The Redline Riot was one of the most unconventional performance UTVs of its era. Originally known as the Redline TS 750, the two-seat machine combined a 72-horsepower Weber twin-cylinder engine with two-wheel drive, a long wheelbase and as much as 18 inches of suspension travel.
Part sport UTV and part miniature sand car, the Riot arrived before today’s high-horsepower side-by-sides established the modern sport-UTV formula. This page preserves our original technical coverage, specifications and extensive photo archive. For driving impressions, see our separate Redline Riot review.
Redline Riot Overview
The Riot used a naturally aspirated Weber MPE 750 engine paired with a continuously variable transmission and a Redline-engineered forward-neutral-reverse gearbox. Redline advertised a top speed of approximately 65 mph.
Its configuration was notably different from mainstream UTVs of the period. The Riot measured 68 inches wide, rode on an 84-inch wheelbase and sent power only to the rear wheels. It was designed primarily for dunes, desert terrain and recreational performance rather than utility work or narrow trails.
Standard equipment included ELKA coilover shocks, hydraulic disc brakes, suspension seats, five-point harnesses, wrist restraints, a removable steering wheel and a tubular space frame.
Long-Travel Suspension
One of the Riot’s defining features was its factory long-travel suspension. Redline claimed 18 inches of front-wheel travel and 16.5 inches at the rear—exceptional numbers for a production side-by-side at the time.
Front Suspension
The front suspension used dual A-arms and 10-inch piggyback ELKA dual-rate coilover shocks with adjustable compression and rebound damping.
Rear Suspension
Instead of the rear A-arms commonly found on early Yamaha Rhino, Polaris RZR and Kawasaki Teryx models, the Riot used a trailing-arm arrangement. Ten-inch ELKA coilovers provided adjustable compression and rebound damping.
Dimensions and Trail Width
At 68 inches wide, the Redline Riot was substantially wider than most production UTVs available at the time. That width contributed to its performance-oriented stance but also excluded it from trails restricted to 50-inch vehicles.
The Riot’s 84-inch wheelbase was also longer than the roughly 75- to 77-inch wheelbases common among contemporary two-seat UTVs. The extra length was intended to improve stability and help the vehicle track more predictably through rough, whooped-out terrain.
Weber MPE 750 Engine
The Redline Riot was powered by the Weber Motor MPE 750, a compact 749cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin four-stroke engine. The naturally aspirated version was rated at 72 horsepower and used port fuel injection managed by a Walbro engine-management system.
Versions of the Weber twin were also used in Polaris FS and FST snowmobiles. Weber produced turbocharged MPE 750 variants exceeding 100 horsepower, although Redline did not list a turbocharger as a factory Riot option.
Safety Equipment
The Riot’s standard occupant-protection equipment included suspension seats, five-point harnesses, wrist restraints, a quick-release steering wheel and a tubular chassis. Its low door openings made entry and exit easy, although they provided less side containment than the full doors and nets found on many later sport UTVs.
Two-Wheel-Drive Powertrain
Unlike the four-wheel-drive systems used by most recreational UTVs, the Redline Riot was rear-wheel drive. Its CVT fed a proprietary gearbox with forward, neutral and reverse; there was no selectable high- and low-range transmission.
The rear-drive layout underscored the Riot’s specialized mission. It was aimed at performance driving in open terrain, not mud, technical crawling or traditional utility work.
Redline Riot Specifications
These specifications reproduce the figures originally supplied for the Riot. Period Redline information referenced both a 985-pound dry weight and an approximately 1,120-pound vehicle weight, apparently reflecting different configurations or measurement standards.
| Engine | Weber MPE 750, 749cc liquid-cooled parallel twin, SOHC, four-stroke |
|---|---|
| Claimed output | 72 hp |
| Fuel system | Port fuel injection with Walbro engine management |
| Fuel capacity | 9.0 gallons / 34 liters |
| Coolant capacity | 1.5 gallons / 5.7 liters |
| Alternator | 350 watts |
| Starting system | Electric |
| Battery | 12 volt, 30 Ah |
| Transmission | CVT with forward, neutral and reverse; no high/low range |
| Drive | Two-wheel shaft drive |
| Front suspension | Double A-arm; 10-inch ELKA coilovers with adjustable compression and rebound |
| Front travel | 18 inches |
| Rear suspension | Trailing arm; 10-inch ELKA coilovers with adjustable compression and rebound |
| Rear travel | 16.5 inches |
| Brakes | Four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes with Wilwood and Brembo components |
| Headlights | Two 55-watt PIAA halogen lights |
| Front tires | 26×8-12 |
| Rear tires | 26×10-12 |
| Instrumentation | Tachometer, speedometer, odometer and fuel gauge |
| Wheelbase | 84 inches / 213 cm |
| Length | 115 inches |
| Width | 68 inches |
| Height | 66 inches |
| Published dry weight | 985 pounds / 448 kg |
| Other published weight | Approximately 1,120 pounds |
| Cargo capacity | 3.2 cubic feet / 90.6 liters |
| Claimed top speed | Approximately 65 mph |
| Historical price | $17,499–$19,999, depending on equipment |
Additional Redline Riot Photos
Several images below show pre-production vehicles, so individual components may differ from later examples.
Redline Riot at Oregon DuneFest
Redline Riot at the 2008 Sand Sports Super Show
Two Redline Riot machines were displayed at the 2008 Sand Sports Super Show. See more early machines and industry milestones in our 2008 UTV history and Sand Sports Super Show history.
Redline Riot Videos
Read Our Redline Riot Review
The specifications tell only part of this unusual machine’s story. Read our Redline Riot driving review for first impressions from behind the wheel.
