YXZ Build -- Post #1 -- Teardown & Planning

Posted on: Wednesday, April 06, 2016

Yamaha stood the Powersports World on its ear when it released an all-new sport UTV in late 2015 called the YXZ 1000R. An industry- first 5-speed sequential shift transmission in the YXZ1000R established a direct connection with the driver in a way that cannot be duplicated with a CVT transmission in other UTVs. And a 3 cylinder engine was also another first for the UTV scene, boasting 998 cc of high revving glory. Putting this amazing drive train and engine in a solid chassis was a must. Huge piggyback FOX® 2.5 Podium RC2 Shocks® on all four corners are fully adjustable (spring preload, rebound and both high- and low-speed compression damping) with 16.2 inches of front travel and 17.0 inches at the rear, integrated Bottom-Out technology. Front and rear sway bars keep the machine flat and predictable. And putting a radical looking body on top of this combination ensured it would get noticed. So, did Yamaha create a top tier machine? Absolutely. Is it without flaws? Of course not but that’s why shops like Octane Toy Box exist. What it did turn out to be was a machine so intriguing and customizable that I had to have one for our shop car… so I went and got one!

We love to attend UTV events and ride all over the Pacific Northwest. When we go we want to be noticed and be in a machine that carries some of the best parts that Octane Toy Box has to offer its customers so they can see them in person and ask us questions. With that being said, this YXZ is going under the knife and getting some pretty big changes to its looks, suspension, performance, comfort and function. I already said it was a top tier machine but so is a Lamborghini. I could find a way to improve one of those too! We are gonna keep this blog updated with the changes we make, the struggles we encounter and the wicked fun we have enjoying the results.

This machine was found in Oregon from a private seller and only had 145 miles on the odometer. It was in great shape and a blank canvas to start pouring creativity (and $$$) on to. It is the orange and black color scheme and the prior owner had put the Anniversary Edition bead lock wheels off his other YXZ on this machine along with a factory Yamaha rear storage box. The rear box has already been sold off and the wheels and Bighorn tires will be gone soon, as well.

This past Sunday, my good friends and shop helpers, Andrew K. and Corey M., came over to help take the machine apart for the first round of mods; getting the body panels off for a custom paint job and some hydro dipping from Brandon Knowles of Brand-X-Customsin Everett, WA. We won’t spoil the surprise, but just know it will NOT be like any factory offered color from Yamaha and will definitely be a head turner. Custom vinyl graphics will lay over the paint so they are easy to repair or replace when accidents happen or tree limbs try to grab us (yes, this machine is going get used and abused). As it turns out, the body panels all come off extremely easily with a 4mm Allen wrench, a 10mm socket or wrench and a #2 Philips screwdriver.







Andrew and Corey also helped take the roll cage off so Lance Elliot of Engage Autosports in Everett WA, can help me do some custom mods to a Cagewrx cage by changing a couple bar locations, building an overhead console and working his TIG welding magic on the whole thing. The internet is already full of pictures showing just how weak the factory Yamaha cage design is. I have no intention of putting myself or a passenger in harm’s way by relying on the “one-time use” crappy stock bars. Just like the body panels, it was a pretty straight forward operation to remove the cage, although it was necessary to unbolt the roof structure so a main hoop bar could be lightly twisted off one B-pillar it was really tight on. 14mm and 17mm sockets or wrenches and an 8mm Allen wrench took care of everything. Easy peasy…. especially since they did most of the work!






Right now the car sits apart waiting for some more attention. When I get the dash mounting plate this week, a full PCI Race Radios car-to-car radio and intercom system will go in place along with a radical new Switch-Pros wiring harness for all the electrical items that are getting added to this machine. Stay tuned for an update to this blog when I get started on installing those two items. I will also be doing a modification to the factory seats to get them in a more upright position for harness use, adding a steering wheel and the mentioned harnesses soon.


04-05-16


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