New Kawakwad is a 4x4 for four

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Building a four-seater Teryx involved more than just stretching the chassis and bolting in another pair of chairs.

The puns about Kawasaki's new quad, all based on a number one more than three and one less than five, could go on forever, so we'll just square up to it and tell you that Kawasaki has released a four-seat version of its 750cc Teryx side-by-side quad, winner of the RUV class of both the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 desert races at its first attempt in 2009.

But that's not just a matter of stretching the chassis and bolting in another row of seats, which would result in a long, narrow and rather unstable vehicle.

A new, cross-braced frame replaces the ladder-style chassis of the two-seater, welded up from square-section tubing with the minimum possible number of gussets to keep the weight down.

The wrap-around roll cage has high-strength steel sections welded in at key stress points and tough steel bash-plates to keep the engine going when the going gets rocky.

Obviously, the wheelbase is longer - 257mm longer, to be exact - but the track is also wider, by 56mm in front and 86mm at the rear.

Suspension is by double wishbones with Showa gas-charged dampers all round, adjustable for preload in front, and for compression and rebound damping as well as preload at the rear.

749cc V-Twin gets beefed-up pistons, gudgeon pins and transmission.

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TOUGHER ENGINE

Kawasaki's slide rule samurai also beefed up the 749cc V-twin engine, and its transmission, to deal with the extra loads it would be pulling.

The piston walls are now thicker, the inside of the gudgeon pins are now machined to prevent possible manufacturing imperfections and stress points, while the outsides are micro shot-peened to reduce friction and prevent stress cracks.

A bigger radiator and cooling fan help the engine keep its cool, while another fan and heat shields under the front seats help the driver keep his.

To prevent jerking as the drive belt takes up, the Teryx4 now has a centrifugal clutch between the crankshaft and the drive pulley (Kawasaki says it's a first for this class of quads) that provides precise throttle control when tackling rock rocky terrain - and also increases belt life.

The constantly variable belt drive obviates the need for low range, but the Teryx4 comes electrically switchable 2WD to 4WD to 4WD with front differential lock.

MUD, SAND AND WATERPROOF

Braking is entrusted to 200mm discs gripped by 27mm twin-piston callipers with braided stainless-steel lines look at the front, with a sealed internal ‘wet’ brake at the rear that's totally mud, sand and waterproof - and doesn't steal any of the Teryx's 318mm ground clearance.

The four-seater also comes with doors front and rear, and the roll-cage has built-in shoulder bars and grab handles. The high-backed bucket seats have dual-density urethane cushioning for comfort and support and the rear seats are slightly higher than those in front for unobstructed vision.

It even has four cup-holders and a passenger-side glove compartment for small items.

Instrumentation includes a speedometer and fuel gauge, an odometer/hour meter, a clock, dual trip meters, a 2WD/4WD indicator, a handbrake indicator, coolant and fuel-injection system warning lights, a seatbelt warning light, neutral and reverse indicator lights and an oil-pressure warning light.

The cargo bin is 454mm long by 1210mm wide and 220mm deep, and rasted for 113kg; it'll take a 50-litre cooler, a five-litre fuel container with room for a few other odds and endfs, all held down by four lashing points in the floor.

Fuel capacity is 30 litres, which means you will run out of steam before the Teryx does.

Optional extras include half and full windscreens, wipers, an aluminium hard top, a sun top, aluminium rims, a winch mount, head and tail light guards and a towbar.

The Kawasaki Teryx4 will be available in South Africa from mid-February at R169 995.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 782cc liquid-cooled four.

Bore x stroke: 85 x 66mm.

Compression ratio: 9.3:1.

Valvegear: SOHC with four overhead valves per cylinder.

Power: 40kW at 7000rpm.

Torque: 58Nm at 5250rpm.

Induction: Digital electronic fuel-injection with two 36mm Mikuni throttle bodies.

Ignition: TCBI with electronic advance.

Starting: Electric.

Transmission: : Continuously variable belt-drive transmission.

Front Suspension: Adjustable dual A-arm with gas charged shocks adjustable for preload.

Rear Suspension: Independent rear suspension with fully adjustable, gas charged, reservoir shocks.

Front brakes: Dual 200mm discs with twin-piston floating callipers.

Rear brake: Sealed, oil-bathed, multi-disc.

Front tyre: 26 x 9R12 tubeless.

Rear tyre: 26 x 11R12 tubeless.

Wheelbase: 2187mm.

Kerb weight: 733kg.

Fuel tank: 30 litres.

Price: R169 995.

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