Originally published October 24, 2017. This review documents our experience with a Yamaha YXZ1000R SS at Sand Mountain Recreation Area in Nevada.
After testing our Yamaha YXZ1000R SS Special Edition with the GYTR Torque Assist Gear Kit on wooded trails and over the rocks of the Rubicon, it was time to see how the high-revving, naturally aspirated sport UTV would perform in the dunes.
We took the YXZ1000R to Sand Mountain, Nevada, for a weekend of dune and desert riding. The combination was unusual: lower GYTR gearing paired with heavy 30-inch EFX MotoClaw dirt tires instead of lightweight dune tires. That made this a useful real-world test of how much the gearing could compensate for additional rotating weight and traction demands in soft sand.
For more background on this model and its place in Yamaha’s sport UTV lineup, visit our Yamaha YXZ1000R model history and guide.
Our Yamaha YXZ1000R SS Test Setup
We had been testing this YXZ1000R SS Special Edition for several months. It was equipped with FOX Podium X2 shocks, Yamaha’s Sport Shift system, the GYTR Torque Assist Gear Kit and several other GYTR accessories.
Our first evaluation took place at Stony Lonesome OHV Park in Alabama. Read the complete YXZ1000R SS GYTR Torque Assist Gear Kit review. We later took the same machine over the Rubicon Trail for our Yamaha YXZ1000R SS rock-crawling review.
The GYTR Torque Assist Gear Kit lowers first gear by 70 percent and second through fifth gears by 30 percent. The lower gearing had already made the YXZ substantially more capable in technical terrain, although I was still looking for better low-speed control in the rocks.
I left the YXZ1000R in the same configuration for the Sand Mountain trip. It was running 30x10R14 radial EFX MotoClaw tires, which are taller and heavier than an ideal dune setup. We also planned to explore the surrounding desert, so keeping the dirt tires installed allowed us to use the same setup everywhere.
Riding the YXZ1000R SS at Sand Mountain
Sand Mountain differs from the Imperial Sand Dunes. The riding area is smaller, but its signature climbs are long and frequently steep. Earlier generations of UTVs often needed creative lines and plenty of momentum to reach the top. By 2017, turbocharged sport UTVs could climb it with considerably less effort.
Our YXZ1000R was naturally aspirated and wearing heavy dirt tires, so I wasn’t certain how well it would tackle the larger climbs. Our group included two Polaris RZR XP Turbos, a RZR XP 900 and several ATVs. Even though I wasn’t driving the fastest machine, my friends put me at the front of the group.
Our first ride took us to the east end of the recreation area and a location known as “End of the World.” The route crosses a few rocky sections that aren’t friendly to paddle tires. The 30-inch EFX MotoClaws let us cross those areas without worrying about damaging a set of dune tires.
The YXZ1000R wasn’t the fastest machine in the group, but it went everywhere I pointed it. I could maintain enough speed that the drivers in the turbocharged RZRs weren’t bored following me.
Over the next two days, we completed several rides through the dunes, with the YXZ leading much of the time. A set of lightweight dune tires—or even smaller and lighter dirt tires—would have provided a better performance comparison. Even with the 30-inch MotoClaws, the turbo machines generally passed me only when we attacked the mountain’s steep face.
Sport Shift in the Dunes
I recorded a quick GoPro video while taking a lap around Super Bowl. It shows how easily the YXZ1000R SS clicks through its gears using the steering-column-mounted paddles.
The video also illustrates the engine’s character. The 998cc three-cylinder engine develops its strongest power above roughly 7,000 rpm and continues toward a redline of approximately 10,500 rpm. The YXZ needs to be kept in that upper portion of the rev range when climbing steep dunes.
Watch the Yamaha YXZ1000R SS run through Super Bowl at Sand Mountain on Instagram.
Super Bowl is steep, and the video shows the YXZ losing momentum as the climb progresses. Smaller and lighter tires would have helped it carry more speed. Purpose-built dune tires would likely have improved both flotation and acceleration considerably.
Exploring Beyond the Dunes
On Saturday, we rode to the historic Sand Springs Pony Express Station. The station was constructed in 1860 and served riders during the short operating life of the Pony Express.
After visiting the station, we headed into the desert for an approximately 25-mile loop. One of our destinations was Project Shoal, the site of a 1963 underground nuclear test south of Sand Mountain.
There isn’t much at Project Shoal beyond the historic marker, but the ride makes it an interesting destination from Sand Mountain.
Project Shoal coordinates: 39°12′00″N, 118°22′49″W
Desert Performance and Top Speed
The YXZ1000R really shined once we reached the open desert. Its FOX shocks soaked up the rough terrain, while the 30-inch MotoClaws were much better suited to the hardpack than they were to the soft sand.
I was also curious about the effect the lower GYTR gearing would have on top speed. In fifth gear, I reached an indicated 65 mph and still had some engine speed remaining before redline. Based on that run, the setup appeared capable of approximately 70 mph, although the three-cylinder engine was working high in its rev range.
After leaving Project Shoal, we traveled east into Dixie Valley and then north across Highway 50. We eventually left the desert hardpack and reentered the dunes through End of the World before returning to camp.
Yamaha YXZ1000R SS Dune Review Verdict
After driving the YXZ1000R SS in the dunes, desert and rocks, I came away impressed by how solid and precise the machine felt. Visibility to the terrain immediately in front of the vehicle was excellent, the power steering felt appropriate in every environment and the cockpit provided enough room for my 6-foot-1-inch frame.
The Sport Shift system suited my driving style better than the traditional manual transmission. Pulling the paddles and working through the five-speed gearbox made the YXZ feel more engaging than a conventional belt-driven UTV.
The GYTR Torque Assist Gear Kit was a critical part of this particular setup. The YXZ1000R likely would have struggled much more in the dunes with the tall, heavy 30-inch tires and stock gearing. With the TAG Kit installed, the overall gearing felt well matched to those tires.
The main tradeoff was noise. The engine and drivetrain produced noticeable gear whine, and the engine became loud when operated in the upper portion of its powerband. That wasn’t a major concern during aggressive dune riding, but it became more apparent during longer desert sections with a passenger.
I also wanted more torque at lower engine speeds. The YXZ1000R behaves more like a high-performance two-stroke ATV than a large-displacement V-twin: it rewards frequent shifting and needs rpm to deliver its best performance. That character works well for short-course racing and can be entertaining in the dunes, but it requires more driver involvement on recreational trail rides.
For this trip, the combination of Sport Shift and the GYTR Torque Assist Gear Kit transformed the YXZ1000R into a surprisingly capable all-terrain machine. It wasn’t as fast up the steepest dune faces as the turbocharged UTVs in our group, but it handled every destination we attempted and was especially enjoyable once the route transitioned from sand to open desert.
Continue reading: Explore our complete Yamaha YXZ1000R history, reviews and model guide, or compare this test with our YXZ1000R SS Rubicon rock-crawling review.
