Originally published in May 2008. This event report has been updated and reformatted with full-size photography to preserve an important period in the development of the sport UTV and its aftermarket.
The 2008 Extreme Motorsports Expo offered a revealing snapshot of how quickly the side-by-side market was changing. Held May 16–18, 2008, at the Orange County Fair and Exposition Center in Costa Mesa, California, the show brought together custom UTV builders, suspension manufacturers, performance companies and off-road accessory brands.
Only one year earlier, the 2007 Extreme Motorsports Expo had been dominated by customized Yamaha Rhinos while the newly introduced Polaris Ranger RZR was just beginning to attract attention. By May 2008, the transformation was unmistakable.
The Yamaha Rhino remained one of the most heavily customized vehicles at the show, but its single-cylinder engine and utility-based chassis were beginning to face much stronger competition. The sport-focused Polaris RZR was gaining momentum, while the new V-twin Kawasaki Teryx had immediately become a major development platform for builders.
Together, these three vehicles helped define the pivotal year documented in our feature, UTV History 2008: The Year Sport Side-by-Sides Took Shape.
Our Favorite UTV Builds From the Show
Three vehicles stood out because they represented the leading UTV platforms of 2008: the Kawasaki Teryx, Polaris RZR and Yamaha Rhino.
Funco Motorsports Kawasaki Teryx
Our favorite vehicle at the expo was the Funco Motorsports Kawasaki Teryx. The build combined Funco long-travel suspension, a custom cage and bumper with Sway-A-Way shocks, Jet Trim seats and paint by Twisted Images.
The original Teryx had only recently reached the market, yet builders were already substantially increasing its suspension travel and track width. Its 749cc V-twin engine also gave performance companies an appealing alternative to the Rhino’s single-cylinder powerplant.
This show build became part of our larger 2008 Kawasaki Teryx buildup project, which ultimately included long-travel suspension, engine upgrades, protection, lighting, communications and navigation equipment.
SSV Works Polaris RZR
The SSV Works Polaris RZR demonstrated how quickly the aftermarket had embraced Polaris’ sport-oriented platform. Long Travel Industries supplied the suspension and cage, King shocks controlled the additional travel, and the RZR rode on OMF beadlock wheels and Maxxis tires. Twisted Stitch seats and an SSV Works audio system completed the build.
The model-specific speaker enclosure was also significant. UTV audio was becoming a real product category rather than an improvised adaptation of equipment intended for boats or automobiles.
The RZR’s rapid transition from a new model into a major racing and customization platform is explored in our complete history of the Polaris RZR.
SDR Motorsports Yamaha Rhino
The SDR Motorsports Yamaha Rhino showed how far Rhino customization had progressed by 2008. Its extensive build included an SDR 2+2 cage, doors and bumper, Fullbore Innovations bodywork, Machine Trix mirrors, Lone Star Racing long-travel suspension, King shocks, PRP seats and a Pro Precision tilt-steering system.
Most importantly, Desert Dog Offroad replaced the Rhino’s original single-cylinder engine with a Can-Am Rotax V-twin. Engine conversions of this type demonstrated the lengths builders were willing to go to extract more performance from the influential Rhino platform.
Kawasaki Teryx Aftermarket Development Accelerates
The amount of Teryx equipment at the expo was remarkable considering how new the vehicle was. Manufacturers were already offering long-travel suspension, replacement shocks, exhaust systems, cages, bumpers, seat mounts and other model-specific components.
FST and Funco Long-Travel Suspension
Four Stroke Tech and Funco Motorsports both displayed long-travel systems for the original Teryx. Wider A-arms and longer axles increased track width and allowed builders to substantially increase wheel travel over the factory arrangement.
Gibson Teryx Exhaust
Gibson Performance displayed a slip-on exhaust system for Kawasaki’s new V-twin. Exhaust, intake, ignition and clutch modifications soon became common first-stage performance upgrades for the carbureted 2008 Teryx.
New Products for the Polaris RZR
The Polaris RZR was receiving much more than conventional utility-vehicle accessories. Companies were developing appearance packages, long-travel suspension, engine components, audio systems, doors, cages and seating specifically for the compact sport side-by-side.
Maier RZR Bodywork
Maier displayed replacement bodywork for the RZR, including a carbon-fiber-look finish. Products like these reflected the growing demand for personalization as owners treated UTVs more like custom sand cars and off-road vehicles.
Twisted Stitch RZR Bench Seat
Twisted Stitch displayed a replacement bench seat for the two-seat RZR. Seating, harnesses and occupant-containment products were becoming major parts of the UTV accessory market as owners drove their machines harder and modified the factory cages.
Lighting, Chassis and Wheel Technology
Several products at the show foreshadowed accessories that would eventually become commonplace on recreational and sport UTV builds.
Baja Designs displayed compact LED lighting on a Mafia Industries RZR. LED off-road lights were still relatively new, but their efficiency, durability and compact size made them particularly well suited to side-by-sides.
iTi Performance showed sway-bar systems for the RZR, Rhino and Teryx. As suspension travel and track width increased, controlling body roll became an increasingly important part of creating a balanced long-travel package.
OMF beadlock wheels were another familiar sight. Beadlocks allowed owners to run reduced tire pressures in sand and rocky terrain while helping retain the tire bead on the wheel.
The UTV Market Extended Beyond the Big Three
The Rhino, RZR and Teryx generated most of the attention, but the expo also included the Polaris Ranger, Arctic Cat Prowler and several alternative UTV manufacturers.
The Polaris Ranger Crew demonstrated that the utility side of the market was also evolving. Its multi-passenger layout offered a different solution from the aftermarket rear-seat conversions commonly installed on Rhinos and other two-seat machines.
Companies including Redline, Ruesch and Joyner were also pursuing the rapidly growing recreational UTV market. Some of these vehicles disappeared as the industry consolidated, but their presence illustrates how much experimentation surrounded the category in 2008.
Why the 2008 Extreme Motorsports Expo Matters
The 2008 Extreme Motorsports Expo captured the UTV aftermarket during an important transition.
The Yamaha Rhino remained enormously influential, and manufacturers continued developing four-seat cages, long-travel suspension, custom bodywork and engine conversions for it. However, the market was no longer centered on one vehicle.
Polaris had given builders a compact, sport-focused platform with the RZR. Kawasaki had introduced a recreation-oriented V-twin alternative with the Teryx. Within months, both vehicles had attracted specialized suspension systems, cages, seats, exhausts, audio equipment and bodywork.
The products may appear simple compared with the integrated accessories and sophisticated suspension systems available today, but many modern UTV upgrade categories were already clearly established. Builders wanted more wheel travel, more power, better occupant containment, improved lighting, integrated audio and a more distinctive appearance.
That combination of new vehicles and rapid aftermarket development is why 2008 became such an important year in UTV history.
Continue exploring early UTV history: Visit our complete histories of the Yamaha Rhino, Polaris RZR and Kawasaki Teryx, or see what changed by the 2008 Sand Sports Super Show.
More event coverage can be found in the UTVGuide.net Event & Show Information archive.
