2017 Yamaha YXZ1000R SS SE launch review

If you want to show case a new product to the best of its ability, you call in the big guns. That's exactly what Yamaha Australia did a few weeks ago at the Aussie media launch of the YXZ1000R SS SE sports side-by-side when it invited American husband and wife team Corry and Jason Weller over the Pacific.

The Arizona-based duo, diehard Yamaha campaigners in the extremely competitive North American UTV racing scene (across all the elements from track to extreme) took time out from racing and running an aftermarket parts business (wellerracing.com) to not only impart some knowledge about their craft, but also let loose at the end of the day with some 'hot' laps. And what a massive adrenalin fix it was!

Auto adaptation
Bikesales first drove the YXZ1000R in March 2016 when Yamaha launched its first 'pure' sports side-by-side machine to take on the likes of Can-Am and Polaris. The YXZ1000R has a sequential five-speed gearbox and wet multi-disc clutch, but Yamaha has now taken a different path in YXZ1000R SS SE form by introducing 'Sports Shift" (hence the SS bit) technology with an automatic clutch and paddle shifts.

The equation is simple: you can now keep your foot flat on the gas while going up through the gears – or "guilt free" shifting as Yamaha puts it.

There's no clutch pedal to be found and, in a sense, the new SS SE configuration aligns the machine more with its main rivals, as the 998cc triple can be held flat biscuit from go until… well in a desert race who knows!

The big difference, of course, is that the Yamaha still has the sequential shift transmission, rather than a CVT design – so no belts and acceleration lag. Final drive is through shafts, and there’s a park brake mounted on the rear tail shaft.

Going down through the gears is a paddle affair as well – and if the SS SE drops below a certain rev threshold there's an auto downshift function.

Hot stuff
Not that auto downshift was required when Corry was showing a full head of steam – she really is a gifted driver. The $32,999 triple really likes to rev (the redline is 10,500rpm but I reckon the bulk of the work is done by 8000rpm) and Corry was obliging on the natural terrain motocross layout as she built up some serious steam, tramped on the brakes, dropped a few gears, settled the whole package and then tipped it in. Razor sharp, and the nice burble from the three-into-one exhaust only added to the 'race' feel.

The engine is exactly the same as the YZX1000R, the model which remains on sale locally alongside the SS SE model. The triple was originally sourced from Yamaha's FX Nitro MTX snowmobile and modified to offer a broader spread of power and torque. It has a dry sump to make it both more compact, and has three Mikuni 41mm throttle bodies.

The American-made SS SE felt very similar to the Can-Am Maverick X3 ds I drove in the Baja California desert last year – extremely sure-footed and beautifully balanced, but still with that a seat-of-the-pants buzz. In fact, the two vehicles have very similar specs insofar as ground clearance and suspension travel is concerned (the Can-Am slightly in front on both counts), and you can drive them incredibly hard and still feel like you are landing on marshmallows. There are not too many storms these vehicles can't weather.

The Yamaha has dedicated Fox Podium 2.5 shocks sitting on high frame mounts, complete with preload, rebound and high- and low-speed compression adjustment. The suspension really insulates the driver from all but the most punishing of shunts.

As well as the Fox suspension and sports shift, other new features on the SS SE compared to the YXZ1000R are launch control, which is activated via the paddles, and bead lock rims.

Desert type
Such is its sure-footedness, I'd really love to drive the 699kg SS SE in the desert – which is what Jake Williams (the son of Aussie motocross promoter Kevin Williams) is doing at the 2017 Finke Desert Race. Jake was at the Aussie launch, complete with his CAMS-spec race unit, and he took us for tuition on a tight adventure layout which really showcased the excellent point-and-shoot traits of the Yamaha.

Just as we did with Corry, Jake also allowed us to take the reins for a few laps, and I was impressed: the back stays in line with the front, even under fierce braking from the four car-sized discs, and that stability means you can get on the gas with absolute confidence.

That session also showcased how Yamaha has done a great job of maintaining line of sight for the driver, which isn't as simple as it sounds when you have to produce a vehicle with such massive suspension travel.

No mirrors though, which wasn't a big deal at the launch but they'd be handy in desert races. Side and centre-mount mirrors are in the accessories catalogue, alongside other products under five main sub-categories: covers, electrical and lighting, luggage and storage, performance, protection, winches and plows (snow I presume – it is made in America!), and windshields.

YXZ1000R SS SE ACCESSORIES

The feeling of getting down to business on the SS SEs at the launch was enhanced by the three-point race harnesses, while the contoured seats are very supportive laterally and have fore-and-aft adjustment, and the steering wheel is tilt-adjustable too.

Mr Motocross
The third-spec SS SE at the launch was the dirt track racer, prepped with lowered suspension and the damping wound in as far as possible to really stiffen it up.

And the star of the flat track was former Mr Motocross legend Stephen Gall, who also passed on some tuition out at the original YXZ1000R launch.

As well as dabbling in road racing – and stunt co-ordinating! – Gall is a former sprint car driver so he knows his way around a flat track. After a few laps sitting alongside Gally – no real sighting lap, just straight into it – we were allowed to show him what we had learnt – or otherwise…

A higher speed layout really does place a premium on getting lines and braking markers right, but light and direct steering does do its best to make up for any driver shortcomings. And the steering wheel doesn't require much effort to go from lock-to-lock, which suits a fast-paced environment.

In terms of pure enjoyment the flat track was probably the highlight of the day – well, until Corry took us for the day-ending hot laps…

Fast finish
Corry's final flurry was dynamite: a flurry of paddle shifting, braking and impossibly fast and efficient cornering. It really showcased how the YXZ is engineered to go fast and has so much chutzpah – how you'd be you'd be content to dilly-dally in one of these is beyond me!

However, the major take away – yet again in a sports side-by-side yarn -- is that the YXZ1000R SS SE is just so easy to drive. The Wellers and Gall showed us the pointy end of what can be achieved, but that doesn't mean the thrill of the hunt is any less exciting for the rest of us. Adrenalin, and plenty of it, is the order of the day, whether you are a racer, adventure rider or may just want something different from an ATV or even a rally car.

YXZ1000R SS SE IN BIKE SHOWROOM

SPECS: 2017 YAMAHA YXZ 1000R SS SE
ENGINE
Type: Water-cooled, three-cylinder, four-stroke DOHC
Capacity: 998cc
Bore x stroke: 80 x 66.2mm
Compression ratio: 11.3:1
Fuel system: Triple Mikuni 41mm throttle bodies

TRANSMISSION
Type: Five-speed sequential manual transmission with paddle sports shift
Clutch: Automatic
Final drive: Shafts
Four-wheel drive system: On-Command 2WD, 4WD, 4WD with diff lock

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Front suspension: Independent double wishbone with anti-sway bar, fully adjustable Fox 2.5 podium shocks, 411mm wheel travel
Rear suspension: Independent double wishbone with anti-sway bar, fully adjustable Fox 2.5 podium shocks, 432mm wheel travel
Front brakes: Dual hydraulic discs
Rear brakes: Dual hydraulic discs with shaft-mounted parking brake
Tyres front: Maxxis MU09 / 27 x 9.00R14
Tyres rear: Maxxis MU09 / 27 c 11.00R14

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 699kg
L x W x H: 3121mm x 1626mm x 1834mm
Wheelbase: 2390mm
Ground clearance 330mm
Fuel capacity: 34 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $32,999
Colours: Matte black
Test bike supplied by Yamaha Motor Australia