It was a 5am kickoff , but some things are definitely worth getting up early for . Our mission was to rendezvous with the Polaris team at the Scott ’ s farm , south of Oparau , to test its two sporty RZR models . Google maps told me it was more than three hours and over 250km away , so an early start was essential to beat the Auckland morning traffic . This was the first time we ’ ve had the chance to test the Polaris RZR PRO XP models and , although these machines have four wheels , rather than our usual two , their ability to deliver excitement and fun is right up our dirt-oriented alley .
BIG POWER For this test , Polaris brought along a 2022 RZR Pro XP Premium EPS in a matte sand metallic colour and a 2021 onyx black RZR XP Turbo S . These Polaris machines are big power , flash suspension models that feature eye watering performance ... and I was very keen to test them . The Scott family ’ s farmland is probably the ultimate place to test these vehicles - the variety of terrain on offer is fantastic . This is serious hill-country farmland with steep hills , endless bush and open farm tracks , miles of
stoney riverbeds – in essence , an off-roader ’ s paradise . Having had all this riding variety available to him while growing up will surely have been beneficial to James Scott , who ’ s just wrapped up his first NZXC title .
RZR PRO XP My first crack in the four-wheelers was with the Pro XP , up a narrow winding stony riverbed with James Scott riding shotgun . That ’ s right , James the young hotshot MX and XC racer was helping to guide us around the family farm . Anyway , I blasted the RZR up the river using a delicate touch of foot and yet keeping the loud pedal pinned to the firewall . This technique was an eye opening , eye watering , body soaking heap of fun . Well , from my perspective anyway – James , I think , saw it rather differently , deciding I could play on my own from that point on . Sorry , James . The Pro XP has a twin-cylinder 925cc turbocharged engine that produces a very healthy 168hp , with a dry weight around the 800kg mark , and coming in at 64-inches , or 1.63 metres , wide . It comes with 2-inch front and 2.5-inch rear Walker Evans Needle shocks and fully independent suspension at each corner .
46 KIWI RIDER