Updated September 2026: This review was conducted in 2016 with the original three-pedal Yamaha YXZ1000R. Later versions—including the 2017 YXZ1000R SS, the substantially revised 2019 platform and the six-speed 2024 model—addressed several of the low-speed limitations discussed below. Visit our Yamaha YXZ1000R history and model guide for the complete evolution of the platform.
By Seth Fargher
The original Yamaha YXZ1000R was unlike any production side-by-side available when it arrived for the 2016 model year. Its high-revving 998cc three-cylinder engine and five-speed sequential manual transmission promised an unusually engaging driving experience—but they also raised questions about how the pure-sport machine would perform outside the dunes and open desert.
To find out, we drove a stock YXZ1000R on the tight, rocky East Coast trails at Windrock Park in Oliver Springs, Tennessee. The test revealed a machine that was precise, fast and rewarding when the trail opened up, but considerably more demanding when speeds dropped.
Taking the Original YXZ1000R Into the Woods
My first opportunity to drive a YXZ1000R came at Camp RZR West. Driving the manual-transmission Yamaha in the dunes was fun, but it was also a completely new experience. Operating its clutch and sequential gearbox was not quite like driving a manual-transmission car down the interstate.
Regardless of terrain, the driver must remain aware of engine speed, the selected gear and what lies ahead. If the engine is idling along and a large dune or steep climb approaches, the driver needs to downshift or raise the rpm before starting up it. The YXZ consequently requires more planning than a conventional belt-driven automatic UTV.
The same characteristics were apparent in the woods. Trees, rocks, changing grades and limited sightlines required more frequent speed and gear changes. Drivers also had to remain conscious of the YXZ1000R’s 64-inch width when threading it between trees.
I tested the machine during the Windrock Spring Jamboree with Curtis Blanton, Yamaha’s Southeast regional manager at the time. We climbed into a stock YXZ1000R and headed onto the trails at Windrock Park.
Precise Steering and Strong High-Speed Performance
The first portion of the trail was relatively flat and wide, providing enough room to build speed. Watching trees pass at approximately 45 mph felt very different from driving across an open dune, but the YXZ1000R’s quick, precise steering made the machine feel controlled.
The steering wheel felt slightly smaller than those in some competing UTVs, which I preferred. Combined with electronic power steering, it made the Yamaha responsive and easy to place accurately in tighter sections.
In faster portions of the trail, the original YXZ1000R performed extremely well. It accelerated quickly, and grabbing gears added an entirely new dimension to driving a UTV. The same involvement that made it entertaining at speed, however, made it more difficult to operate when the trail became rough or technical.
A High-Revving Engine That Demands the Right Gear
The YXZ1000R’s naturally aspirated three-cylinder engine loves rpm. During our test, it felt happiest between approximately 7,000 and 9,000 rpm. Keeping the engine in that range became more complicated when rocks, traffic or tight turns forced us to slow down.
We did not attempt serious rock crawling, but several trail sections contained large boulders and exposed rock. The driver needed to balance the throttle and clutch while choosing the appropriate gear—tasks handled automatically by the CVTs used in most competing sport UTVs.
The selectable 2WD, 4WD and 4WD differential-lock system provided plenty of traction, and the YXZ1000R’s ground clearance was impressive. Several times I passed close to rocks and expected contact with the chassis, but it rarely occurred.
The Yamaha could negotiate rough terrain, but doing so required more effort than in an automatic UTV. That was manageable for occasional technical obstacles. A long, slow-moving line of trail traffic was less compatible with a high-revving engine, tall first gear and manually operated clutch.
Suspension Performance in Slow and Fast Terrain
The YXZ1000R’s suspension also favored speed. It worked well through fast sections and absorbed hard impacts from the man-made drainage berms crossing portions of the trail.
At slower speeds over rocks and repeated trail chop, the ride was less compliant. The suspension felt designed to manage larger impacts at speed rather than isolate occupants from every low-speed obstacle. That setup worked well in whoops and when striking a rock at speed, but felt less comfortable after traffic or terrain reduced our momentum.
Yamaha was not offering public YXZ1000R demo rides at this particular Windrock event. Blanton explained that the original machine was intended primarily for dunes, desert and other faster terrain. Slow group rides could require considerable clutch work, potentially making the experience frustrating and increasing clutch wear.
Testing a Rekluse-Equipped YXZ1000R
Yamaha offered a GYTR Rekluse clutch kit to improve the original YXZ1000R’s low-speed drivability and reduce the risk of stalling. We also drove a Rekluse-equipped YXZ1000R owned by Anthony Umphrey of Tony’s Toys. The vehicle was fitted with 29-inch ITP UltraCross tires.
The combination made rough sections easier and allowed the engine to operate at lower speeds with less concern about stalling. The Rekluse system did not, however, turn the YXZ1000R into an automatic UTV.
The driver still needed to select the proper gear. Pulling to a stop in fourth gear and attempting to accelerate without downshifting could cause excessive clutch slippage. The Rekluse was primarily intended to prevent stalling and assist during low-rpm operation, reducing the amount of manual clutch feathering required.
The system also required the proper break-in procedure and adjustment. Incorrect setup or operation could produce excessive slippage and damage the clutch or Rekluse friction discs.
YXZ1000R Versus Yamaha Wolverine on the Trail
After driving the YXZ1000R, I spent a short period in the original Yamaha Wolverine. The Wolverine lacked the YXZ1000R’s acceleration and high-rpm excitement, but its automatic transmission and trail-oriented chassis made it much easier to operate in these particular conditions.
I would not necessarily say the Wolverine was more enjoyable, but it was unquestionably better suited to slow, technical group trail riding. The YXZ1000R became more rewarding as speeds increased, while the Wolverine required less concentration and effort when the trail tightened.
2016 Yamaha YXZ1000R Woods Review Verdict
Driving the original Yamaha YXZ1000R in the dunes and on East Coast trails reinforced our initial impression of the machine. It was exceptionally entertaining, sounded fantastic at high rpm and offered a level of driver involvement unavailable in other production side-by-sides of the period.
Its comfortable cockpit, accurate steering and direct connection between the engine and wheels made it feel more like an off-road sports car than a conventional UTV. On a closed course or a wide, flowing trail where it could maintain speed, the YXZ1000R was tremendously rewarding.
Tight, rocky terrain exposed the compromises. The tall gearing, manually operated clutch and firm suspension required more effort during slow travel. A relaxed, parade-style group ride was not the environment in which the original YXZ1000R performed at its best.
Yamaha subsequently acted on feedback from owners and testers. The YXZ1000R SS eliminated the clutch pedal with an electronically controlled clutch and paddle shifters. Yamaha then introduced substantially lower gearing, revised suspension and numerous chassis improvements for 2019. A six-speed transmission and Auto-Shift technology followed for 2024.
Those later developments do not diminish the original YXZ1000R. Instead, they show how Yamaha gradually expanded the capabilities of an uncompromising first-generation sport machine. Explore every major version and model-year change in our complete Yamaha YXZ1000R history, specifications and model guide.
