YXZ1000R News

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

Since its inception in 2016, the YXZ1000R has embodied what a sport side-by-side should be from its sleek styling to its available manual transmission. It has indeed been one of our absolute favorite sport side-by-sides available. The 2023 model year sees the YXZ1000R continuing to be Yamaha’s pure sport side-by-side. Is there anything new about the YXZ1000R for model year 2023? Nope, there are no new changes or updates on the vehicle other than color changes. Here is what you need to know.