When the owner of a steering and suspension company builds his personal UTV, the finished vehicle is expected to do more than look good parked at a show. Mike D., owner of Kryptonite Products, wanted his 2026 Kawasaki TERYX5 H2 Deluxe eS prepared for dunes, desert terrain, rocks, snow and long days of recreational riding.
Kryptonite teamed with Alpine Designs to turn the 250-horsepower Kawasaki into an aggressive all-around build. The finished TERYX5 H2 combines Kryptonite steering and suspension components with custom fabrication, revised shock tuning, two wheel-and-tire configurations, extensive lighting and a more functional interior.
A 250-Horsepower Starting Point
The 2026 Kawasaki TERYX5 H2 Deluxe eS is already a serious platform before the first aftermarket part is installed. Its mechanically driven supercharger helps the 999cc inline-four produce a claimed 250 horsepower and 146.2 lb-ft of torque.
The five-seat model uses a 74-inch-wide chassis, a 126-inch wheelbase and nearly two feet of suspension travel. The Deluxe eS package adds Kawasaki Electronically Controlled Suspension with FOX 3.0 Live Valve Internal Bypass shocks. Those specifications give the TERYX5 H2 the power, stability and passenger capacity needed for a versatile high-performance build.
Alpine Designs approached the project as an extreme all-around vehicle rather than specializing it for only one type of terrain.
Kryptonite Radius Rods for the Kawasaki Teryx5 H2
Kryptonite Radius Rods and Toe Links
The most important Kryptonite upgrades are found at the rear of the vehicle. Early TERYX H2 owners began reporting bent upper radius rods when the new machines were subjected to hard impacts and aggressive terrain. A radius-rod failure can allow the rear wheel to move out of alignment, potentially creating additional damage to an axle, shock or other suspension components.
Kryptonite responded by developing a substantially stronger and fully adjustable replacement system. The build uses solid 7075-T6 aluminum high-clearance radius rods with large spherical bearings and 3/4-inch chromoly, Teflon-lined rod ends. The solid 1-1/8-inch hex construction is designed to resist bending and unwanted suspension movement under heavy loads.
Adjustability is especially valuable on a modified UTV. Kryptonite’s adjustable links allow the suspension to be aligned for the finished configuration rather than forcing the owner to accept the fixed dimensions of the stock parts.
The accompanying toe links combine 6061 aluminum bodies with heat-treated 4140 chromoly adjusters. Kryptonite says its toe links are twice as strong as the factory components. In earlier testing, the company reported that its billet radius rods supported 14,195 pounds of force, compared with 6,992 pounds for the stock links.
Read more about the development and testing in our article covering the Kryptonite TERYX H2 high-clearance radius rods and toe links.
Kryptonite Kawasaki Teryx5 H2 Sway Bar Links
Prototype Sway-Bar Links
Mike’s TERYX5 H2 also served as a development vehicle for Kryptonite’s front and rear sway-bar links. Both ends were equipped with prototype components during the build.
The upgraded links are intended to reduce the flex and unwanted movement that can develop in lighter factory components. More consistent connection between the sway bar and suspension can improve response during rapid transitions and help a large five-seat UTV feel more predictable at speed.
Kryptonite has since added its front sway-bar links to the company’s TERYX H2 product range. The production front links use precision-machined 6061-T6 aluminum bodies and 5/8-inch chromoly Teflon-lined rod ends.
Kryptonite is continuing to develop additional components for the platform. TERYX H2 tie rods are planned as a future addition, although availability and final specifications had not been announced when this article was prepared.
Current production parts can be found in the Kryptonite Kawasaki TERYX H2 collection.
Shock Therapy Dual-Rate Spring Kit and Ride Improvement System
Shock Therapy Suspension Tuning
Adding a fabricated cage, spare tire, winch, stereo system, lighting and other accessories changes more than the appearance of a UTV. The extra weight affects ride height, spring preload, body control and the amount of work required from the shocks.
Shock Therapy revalved the FOX shocks and installed a spring kit selected for the completed build. Rather than tuning the suspension for a stock TERYX5 H2, the setup accounts for the additional weight carried by Mike’s finished vehicle.
According to Alpine Designs, the revised suspension delivers a compliant ride while retaining the control needed for aggressive desert and dune driving.
Kryptonite Kawasaki Teryx5 H2
Custom Alpine Designs Cage and Bodywork
Alpine Designs fabricated a one-off Desert Sport cage to lower the roofline and give the five-seat Kawasaki a sleeker profile. The cage incorporates a pocket for a 30-inch Baja Designs LED light bar, keeping the light tucked closely against the roof instead of placing it on a tall external bracket.
A removable glass windshield provides protection in cold, dusty or wet conditions. Its lower panel can also be removed to increase airflow during hot summer rides.
Alpine Designs carried the black-and-green color treatment throughout the vehicle. Factory front A-arms and rear trailing arms were removed and powder-coated satin black. The factory exhaust covers were removed, and the exhaust received a black Cerakote finish.
Inside, the original light-gray panels were coated in a durable dark-gray body liner. The darker finish coordinates with the lower sections of the factory seats and makes the interior feel more integrated with the exterior color scheme.
Alpine Designs prerunner-style bumper
Prerunner Bumper and Rear Spare-Tire Carrier
The front of the Kawasaki is protected by an Alpine Designs prerunner-style bumper. Its compact design provides mounting space for auxiliary lighting while retaining room for an inset 4,500-pound winch.
At the rear, Alpine Designs fabricated a prototype prerunner-style spare-tire carrier. The factory cargo area does not have a traditional tailgate, so the new carrier helps close off the back of the bed while providing a secure location for a full-size spare.
Moving the spare behind the cargo area also gives the vehicle a purposeful desert appearance. Alpine Designs plans to develop both its cage and spare-tire carrier into production products.
Baja Designs LP4 LEDs mounted with Chupacabra Mirrors
Lighting
The lighting system was designed for both nighttime visibility and daytime safety in dusty conditions.
- A 30-inch Baja Designs light bar is recessed into the cage’s roof pocket.
- Baja Designs LP4 lights are mounted near the A-pillars.
- Amber Squadron Sport lights are mounted low on the front bumper to improve visibility through dust.
- Baja Designs rock lights illuminate the ground around the vehicle.
- An RLB rear chase light helps following drivers see the vehicle in dust or fading daylight.
- Green LED whips increase visibility while reinforcing the Kryptonite color scheme.
Alpine Designs also added inner covers behind the A-pillar lights. These help control reflected light around the windshield while allowing the lamps to sit neatly ahead of the Chupacabra Offroad Pro mirrors.
Tensor SS Sand Series Tires mounted on MetalFX Wheels
Separate Dirt and Dune Tire Setups
A true multi-terrain build benefits from tires selected for the surface rather than asking one design to handle every condition. Mike’s TERYX5 H2 has two complete wheel-and-tire configurations.
For dirt and desert use, it runs 35-inch BFGoodrich KM3 tires mounted on OMF billet-center wheels. The larger tires add ground clearance and provide an aggressive tread for rocks, loose soil and desert terrain.
For the dunes, the Kawasaki switches to Tensor SS paddle tires mounted on Metal FX wheels. The paddle setup allows the supercharged engine to put its power into soft sand more effectively than an all-terrain dirt tire.
Carrying a matching spare on the Alpine Designs rear carrier gives the dirt configuration added security when the vehicle is used far from camp.
Interior Comfort and Controls
The interior upgrades were kept relatively restrained. Heated inserts were installed in the factory seats for cold-weather riding, while a UTV audio system with a 10-inch subwoofer supplies considerably more output than a basic trail system.
Switch-Pros controls consolidate operation of the added lighting. A self-canceling turn-signal kit removes the need for the driver to remember to switch the indicators off after completing a turn.
Alpine Designs also installed external charging and jump posts in an accessible location. The terminals make it easier to connect a charger, jump the TERYX5 H2 or assist another vehicle without first digging into the battery compartment. A Rigid storage and toolbox system provides space for tools and recovery equipment.
Kryptonite Kawasaki Teryx5 H2
How It Performed in the Oregon Dunes
The build was not completed simply for display. Jake D., Kryptonite’s head of marketing and media, drove the finished TERYX5 H2 in the Oregon Dunes and came away impressed by its combination of power and chassis control.
“The Kawasaki H2 is a beast in the dunes. It feels light and nimble and can keep up with just about everything out there. It delivers a supple ride with precise handling, so you can really place it exactly where you want.”
Jake said the Kawasaki felt lighter and more responsive than a Polaris RZR Pro R, requiring smaller steering inputs and allowing the driver to place it more freely. He was particularly impressed by the way the five-seat machine carried speed and tracked straight through whoops without developing a rear-end buck.
That comparison is a driving impression rather than a direct instrumented test, but it speaks to the objective behind the project. Despite its five-seat layout and substantial accessory package, the finished TERYX5 H2 was intended to remain responsive and enjoyable to drive.
Kryptonite Kawasaki Teryx5 H2
A Personal Build and a Development Platform
Mike’s TERYX5 H2 is simultaneously a personal recreation vehicle, an Alpine Designs showcase and a rolling development platform for Kryptonite Products.
The custom cage, bumper, tire carrier, lighting and interior work make the Kawasaki more useful across different environments. The Kryptonite radius rods, adjustable toe links and sway-bar links address the suspension loads created by a 250-horsepower machine running larger tires and carrying additional accessories.
Most importantly, the build has been used in the terrain it was created to handle. Its time in the Oregon Dunes has already given Kryptonite real-world feedback as the company continues expanding its component range for Kawasaki’s supercharged UTV platform.
Explore available components in the Kryptonite TERYX H2 product collection, or visit our Build Spotlight section for more complete UTV builds.
Photos and video courtesy of Kryptonite Products and Alpine Designs.
