Yamaha Wolverine X2 and X4: 850 and 1000 specifications

Yamaha Wolverine X2 1000 XT-R

The X2 1000 and X2 850 have different engines

The shared X2 name is not a parts identifier. Use the full engine and trim designation for service parts and capacities.

Use Yamaha’s operator guide for water-depth and speed limits. Engine and CVT intake height alone cannot establish an operating limit.

Yamaha Wolverine X2 850 XT-R

What a hunter found

Born Hunting says the ride floats thanks to an excellent suspension, helped by rubber engine mounts, and that the first thing the tester noticed was the clearance, nearly a foot underneath, boosted by 27-inch GBC Dirt Commander radial tires.

It describes seats that are comfortable and high-backed with knee pads on the sides where your leg naturally rests, and a centrifugal clutch that supports the drive system with uniform belt tension and a sprag clutch that enables engine braking. The review describes hunting use and the tested terrain.

Yamaha lists an independent double-wishbone front and rear with anti-sway bars, 8.7 in and 9.3 in of travel, AT27 x 9-12 tires, an 83.7 in wheelbase, 11.5 in of ground clearance and a 9.2 gal tank. The machine weighs 1,698 lb wet. The X4 version has a longer body and a second row, at a price $2,000 higher.

X2 850 against the rivals

For the Wolverine X2 850 record priced at $16,499, the price gaps are $1,300 above the $15,199 Mule Pro-FX (812cc), $1,500 above the $14,999 Defender DPS HD9, and $1,800 below the $18,299 Prowler 800 XT. These differences use the 850 record, separately from the X2 1000 and X4 850 figures on this page.

Its listed 1,698 lb wet weight is 20 lb below the Prowler’s 1,718 lb dry figure, but those measurement bases differ. The 850 equipment described here includes a 72 hp twin and KYB shocks.

X2 850 against the X4 850 and the 1000 models

Yamaha builds the 850 in two-seat and four-seat forms. The X2 850 XT-R is $16,499 and the Wolverine X4 850 XT-R is $18,499, so the second row costs $2,000. Both share the 847cc twin and fully adjustable KYB front shocks. Their rear shocks differ: the X2 uses adjustable KYB units, while the X4 uses self-adjusting shock absorbers.

The step up to the 999cc X2 1000 XT-R at $18,999 buys a bigger engine and SACHS shocks with 13.3 in of front travel against the 850's 8.7 in. If you mostly haul and do light trail work, the 850's low price and 72 hp are plenty. If you ride rocky trails at speed, the 1000's longer travel is worth the $2,500.

The Born Hunting tester's remarks about a floating ride and high-backed seats matter most on a machine that spends long days in the field. The engine sits on rubber mounts, which reduces vibration in the cab. The Ultramatic V-belt with a sprag clutch gives engine braking on descents. That engine retardation supplements the wheel brakes; use the brakes to control speed on the descent.

The 9.2 gal tank and 1,698 lb wet weight suit a hunting camp, and 11.5 in of ground clearance handles stumps and ruts. Keep the belt and clutch clean after muddy days, as with any V-belt machine.

Wolverine X2 850 XT-R against the Mule Pro-FX (812cc) and Defender DPS HD9

Kawasaki's Mule Pro-FX (812cc) and Can-Am's Defender DPS HD9 are the closest utility rivals in price.