Can't wait to get my hands on one some I can design and start building our Hester Edition Elka shocks for this sucker, take it to a whole new world of ride, capabilities and performance! Nice to finally see showing the interior too, nice review!
I was going to buy an Rmax but now may wait till this top model from Kawasaki comes out to dealers so I can see it for myself...so far I like what I see and HEAR...yes hear because that 4cyl sounds a lot quieter than the Rmax's twin cyl which is really loud which is a turn off to an otherwise good SxS...I don't understand people saying this is not a competitor to other utility/sport SxS's it is without doubt a competitor IMO...I will be looking into the top model Kawi Ridge...I've been a Can Am guy since 06 when the first Can Am outlander 850 hit the scene then had several Can Am SxS's including a 22 Mav Turbo RR so that takes care of my all out performance need however I'm now looking into a sport Utility and this top model Kawi with the 116hp could be the one I'm looking for...I'm not a stranger to Kawi's I had the first 2002 Kawi 650 V-twin cyl in my area and followed with the 700 then the Brute Force 750 and all were very reliable so can't see these not being on par reliability wise.
It basically is a competitor for them machines with more power than both. I'm more of a Polaris fan but kawasaki machines are well built really can't knock them. Now it's time for this motor supercharged in the krx.
Engine noise would get on my nerves and running 8500 rpm at 57 mph is roughly 2000 more than a Ranger or Can Am defender, now granted if they are going after a the sport ute side not the Utility like a ranger or defender then it has to have that rpm to be sporty. However with all that rpm, the clutch stays closed so often it will suffer from same fate as the KRX when used for anything other than rock crawling, premature clutch roller and weight failure due to the clutch being closed so much of time and that is due to low gearing. I use HVAC on my personal property and leave them mostly stock so a quiet cab is a plus for me and I am sure lots of others. Kawasaki should make marketing focus on who they are going after then that would explain all this rpm.
I love Kawasaki, but it's sad they don't go harder on their side by sides. I've got a Yamaha RMAX4 1000 that blows the side of the water. If you're going to make a recreation side by side then go all the way.
I prefer the bench seats. Easier to get in and out of. The Xr looks fun but the bolstering would annoy my ribs too much. Also is there space under the driver seat for recovery gear etc.
needs a oh- shut bar on the dash.. once you've road in one with a grab bar on the dash you realize how nice it in on the passenger side....( cam am, jeep,ect)...
Jack hammer ,I agree with everything you said, and can you imagine if and when Goldman/coulman clutch company make two high performance clutches for the Ridge. And then buy some shock therapy shocks and spring, set up for the ridge . I think with these two upgrades the ridge would be number one for a while. And with that 3 year warranty, we know they have to be built better than Polaris has been in the last five years, with their poor build quality and poor manufacturer support through there warranty claims. I would buy a ridge XR today if I could.
To me, the comfort amenities are way over the top for a UTV. I’m sure the basic idea is good, but all that extra will certainly put it into used Jeep territory that is road legal. Maybe more fitting for retirement communities to replace their golf cart.
little disappointed because of all the hype! but I am sure a four door is coming. Will Kawa go after the Can Am Defender Limited crowd? or the Polaris Ranger Northstar crowd? maybe! But right now not seeing any advantages. Hopefully maybe a four door sporty beefed up suspension sporty market. there are plenty of Farm Crawlers out there.
This is what we are looking for. We don't want sport but do want an enclosed cab with a bed. Warranty on Ranger 1000 Northstar is only 12 mths. That alone is a deal breaker. Plus, in our research, long term Polaris don't hold up. Yamaha is very plain for dollars spent. There is just two of us, so crew cab is not of interest to us.
I have a Kawasaki teryx and love ibut may never sell my brute force cause its so much more fun to ride, i don't see this machine being the one and done, with the cost, i think they see Polaris selling 40K$ machine and to thought they could do the same
That motor should have been put on the KRX with double the horsepower instead of creating a whole new unit. Fix what ya got first before moving onto something else. Can-An and Polaris dominate for a reason. They listen to the consumer. Kawasaki and Honda can change that if they wanted because they have much better motors already in production that could be put on the KRX and Talon.
Not enough to compete with the defender and ranger, interior not as good, design not as good, no 4 door model which is a huge mistake by kawi, 116hp is good I guess but why not at least go to 130hp, and the $34k price tag on 2 door limited, I can upgrade my 2022 defender max for same price on a 24 defender max. Kawi had to come in swinging to compete but as others said 4 years ago this would have been a competitor.
I have a Kawasaki Ridge, it is the worst geared UTV I have ever owned. If you travel above 20 mph at all you will realize that the RPM is way too high. If you try 30 mph, the engine is turning 6000 rpm, it is screaming. Red line is 9000 rpm, I can not imagine the sound.
Do you have experience with the Polaris XP Ranger? It appears the seating for the driver resembles the Ranger with the steering wheel being low by the knees. I find it absolutely ridiculous that they couldn’t put telescopic steering on these units. That alone will deter me from buying one.
40k "Sludge" give me a break this thing is such a let down. The Krx is at least a 10 out of 10 compared to this 3 out 10. SLUDGE is the new name of this thing. No way it would make it to dune ridge.
