John Deere Gator RSX850i Review: Moab Trails and Dune Testing

By Jon Crowley, UTVGuide.net

Editor’s note: This review preserves our launch-period driving impressions of the discontinued John Deere Gator RSX850i, including two days in Moab, Utah, and follow-up use at DuneFest 2012 and around our property.

The John Deere Gator RSX850i took the Gator name in a more recreational direction when it arrived for the 2013 model year. Its 62-horsepower V-twin, claimed 53-mph top speed and unusual rear suspension promised a machine that could handle trail riding while retaining useful cargo capability. Our Moab test focused on how that combination performed on slickrock, steep grades and faster sand washes.

The RSX850i occupies an important place in the broader history of the John Deere Gator. Rather than competing only with work machines, it targeted recreational models such as the Yamaha Rhino, Can-Am Commander, Kawasaki Teryx and Arctic Cat Prowler.

I drove the RSX850i Sport on Seven Mile Rim and Hell’s Revenge during John Deere’s media introduction. The impressions below describe that machine and the conditions we encountered, with additional notes from our later dune and property use.

Comparing Gator generations? See our RSX850i model guide for specifications and history. For new work-and-trail alternatives, compare the John Deere Mid-Size XUV560E and XUV590M families. These current crossover Gators emphasize utility and are not direct replacements for the sport-oriented RSX.

Introducing the Gator RSX850i in Moab

After flying into Grand Junction, Colorado, several other editors and I boarded a chartered bus for the drive to Moab. Our destination was Sorrel River Ranch, located along a bend in the Colorado River and surrounded by red-rock cliffs and open pastures.

The ranch was about 30 minutes from the trails we would drive, but the setting was impressive. Moab remains an adventure destination for off-roading, hiking, mountain biking and river rafting. It had already become one of my favorite places to drive a UTV.

That evening, John Deere unveiled the RSX850i and walked us through the engineering behind the machine. Compared with the Gators that preceded it, the RSX was clearly aimed at recreational drivers who wanted more power, suspension performance and speed without completely giving up utility.

John Deere Gator RSX850i Specifications

At 56.5 inches wide, the RSX850i was narrower than the long-travel pure-sport UTVs that would eventually dominate the performance market. Its 77.8-inch wheelbase, 10.3 inches of ground clearance and 9 inches of front and rear suspension travel placed it squarely among the sport-utility UTVs of its era.

Base, Trail and Sport Models

John Deere initially offered the RSX850i in Base, Trail and Sport configurations.

• RSX850i Base: The starting platform, intended to be customized with John Deere accessories.
• RSX850i Trail: Added sport seats, alloy wheels with Maxxis tires, a winch, front brush guard, two-inch front receiver with recovery loops, rear bumper and cargo-box rails.
• RSX850i Sport: Added sport seats, alloy wheels with Maxxis tires, a PreRunner-style bumper, cargo-box rails, sport steering wheel and FOX 2.0 Performance Series shocks.

I spent my trail time in the RSX850i Sport. Its FOX 2.0 shocks were an important upgrade for the rocky terrain and faster sand washes we encountered around Moab.

839cc V-Twin Engine and Closed-Loop EFI

The RSX850i was powered by an 839cc, liquid-cooled V-twin developed in cooperation with Piaggio. John Deere rated it at 62 horsepower and claimed a top speed of 53 mph, along with 0–30-mph acceleration in approximately three seconds.

The electronic fuel-injection system helped manage fueling as operating conditions changed. Closed-loop operation used oxygen-sensor feedback to correct the air-fuel mixture; engine-management inputs also helped account for changes in temperature and elevation.

Unique Multi-Link Rear Suspension

One of the RSX850i’s most interesting engineering features was its Multi-Link semi-trailing-arm independent rear suspension. The design combined characteristics of an A-arm and a trailing arm, allowing the rear wheels to move slightly rearward as the suspension compressed.

John Deere said this wheel path helped reduce the force transmitted through the chassis when the tires encountered rocks, ledges and other obstacles. The rear shocks were also mounted relatively upright, creating a more direct and linear relationship between wheel movement and shock travel.

Driving the RSX850i on Seven Mile Rim

Our first day of driving took place on Seven Mile Rim. While it is not an extreme rock-crawling trail, the route provided enough ledges, uneven rock and technical sections to test low-speed control. Its faster, whooped-out sand washes also gave us room to evaluate power and suspension performance at higher speeds.

The RSX850i’s seating position felt natural, the sport seats were comfortable and the controls were easy to understand. The machine felt substantial without being cumbersome, and visibility from the driver’s seat was good.

Testing the John Deere Gator RSX850i on Seven Mile Rim.

Hell’s Revenge Trail Test

The second day took us onto Hell’s Revenge, a roughly six-and-a-half-mile slickrock trail filled with steep climbs, abrupt descents and rolling sandstone terrain. The scenery is spectacular, but the exposed slopes can be intimidating for drivers who are unfamiliar with Moab.

The RSX850i handled the steep climbs and descents without difficulty. Its wheelbase contributed to a planted feeling on the slickrock, while the four-wheel-drive system provided the traction needed for the sharper grades.

I did notice that the CVT engine braking did not always engage immediately. As with some other belt-driven UTVs of that period, an occasional touch of the throttle was needed to engage the clutch and restore engine braking on a descent.

The Gator RSX850i on Hell’s Revenge in Moab.

Power and Handling Impressions

The Piaggio V-twin delivered good low- and midrange power. It did not pull as hard as the Can-Am Commander 1000, but it felt stronger than the original Kawasaki Teryx models I had driven. For a first-generation recreational Gator, the engine gave the RSX850i enough performance to be entertaining on the trail.

The suspension was equally impressive for a stock, 56.5-inch-wide sport-utility UTV. The FOX 2.0 shocks on the Sport model helped it remain composed in the whoops and across uneven terrain, while the unusual rear suspension absorbed square-edged impacts well.

Front and rear anti-sway bars kept the Gator remarkably flat in corners. During this initial test, I could not get the RSX850i to rotate or drift through turns as easily as some competing machines. That stability should appeal to many recreational and utility buyers, although more aggressive drivers may find the handling conservative.

Cab Comfort and Ergonomics

The RSX850i’s ergonomics were good for both the driver and passenger. The Sport seats were comfortable, legroom was generous and the seating position worked well during a full day on the trail. The doors operated easily and looked more finished than the nets commonly used on UTVs of that period.

My main ergonomic complaint involved the drink holders mounted high on the dashboard. They worked, but a lower position near the shifter would have kept drinks more secure and placed them within easier reach.

Additional Testing at DuneFest

We picked up an RSX850i Sport on the way to DuneFest 2012 and tested it in the dunes around Winchester Bay, Oregon. The Sport model performed flawlessly during that first trip and gave us another opportunity to evaluate its power and FOX suspension outside the slower Moab slickrock environment.

Additional RSX850i testing at DuneFest 2012.

See more photos and coverage in our original DuneFest 2012 trip report.

Putting the RSX850i to Work

Although the RSX850i was considerably more recreational than earlier Gators, it retained practical capability. We used it alongside a Gator XUV825i to haul oak firewood, demonstrating that the RSX was still capable of handling basic property and cargo chores between trail rides.

For a more extensive account of the larger work Gator, read our John Deere Gator 825i long-term ranch-work review. Its hauling, mowing and towing duties show the different priorities of the full-size XUV platform.

Using the John Deere Gator RSX850i to haul oak firewood.

John Deere Gator RSX850i Review: Final Verdict

For a stock sport-utility UTV of its era, the RSX850i was a solid performer and an impressive first step into the recreational market for John Deere. It was not a pure-sport machine, but that was never its purpose. Against contemporaries such as the Commander, Rhino, Teryx and Prowler, it offered competitive power, stable handling, comfortable ergonomics and an innovative rear-suspension design.

The RSX850i was eventually followed by the RSX860i, with a higher claimed top speed and available power steering, and has since been discontinued. It nevertheless remains one of the most unusual and historically significant Gators because it showed just how far John Deere was willing to move beyond the traditional work-vehicle formula.

For a look at how modified RSX850i and XUV machines competed, explore our John Deere Gator racing history. Browse additional reviews, news and model coverage in the John Deere UTV section.