Selected as UTVGuide.net’s November 2013 UTV of the Month, this SDR Motorsports Can-Am Maverick MAX captured how quickly the aftermarket embraced Can-Am’s first four-seat sport UTV. SDR transformed a new 2014 Maverick MAX 1000R X rs DPS into a wide, long-travel dune machine with a custom cage and doors, HCR Racing suspension, King shocks, upgraded seating and a dedicated sand wheel-and-tire package.
The project appeared at the 2013 Sand Sports Super Show and the 2013 SEMA Show before heading to Glamis. More than a show vehicle, the Maverick MAX was equipped to carry four people through the dunes with substantially more suspension travel, a wider stance and improved occupant support.
November 2013 UTV of the Month
The original Can-Am Maverick introduced a genuine high-performance alternative to the Polaris RZR XP, but its two-seat configuration limited its appeal to families and larger riding groups. Can-Am addressed that limitation with the 2014 Maverick MAX, extending the platform into a four-seat sport side-by-side.
The MAX used the same 976cc Rotax V-twin found in the two-seat first-generation Can-Am Maverick 1000R. Can-Am rated the engine at 101 horsepower, making the Maverick MAX one of the most powerful four-seat production UTVs available at the time.
Its wheelbase was 29.5 inches longer than the two-seat Maverick. Can-Am also incorporated its Dynamic Passenger Comfort system and elevated rear seating to improve passenger visibility and make the second row feel less confined.
SDR Motorsports started with the top-tier Maverick MAX 1000R X rs DPS. Factory equipment included Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering, the quick-engaging Visco-Lok QE front differential, FOX 2.5 Podium shocks, upgraded instrumentation, X-package trim and beadlock wheels.
The completed Maverick MAX on display during the 2013 show season.
SDR Motorsports Cage, Roof and Doors
SDR Motorsports designed a complete MMXR-4 cage system that replaced the tall factory structure with a lower and more streamlined profile. The custom cage incorporated an aluminum roof, a roof-mounted LED light scoop and a rear LED brake-light panel.
SDR also fabricated four matching doors. Their single-pivot hinge design was intended to reduce rattling while creating a large opening that made both seating rows easier to access. The cage, roof and doors established the visual direction of the build while supporting SDR’s focus on strength, occupant protection and styling.
Twisted Stitch Interior
SDR replaced the factory seats with Twisted Stitch suspension seats and matching harnesses. The seats provided more lateral support for aggressive dune driving while improving comfort for all four occupants.
The coordinated upholstery also carried the build’s color scheme into the cockpit. SSV Works side-view mirrors completed the functional interior upgrades and gave the driver better visibility around the substantially widened vehicle.
HCR Racing Long-Travel Suspension
The most significant performance change was the HCR Racing long-travel suspension system. The kit added four inches of width per side, increasing the Maverick MAX’s overall width by approximately eight inches.
HCR also extended the wheelbase by approximately three inches. The front wheels moved two inches forward, while the rear wheels moved one inch rearward. In addition to creating clearance and a more aggressive stance, the longer wheelbase and wider track increased stability in the dunes.
King Racing 2.5-inch shocks controlled approximately 18 inches of wheel travel. Summers Brothers 4340 chromoly axles transferred power to the wheels and accommodated the additional suspension width.
HiPer Wheels and STU Sand Tires
SDR worked with Fullerton Sand Sports to create a dedicated dune setup. Custom-carved STU Sand Blaster tires were mounted on lightweight HiPer Racing carbon-fiber beadlock wheels.
The vehicle also had a separate dirt package consisting of Method wheels and GBC Mongrel tires. Maintaining both sand and hard-terrain setups gave the heavily modified Maverick MAX more versatility than its dune-focused appearance might suggest.
Lighting and Custom Graphics
A Rigid Industries LED light above the windshield provided additional illumination for nighttime dune runs. A pair of Safeglo illuminated whips mounted at the rear made the four-seat machine easier to see beyond dune crests.
ProLineWraps designed the custom graphics package. Its flowing colors tied together the black SDR cage, suspension components, interior and carbon-fiber wheels while helping the Maverick MAX stand out at the Sand Sports Super Show and SEMA.
SDR Motorsports Maverick MAX Build Specifications
- 2014 Can-Am Maverick MAX 1000R X rs DPS
- 976cc Rotax V-twin with a claimed 101 horsepower
- SDR Motorsports MMXR-4 roll cage
- SDR Motorsports four-door system
- SDR aluminum roof with integrated LED light scoop
- SDR rear LED brake-light panel
- HCR Racing long-travel suspension
- Approximately eight-inch increase in overall width
- Approximately three-inch wheelbase extension
- Approximately 18 inches of wheel travel
- King Racing 2.5-inch shocks
- Summers Brothers 4340 chromoly axles
- Twisted Stitch suspension seats and harnesses
- SSV Works side-view mirrors
- Rigid Industries LED lighting
- Safeglo illuminated whips
- HiPer Racing carbon-fiber beadlock sand wheels
- Custom-carved STU Sand Blaster tires from Fullerton Sand Sports
- Method dirt wheels
- GBC Mongrel dirt tires
- Custom graphics by ProLineWraps
Why This Early Maverick MAX Build Matters
This project arrived when four-seat sport UTVs were still a relatively new part of the market. The first Maverick MAX already delivered considerably more performance than earlier family-oriented side-by-sides, but SDR demonstrated how quickly an aftermarket builder could transform the production platform.
The cage, four-door system and suspension seats improved the passenger environment, while the HCR long-travel suspension, King shocks and dedicated sand equipment made the vehicle better suited to fast dune driving. The result combined the passenger capacity of the Maverick MAX with the stance and capability of a purpose-built sand car.
Later four-seat machines would offer more factory suspension travel, greater width and turbocharged power. This SDR build represents the period when achieving that level of specialization still required a coordinated collection of fabrication, suspension and aftermarket upgrades.
About SDR Motorsports
SDR Motorsports opened in 2008 and became known for custom cages, doors, roofs, suspension components and complete UTV builds. The company’s projects have ranged from individual bolt-on accessories to extensively modified turnkey vehicles for the dunes, desert and trail.
Learn more about the company and its projects in our SDR Motorsports company profile.
More UTV history: Explore the complete UTV of the Month archive, featuring custom UTV builds selected from 2008 through 2016.
