Experience with Yamaha RMAX side by side?

[Magnum Sherpa]

Does anyone own or have personal experience with a Yamaha RMAX? I’m thinking of buying one of the RMAX 4 Compacts (has 4 seats of which the rear two can be folded down for cargo, doesn’t have a dedicated bed/box).

I like the short wheelbase of this model for multiple reasons, and I don’t want a side by side that approaches the size of my full-size pickup as many seem to be. I’ll use it mostly for hunting and a little for rides with the family. 90% of the time it will only be used for 2 people, so I’m not worried about the small rear seats.

I have read some reports of catastrophic engine failures at low mileages, but most seemed to be due to lapses in maintenance or abuse of the machine.

 

[Gulf of America]

I have a 2018 Wolverine 850 X4 - different engine but similar packaging. I love the layout and it fits in the toy hauler, while still having a functional bed. I was between the Pioneer and the Wolverine, and a very lightly used Wolverine popped up first, but the tilt bed and ability to enclose the forward cab of the Pioneer would maybe be a selling point in that direction, as well as a traditional transmission rather than a CVT. I don't think you can go wrong either way though!

 

[Magnum Sherpa]

I have a 2018 Wolverine 850 X4 - different engine but similar packaging. I love the layout and it fits in the toy hauler, while still having a functional bed. I was between the Pioneer and the Wolverine, and a very lightly used Wolverine popped up first, but the tilt bed and ability to enclose the forward cab of the Pioneer would maybe be a selling point in that direction, as well as a traditional transmission rather than a CVT. I don't think you can go wrong either way though!

One of the appeals of the RMAX for me is the cab can be fully enclosed too, with either soft or hard doors. I would plan to have a heater installed as well.

 

[Gulf of America]

One of the appeals of the RMAX for me is the cab can be fully enclosed too, with either soft or hard doors. I would plan to have a heater installed as well.

Yep I installed a heater and a soft cab enclosure. There are a lot more options for the newer ones (2021+) - I wish I’d known that before buying the early model. I just like the idea of only enclosing the front seats for snow plowing when it’s balls cold out so you’re heating less space.

 

[Chingon]

I had an X4 as well that I loved, but the lack of enclosure made it a no-go for cold hunts with the kiddos. Soft sides + aftermarket heater barely took the edge off.

With the RMAX, doors are available which would help, but after going through the pain and $$$(!) you're better off just buying an HVAC model. Downside to those is size and suspension, but the new Kawasaki Ridge has suspension a bit more sporty than utility which I would pick today. Inline 4 cyl is also much quieter than the deliberately loud sport models like the Yamahas.

All tradeoffs, but we do miss the fun factor of the X4 in the summer...