2009 Kawasaki Teryx Sport – Lean, Green and Injected

Kawasaki, Sport, UTV — By ATV Mag on March 13, 2009 at 12:00 pm

Kawasaki’s Teryx has been on a roll since its introduction for 2008. Now, in only its second year of production, Kawasaki has doubled down and made some significant changes to its first entrant into the recreational UTV market. Even better, the Kawasaki press introduction for the Teryx Sport would be held right in my backyard. Officially named “The Boulders OHV Area” and located just northwest of Phoenix off of the Carefree Highway (I-74), us locals actually call it “Mile Marker 11.5.” The number refers to the entrance from the highway to the maintained and signed staging area.

No matter what you want to call it, I knew we were in for an exciting day of hardcore four-wheeling over terrain that will test the limits of any machine, regardless of how many wheels you prefer. I like my trails tight and nasty, and this area is my favorite in the Arizona desert. The rocks are jagged, the whoops are deep and the hills are steep.

2009 Kawasaki Teryx Sport

Just when you think you’ve had enough jolting, side hilling and off-camber turns, the trail spills into a high-speed washes that twist through the magnificent Hieroglyphic Mountains, providing opportunity to relax your grip and enjoy the cool wind evaporating the nervous sweat from your brow.

An Early Update
All of the new changes to the Teryx Sport are significant, the biggest being the move from dual carburetors to a 32-bit CPU-controlled digital fuel injection (DFI) system. Throttle response is excellent with no lull or hesitation, and low-end torque is much more plentiful. Acceleration is much crisper than before with a smooth, yet strong, transition of power from idle to top speed.

The dual 34mm throttle bodies mounted to the mammoth 749cc V-twin engine automatically adjust to varying weather conditions and changing altitude.

DFI also improves fuel mileage. More miles per gallon is always a good thing, but even more so in this case since fuel capacity decreased from 7.9 gallons to 7.4 to make room for the new high-pressure fuel pump. Miles per tank should remain unaffected with the use of DFI, and we’re happy to report that the fuel gauge is now visible on the digital dash display.

In addition to DFI, the air intake system has also been changed to allow for more airflow with less noise. The engine intake ports have also increased in size, and now provide a direct path (rather than curved) to the V-twin engine heads. Kawasaki adjusted the ignition and fuel mapping to provide more responsive torque and match the new air box, intake and DFI system changes.

The continuously variable transmission (CVT) was recently beefed up to provide more torque to all four wheels, and features true high- and low-range selection as well as reverse. The CVT cover is also new. Made of aluminum, the cover is designed to disperse heat and keep the belt and clutch system cooler. The CVT exhaust duct has been raised 7.7 inches to further prevent water intake.

Kawasaki introduced a nearly fail-safe CVT belt warning system that should prevent premature belt wear. A belt indicator light on the dash illuminates and power to the CVT will become limited under excessive load conditions, such as being stuck or towing too much weight. The system engages once the wheels stop rotating and the engine reaches 3000 rpm. It then disengages once the wheels begin spinning, or engine rpm drops below 3000.

New Kayaba high-performance gas shocks are exclusive to the Teryx Sport. You can dial your suspension in for any style terrain with “step-less” preload adjustment and separate compression and rebound clickers. All four shocks come with fade resistant piggyback reservoirs to cool the shock oil faster.

The CV joints and drive shafts were strengthened to handle the power increase.

Machined aluminum wheels add a stylish touch to the Sport, but they’re also functional! Each wheel weighs 2.2 pounds less than the steel wheels offered on the standard Teryx FI model. Improved rear mudguards keep the tires from showering the electronics and fuel tank area with mud.

Haulin’ and Crawlin’
“Jeep ain’t got nothin’ on this” was the slightly sarcastic reply from my test rider, Zack McKinley, as we crested a 5-foot-tall embedded rock incline. McKinley, owner of ZMR Fabrication, is no stranger to UTVs. He’s built many side-by-side race vehicles and full-sized cars and trucks, and has been a key player in the Tom Car and Redline Revolt racing programs. After a full day of punishment, there was little he and I could find to complain about on the Teryx Sport.

On the rocks, it’s just about perfect! While throttle response is strong with a stab of the accelerator pedal, it’s manageable and progressive for

2009 Teryx Sport

rock crawling. To compare, its throttle isn’t as sensitive as the Polaris RZR’s, and that’s a good thing. You can lightly apply throttle as the 26-inch Maxxis tires grip the rocks and pull the Teryx up nearly vertical rock shelves. The tires, which were specifically designed for the Teryx, offer an excellent balance of soft to intermediate gripping power, yet provide adequate sliding ability when cornering at speed. We found the tires to be highly puncture resistant, as not one of the dozen or so Teryx Sport press vehicles suffered a flat during a full day of abusive testing.

Speaking of speed, the Teryx is just flat out fun on the trails. The solid chassis feels well balanced both in the air and on the ground. We pegged the governed engine’s top speed at nearly 50 mph in deep sand. This V-twin engine has so much more potential lurking inside, though. Both the stock horsepower and torque numbers for this engine are excellent as compared to the competition, but this engine is capable of reliable triple digit horsepower numbers should you choose to modify it. We’ve seen 2008 Teryx UTVs in the southwest desert-racing scene boasting as high as 130 hp.

If I had to find a complaint, it would be the lack of a good sissy bar for the passenger side of the cockpit. By sissy, I’m referring to myself. The two high grab bars located on the cab frame just don’t cut it for me. I need something directly in front of me to grind my palms into. Call it a control issue if you like, but I’m not a good co-rider.

A Rockin Good Time!
There’s not much you can’t do in a Teryx Sport. All Teryx models now come with a gas-assisted dump bed, so it’s still an excellent work vehicle, despite its Sport designation. Fun is still the key ingredient, though. It crawls as good as any Jeep, has a V-twin engine just begging to fly, a highly tunable suspension that can take the hits and a solid chassis that is arguably one of the strongest on the market in stock form.

With a sticker price of $11, 899, it’s competitively priced for all its abilities. This Teryx Sport is perfect for the recreational UTV consumer who is looking for an affordable vehicle that does everything, and does it very well.

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Bonus Web Material

2009 Kawasaki Teryx 750 FIF 4×4 Sport Specs:We Desert Test The New Kawasaki Teryx 750 4×4 Sport
Price: $11,899
Engine: 749cc V-twin four-stroke
Starting: electric
Bore & stroke: 85 x 66mm
Fuel system: Two Mikuni 34mm throttle bodies
Transmission: CVT w/Kawasaki Engine Brake Control
Drive system: 2/4WD w/diff lock
Front suspension (travel): Dual A-arm, 7.5 in.
Rear suspension (travel): IRS, 7.5 in.
Front tires: Maxxis 26 x 8-12
Rear tires: Maxxis 26 x 10-12
Front brakes: Dual hydraulic discs w/2-piston calipers
Rear brake: Sealed, oil-bathed multi-disc
Length: 115.4 in.
Width: 58.7 in.
Height: 75.7 in.
Wheelbase: 79.6 in.
Ground clearance: 11.7 in.
Cargo bed capacity: 500 lbs.
Towing capacity: 1300 lbs.
Curb weight: 1380 lbs.
Fuel capacity: 7.4 gal.
Colors: lime green, ebony