Originally published in February 2008. This report has been rebuilt using the original full-size photographs and updated with historical context. For current riding and destination information, see our Glamis destination ride guide.
By February 2008, the recreational UTV market was changing quickly. The Yamaha Rhino had established the potential of a sport-oriented side-by-side, the first Polaris RZRs were already receiving long-travel suspension and Kawasaki had just entered the category with the V-twin-powered Teryx 750.
This trip to the Imperial Sand Dunes gave us an opportunity to drive the new 2008 Kawasaki Teryx, compare its stock suspension with replacement Bilstein shocks and look at the latest UTV builds appearing around Glamis.
The trip also coincided with an impressive desert wildflower bloom. Away from the high-traffic dune areas, the usually dry landscape was covered with patches of white and purple flowers.
The 2008 Kawasaki Teryx Arrives at Glamis
Kawasaki introduced the original Teryx 750 for the 2008 model year. Its 749cc V-twin engine immediately distinguished it from the single-cylinder Yamaha Rhino and most other side-by-sides available at the time.
The Teryx combined that V-twin power with selectable four-wheel drive, a locking front differential and a useful cargo bed. Although it retained practical utility features, the chassis and engine gave aftermarket companies a promising new foundation for recreational builds.
Glamis was a natural place to evaluate the machine. Soft sand demands power, while dune transitions and uneven desert terrain quickly expose weaknesses in suspension damping and chassis balance.
For our complete driving impressions, specifications and discussion of the model’s historical importance, read the 2008 Kawasaki Teryx review.
Testing the Stock Teryx Suspension
The original Teryx suspension was adequate for recreational driving, but aggressive use exposed its limitations. The stock shocks could become unsettled when the vehicle encountered a series of bumps or carried speed through uneven terrain.
We photographed the Teryx with its original suspension before evaluating a set of stock-length replacement shocks from Bilstein. Keeping the original suspension dimensions made this a more straightforward upgrade than converting the vehicle to a complete long-travel system.
Bilstein Replacement Shocks
The replacement Bilstein shocks were designed to improve suspension control without requiring wider suspension arms or other major chassis changes. That made them an attractive option for owners who wanted improved handling but did not need the width or expense of a complete long-travel system.
See the complete installation and driving impressions in our original Kawasaki Teryx shocks review.
Early Long-Travel Polaris RZRs
The Polaris Ranger RZR had been introduced less than a year earlier, but the aftermarket was already moving rapidly. Builders added long-travel suspension, fabricated cages, bumpers, doors and custom bodywork almost as soon as the first machines arrived at dealerships.
The RZR’s lower seating position and rear-engine layout made it fundamentally different from the utility-oriented side-by-sides that preceded it. Its popularity at Glamis offered an early indication of how strongly the market would respond to a factory-built recreational UTV.
The RZR would eventually expand into a broad family of trail, dune, desert and rock-crawling machines. Follow that development in our complete history of the Polaris RZR.
Custom Multi-Seat Polaris Rangers
Before manufacturers offered today’s extensive selection of four- and six-seat UTVs, owners and fabricators created their own solutions. Custom cages and rear seating allowed early Rangers to carry additional passengers around camp and through the dunes.
These conversions were among the first signs that consumers wanted more passenger capacity from side-by-sides. Manufacturers would eventually respond with factory-built crew and four-seat recreational models.
A Four-Seat Kawasaki Teryx
Fabricators were already applying the same multi-seat formula to the new Kawasaki. This Teryx used an extended cage and rear seating to increase passenger capacity while retaining the basic first-generation chassis.
These early builds helped demonstrate demand for additional passenger capacity. Kawasaki later developed factory four-seat Teryx models, but conversions such as this one were providing the basic formula years earlier.
The MicroTouch Race Rhino
The Yamaha Rhino remained an important platform for competition and high-performance builds. The MicroTouch race Rhino photographed during this trip illustrates how far the vehicle had evolved from its original utility-oriented configuration.
The build included Lonestar Racing plus-6.5-inch long-travel suspension and Bilstein shocks. Widening the suspension substantially increased stability and provided room for more wheel travel, making the vehicle better suited to fast desert terrain.
The Rhino created the market that made builds like this possible. Read more about its lasting influence in our history of the Yamaha Rhino.
Sand Jack Dune Recovery Tool
Soft sand creates a particular recovery problem. A conventional jack can sink rather than lift the vehicle, and digging enough space beneath a tire or suspension component can be difficult.
The Sand Jack photographed during this trip used an inflatable airbag to distribute the load across a larger area. Once positioned beneath the vehicle, compressed air raised the axle and created room to work around the tire.
A Rare Glamis Wildflower Bloom
Glamis is best known for towering dunes, but the surrounding desert can change dramatically after sufficient winter rain. During this February trip, broad areas away from the main dunes were covered with seasonal wildflowers.
Why This February 2008 Trip Mattered
This trip captured three important UTV platforms at a pivotal moment. The Yamaha Rhino aftermarket was mature enough to produce sophisticated race vehicles, fabricators were rapidly developing long-travel components for the new Polaris RZR and the Kawasaki Teryx had just added V-twin power to the recreational side-by-side market.
The custom four- and five-seat conversions also foreshadowed another major industry trend. Owners were already demonstrating that they wanted performance-oriented UTVs capable of carrying family and friends, long before four-seat sport models became common.
Viewed alongside our January 2008 Glamis report, the photographs provide a valuable record of how quickly the UTV industry was evolving. In only a few months, the market had moved from being dominated by customized Rhinos to supporting three distinct recreational platforms with rapidly expanding aftermarket support.
For current places to visit and riding destinations within the Imperial Sand Dunes, see our Glamis destination ride guide. You can also explore more historical rides in the UTVGuide.net Trip Reports archive.
