Our 2013 Polaris RZR XP 900 EPS Orange Madness/Blue LE was never intended to remain stock. We built it to withstand the rocks and desert of the King of the Hammers UTV race while preserving the versatility that made the XP 900 such an important sport UTV.
The finished machine earned a second-place finish at the 2013 King of the Hammers UTV race. It also served as a test vehicle for suspension components, 30-inch tires and numerous protection, performance, communication and comfort upgrades.
Between September 2012 and spring 2013, we drove this RZR XP 900 at the Rubicon Trail, Barstow, Prairie City SVRA, Sand Mountain and Glamis. That variety is the real story of this build: it could crawl through the rocks, absorb desert whoops, run a hard-packed short course and return to the dunes without becoming a narrowly focused race car.
For the broader history, specifications and significance of the platform, see our Polaris RZR XP 900 guide and history of the Polaris RZR.
2013 Polaris RZR XP 900 LE Specifications
- 875cc ProStar DOHC twin-cylinder engine
- 88 advertised horsepower
- Automatic Polaris Variable Transmission
- On-Demand True AWD
- 64-inch overall width
- 13.5 inches of front suspension travel
- 14 inches of rear suspension travel
- 13 inches of ground clearance
Orange Madness/Blue Limited Edition Equipment
- Electronic power steering
- ITP BajaCross tires on 12-inch Black Crusher aluminum wheels
- Orange Madness painted dash and hood
- Orange Madness control arms, trailing arms and rear radius rods
- Color-matched front and rear suspension springs
- Custom two-color Black and Orange Madness seats with RZR embroidery
- Limited Edition graphics package
Building an XP 900 for King of the Hammers
The goal was durability without turning the RZR into a single-purpose rock racer. Protection and chassis reinforcement were paired with suspension components capable of handling desert whoops, jumps, g-outs and rock crawling.
Major changes included Cognito Motorsports front A-arms, Lone Star Racing high-clearance trailing arms, High Lifter radius rods and axles, a UTV Inc. gusset kit and FOX 2.5-inch position-sensitive shocks with Magnum Offroad valving. Factory UTV underbody protection, a TMW roll cage, Pro Armor seats and harnesses and a WARN winch helped prepare the machine for the rocks.
Read our detailed breakdown of the RZR XP 900 suspension package.
2013 King of the Hammers: Second-Place Finish
All of the testing and preparation paid off when the RZR XP 900 finished second in the 2013 King of the Hammers UTV race. The result demonstrated how effectively the original XP chassis could be adapted to one of the harshest combinations of desert racing and technical rock crawling.
Read the complete 2013 King of the Hammers UTV race report.
Where We Tested the RZR XP 900
Sand Mountain — March 2013
After King of the Hammers, the XP returned to Sand Mountain for dune testing. Moving from a rock race to recreational dune riding illustrated the build’s versatility.
Read the Sand Mountain Spring Break trip report.
Glamis UTV Industry Ride — February and March 2013
The completed build joined other custom UTVs at the second annual Glamis UTV Industry Ride. Its suspension, power and dune-tire setup made it just as comfortable running the Imperial Sand Dunes as it had been crawling through Johnson Valley.
Read the 2013 Glamis UTV Industry Ride report.
Prairie City SVRA — January 2013 KOH Testing
Prairie City provided a convenient combination of hard-packed terrain, jumps, g-outs and rocks. We used the area to evaluate the suspension and chassis changes before King of the Hammers.
30-Inch Tire Testing at Prairie City
The XP 900 served as the test vehicle for several sets of 30-inch tires. Prairie City allowed us to compare their behavior during high-speed cornering, jumps, g-outs and rock crawling.
See the complete 30-inch UTV tire test.
Camp RZR Glamis — December 2012
The RZR XP spent time in the Glamis dunes during Camp RZR. Its naturally aspirated ProStar engine, relatively low weight and responsive chassis made the XP 900 an excellent dune platform.
Barstow — December 2012
Barstow supplied the rough desert terrain for a five-way 30-inch tire comparison. The larger tires also tested whether the upgraded shock package could remain plush over small chop while controlling harder impacts.
Carson City — November 2012
Testing near Carson City focused on the upgraded suspension and 30-inch ITP BajaCross tires.
Prairie City — November 2012
We compared the RZR on its original tires and 30-inch ITP UltraCross tires. The FOX 2.5-inch shocks with Magnum Offroad valving remained compliant while providing the control needed for larger impacts.
Sand Mountain — Halloween 2012
Only days after completing the Rubicon Challenge, the XP was back in the dunes. The ability to move between difficult rock trails and fast sand riding was one of the platform’s greatest strengths.
Rubicon Trail UTV Challenge — October 2012
The XP completed the first Rubicon UTV Challenge, traveling from Loon Lake to Lake Tahoe and back in a single day. It ran 30x10R14 STI Roctane tires mounted on STI HD beadlock wheels.
Read the complete Rubicon Trail UTV Challenge trip report.
Barstow FOX Shock Testing — September 2012
We brought the new RZR XP to Barstow while FOX was testing its 2.5-inch shocks. Our XP was used as one of the comparison vehicles during development.
Sand Sports Super Show — September 2012
The project began with the new Orange Madness/Blue RZR XP displayed in the Fullerton Sand Sports booth at the Sand Sports Super Show.
Products Installed on the RZR XP 900
Axia Alloys
Whip-flag mount, fire-extinguisher mount and panoramic mirror.
Cognito Motorsports
Replacement front A-arms increased the durability of the front suspension for rocks and desert impacts.
Desert Molding Concepts
A Super Seal gasket improved the seal around the original RZR XP 900 airbox.
EPI Performance
An EPI Severe Duty belt, clutch springs, weights and helix were used to tune the drivetrain for the larger tires and demanding terrain.
Factory UTV
UHMW A-arm guards, a full skid plate and rock sliders protected the chassis and suspension.
FOX and Magnum Offroad
The suspension used FOX 2.5-inch large-bore position-sensitive shocks with bottom-out control and Magnum Offroad valving. The combination delivered a compliant ride over smaller terrain while retaining control during large impacts.
Fullerton Sand Sports and HiPer Technology
Fullerton Sand Sports supplied the dune tires, which were mounted on HiPer wheels.
GBC Motorsports
Thirty-inch GBC Kanati Mongrel tires were used during King of the Hammers preparation.
High Lifter
High Lifter Outlaw DHT axles and high-clearance radius rods strengthened the rear suspension and improved clearance around obstacles.
K&N
A reusable K&N air filter replaced the original paper filter.
Lone Star Racing
High-clearance rear trailing arms improved strength and clearance for rock obstacles.
Muzzys
A Muzzys dual exhaust and DigiTune fuel controller were installed for additional performance.
Pro Armor
Pro Armor supplied aluminum doors, seats, harnesses and a front bumper.
ProLine Wraps
ProLine Wraps produced the custom door graphics.
Radiantz LED Lighting
Amber Radiantz Z-Flex LED strips served as rear dust lights.
Rigid Industries
A Rigid Industries LED light bar provided forward lighting for nighttime travel.
Rugged Radios
A Rugged Radios two-way radio, DSP intercom and mounting bracket provided in-car and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.
SDR Motorsports
SDR Motorsports supplied the seat bases used with the upgraded seats.
SSV Works
Adjustable billet side mirrors clamped directly to the roll cage.
Summers Brothers Racing
Summers Brothers Racing rear axles were also evaluated during the build.
TMW Off-Road
The TMW Off-Road roll cage added occupant protection while maintaining a clean, low-profile appearance.
UTV Inc.
A bolt-on front gusset kit, heavy-duty tie rods and radiator-fan override switch addressed several potential weak points.
WARN
A WARN ProVantage 3500 winch provided self-recovery capability for technical trail and rock-crawling use.
Yoshimura
Yoshimura carbon-fiber intake scoops completed the exterior upgrades.
Magazine Coverage
The build and its testing appeared in several print magazine features:
- King of the Hammers Race Recap — Sand Sports Magazine
- Built for a Bashing — ATV Riders Magazine
- 30-Inch Tire Test — UTV Off-Road Magazine
- Rubicon Challenge — UTV Off-Road Magazine
- Tough as Nails — Sand Sports Magazine
Long-Term Verdict
The 2013 RZR XP 900’s lasting strength was its adaptability. It was light and responsive enough for the dunes, stable at desert speeds and compact enough to work through difficult rock trails. The aftermarket suspension, protection and chassis upgrades allowed us to push those strengths considerably further.
Finishing second at King of the Hammers was the most visible accomplishment, but the machine’s ability to return to recreational riding afterward was just as important. It proved that a properly prepared XP 900 could be competitive without losing the broad capability that made the original platform so influential.
