When the 2008 Kawasaki Teryx 750 4×4 arrived, builders immediately recognized that its sturdy chassis and 749cc V-twin offered considerable potential beyond the stock vehicle. Side x Side Action Magazine’s 2008 Battle of the Builders put that potential on display by giving 12 aftermarket companies the same basic assignment: transform a stock Teryx into their interpretation of the ultimate two-seat UTV.
The resulting lineup captured an important moment in the history of the Kawasaki Teryx. Long before buyers could choose among today’s specialized sport and recreational UTVs, builders created their own solutions with engine modifications, long-travel suspension, custom cages, seating, protection and other components.
Twelve Builders Start With the Same Kawasaki Teryx
The event assembled 12 custom machines based on the original 2008 Kawasaki Teryx. Although every company started with the same carbureted two-seat platform, each builder approached the project from a different perspective.
Some emphasized suspension travel and aggressive performance. Others concentrated on fabrication, cockpit comfort, lighting, audio or all-around trail capability. Together, the machines demonstrated how quickly the developing UTV aftermarket had embraced Kawasaki’s first recreational side-by-side.
2008 Kawasaki Teryx Battle of the Builders Participants
The participating companies represented a broad cross-section of the early side-by-side aftermarket:
- Custom Creations
- DragonFire Racing
- Funco
- HRT Motorsports
- PDS Fabrication
- Pro Precision
- Rigid Industries
- Side x Side Outfitterz
- SDR Motorsports
- Speed Industries
- SSV Works
- Xtreme Fabrication
Several of those companies would become closely associated with the growth of the recreational and performance UTV market. The event gave them an opportunity to demonstrate what could be accomplished when the Teryx’s factory configuration was treated as a starting point rather than a finished product.
Driving the Custom Kawasaki Teryx Builds
The Battle of the Builders was more than a static display. I had the opportunity to drive several of the customized Teryx machines during the event and experience how differently each company interpreted the platform.
Other drivers included off-road racing legend Larry Roeseler, motorcycle stunt rider Jason Britton and musician Hank Williams III. Putting the vehicles in the hands of drivers from different backgrounds helped showcase the wide range of directions builders were taking with the new Teryx.
Hank Williams III also drove the UTVGuide.net long-travel Kawasaki Teryx. That machine was developed as a sporty two-seat trail UTV with Funco long-travel suspension, Sway-A-Way shocks, SDR Motorsports fabrication and extensive engine, clutch, protection and cockpit upgrades.
Why the Battle of the Builders Mattered
The event illustrated how different the UTV market was in 2008. Specialized sport side-by-sides were still relatively new, and builders often had to fabricate their own solutions to obtain more suspension travel, power, protection and occupant comfort.
The original Teryx was particularly receptive to that treatment. Its stock performance was relatively conservative, but the strong chassis and V-twin engine provided a solid foundation for trail builds, dune machines and purpose-built race vehicles.
Events like the Battle of the Builders also helped accelerate aftermarket development. Ideas demonstrated on one-off project vehicles could eventually lead to production suspension kits, cages, doors, seats, lighting systems, audio packages and engine components available to regular Teryx owners.
Looking back, these 12 machines document the beginning of an important chapter for Kawasaki. The Teryx had only recently entered the market, but builders were already demonstrating that it could become far more than a conventional utility-oriented side-by-side.
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