Saying Goodbye To The Yamaha YXZ1000R: A Trailblazer's Last Ride

Yes, the title is dramatic but it’s official—2025 is the last production year of the Yamaha YXZ1000R, and we’re feeling it. For years, the YXZ1000R has been one of the most thrilling, innovative, and downright grin-inducing sport side-by-sides on the planet. Knowing it won’t return for 2026 hits us right in the off-road soul.

Why The YXZ1000R Was So Special

From day one, the Yamaha YXZ1000R rewrote the rulebook. Yamaha gave enthusiasts something nobody else had the guts to build:

• The first true manual-transmission sport side-by-side—row-your-own gears, rally style.
• The YXZ1000R SS with paddle shifters and launch control—another first in the segment.
• A razor-sharp, high-revving three-cylinder that begged to be flogged across dunes, deserts, and whoops.

It wasn’t just quick. It connected the driver to the terrain in a way few machines ever have—precise, mechanical, and addictive.

Our Adventures With The YXZ1000R

For us, the Yamaha YXZ1000R isn’t just a spec sheet—it’s a highlight reel of memories.

My first real dune ride was in the Yamaha YXZ1000R, and it was nothing short of epic. Launching off dunes and sand shelves, bracing for impact, and then realizing the YXZ1000R just soaked it up—even when I didn’t know there was a drop-off—was mind-bending.

I’ll always have a soft spot for the stick-shift version of the Yamaha YXZ1000R, which made every shift feel like a victory. It was driver engagement turned up to 11.

And then came the YXZ1000R SS with paddle shifters and launch control. Pulling the paddles and blasting off with launch mode engaged gave the YXZ1000R an unmatched fun factor—truly an 11 on a 1-to-10 scale.

Memories from the Beginning

I was there in California when Yamaha revealed the YXZ1000R, and I had the chance to ride with someone who really knew what the side-by-side was capable of—and I loved it! When the YXZ1000R SS was released, we tested one on our home turf. I’ll never forget how thrilling it was to paddle-shift my way to 60 MPH, and then play with launch mode. I even wrote in my review back then that if James Bond were to drive a side-by-side, it would be the YXZ1000R SS in black and red trim. It was then, and still is now, one of the coolest-looking side-by-sides ever made—bar none.

Driving Off Into the Sunset

We’re sad to see the Yamaha YXZ1000R drive off into the sunset, but we’re grateful for the memories, the adrenaline, and the community it helped build. Yamaha has never been shy about pushing boundaries, and we can’t wait to see what they dream up next to carry the sport-SxS torch.

Key Highlights of the Yamaha YXZ1000R

• Engine: 998cc inline three-cylinder, high-revving character
• Transmissions: 5-speed manual (sequential-style) and YXZ1000R SS with paddle shifters & auto-clutch
• Launch Control: Available on YXZ1000R SS
• Chassis Focus: Pure sport—long-travel suspension, aggressive geometry, dune & desert ready
• Firsts: First sport SxS with a true manual; first with paddle shifters + launch control (SS)
• First Production Year: 2016
• Last Production Year: 2025

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