Over the weekend we were able to get up close and personal with the all-new Yamaha YXZ1000R at the Sand Sports Super Show in Costa Mesa, California. This is one of the most exciting things to come to the side-by-side market and it was evident at the show.

The Yamaha tent was packed all day with people checking out this three cylinder machine. Yamaha had two tents with over five YXZ1000Rs under them, in true Yamaha colors – blue, yellow, and orange.

Being able to see the side-by-side up close solidifies what the viral video spoke about. This machine is meant for the performance side-by-side market. One of the YXZ1000Rs was cut in half, giving everyone a clear view at all the key components.

The quality of the Yamaha can be seen in the overall feel of the vehicle. The UTV seems very structurally sound and should be able to handle the abuse it will receive in the dirt. The five speed manual transmission with quick throw sequential shifting is a feature talked about heavily at the show. It felt sound and looked to function well sitting still under the tent.

The YXZ1000R comes with a 998cc engine, 10,500 rpm rev limiter, and 11.3:1 high compression forged pistons. It will be interesting to see if Yamaha follows suit with the likes of Polaris, and hosts a camp in the Glamis Sand Dunes, that allows the public to test the side-by-side in its natural environment.

The interior seemed very ergonomically laid out, with everything at your finger tips. A couple of the YXZ1000Rs did have some accessories packages showing possible light switch layouts, which fit seamlessly into the cabin. The only thing we see becoming an issue with the interior for large shouldered people would be the side plastic panel. It got in the way when we sat in the vehicle and seemed like it would be uncomfortable driving around with it there.

Overall the Yamaha YXZ1000R was everything the hype has been about. The UTV should live up to the expectations and we will have to wait and see how it really hands in the dirt. Tell us what you think in the comments below!