450FR (as I like to call it) was a huge hit and success in our minds. It performed flawlessly and is hopefully an example of the type of technology to soon be incorporated into ATVs. While this machine is the first of its kind, Scott Taylor informed me he has had requests submitted for more of these machines to be built for use overseas. For those interested, prepare to be blown away at the massive price tag of $30,000 with everything needed. If you can dig out all of the lost change from the cushions of your couch, you too can be the proud owner of your own Yamaha hybrid. This mechanical work of art really was incredibly impressive and I'm stoked for the opportunity to ride it. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait for Yamaha to release one of its own if my bills are to be paid.