Top Speed???

[DIXIEDOG]

I'm just curious, I've noticed the top speed mentioned over and over concerning UTVs, it seems the majority of folks believe 25 mph is too slow. I know personally I've only had my RTV at top speed a handful of times so for me 25 is plenty quick enough, most of the time I've either pulling something or hauling something so I'm usually puttering around working the unit.

So that being said how many guys are actually cruising around at top speed very often?

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I believe my HPX has a "top" speed of 25 MPH and for my uses that is plenty fast enough. As for cruising rarely do I run wide open.

 

[redharley]

My RTV 900 spends most of the time in MED seems plenty for moving around farms, Low is nice for when your pulling or towing that you need power,HIGH had it in a couple of times on the level or just playing it's ok,I guess if I was 30 again I'd have one of those rhino's go like the deveil jump ditch's and such spend a lot of money on repair parts at the local dealer.But wait I'm fast coming up on 60 MED is fine.

 

[timswi]

Most all UTV's are limited to 25MPH...Polaris is the only one I'm aware of that has speeds in the 30's-40's..The RZR being even higher.

I've had my 1100 over 30 going down hill a couple of times. With ATV tires, stability becomes an issue. Turf or worksite tires mught have stiffer sidewalls and provide a little better high speed feeling.

25 is fine for me and for what I use the machine for. If I want to go faster, I'll buy a quad.

 

[jcummins]

I have a Teryx...I like it. With a chip, I've seen 58 on the speedometer. I don't use the chip...because it at night, it takes to much voltage to start, and with running headlights, just dosen't work. It will run about 45 without the chip.

98% of the time, I'm 10mph or less. I run in low all the time, since it will easily run 30mph, even without the chip in low. I use the Teryx for ranch work.

The short of it, 25mph is fine....but the rear performance difference in the Teryx and others that can run only 25, is how quick they can get to the 25mph speed, not the speed itself. It's a consideration when buying, but there are far more important things than speed to consider. Having said that....the Teryx to me, drives so much better than others. It sits right when behind the wheel. I drove a Polaris, and it felt like a school bus compared to the Teryx. It easy to get in and out of. Those are the things which made me buy it, not the speed. Shortcomings....the size of the bed. Some would say the lack of a bench seat is a shortcoming, and at times it is, but that bench seat sits so much different than the seats in the Teryx...I'll take the bucket seats over the bench. Would I buy again....probably, but I would review everything on the market, then decide, since things change.

 

[2fast2]

The XUV 850d supposedly goes 30. I don't know for sure, since it doesn't have a speedo and I never bothered to check it with GPS. Usually I drive it at probably 10-15 mph but occasionally I will drive flat out along the edge of the property to enjoy the wind in my hair and cool off on the way back to the house. I can only go flat out for several seconds before it is time to slow down for big bumps or because I'm already back.
If I had the new 825i, which goes 40 or 50 or whatever, I doubt I'd actually hit top speed much, if ever. But like the previous poster said, acceleration is a drug too. Sure is fun to take off in a hurry once in a while.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I've had my 1100 over 30 going down hill a couple of times./QUOTE]

I don't think my HPX would do 30 MPH if it was dropped out of a plane!

 

[KentT]

Though I'm not sure if it is strictly enforced, the UTVs designed strictly for farm and jobsite use are governed to 25 MPH, hence the max speed of the Kubota RTVs, Kawasaki Mules, most JD Gators. Unless I'm mistaken there's some kind of OSHA limit for jobsites that sets that limit. There's also some EPA smog restrictions there too, I think.

The sport-utility UTVs like the Teryx, Rhino and Ranger have no such restrictions. Nor do the pure sport UTVs -- the Ranger RZR being the only "pure sport" out there but theres rumors of more coming. In fact the new 1000cc 83HP Can-Am Commander sport-utility is governed to 70 MPH via its fuel injection system...

 

[radman1]

I'm just curious, I've noticed the top speed mentioned over and over concerning UTVs, it seems the majority of folks believe 25 mph is too slow. I know personally I've only had my RTV at top speed a handful of times so for me 25 is plenty quick enough, most of the time I've either pulling something or hauling something so I'm usually puttering around working the unit.

So that being said how many guys are actually cruising around at top speed very often?

If you have open areas or roads, then you will appreciate 40+ mph. My Teryx will do just under 50 mph. I have one quarter of farm land that is 12 miles from the rest. Sometimes I will tow the Teryx on a trailer behind the tractor and then zip home on the Teryx at the end of the day. Checking irrigation wells that are a few miles apart is also nice. Can zip out in the muddy field with a part or to repair something. I looked at the Kubota RTV but it was way too slow. I have tractors that go faster than the RTV. Most farmers that have JD gators, Mules or kubotas complain about the slow speed. For myself, the diesels are just way too slow compared to the faster gas versions that are available.

I am considering building a small platform that can be picked up with pallet forks to carry my atv or Teryx. Then I can pull something else behind the tractor.

 

[20 20]

Own the rhino 700 top speed is 41mph. They can be fooled with and go much faster{just like ANYTHING else}. I do ride occasionally just for the fun but, still allmost never see 40. I also have a golf cart with a 6" lift and some light mods done, it hits right around 20mph, fun to ride but won't go near where the rhino can.

 

[beenthere]

They make pickups for those that want to go fast.

JD had a new one advertised that looked to have some speed to it. Something yet to come out, I think.

 

[KentT]

They make pickups for those that want to go fast.

JD had a new one advertised that looked to have some speed to it. Something yet to come out, I think.

The 2011 JD 825i, just announced and becoming available, is supposed to be capable of 43-44 MPH.

If you're doing recreational trail riding, you'll likely be operating under 25 MPH most of the time, but the ability to accelerate is VERY, VERY important because you're constantly slowing down and speeding up.

This also plays into the ability to maintain speed on very long slopes and hills. I'd venture to say that a sport-utility will likely climb the same long slope at about twice the speed that a Mule, RTV or the earlier JD Gators will.

The difference between 10 MPH and 20 MPH on that slope then becomes quite significant. For example, my Rhino will only go about 25 MPH in Low Range, and after some tweaking about 41-42 MPH in High Range -- but I can accelerate when going up 25 degree slopes in Low Range, even when loaded. In High Range, it takes a while to accelerate from 25 to 40, but typically I'm only running that speed on roads any way. It's the 0 - 25 power band that's so very important...

 

[Milo]

My Mule 610 may hit 25, on a slight down hill. But to be honest I seldom run it at full speed, and those times I do are briefly on paved roads. On most dirt roads its not an issue. On trails, through woods, and over fields I'm often in low range. But that's here. If I were in more open and rocky areas like the western states, I'd want independent suspension and more power/speed.

 

[beenthere]

Apparently some teens rolled a Polaris UTV on some gravel in the last day or two and they treated several for injuries.
Not sure any of the details, but in southern WI somewhere.

 

[toy]

My Mule 610 may hit 25, on a slight down hill. But to be honest I seldom run it at full speed, and those times I do are briefly on paved roads. On most dirt roads its not an issue. On trails, through woods, and over fields I'm often in low range. But that's here. If I were in more open and rocky areas like the western states, I'd want independent suspension and more power/speed.

My mule 610 will do 25 mph on a really long trip, just kidding it will get it's top speed pretty quick for me any way. You can feel it though when you hit top speed and the governor takes over and floats it out. As a usual thing though where I take mine I don't want to go 25 mph. I got a scare the other day on mine, I was riding along beside of the main highway and there was a car passing and about that time I heard something pop and I felt water hit my face and I just knew that the people in the car had thrown something out the window and hit my mule. When I realized what it was though I had a big laugh. I had got some of those things that you can put on top of a pop can to seal it and drink out of it like a bottle, while I was riding I was shaking that can of pop and it was the lid that blew off.

 

[Engine_Tech]

The speed thing is a big deal in two ways, one more real than the other. First, if you are in the midwest some of those fields are huge, and the land is flat. 25mph just isn't fast enough.

Second is more subjective...folks just want to know they can go faster if needed. Sure, you may not need the 45mph, but it's good to know it's there. Some people just flatly won't buy a "slow" machine, even if they never go that fast.

I guess a third may be just bragging rights - I'd feel bad if your Polaris will go 40mph and my Gator only 25mph.

 

[nickel plate]

I believe my HPX has a "top" speed of 25 MPH and for my uses that is plenty fast enough. As for cruising rarely do I run wide open.

It's all in what you want to with your UTV/RTV. Some folks need speed and some need low end torque for working purposes which is why I own a Trans Diesel Mule. Your point on cruising and rarely running wide open is well stated. Just because the speedometer goes up to 25, 30, 55 or 60 mph is no sensible reason to attempt to peg it or maybe you haven't yet had to organize a carwash to help pay for the blown engine repairs.

 

[Sportsman762]

We have RTV's at work and are spending about a quarter of our time at top speed, maybe even more. Our shop is a mile from the area we work in so we have a lot of transport time. It is closer to 2+ miles to the dump site if we go the long way. The RTV900's have to go the long way because they only go 17 to 22 mph. This has been checked by police radar trailers. We are in the center of a city and driving across city traffic with the acceleration of the RTV900's can be a white knuckle experience. The RTV1100 is faster it will get up to 27 if given time and accelerates much quicker. We will take this on the short way to the dump site because it holds up to the 35mph posted speed limit (add 5 mph and you get what the cars are going). We have LED flashers on the rear to provide some safety. I wish they would go 30 mph at times. 25mph is fast enough for most of our use, our cushman goes 15 or so and can be scary to drive at times. Sometimes speed = safety, it just depends on your situation. I am not a speed demon, I just get tired of waiting for traffic to clear after 10 minutes.

 

[jcummins]

The 2011 JD 825i, just announced and becoming available, is supposed to be capable of 43-44 MPH.

If you're doing recreational trail riding, you'll likely be operating under 25 MPH most of the time, but the ability to accelerate is VERY, VERY important because you're constantly slowing down and speeding up.

This also plays into the ability to maintain speed on very long slopes and hills. I'd venture to say that a sport-utility will likely climb the same long slope at about twice the speed that a Mule, RTV or the earlier JD Gators will.

The difference between 10 MPH and 20 MPH on that slope then becomes quite significant. For example, my Rhino will only go about 25 MPH in Low Range, and after some tweaking about 41-42 MPH in High Range -- but I can accelerate when going up 25 degree slopes in Low Range, even when loaded. In High Range, it takes a while to accelerate from 25 to 40, but typically I'm only running that speed on roads any way. It's the 0 - 25 power band that's so very important...

Right on. Wasn't familiar with the JD 835i, so did a little goggling. Kind of liked what I saw. One thing in particular over the Teryx I have, is the motor is right under the bed, and you can get to it without taking all the plastic off that the Teryx has.

 

[carpenter383]

I have a rhino 660 and am guessing it would run 45ish it has an aftermarket cdi box and I modified the clutch sheave, I rarely run at max speed, but if I only want to go 30mph it will do it at relativley low rpms compared to something that is maxed out at that speed.