Originally featured as UTVGuide.net’s UTV of the Month for June 2008.
In 2008, the Yamaha Rhino 660 was one of the most popular platforms in the rapidly growing custom side-by-side scene. Long-travel suspension, fabricated cages, performance engine work and premium seating could transform Yamaha’s compact two-seater into a completely different machine.
Simpson Racing’s Yamaha Rhino 660 captured that era perfectly. Built with an emphasis on occupant protection, desert performance and unmistakable custom styling, it combined Simpson seating and restraints with extensive fabrication from Mafia Industries and a long list of performance upgrades.
Simpson Long Travel Yamaha Rhino
A Safety-Focused Rhino Interior
As expected from a company with deep roots in motorsports safety, Simpson Racing equipped the Rhino with Simpson seats and restraints. The upgraded seating provided more support than the factory buckets, while the multi-point restraint system helped keep the driver and passenger securely positioned when traveling through rough terrain.
A PCI race radio added dependable communication, while an ARC Audio system brought entertainment to the custom cockpit. Machine Trix mirrors completed the driver-focused interior.
Simpson Long Travel Yamaha Rhino
Mafia Industries Long-Travel Suspension and Fabrication
Mafia Industries handled many of the Rhino’s most visible modifications, including the long-travel suspension, roll cage, doors and bumpers. Together, these components gave the machine a wider, lower and more aggressive appearance than a stock Rhino.
The long-travel suspension was paired with Radflo shocks and Dirt Industries front spindles. This combination increased the Rhino’s capability in rough desert terrain while giving it the stance that defined high-end custom Rhinos of the period.
Rhino 660 Engine and Cooling Upgrades
The carbureted 660cc single-cylinder engine received performance work from Alba Racing, along with a Web Cam and Alba exhaust. These upgrades were intended to improve power and throttle response while giving the Rhino a more aggressive exhaust note.
A PWR radiator helped manage engine temperatures—an important consideration for a modified Rhino driven in demanding desert conditions.
Simpson Long Travel Yamaha Rhino
Beadlock Wheels, Goodyear Tires and HID Lighting
OMF beadlock wheels were wrapped in Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tires, providing a durable wheel-and-tire package with an aggressive off-road appearance. Beadlock wheels were especially valuable for drivers who lowered tire pressures to improve traction and ride quality in sand or rough terrain.
Baja Designs HID lights provided substantially more nighttime visibility than the Rhino’s original lighting. Fullbore Innovations bodywork completed the transformation and helped separate the Simpson Racing build from more conventional Rhino projects.
Simpson Long Travel Yamaha Rhino
Simpson Racing Yamaha Rhino 660 Build List
- Simpson Racing seats
- Simpson Racing restraints
- Mafia Industries long-travel suspension
- Mafia Industries roll cage
- Mafia Industries doors and bumpers
- Radflo shocks
- Web Cam
- Alba Racing engine work
- Alba exhaust
- OMF beadlock wheels
- Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tires
- Fullbore Innovations bodywork
- Machine Trix mirrors
- PWR radiator
- Baja Designs HID lights
- PCI race radio
- ARC Audio system
- Dirt Industries front spindles
A Snapshot of the Early Custom UTV Industry
Today’s sport UTVs arrive with long-travel suspension, protective doors, supportive seats and powerful lighting systems directly from the factory. In 2008, owners relied on fabricators and aftermarket companies to create that kind of machine from the much simpler Yamaha Rhino platform.
The Simpson Racing Rhino demonstrates how quickly the aftermarket embraced Yamaha’s pioneering side-by-side. It also represents the period when companies specializing in racing safety, suspension, fabrication and engine performance began developing products specifically for UTVs.
Other notable builds from this period include the radically restyled SDR Motorsports Yamaha Rhino 660 and the V-twin-powered Rotax Your Rhino project. More early custom machines can be found in the UTVGuide.net UTV of the Month archive.
