2021 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 Review

According to Yamaha, the 1000cc class is by far the largest in the sport/utility segment among trail riders and explorers. Since being released to the public Sept. 3, the brand new 2021 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 (and the four-seat RMAX4) has created a firestorm of positivity and excitement among Side-by-Side enthusiasts not seen for a Japanese machine since the time when the Yamaha Rhino 660 was the sportiest machine on the market.

If a manufacturer wants to create excitement that turns into sales instead of criticism, all they have to build UTVs with class-leading specifications that deliver on the promise of quality and performance without major compromises. That’s exactly what Yamaha has done with its new Wolverine RMAX2 1000 and enthusiasts have responded accordingly with many of our viewers split between elation over putting money down on a new RMAX and those suffering with buyers regret over last year’s purchase.

Many of the RMAX’ specifications are not only leading in the sport/utility class, they’re competitive or more impressive than some sport models we’ve tested. Infected with enthusiasm shared with our viewers, we met up with Factory Yamaha at Mild to Wild Off-Road in Sparta, Kentucky for a private one-on-one test day with the 2021 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000, Open twice a year for public riding, Mild to Wild is the private testing grounds for our pro level test driver Justin Frasure, owner of RAZR Sharp Customs and a former pro rock bouncer. His company builds Side-by-Side chassis, suspension parts, roll cages, bumpers, as well as complete turn-key trail and rock bouncer builds. Justin was joined by UTV on Demand Editor, Chad Westcott. Chad is an avid off-roader who teaches Side-by-Side driving courses to first-responders. With two drivers and more than seven hours of seat time under our belts, we’re ready to share our impression Yamaha’s latest offering.

The 2021 Yamaha RMAX2 1000 is currently available in three trim packages. The $19,799 base model, our test unit the $21,999 XT-R edition, and $23,299 Limited Edition. The standard model comes with GBC’s new Dirt Commander 2.0 radial tires with Maxxis Carnivores used on the XT-R and LE models. The XT-R and LE models also benefit from various digital throttle modes, backlit switches, blue LED interior lights, removable Adventure Pro GPS/tablet integration, Pre-installed VRX 4,500 Warn winch controlled by a switch on the dash, and upgraded front bumpers with four light pod mounts vs 2 on the standard bumper. Limited editions also benefit from a factory installed SSV Works stereo and Yamaha’s removable key controlled Speed Management system, which limits top-speed to 25 mph while still allowing full power for work or hills. Base models can be easily upgraded with any or all of the abovementioned features found on the XT-R and LE models. One item not easily upgraded are the Fox IQS shocks, which are tunable from inside the cabin. More on that later.

AT the heart of the new RMAX is a brand new 999cc, liquid-cooled, parallel twin-cylinder engine featuring 4 valves and double overhead cams per cylinder. Its 270-degree firing order helps increase torque and traction. Premium pump gas is recommended with the engine’s sport class worthy 11.2:1 compression ratio. It’s said to produce class leading horsepower and torque peaking out at 108 horsepower at 8,500 rpm with a 9,250 rpm redline. That’s 8 more ponies than the General XP 1000, four more than the Honda Talon 1000 and within two horsepower of the Polaris RZR XP 1000.

Air intakes for the engine and CVT are mounted high under the hood making ingesting dirt and water less likely, There’s tool-free access to the primary foam filter with a secondary paper filter Yamaha claims will not pass dirt. Fuel is delivered via Yamaha Fuel Injection with dual, 48mm throttle bodies.

A fully automatic Yamaha’s Ultramatic CVT transmission relies on a primary wet clutch to handle engagement eliminating the need to slip the drive belt on take-offs or getting back on the gas, greatly reducing wear allowing Yamaha to cover the RMAX with its 10-year belt warranty. This type of transmission is a bit harder to tune with aftermarket clutch kits, though. Exhaust from the CVT is utilized to cool the exhaust pipe and spark plug coils. Spiral

Beveled and helical cut gears with rigid gears nestled in a detached transmission along with single inline front and rear driveshafts help keep the drivetrain running smooth and quiet. Yamaha’s On-Command drive system delivers the capability of 2WD, 4WD, and 4WD with front differential lock. Available on Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 XT-R and LE models, for the first time, Yamaha is offering multiple drive modes on a SXS with their Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle offering sport, trail, and crawl modes. Each mode delivers full power with Sport mode tuned for quick acceleration and responsiveness to throttle input. Trail mode is tuned for a more linear response and acceleration similar to a cable actuated throttle. Crawl mode offers slower response for greater traction in rocks or mud. Drive modes also effect engine braking. Trail and Crawl modes offer full engine braking with Sport mode tuned for smoother engine braking, preferable when coming down from speed in whooped out or choppy terrain.

The engine fires right up emitting a mild sporty rumble from the exhaust with db levels we find acceptable inside the cabin for a work-capable Side-by-Side with sporty intentions. The transmission shifts smoothly and effortlessly between high, low, neutral and reverse regardless of situation. Rolling on the gas from a dead stop or getting in and out of the throttle at speed, clutch engagement is magically smooth and gearbox like with no feel of belt lash like some other CVT equipped machines. It is one of the smoothest, most natural feeling CVT transmission we’ve experienced.

The butter smooth clutching feeds in the engine’s seamless power delivery. It’s linear yet fun, controllable but fast enough to provide a thrill level missing from the X2 and X4. Low end power is respectable, easily getting the car moving on flat or slow technical terrain. Seamlessly building power into the midrange, the Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 can generate decent trail speed without having to rev the engine hard. A strong torque curve entering the midrange allows the RMAX2 to tackle impressively long steep climbs instilling confidence that you’re not going to run out of power.

Pushing the limits of the engine’s performance racing from corner to corner on the roomy trails, you quickly forget that there’s a dump bed behind you. It delivers the type of engine performance we’ve come to expect from the naturally aspirated Sport UTV class, albeit very refined. When you ask for it, the RMAX has enough thrust to push you back in your seat. We got the tires spinning as we were cresting mild rollers in the trail and it’s possible to break loose and steer a bit with the back end in corners, even in limited slip 4WD.

Exploring the drive modes of the Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000, Crawl mode allowed us to easily crawl our way through big creek rocks with plenty of power to keep crawling and no sign of wheel spin. On the other hand, with full power on tap Justin tackled one of the longest steepest climbs we came across in crawl mode. Even if full power wasn’t necessary, it was there if needed it.

Trail mode provides very natural feeling acceleration that seems proportional to the demand placed on the gas pedal. It works well for any type of driving from technical to sporty; good thing as this is the only mode available on the stock base model. The gas pedal, while improved over the one on the older Wolverine X models, still drew mixed reviews with Justin wishing for a heel pocket. Fortunately, low speed pedal bob is no longer an issue in Trail or Crawl modes with the digital throttle filtering out most unwanted input without feeling laggy.

Sport mode is sort of similar to slapping a ¼ turn twist throttle on your dirt bike. It doesn’t change the power capabilities of the engine; it simply delivers more gas with less movement of the throttle. Sport mode’s snappy delivery right off idle can reintroduce some unwanted pedal bob that translates to forward momentum at crawling speeds if you’re not precise with your foot. Sport mode is not about babysitting the gas though, it’s about getting immediately into the heart of the power and it does it well.

Variable engine braking seemed perfectly matched with the different drive modes. The normal, higher level of engine braking provided in crawl and trail modes do notably better at keeping speed in check on downhills. Sport mode’s reduced engine braking does well at allowing you to coast a bit more through bumps and reduces the feeling of throwing out the Anker when letting off the gas to set up for turns.

The increased traction of Crawl mode increases the capability of what’s possible, even in limited slip 4WD. However, when negotiating slick, muddy, steep, rutted climbs where all four tires are spinning, it’s nice knowing that the front differential is locked with all four tires clawing for traction regardless of what we did with the throttle or if available grip changed from one side to the other.

Overall the engine is well mannered for all day work with performance that feels worthy of a Sport Side-by-Side. The General could be out gunned.

The RMAX is built on brand new steel frame. Its 64” width is ideal for adapting well to nearly all types of terrain. Most of the underside of the frame is covered by a welded on steel skid plate with a front plastic skid plate and rear CV guards. Kickouts on the lower frame rails help prevent snagging the rear wheels on trees or other obstacles. Our unit came outfitted with a set of 3/8” thick, Genuine Yamaha UHMWPE skid plates, protecting the underside of the frame, which we’d rather not scratch up. Plus, they help slide over rocks more easily. They’d be our number one accessory pic is we were to buy this unit.

A winch-ready steel bumper features very overbuilt looking tie-down points for easy trailering. A channel in the grill allows an observer to keep an eye on the winch cable helping preventing tangling and binding.

Dual A-arms up front feature wide-arc lower arms for improved ground clearance. Dual control arms out back utilize single stamped designed lower arms for improved strength. We were impressed with the thick shock mounts and stout appearance of the exposed frame and suspension parts. Justin felt construction appeared more robust than what the competition is delivering at this time.

Fox Podium 2.0 QS3 shocks are used on the standard and XT-R models with Fox IQS shocks used on the LE model. Both shocks feature nitrogen reservoirs, dual rate springs with preload adjustment, and three-way compression damping adjustability with comfort, medium, and firm settings for different speeds, terrains, and uses. The QS3 shocks have three position dials on the shocks reservoirs while the IQS system allows you to select between the different compressions damping settings via a switch inside the cockpit.

According to Yamaha the shocks were optimized for maximum low-speed comfort and maximum articulation while still offering a high-level of bottoming resistance.

Class-leading suspension travel is found at both ends of the Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000, with 14.2” front and 16.9” rear. That’s nearly 3” more rear suspension travel then General XP 1000, within 1/10” of an inch of Yamaha’s YXZ1000R Sport SXS, and more overall travel than the 64” wide Honda Talon X sport model. Equipped with a sway bar up front, it foregoes a rear sway bar for maximum articulation

The RMAX2’s 86.7” wheelbase is claimed to improve the contact to ground feeling on steep climbs and descents compared to the 83” wheelbase of the General XP 1000. Rolling on 30×10-14” radial tires on 14” aluminum wheels, the 2021 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 delivers the square wheel tire setup we prefer. Ground clearance is class leading at 13.8”

Optimized for use with 29-30” tires, Yamaha’s electric power steering is now offering a second mode that automatically engages to make steering easier when the front differential is locked.

Suspension performance was outstanding on the wooded trails we tested on. The factory suspension settings are designed for two occupants with 150 lbs in the bed with room to stiffen of soften the ride. That’s where we left it for our first day of testing, although Justin said he would soften the settings a bit for driving alone. We managed to bottom the suspension on a major G-out (Justin says he pushes any Sport SXS’s shocks to their limits), but the RMAX2 never bottomed harshly and was able to quickly regains its composure.

During rock crawling the shocks do an excellent job of absorbing square edge impacts and allowing the suspension to respond to the demands of the terrain aided greatly by the lack of a rear sway bar. It rolls over rocks and fills in holes with the rest of the RMAX and its occupants flying along comfortably above turbulence. Come to think of it, that’s kind of how the Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 rides when you’re flying down the trail at speed. Small bumps aren’t harsh, the suspension never seems to bottom harshly and everything in between is well dampened while still leaving you feeling very connected to the trail. Although we didn’t get to pound whoops, rebound damping seemed quick enough. The suspension was always ready for the next hit, emitting a fun, responsive and lively feeling over mildly rolling trail. The RMAX2 has a lot of suspension travel and it feels like it no matter how we drove it.

Entering corners at speed, dive and body roll are well controlled with just enough front end weight transfer to get the front end hooked up and steering precisely. Justin proclaimed that the 2021 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 is the most accurate-steering SXS he’s driven! In bumpy corners where the car might start to bobble, the suspension quickly settles things down. Stability in turns is very good with the feeling of a pretty low center of gravity. When you hammer down exiting corners you feel the back end squat and transfer its weight to the outside tire, settling into the turn like a trophy truck. Even then the rear suspension remains very responsive to bumps keeping the ride comfortable and the driver in control.

Power steering is near perfection as we’ve come to expect on all Yamaha models. Its light with the perfect amount of feedback keeping you feeling connected to the trail while eliminating unwanted bump feedback. The only time any real effort is required to turn the front wheels is at a dead stop with the front differential lock engaged.

The 2021 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 is slowed by four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes. 255mm rotors with 32mm calipers are used up front with 244.5mm rotors and 27mm calipers out back. Dual piston calipers are found at both ends. Steel braided brake lines are used for enhanced power and feel.

The brakes deliver good feel and power, but both Chad and Justin felt the pedal required more pressure than they would like. Braking improved a bit throughout the day, but still required a good amount of pedal pressure to get the most out of the brakes.

With all this performance comes the capability to get work done or haul more gear out for the weekend. The 2021 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 features a cosmetically well disguised, hydraulically assisted, composite dump bed with multiple steel tie-down points and 600 pounds of cargo capacity. A 2” hitch receiver is rated to tow an additional ton even with the bed loaded.

Interior comfort and attention to detail are first rate on the RMAX. Entering and exiting has been made much easier comped to older X models. New three-piece doors feature interior door handles located farther from flying mud. Integrated door speaker pods are designed to make installing speakers easier with improved acoustics.

A blue backlit led display is mounted just behind the steering wheel and is easy to read at a glance. Compared to the Wolverine X2, the automotive style cockpit is roomier for all occupants with nearly ½” more rearward movement for the driver’s seat.

Gas and brake pedals are newly designed. A 17-degree tilt adjustable steering wheel is constructed of a softer durometer rubber. The passenger benefits from a new quick adjust, T-shaped grab handle with 95mm of adjustment that can be adjusted in 4mm increments.

Getting comfortable in the machine is pretty easy for most body types. At 6’2”, Chad felt that he had plenty of leg room on either side. As wide as an NFL player, his shoulder rubbed the shoulder bolster a bit when he was driving, although it wasn’t serious. The steering wheel is rigid yet soft to the touch, offering plenty of adjustment. The seats are comfortable with a design that’s well balanced for easy and exiting from the car while still offering a decent amount of bolstering for aggressive driving. They seem well placed in the chassis in relationship to the front and rear wheels minimizing jostling of the occupants while traversing rough terrain making the passenger grab bar seem almost unnecessary most of the time. The three-point belt belts are among the most comfortable we’ve used with no uncomfortable pressure points and we appreciated the added comfort of the soft touch points in the cabin. All of the switches, handles and latches feel first rate.

Riding in the Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 is a joy with no rattles, squeaks or irritating vibrations from anywhere on the machine. There’s just the pleasant sound of the engine and a slight turbo sounding hiss from the CVT.

Interior storage includes a 5.8L passenger glove box and 2.7L center console with dual cup holders located in front of it. The center console is rubber sealed with pass-through areas to charge you smart phone while safely inside.

XT-R and Limited edition RMAX models benefit from Yamaha Adventure Pro GPS tablet integration along with a USB charge port. The Adventure Pro can be locked in place for security and removed for use in your car or truck.

All 2021 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 models come with sun tops standard featuring integration with Yamaha’s accessory windshield, cab enclosure system and mirrors.

Its modern sporty styling is accented with new LED marker lights. 7.6W LED low beams with 15.2W reflector high beam headlights are found up front with LED tail and reverse lights found out back.

While we are typically excited about new machines, we were blown away with the new 2021 Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000. It’s certainly a contender or best in class in the Sport/Utility segment, but it’s more than that. While we haven’t yet had the chance to test it in whooped out terrain, the RMAX2 1000 seems good enough to serve the needs of many enthusiasts who’ve been wishing for a 64” wide, CVT equipped Sport UTV from a Japanese manufacturer. It’s both quicker and faster than a Teryx 1000, might give the Talon 1000X a good run, and will work better for many drivers than Yamaha’s own YXZ1000R on tighter trails. Plus, it will let you haul more gear, work, or tow more than any pure Sport Side-by-Side.

We honestly can’t think of another model on the market offering the same combination of performance, versatility, and refinement. We believe the Yamaha Wolverine RMAX2 1000 could wind up being the most desirable Side-by-Side vehicle on the market for the largest number of potential buyers. That’s saying a lot, but the new Wolverine RMAX2 is really that good.