UTV/ATV REVIEWS 1 2 3 4 True to form In 2018 the RTV X900 was one of Kubota’s most popular utility vehicles. Barry Ashenhurst found out why Kubota RTV X900 Engine Output Trans Front diff Rear diff Park brake Front susp Rear susp Tyres Wheelbase Three-cylinder, 898cc diesel 21.6hp Kubota VHT-X hydrostatic Limited-slip Foot-operated locker Hand operated on rear wheel Dual A-arms with adjustable spring preload A-arms with coilover shocks 25x10-12 (six-ply) 2045mm Cargo bed load 500kg Fuel tank 30 litres We like Kubota gear. It’s solid, well-engineered and well made. It’s not the fastest utility vehicle in the shed, true, but the people who buy it are notorious sticklers for reliability and value for money, and care nothing for top speed. Located in the mid-range utility market, the base model we’re testing here is known as the ‘general purpose’ model with ATV tyres and a manual cargo bed. You get what you pay for in this business and Kubota offers a lot for the money. A hydrostatic transmission and hydrostatic power steering for example, along with a highly rigid steel frame, under-seat storage, independent suspension front and rear and heavy-duty skidplates. The cab has a ROPS, as you’d expect. Steel bolsters help prevent driver or passenger exiting the vehicle involuntarily, though we don’t really like steel bars for this purpose. Controls are sensibly laid out and easy to use. There’s no P in the gearbox but a ratchet-type handbrake. The shift pattern is what manufacturers like to call ‘linear’: L-H-N-R, with no P to complicate things. The shift action was very notchy on our test vehicle but the thing was brand new and that’s a good excuse. As most people know, you can expect the shift action to freeup after several hundred kilometres. The digital instrument pack was centred in the dash and easy to read. To start the machine you make sure it’s in neutral then turn the key. Visibility toward the front was good; important when you’re scrambling over rough terrain and need accurate wheel placement. My first imp ession climbing into a Kubota was that the vehicle feels compact and that you sit high where you can see everything. The passenger grab-bar is set into the vertical ROPS pillar in front of them, but to me this was a stretch to reach and spoilt an otherwise comfortable seating position. PERFORMANCE Having a hydrostatic transmission on a small vehicle like this may seem like overkill but it’s not. With high and low range, a limited-slip front diff and a foot-operated lock on the rear diff, the only obstacle to make an X900 flinch is a hill equiring more than the 21.6hp (16kW) its three-cylinder diesel produces. Meagre horsepower is its only limiting factor, more so when 1. Split bench seat accommodates two, sitting high for greater visibility 2. Controls are well laid out, though the pedals are slightly offset. 3. Access to daily maintenance items is what you’d expect in a modern UTV 4. Independent suspension at each end gives a nice ride for such a small vehicle the vehicle is laden to capacity with two blokes up front and a steel tray full of heavy gear. Suspension front and rear is by dual A-arms. Adjusting ride height is done by changing preload settings on the shocks, though how many users would actually do this we have no idea. The Kubota’s power-steering and 4m turning circle help make the X900 manoeuvrable in tight situations and makes this model easy for anyone to drive. The engine is well muffled the transmission quiet and daily maintenance checks straightforward. The fuel tank sits in the chassis on the driver’s side. Lifting the bonnet gives access to the radiator, the coolant bottle, the brake fluid eservoir and the two-stage air filte , the latter contained in a clip-cannister on the right-hand side. There’s a decent-size glovebox and plenty of under-seat storage for items you’d like to keep dry. It is worth making the point that Kubota’s transmission breather doesn’t like you punting the X900 through water deeper than half-wheel height – though I have to say nothing happened to suggest that the breather was too low. Not every Japanese manufacturer makes a diesel-powered UTV and not all these factories persist with the notion that UTVs are workhorses, not playthings. Yamaha stuck with that idea for a long time with the Rhino but had obviously changed its tune by the time it released the more sporty Viking, then the five-speed paddle-shifting YXZ1000R. But Kubota persists with the original idea. There’s no ‘sporty’ Kubota; apart from the petrol-driven RTV400Ci and the RTV500GHD, they’re all diesel and all workhorses with no intention of being race horses. The X900 is popular because it gives buyers good engineering at a very nice price, and that’s always hard to beat. It’s also easy and pleasant to drive and that will win friends among those with little experience in small cross-country vehicles. Looking for an ATV/UTV? Search for ‘ATV’ or ‘UTV’ on Trade<strong>Farm</strong><strong>Machinery</strong>.com.au or type the TA or DIY code shown here into the keyword search field $23,990 TA1027245 KUBOTA RTV-X900. 3 cyl diesel engine, 21.6hp, variable hydro trans. • VIC 03 9998 4995 $13,200 TA996906 KUBOTA RTV1140 CPX. 2200 hrs, diesel engine, 4WD, hydrostatic trans. • QLD 07 3171 1832 $12,650 TA696187 2012 KUBOTA RTV 500. 42 hrs, one owner, electronic fuel inj, petrol. • VIC 03 8373 7134 58 Trade<strong>Farm</strong><strong>Machinery</strong>.com.au THE TRACTOR YOU WANT IS NOW EASIER TO FIND
Reliable sales & fast service in Small Bale Handling Equipment NEW REBEL TAUTLINER GRAB IS HERE 15 Bale Accumulator includes Baler Towbar, Baler Hydraulic Kit and Wiring Harness Heavy duty stick rakes made to order Empty space? Fill Tautliner trailers to the roof. Slim design for tight spaces. Heavy duty design. 10 and 15 Bale available. 15 Bale Grab includes Hydraulic Ram, Hydraulic Hoses and Side Rail FFM-HH-5168768-TS-384 We won’t be beaten on price! For all enquiries phone Nic 02 6852 2049 or check www.rebelequipment.com.au
Change language