Yamaha Rhino 450 Special Edition Review
The Rhino 660 was the first in the Yamaha Side X Side UTV line-up. Then came the Yamaha Rhino 450 UTV for a couple grand cheaper. I decided on the 450 Special Edition. The 450 SE I purchased came with blue plastics, 12" aluminum Rhino rims, sport steering wheel, gray seats, a glove compartment lid, special head rests, sport springs, some special edition emblems and the digital dash and fuel gauge not found on the standard 450. There are way to many standard features to list here so check out Yamaha's website for more info. To my disappointment there was no roof on it, that was $287.00 extra. The headrests are embossed with the Yamaha logo and it came with doors from the factory. The 2007 Rhino 450 has a 421cc engine, is liquid-cooled and has an electric fan to regulate engine temp. The Yamaha Rhino 450 has a 2 Valve Gasoline Engine, 1212 Lbs Towing Capacity, 4 Wheel Independent Suspension, Push-Button 4-Wheel Drive with Differential Lock, Ultramatic V-belt variable transmission and a Tilt/Dump Bed with 400 Lbs Cargo Weight.

The engine is powerful, but it lacks the top speed of the 660 and 700, however the low-end torque is great. Top speed is about 36-37 MPH with stock tires on the street. The steering is good in 2-wheel drive on most surfaces, though 4-wheel drive is better for me most of the time in the sand or dirt. The Rhino's gears consist of High, Low, Neutral and Reverse. I really like the on-the-fly 4x4 and Diff lock. With the diff lock on you can go almost anywhere. The motor has an engine brake so if you let off the gas it will start slowing down like a golf cart. The brakes are awesome due to the large-diameter ventilated front discs and drive shaft-mounted rear disc. This thing stops on a dime in most situations. The e-brake handle on the 2007 and before models is a little awkward and sometimes hurts your fingers to release. The new 2008 to present car-like one is much better.

The Yamaha Rhino can tow and haul a lot of heavy stuff if you put a trailer hitch on it. I towed another Rhino that was out of fuel with two 200 lb. guys and equipment in it at 30 miles per hour with no problem! That is a total of over 1600 lbs. Not bad. The dump truck bed is also a really nice feature and makes a great seat when sitting around a fire.

The seating is very comfortable for two adults and the controls are easy to use and reach. They are set up just like a car. If you can drive a car or a golf cart you can drive a Yamaha Rhino. The sport steering wheel is comfortable but doesn't tilt or adjust. The glove compartment is nice and can hold lots of stuff, but if you do not wrap everything in a towel it will end up getting shredded. (like my damn digital camera an cell phone!)

The lighting is set up just like a car: the digital dash lights up, headlights with high and low beam and tail lights with brake lights but no reverse lights. There is an LED Tail light/reverse light upgrade for around $170.00. The headlights could also be little brighter.

If you want to go super fast, get the 660 or the 700. The 450 is fast, but not fast enough in my opinion. The low end is great, it just doesn't go crazy fast. If you are used to gunning it up to 50+ MPH on a quad or motorcycle, the Yamaha Rhino 450 may seem a little slow on the top end unless it has some performance modifications.

My 450 is really really fun, it is like driving a mini 4x4 truck, I can't stop smiling when I ride it. The Yamaha Rhino 450 SE is a truly awesome machine for work or fun and is the most fun versatile off-road vehicle I have ever driven. It is the benchmark for all other side-by-side vehicles. So why not get the real deal? The total for this Rhino with extended warranty and tax out the door was $10,300.00. Payments are $129.00 a month with no money down with a 13.99% rate for 2 years.

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