Yamaha unveiled its new lineup of 2014 off-road vehicles in early June and what you won’t see for the new model year is the Rhino side-by-side. In its place sits the all-new 2014 Yamaha Viking.
What Rhino fans will probably notice first is that the 2014 Viking seats three across instead of two. On a bench seat? Nope. Each rider has their own individual bucket seat, which makes the Yamaha Viking the industry’s first true three-seater side-by-side. As for safety and comfort features, the Viking comes with three-point seatbelts for all three riders, adjustable seating, individual footwells and its own factory-installed suntop.
At the heart and soul of the Viking is the same proven 686-cc, SOHC, four-valve, fuel-injected engine that powered the Rhino but with a new combustion chamber shape, a revised compression ratio and new cam profile and forged piston—this engine offers more torque and better fuel economy than its 2013 counterpart.
Other features of the new 2014 Yamaha Viking include electronic power steering, all-wheel engine braking, new Maxxis Big Horn 2.0 tires and a sturdy steel cargo bed with a generous 600-pound hauling capacity.
Although it has a slightly sportier design than the Rhino, the Yamaha Viking still falls into the category of utility-based side-by-sides. It’s no show pony, but that being said, Yamaha claims that over half of the side-by-side market is still occupied by farmers and hunters who believe that work comes before play.
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