MSRP: $7,799
749 c.c., liquid-cooled,
90-degree, four-stroke
V-twin engine
Top Speed: 70 mph
Weight: 605 lb
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This big bore ATV is the reigning champ in high performance, big-bore beasties: Think muscle car meets monster truck. It is not one of those fanged exotic sport toys with names like Banshee and Raptor that are great for doing wheelies, donuts and burnouts, although judging from YouTube videos, the Brute Force is perfectly capable in that department. Neither is it a farm tool/utility vehicle, although it could earn its weight easily in that class. It is the quad equivalent of a Land Rover or Humvee. It's nimble, responsive, rugged and strong, as befits an expedition-class vehicle. The cockpit places everything you need right at hand. Storage racks and compartments, extra gas tanks, impressive range: The Brute Force has it all.
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New for 2008, the Brute Force's digital fuel injection is as crisp and clean as a spike of adrenaline. Thumb the throttle for enough power to rear up on hind legs and gallop away in a cloud of dust. The V-twin is a legendary performance king: Awesome bottom end, an alert mid-range and a top end that can take you to the horizon, just like that. Sick air? Yours for the asking. Drag race? Go for it. Daring rescues for disabled vehicles? The Brute can tow twice its weight. The pilot can select two-wheel drive for long cruises (fire roads, deserts) or flick into four-wheel for rock-crawling, stump-pulling or clearing log hurdles. Pull a yellow trigger on the differential control and power both front wheels for serious obstacles. Stopping power is well-planned: front and rear discs, with the rear brakes totally enclosed in an oil bath that is unaffected by water, mud, dust or debris. Our impressions of the Brute Force came after a visit to the Ocala National Forest, where park staff were busy cutting 140 miles of new trails. The independent front and rear suspension absorbed whoop-di-dos, diagonal logs and ruts with claw-like hold; indeed, if you are used to a single solid rear axle (notoriously skittish), you are in for a pleasant surprise. The Brute Force was in heaven -- the perfect overland adventure beast.
-- by James R. Petersen |
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