Words and photos by Quinton Neufeldt
Yamaha had joined with Toyota TRD PRO Trucks for a test drive at a private facility near Noelville, Ontario in October to showcase the 2019 Yamaha Grizzly ATV’s and Wolverine Side x Sides.
The Wolverine’s come with the 847cc DOHC, eight-valve, parallel twin-cylinder engine and the On-Command® 4WD system lets you switch between 2WD, limited-slip 4WD and a fully locked differential 4WD. An all-new tilting cargo bed simplifies hauling duty with hydraulic assist and a latch system. The bed transports up to 270 kg (600 lb) with multiple tie-down points to secure cargo or attach accessories and 900 kg (2,000 lb) of towing capacity with 2-inch receiver.
We took a number of loops around the test track that had been set up for us. The Wolverines were easy to drive and we enjoyed the lightweight feel and nimble handling.
The Grizzly EPS LE is new for 2019 as well. The Big 27 inch Maxxis® Zilla® tires were mounted on strong, lightweight alloy rims to handle any terrain, and look gnarly. The Grizzly EPS offers impressive 11.8 inches of maximum ground clearance with full-length composite skid plates to provide protection against damage. The engine is a liquid-cooled 686 cc SOHC 4-stroke.
With selectable 2WD, 4WD and 4WD limited-slip and 4WD diff lock modes, the Grizzly will be ready for any conditions. There’s even a factory installed Warn 1133 kg (2500lb) winch (which we didn’t get a chance to try).
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They had helmets, jerseys and gloves ready. All we had to do was show up wearing boots and weather appropriate clothing.
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The 2 Wolverine Side x Sides were the ’Multipurpose’ models X2 and X4 (2 seater or 4 seater)
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Full underbody skid plates, KYB shocks, roll protection, electric start and lots of other features. They were fun to drive and look like they would be very useful with the dump bed and hitch.
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Here you can see the suspension with 23.1 cm (9.1 in) of rear wheel travel and 19.3 cm of front (7.6 in). The Center-mounted, heavy-duty two-inch receiver comes standard on the Grizzly and is capable of towing more than 590 kg (1300 lb).
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Electric power assist steering, high and low range plus reverse, a high mounted air intake, 4 wheel disc brakes, roomy floorboards and a bunch of other features.
Go to www.yamaha-motor.ca or your local dealer for all the specifications and other info.