By Jon Crowley
With fewer than 10 miles on the odometer, I brought my newly built 2011 Kawasaki Teryx to Moab, Utah, for its first serious trail test. After three days on classic Moab routes, we finished the trip with a challenging day of UTV rock crawling on Green Day and Helldorado at Area BFE.
I had picked up the new Teryx in late February, and it had been a nonstop push to complete the first phase of the project before my annual Moab trip. My goals for the build were substantial suspension travel, reduced weight, improved performance and serious technical-trail capability.
The original Kawasaki Teryx was a good foundation for that type of project. Its V-twin engine offered plenty of performance potential, the chassis was stout and the aftermarket already offered several capable long-travel suspension systems. You can see the complete vehicle and its later upgrades in our 2011 Kawasaki Teryx build project.
When I arrived in Moab, the Teryx had not received anything resembling a proper shakedown. Its only testing consisted of crossing a few speed bumps in my neighborhood. That was not an ideal way to begin a four-day wheeling adventure 15 hours from home, but I was confident in the components used for the build.
Testing the Teryx on Moab’s Famous Trails
During our first three days in Moab, we tackled Poison Spider Mesa and Golden Spike, Steel Bender and Cliff Hanger. The Teryx proved remarkably capable in the rocks, particularly considering how little seat time I had in the newly completed machine.
With three days of trail riding complete, our attention turned to the fourth and final day. Members of the group began talking about Area BFE, an off-road park south of Moab that was already well known among Jeep and rock-buggy enthusiasts.
Area BFE opened in 2004 as a dedicated place where enthusiasts could enjoy technical off-roading on private property. Its trail network ranges from relatively approachable routes to extreme obstacles intended for highly modified rock crawlers.
Our UTV Group at Area BFE
Our group included Bob in his Polaris RZR, Dave in a RZR XP, Reid in a heavily modified Teryx, Joey D from UTVUnderground.com in a long-travel Teryx, Dean in another long-travel Teryx, Jeff Knoll in a stock Teryx, Casey Currie in a fully built Teryx and Woody from RockCrawler.com in his modified RZR.
The small group was a welcome change from the previous day, when 26 UTVs had joined us on Cliff Hanger. Jeff and Woody had previously explored Area BFE in full-size 4x4s, so they led the way toward Green Day.
Green Day Trail
Green Day was considered one of Area BFE’s more moderate trails, but its optional lines offered obstacles tougher than anything we encountered on Poison Spider Mesa, Steel Bender or Cliff Hanger.
Other than nearly rolling on one obstacle—which was probably driver error—I was thrilled with the Teryx. The suspension kept the vehicle composed, and the combination of ground clearance and tire traction worked exceptionally well in the rocks.
We completed the Green Day loop and arrived at the entrance to Helldorado. The trail was only about one-third of a mile long, but its obstacles were serious enough that we walked it before committing our UTVs.
Taking the Teryx Through Helldorado
A broken Toyota with huge tires was sitting near the first obstacle. Seeing a full-size crawler stopped there made me question whether taking a brand-new Teryx into Helldorado was a good idea.
The first obstacle was followed by several other difficult sections and a huge waterfall at the end that would require winching. I initially planned to remain on foot and photograph the other drivers. After watching Woody, Casey, Reid and Dean negotiate the entrance, however, I got caught up in the moment and decided to try it.
To my surprise, I made it through the first obstacle with only the guidance of a spotter. The long shocks, five-inch-wider suspension and traction from the Pit Bull Rocker tires made the difference.
We worked through several more obstacles before reaching the waterfall at the end of the trail. The waterfall was essentially impassable for a UTV—and for most full-size 4x4s—without winching. Photographs do not accurately convey its size or steepness.
It was uncomfortable knowing the vehicle was going over backward if the winch line or an anchor point failed. Good recovery equipment, secure rigging, experienced spotters and careful communication were essential.
How the 2011 Kawasaki Teryx Build Performed
Area BFE was a blast, and we only sampled a small part of what the property offered. More importantly, the first phase of the Teryx build exceeded my expectations. Several components stood out during the Moab trip:
- Lonestar Racing suspension: The five-inch-wider LSR XTR-F kit used bolt-on front and rear shock towers with 8.5-inch and 10-inch FOX position-sensitive shocks. I set the ride height slightly higher for the rocks and softened the compression adjustment. With the rear sway bar removed, the suspension articulated well and delivered a plush ride.
- Wicked Bilt power steering: Power steering substantially reduced steering effort in technical terrain. It also helped isolate the steering wheel from sudden impacts when a front tire contacted a rock.
- Pit Bull Rocker tires: The 26.5-inch Pit Bull Rockers mounted on DragonFire Racing Baja Crippler beadlock wheels provided excellent traction. A taller tire would have added clearance, but the Rockers gripped the sandstone extremely well.
- Factory UTV protection: Half-inch UHMW skid plates and rocker guards protected the underside of the Teryx. Unlike aluminum, UHMW slides over rocks and helps soften hard impacts, although proper backing remains important in high-impact areas.
- WARN RT40 winch: The winch had already been used approximately a dozen times over three obstacles on Cliff Hanger before tackling the waterfall on Helldorado. It performed without a problem.
- Muzzys exhaust: The exhaust could be run open or fitted with Quiet Cores or Muzzys Whisper Cores. I preferred the quieter configuration for trail riding and rock crawling.
- Bobbed Teryx bed: Roggy Enterprises shortened and narrowed the cargo bed, reducing overall length to approximately 107 inches. The modification gave the Teryx a much better departure angle in the rocks.
- Beard seats and harnesses: The tall Beard Fuel seats provided comfort, containment and added head support. Properly fitted multi-point harnesses should be worn as designed whenever the vehicle is moving.
- CBR radiator: The bolt-in replacement provided additional cooling capacity in preparation for the big-bore Muzzys engine planned for a later phase of the project.
After Moab, I was already thinking about the next stage of the build. A Muzzys big-bore engine and larger tires were high on the list, along with more testing on northern California’s Rubicon Trail.
2011 Kawasaki Teryx Build Partners
- Kawasaki Team Green
- Monster Energy
- FOX Racing Shox — 2.0 position-sensitive shocks with DSC
- Lonestar Racing — Teryx +5 XTR-F long-travel suspension, bed delete and chassis gussets
- Muzzys Performance Products — exhaust and engine upgrades
- Dalton Industries — clutch kit and overdrive cover
- UTV Inc. — intake, air filter, seat bases, steering-wheel adapter and radiator-fan override switch
- Beard — seats and five-point harnesses
- Black Rhino Performance — gauges and gauge pod
- Wicked Bilt — power steering
- CBR Performance — radiator
- Roggy Enterprises — roll cage, bumper and rock sliders
- WARN Industries — winch
- Custom Splice — billet winch fairlead
- Rigid Industries — LED lights
- Factory UTV — UHMW skid plate and rocker guards
- Axia Alloys — mirrors
See the complete vehicle and its subsequent upgrades in our 2011 Kawasaki Teryx build project.
Area BFE Photo Gallery
Planning an Area BFE UTV Ride
Area BFE is located on private property south of Moab. Access policies, trail conditions, recommended equipment and donation procedures can change, so consult the official Area BFE website before visiting.
The following directions and trail descriptions reflect our 2011 visit and should be treated as historical information rather than current navigation guidance.
2011 Directions from Moab
From Moab, travel south on Highway 191 for approximately 13 miles. Turn left onto Pole Canyon Road, opposite the road leading toward Behind the Rocks. The Area BFE parking area was approximately three miles down the maintained dirt road.
- Highway 191 turnoff: N38° 25.2649′ W109° 25.964′
- Area BFE parking area: N38° 24.1999′ W109° 24.5073′
Green Day Trail
- 2011 rating: Intermediate to expert
- Description: Separate intermediate and expert lines with bypasses around many of the most difficult obstacles
- Recommended equipment in 2011: Minimum 33-inch tires, at least one locking differential and a winch
Helldorado Trail
- 2011 rating: Expert
- Description: An extreme rock-crawling trail where vehicle damage is possible
- Recommended equipment in 2011: Minimum 37-inch tires for full-size vehicles, locking differentials, winch, spare parts, welding capability and an experienced spotter
- Important: Do not attempt the trail alone
Area BFE gave our newly completed Kawasaki Teryx an extreme first test, but the suspension, tires, protection and recovery equipment all performed as intended. It remains one of the most memorable days from that 2011 Moab trip.
