Yamaha YXZ1000R lets you shift for yourself

Yamaha is hoping to one-up the side-by-side world with the new YXZ1000R, which looks ready to partake in the next Mad Max movie in the clip above. Performance vehicles like this aren't new, but Yamaha is taking a different approach by equipping its latest model with a five-speed, sequential manual gearbox – a first for the segment. Drivers step on a hydraulic clutch to bang through the gears, and the transmission is combined with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine boasting a 10,500-rpm redline. The result is the ability to blast through the dunes at absolutely crazy speeds.

The high-performance powertrain is matched to an upgraded suspension that can handle the power, boasting 16-inches of travel at the front and 17 inches in the rear. In an especially aggressive touch, the shock towers are visible through the hood. For those really curious about the YXZ1000R, the clips below include deeper looks at the engine, transmission, chassis, and ergonomics, respectively.