Quick Thoughts – 2012 Kawasaki Teryx4
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
The 2012 Kawasaki Teryx4 is a very good machine.
After a day of riding at Brimstone Recreation Area, here are a few things that come to mind about the new Teryx4.
Top 5 Features
- Roomy Ergonomics – Having four seats is awesome. Having four seats that comfortably accommodate full-size adults is awesomer.
- EPS – This UTV weighs over 1600 pounds. It’s not necessary to fight the steering wheel with Kawi’s electronic power steering.
- V-Twin Power – Engineers bumped up the power output from Kawi’s trademark V-Twin. It sounds great and performs well.
- Revised Cockpit – The shift mechanism is a new cable unit and works much better. The emergency brake is now hand operated and the 2WD/4WD/Diff Lock switch is electronic.
- Double X Chassis and Bodywork – Kawasaki’s new chassis design is stiff and allows for a unique wheelbase. It affects the handling in a positive way. The bodywork is minimalist but the doors are great.
Top 5 Pros
- Wheelbase – The 86.1-inch wheelbase allows for nimble handling in the woods. We rarely had to do a three-point turn and the Teryx4 has better stability than the two-seater
- Stiff Chassis – I couldn’t feel the chassis flex when dropping off of ledges or negotiating uneven terrain. This lets the driver have a solid feel for what is happening at the wheels.
- Low-Speed EPS – The Teryx4 is incredibly easy to steer at low speeds. The molded, plastic steering wheel can be controlled with one hand.
- Comfort – Whether driving or riding in the back, there’s no bad seat in the house.
- Adjustable Suspension – With a vehicle designed to carry such a wide range of cargo, the ability to adjust suspension settings is mandatory - compression, rebound and preload.
Top 5 Cons
- Front End Push – The Teryx4 pushes the front end a bit, especially when loaded with maximum passengers. It weighs a claimed 1624 pounds (curb) without any cargo.
- High-Speed EPS – The EPS is speed sensitive, but it provides too much assist at higher running speeds. This makes the steering wheel a little busy, particularly in 2WD.
- Non-Adjustable Steering Wheel – It would be nice to have more custom tailoring in the driver’s seat
- Braking – The hydraulic brakes could be stronger and provide more feedback.
- Passenger Floorboards – The rear seating is very comfortable, but the floorboards have strange contours that don’t allow for the feet to sit flat on the floor in a natural position.
Post Tags: 2012 Kawasaki Teryx4, UTV, ATV
Follow JC Hilderbrand on Google+
