Kawasaki KRX 1000: I’m beginning to believe that the side-by-side should be the world’s most popular leisure vehicle. I can’t fathom anyone who wouldn’t like driving one, or at the very least riding as a passenger in one.
I’m sure they exist, and I accept their right to enjoy or not enjoy whatever they want as long as it doesn’t affect others. However, they are missing out. I’m not sure I want to know who they are.
2020 Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000 Sport. Was the most recent side-by-side I got to ride
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Kawasaki has been making four-wheeled side-by-sides since 1988, with the Mule 1000 being the first. The Mule lineup is still going strong today, with nine “Utility/Recreation” variants. According to Kawasaki marketing materials, the Teryx series began in 2008 with the Teryx 750, a Recreation Utility Vehicle or “RUV” that “prioritised sport riding performance, controllability, and rider confidence.”
The Teryx KRX 1000 is a two-passenger four-wheeler that joins the Teryx (beginning at $12,999) and Teryx4 (starting at $15,799) in Kawasaki’s sport Teryx portfolio for 2020.
The KRX 1000 is powered by a brand-new 999-cc parallel twin engine that delivers 76.7 lb-ft of torque, up from 47.0 lb-ft on the Teryx’s 783-cc V-twin. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with a centrifugal clutch and three modes (Forward High, Forward Low, and Reverse) caters to a wide range of requirements.
Four-wheel drive with on-the-fly selection and front differential lock are standard. Two-wheel drive for sporty performance, four-wheel drive for increased traction, or four-wheel drive with differential lock for optimum traction are all options.
Kawasaki’s Rollover Protection System
Kawasaki’s Rollover Protection System (ROPS) is built into this drivetrain, which is installed in a very strong chassis. Undercarriage skid plates are added to the frame, with steel shielding susceptible essential components. The fuel tank is situated low in the chassis, near the centre of the vehicle. A comprehensive roll cage is integrated into the frame and engineered to protect riders as a system.
The Maxxis Carnivore 31 x 10.00R15 tyres on the KRX 1000’s wheels protrude past the corners of the chassis and bodywork, resulting in 90-degree approach and departure angles and 14.4 inches of ground clearance.
In comparison, a 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon boasts a 43.4-degree approach angle, a 26.0-degree departure angle, and 10.8 inches of ground clearance. The front suspension is double-wishbone, and the rear suspension is four-link trailing-arm. The Fox 2.5 Podium LSC shocks have completely adjustable preload and 24-position adjustable compression damping on both ends. The front wheel travel is 18.6 inches, and the rear wheel travel is 21.1 inches.
Bodywork On The KRX 1000
The bodywork on the KRX 1000 is made of lightweight ABS plastic and comes in Lime Green and Black or Metallic Onyx and Black. The KRX’s basic body parts provide weather and water protection while also giving it a commanding, athletic style that’s almost futuristic. LED headlights and taillights enhance the appearance while also providing excellent utility.
Kawasaki is known for its accessory lineup, which includes windshields, cabin enclosures, roof options, lighting, and protection, as well as a plethora of a la carte options to tailor your KRX 1000 to your preferences and needs. If Kawasaki doesn’t make the farkle of your dreams, there’s a thriving aftermarket for side-by-side additions.
The KRX’s interior features a set of supportive sport seats, a tilt steering wheel, a gate-style shift lever in the centre console, and dashboard storage. The passenger has a t-handle grip bar to hold on to during bumpy patches, while the driver has digital instruments — a motorcycle-style pod cluster with a multi-function display – mounted above the steering wheel.
There’s a large cargo compartment behind the seats, big enough for a 32-inch spare tyre. There are four built-in cargo hooks and a recessed bottom.
I drove to Logan, West Virginia, to meet up with Kawasaki and ride the Hatfield-McCoy Trails for the day. The Hatfield-McCoy Trails are managed by the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority, which was established in 2000 to assist in the development of an interconnected network of off-road trails in economically depressed areas of the state. Coal mining and logging interests have left large swaths of West Virginia untouched.
Many of these regions are rugged and mountainous, with established routes and trails. The Authority works out a deal with the landowners to lease the fallow property so that it can be developed into trailheads and the Authority can take over trail marking, maintenance, and administration. Because continuing to mine or log in certain places is not profitable, the owners are delighted to participate and earn some passive income from their holdings.
The Authority assumes all obligation and responsibility, and towns around trailheads benefit from a significant boost in tourist. The system spans six of West Virginia’s nine counties and includes more than 600 miles of trails. Anyone above the age of six can go trail riding. Out-of-state riders will pay $50.00 for a yearly permit, while West Virginia residents would pay $26.50.
I rode with a group around the Rockhouse trailhead between Gilbert and Man on a damp, muddy day. We covered over 60 miles in one day, going over and around hills, through forests, and along paths that I would never have been able to experience on any other mode of transportation.
The KRX 1000 easily handled obstacles, bends, climbs, and descents, swallowing bumps and dips with its long-travel suspension. The speeds were low, but the exhilaration was tremendous. I prefer technical driving to pure speed, and the KRX 1000 can give both. When the circumstances are ideal, you can really rocket along, with all that torque on tap pouring through the CVT with no discernible lag.
When you’re in a tight spot, the power is easy to handle, and you can tiptoe around the boulders. The 2020 Kawasaki Teryx KRX 1000 Sport appears to be capable of going anywhere.
Which gets me back to my original point: who wouldn’t like a car this capable and entertaining?
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