By Ryan Harris
If time flies when you're having fun, summer will be over in no time.
We're spending our off-season on a few dirt toys, like the all-new 2010 Polaris RZR 4 Robbie Gordon Edition side-by-side. Our first ride report from the new vehicle covers riding on some rocky ledges, testing the RZR 4's ability to climb, twist, claw and dig its way through technical terrain. But first, an intro to the RZR 4 Robbie Gordon Edition.
2010 RZR 4 Robbie Gordon Edition features
The 2010 Polaris RZR 4 Robbie Gordon Edition is the industry's first four-seat performance side-by-side. It features a 55 hp four-stroke, high-output liquid-cooled 800 twin with EFI. A shaft-driven automatic PVT transmission features park, reverse, neutral, low and high gearing, with an On-Demand true AWD/2WD switch.
The Robbie Gordon Edition features Fox Podium X 2.0 piggyback shocks that are preload and compression-adjustable. The front suspension features chromoly A-arms and 12 inches of travel. The rear suspension is Rolled IRS with 12 inches of travel. The premium suspension is designed for desert racing and dune riding.
Big 26-inch Maxxis Bighorn tires on 12-inch aluminum 4-spoke Bruiser wheels handle the RZR 4's conversations with dirt and sand.
The four bucket seats are adjustable and feature seat belts. The driver gets a heel pocket for precise throttle control and tilt steering. The front passenger has an adjustable hand rail, while the rear seats have a fixed hand rail, with standard side nets all around.
Hydraulic disc brakes on all four corners-with dual-bore front calipers-give the RZR 4 precision stopping power.
A 103-inch wheelbase with 5-foot width make the RZR 4 a very stable and capable machine in a variety of terrain. The RZR 4 also has 11.5 inches of ground clearance and a dry weight of 1,255 lbs.
Initial Ride Report
If you're familiar with the base model Polaris RZR, this 4-seater Robbie Gordon Edition is a completely different vehicle in terms of handling and suspension. Its longer wheelbase and wider stance make it handle rough terrain like whoops and cross ruts with a little more stability, yet without sacrificing much in agility. For climbing obstacles like what you see in our video, the longer RZR 4 is amazing.
It also has incredible brakes and shocks. It's an absolute blast to rocket this thing down a twisty dirt trail that is littered with bumps, rocks, ruts and whoops. The RZR 4 is every bit the desert rally machine as its RZR S counterpart, but lets you bring a bigger crowd to the party.
Up next: Moab, Utah. Check the SnoWest.com homepage for that update.