TEST
BAD BOY STAMPEDE
900 EPS+ 4x4
A NEW WAY TO RIDE ROUGHSHOD OVER OFF-ROAD TERRAIN
B
ad Boy Buggies has been known for silent, hybrid, hunting UTVs,
but is now “ready to make some noise” with gasoline-powered
ATVs and UTVs. We reported last month on the Onslaught 550
4x4 ATV, and now Bad Boy is jumping into the recreational/utility UTV
market with the all-new Stampede 900 4x4 UTV. Bad Boy is owned
by Textron Specialty Vehicles group. Textron is a giant in all sorts of
vehicle companies, from Cessna, Beechcraft, Bell Helicopters, the V-22
Osprey and Tug airport operations equipment to EZ-GO golf carts, and
Weber industrial, snowmobile and marine engines. Textron and Bad
Boy are launching a new wave of UTVs in the coming months, with the
Stampede 900 being their first effort.
60 www.utvactionmag.com
JUNE 2016 / UTV ACTION 61
TESTED:
WHAT’S A STAMPEDE?
BAD BOY STAMPEDE 900 EPS+ 4X4
In designing the Stampede, Bad
Boy strived to take on the established
recreational/utility UTV brands with
competitive power, suspension,
handling, driving experience, storage/
hauling capabilities, reliability and
customization. For power, engineers
started with the Weber MPE 850 twin,
a relative of the engines that were used
to power Polaris PWCs. The Germanbuilt twin puts out 80 horsepower
and 59 foot-pounds of torque, and
the turbocharged version makes 120
horsepower (coming soon in a sport
model). It also has forged internals for
durability and a 520-watt alternator for
powering many accessories. Its dualrange CVT has Park mode, and the
driveline has rack-and-pinion steering,
an unlocking rear differential and optional
EPS. Independent suspension delivers
9.3 inches of front and 10.4 inches of
rear travel with front and rear torsion
bars, and the four-wheel hydraulic disc
brakes include two-piston front calipers.
The Stampede has a two-person
bench seat, standard half doors, easy
exit/entrance, steel-tube ROPS, a large
LCD screen with customizable settings,
and a sloped hood for better visibility.
For work or play, Stampedes have an
exclusive extra cab, 24 cubic feet of
storage space, 1-ton towing and a tilt
bed with a 600-pound capacity. The
hood is scooped out to accept an
accessory front rack, and a heavy-duty
front brush guard is standard. Our test
units had several accessories, including
a sunroof with rain gutters and a
winch. Stampedes went through brutal
durability testing against other brands
and are backed by a two-year warranty.
They’re produced in Augusta, Georgia.
Stampedes are available in three
versions. The base model has rack-andpinion steering without Electronic Power
Steering (EPS), 26-inch Kenda tires on
steel rims, two halogen headlights, and
Forest Green or Inferno Red paint. The
EPS model uses the same EPS unit that
Polaris uses and includes an upgrade
to aluminum 14-inch wheels with
Kenda 26-inch tires, quad headlights
and black, optional Realtree Xtra Camo
or red and green color choices. The
EPS+ has 27-inch Bighorn 2.0 tires in
painted Platinum, Inferno Red and Black.
There are also Hunter and Workman
packages, as well as 70 accessories
available.
HOW DOES COST COMPARE?
The base Stampede is $13,799. The
Stampede EPS is $14,799, and the
EPS+ goes for $15,599. Arctic Cat’s
Prowler XT 1000 EPS is $15,299,
while the Honda Pioneer 1000 is
$13,999 to $16,199 (P-5) and the Can62 www.utvactionmag.com
Only the Stampede EPS+ sports Platinumpainted bodywork, but all three versions sport
twin-puck front hydraulic calipers squeezing
231mm rotors and the heavy-duty front
brush guard. A plastic panel in the brush
guard pops out for the accessory winch
fairlead. The Stampede also sports rack-andpinion steering.
rATINGS
Rock crawling is enhanced by the torquey engine, precise throttle, locking diffs, ample ground
clearance and durable components. This Stampede EPS+ has an accessory roof, Warn winch,
LED light bar, rear-view mirror and front rack, and only the two EPS versions have aluminum
rims and four halogen headlights.
Am HD10 starts at $13,799 without
EPS and jumps to $14,999–$15,849
with it. The Polaris Ranger XP 900
starts at $13,499–$14,299 and goes
up to $14,499–$15,299 with EPS.
John Deere’s Gator RSX860i starts
at $12,299 without EPS and goes to
$13,480 with Bighorns and brush guard.
HOW FAST IS THE 900?
It’s really quick. Although governed
to 60 mph, it hits hard and gets there in
a hurry. The 80-horsepower engine is
tuned for massive low-end and midrange
power, and its “yank” is almost as potent
as the Polaris General’s. The 44mm EFI
throttle body and CVT clutch are tuned
for instant acceleration, or cruise with
lesser throttle openings. Low range is
really low, as it only does 27–28 mph in
low.
HOW IS THE 4WD DELIVERY?
It’s excellent. The diffs react quickly to
toggle controls, and CVT clutch tuning
is smooth and efficient. It leaps out of
the hole if you mat the throttle pedal and
eases off the line if you baby the loud
pedal. The range selector wants time to
do its job or it balks at shifting. Although
it doesn’t have a dedicated Engine
Braking System (EBS), compression
braking does slow the Stampede in
trailing-throttle situations, especially in
low range.
MOTOR/TRANNY
Overall power.................................... 5
Low.............................................. 5
Mid.............................................. 5
Top.............................................. 4
Throttle response............................... 5
Idling smoothness.............................. 5
Shifting/tranny................................... 4
WHAT ABOUT THE HANDLING?
It’s extremely stable yet corners
predictably. The wheelbase is a Teryxlike 85.2 inches, but it turns in well and
follows ruts well too. Torsion bars fight
body roll, and it feels lighter than its
1690-pound weight. The Stampede
is so hooked up with its weight and
Bighorn 2.0 tires that it takes a lot to
step out the rear end and set up a slide.
We drove the Stampede on trails at
Moab that we had ridden with the John
Deere Gator RSX850i, and handling was
comparable to the RSX.
HOW’S THE IRS SUSPENSION?
Very good. The HPG shocks are
tuned well for the Stampede’s weight
and power characteristics, and we really
had to work to bottom either end. Ride
quality over sandy chop and desert
cross-grain terrain is excellent. We also
did some rock crawling at Moab, and
articulation is good, despite the A-arms
being connected with front and rear
torsion bars. Also, the upper arms are
cast for strength, while the lowers are
tubular steel.
DOES IT ROCK IN ROCKS?
Oh yeah. We climbed some rock
faces that a Jeep with 36-inch tires
cleared. The throttle control, ground
clearance, CVT and diffs inspire
confidence. The ride in the cabin is also
German engineering throughout the Textron
MPE 850 dry-sump engine increases
durability with the forged crankshaft, pistons
and connecting rods, and the 846cc twin
produces 80 horsepower and 59 foot-pounds
of torque. It’s matched with a dual-range CVT
that propels the Stampede to 27 mph in low
and 60 mph (governed) in high. Textron also
has a 120-horsepower Turbo version of this
industrial/marine/snowmobile mill.
HANDLING AND CHASSIS
The Stampede has fully independent
suspension with cast upper arms for strength
and tubular lowers for weight reduction, plus
front and rear torsion bars to fight body
roll. Travel is 9.3 inches front and 10.4
inches rear, and only the EPS+ Stampede
has 27-inch Bighorn 2.0 tires on 14-inch
aluminum wheels. Base and EPS versions
have 26-inch Kendas.
much more comfortable than the Cub
Cadet we tested at Moab last year. The
Stampede’s hood also adds to its rockcrawling prowess.
HOW IS IT IN MUD AND WATER?
We didn’t get into any deep mud at
Moab, but we hit puddles and streams
as hard as we could, and the plastic
package and doors kept all splashes
and roost out of the cab. Ample low-end
power and just under a foot of ground
The tilting bed has a 600-pound cargo
capacity, and the Stampede will tow a ton
with its 2-inch receiver. There is also an
extra-cab storage bin behind the seat that is
large enough for three backpacks, and body
panels on each side fold down for extra-cab
access. Engine and CVT intakes draw air
from bed level.
clearance are good for mud and deep
water, and the engine and CVT intakes
are ducted to bed level.
WHAT ABOUT TRAIL COMFORT?
It’s very comfortable, especially
with the optional roof. The bench seat
is well-shaped and padded, and the
ergonomics with the tilt steering wheel
and sturdy control pedals are excellent.
Vibration in the cabin is fairly low, and
the noise level inside the cab is lower
than in a Teryx. The doors open by lifting
the inside single latch. Three-point belts
have a rubber cushion inside the upper
mount, but the belt latches on our preproduction model were harder to use
Overall handling................................. 5
Turning precision............................... 5
Turning stability................................. 5
Powersliding...................................... 4
Steering ease.................................... 5
Off-cambers...................................... 5
High-speed stability............................ 5
Jumping............................................ 4
Front brakes...................................... 4
Rear brakes....................................... 4
Front suspension............................... 5
Rear suspension................................ 5
Low-speed ride plushness................... 5
High-speed bump control.................... 4
Ground clearance............................... 5
Undercarriage protection.................... 5
Traction............................................ 5
Hill-climbing....................................... 5
Downhilling........................................ 5
Water/mud....................................... 5
Rock hounding................................... 5
RIDER COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE
Overall ease of use............................. 5
Startup ease..................................... 5
Seat comfort..................................... 5
Vibration........................................... 5
Wheel/seat/footrests......................... 5
Mud/water protection......................... 5
Air filter access................................. 3
Control ease...................................... 5
Range selection switch....................... 4
Storage box size................................ 5
Storage box access............................ 5
OVERALL
Overall design.................................... 5
Fit and finish...................................... 5
Overall sport..................................... 4
Overall utility..................................... 5
Overall rating..................................... 5
JUNE 2016 / UTV ACTION 63
TESTED:
SPECS
BAD BOY STAMPEDE 900 EPS+ 4X4
2016 BAD BOY STAMPEDE 900 EPS+ 4X4
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION
A removable hood panel accesses the coolant and electrical systems.
The accessory front rack has mounts that protrude through the
panel, and plastic knobs allow quick removal of the rack for systems
access. A very stout frame and components add up to a 1690-pound
machine, but it feels lighter on the trail.
STAMPEDE HIGHS:
• Excellent EFI twin power and torque
• Effective CVT tuning and locking diffs
• Well-tuned suspension with dual
torsion bars
• Excellent creature comforts and
storage space
• Versatile recreation/utility UTV is very
sporty
BAD BOY LOWS:
• Range selector could be slicker and
more positive
INCENTIVES & FINANCING
• None at press time
A large LCD-screen digital readout has customizable settings and a
backlight, and Bad Boy beefed up the tilt steering wheel for a more
comfortable and controllable ride. Toggles to the left of the wheel unlock
the rear diff and select 2WD/4WD, and toggles on the right control lights
and accessories. Next to the 12-volt DC outlet rides a 5-volt USB port.
than some. The large (5.25x3.25-inch)
LCD screen offers the choice of a blue
or red backlight and several display
modes. The tilt wheel is also sturdier
than on a RZR, and there’s a 5-volt USB
port next to the 12-volt outlet.
HOW ABOUT THE BRAKES?
They’re really good. Pucker power is
strong with four 231mm rotors, dualpiston front calipers and single-piston
rear calipers. The brakes are backed by
the engine’s 11.5:1 compression ratio,
which delivers a lot of compression
braking.
WHAT’S OUR FINAL ANSWER?
Bad Boy is very serious about being
a player in the UTV market, and the
Stampede 900 is a very impressive first
step. The Stampede has potent power and
predictable handling, and the suspension
tuning is great for a first-time effort. It works
like a Clydesdale and plays like a cutting
horse, and it’s going towards the head of
the pack at speed. Bad Boy is also working
on multi-person and sport UTVs, and
they’ve been seen testing with King Racing
shocks and have a normally aspirated
957cc twin that makes 120 horsepower.
Look for more Bad Boy Buggies to be
making big waves in the future. ❏
Engine type.Liquid/oil-cooled, 8-valve, DOHC 4-stroke
Displacement............................................... 846cc
Bore x stroke...........................89.0 x 68.0mm (x2)
Compression ratio........................................11.5:1
Lubrication system...................................Dry sump
Additional cooling........................................Auto fan
Induction.....................................EFI w/ 44mm body
Starting/back-up.................................. Electric/none
Starting procedure.......................... Turn ignition key
Air filter:
Type................................................Pleated paper
Transmission........................ Dual-range CVT w/ rev.
Reverse procedure..........Move range selector to “R”
Drive system.Selectable 2WD/4WD w/ diff-lock & EBS
Final drives...................................................Shafts
DIMENSIONS/CAPACITIES/WEIGHTS
Fuel capacity.............................................. 9.5 gal.
Wheelbase.....................................................85.2”
Overall length/width/height................... 126”/58”/75”
Ground clearance..........................................11.25”
Claimed curb weight................................. 1690 lb.
Bed weight limit.......................................... 600 lb.
Hitch..................................................... 2” receiver
Towing limit.............................................. 2000 lb.
ROLLING CHASSIS
Frame...........................................Steel round tube
Suspension/wheel travel:
Front...........Dual A-arms w/ 5-way adj. shocks/9.3”
Rear..........Dual A-arms w/ 5-way adj. shocks/10.4”
Brakes/actuation:
Front....... Twin-piston hydraulic discs/left-side pedal
Rear......................... Hydraulic discs/left-side pedal
Parking............................................In transmission
Tires:
Front.................................... 27x9-14 Bighorn 2.0
Rear................................... 27x11-14 Bighorn 2.0
ELECTRICAL
DC/USB outlet............................................ Console
Lighting:
Front.............................(4) 60W halogen headlights
Rear.......................................21/5W brake/taillight
DETAILS
Instrumentation..........LCD w/ speedo, odo, dual trip,
fuel, hour, gear, EBS, EFI
Colors. Red, silver, green, black, Realtree Xtra Camo
Minimum recommended operator age...................16
Suggested retail price........$13,799; EPS, $14,799;
EPS+, $15,599
Contact.............. Bad Boy Buggies, (800) 241-5855