HRT Kawasaki BOB
| Todd Arthur of HRT Motorsports, Inc. was in on the ground floor of the of the Side X Side craze. Since 2004, his crew has immersed themselves in UTVs and the UTV lifestyle. This involvement has lead into UTV custom fabrication, suspension kits, and more. From the basic bolt-on cosmetic item to the other extreme of repairing a bent chassis, they do it all.In addition to custom mods, HRT is heavily involved in Side X Side racing. In the short time that UTV racing has been around, they have already achieved two championships and many, many wins. Their racing experience has placed them in an even better position to service the Side X Side recreational market as racing provides invaluable experience in a short amount of time.One of the challenges that HRT noticed in the Battle of the Builders was the temptation to over-build the vehicle. There are so many products available that it is easy to get out of control with modifications. Todd says that this is one of the biggest traps people fall into with their Side X Sides. “This isn’t necessarily a huge mistake, but it is something we recommend people think about,” says Todd. “The physical weight of the components and modifications on these vehicles can have a substantial effect on performance, both handling and engine performance. We encourage people to choose products that compliment their vehicle. Sometimes a part that may look great might actually hurt your vehicle’s overall performance.”With that in mind, the guys at HRT set out to build the best Side X Side within their budget and within reason. Most of the products they added to their Kawasaki Teryx come from their own shop. The overall ride was improved with an HRT HD4 Suspension Kit with Fox 2.0 Piggyback RC2 shocks. The new Fox shocks feature dual-speed compression and rebound adjusters, which allow riders to tailor the suspension to their own specific needs. They can be changed to adapt to different terrain with just a simple twist of an adjuster. Maxxis Cerros Tires (26×9-R14 in the front, 26×11-R14 in the rear) on DWT Rattlesnake Racing Wheels also help with the ride, improving control and performance. The wheels are turned by an ergonomically designed Momo steering wheel. Other performance modifications include an AC/Flow dual exhaust and a Dyna programmable CDI. “This is my favorite accessory,” says Todd, “This simple plug-and-play item by far provides the most bang for the buck. With the CDI, the stock Teryx is turned into a tire-shredding fun machine!” The stock Teryx bed was removed and replaced with an HRT bed delete kit. The stock rear fenders were modified with an HRT rear fender logo stripe and reattached in the stock location. With the bed gone, an optional HRT cooler/storage system was added, along with an HRT spare tire carrier. A front bumper and two-seat sport cage of HRT design provide an envelope of safety around driver and passenger. Additional safety and comfort come with a set of Twisted Stitch Vortex Seats. A custom paint job in what they call “HRT Yellow” completes the package. The build went very smoothly and they didn’t run into any problems along the way. That may be because they chose modifications that did not require any special tools so that anyone with an average set of tools and abilities can duplicate their combination. They enjoyed the competition and appreciate any opportunity to try new combinations with an eye on future builds. As Todd puts it, “It always makes us smile when we stomp the throttle on a Teryx and spin the tires into the next county!” |
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