Bennche Bighorn 700X Crew Review
Bennche Bighorn 700X Crew
I teamed up with Joey from
UTVUnderground.com and Troy from
UTV Off-Road Magazine to cover the
2011 Mud Nationals in Texas.
Since we drove all the way out from California, we really did not want to have
to tow anything. Thankfully, we hooked up with Bennche and they supplied
us with a brand new
Bighorn 700X Crew
for the week. Since there were three of us, plus a bunch of photo and video
gear, we really needed a people hauler and the 700X fit the bill nicely.
Think of the 700X Crew is a value-based people mover that comes
with some nice features right out of the box. For instance, if you are in
a state where you can make a UTV street-legal, the 700X comes ready to go with
windshield, mirrors, horn and blinkers.
 Given
a dry weight over 1500 lbs along with three big guys and all our gear, the 700X
was by no means a bullet. The fuel-injected, single cylinder 686cc doesn't put
down huge power (rated at 33.5 HP), but it is adequate for moving people and
supplies while hunting, exploring or around the job-site. I do think that it
could benefit from some clutch tuning given the various demands on load
capacity.
Although we didn't jump into waist deep mud with the 700X during
Mud Nationals, we did explore a few trails where we needed 4x4 and it seemed to
pull right through. It was comforting to know that if we did get stuck,
that it also comes standard with a 3,500 lb winch.
Since it was nearly 90 degrees, I really found the plastic
molded roof to be a big plus to keep the sun at bay. We did find that the
full windshield was not conducive to the dusty conditions this year at Mud Creek
Off-Road Park, so we took it off so the dust would not swirl in the cab.
Given an MSRP of $9,250, the 700X Crew is a great value. I would
like to see an option for Bennche's 800cc v-twin powerplant for the 700X.
This engine is found in the Spire 800, and
has about 20 more horsepower and some really nice torque. With a single-cylinder
standard and a v-twin option, Bennche could cover a larger market segment.
Bennche Bighorn 700X Crew "Media Wagon" at the 2011 Mud Nationals
Specifications:
| Engine |
| Engine Type |
Four-Stroke,
Single Cylinder |
| Displacement |
686 cc |
| Bore & Stroke |
102 x 84mm |
| Compression Ratio |
9.2:1 |
| Fuel System |
Fuel Injected |
| Ignition |
CDI |
| Transmission |
Automatic
L-H-N-R-P |
| Drive Train |
Shaft
Drive; On-Demand 2WD/4WD; Locking Differential |
| Cooling |
Liquid |
| Horse Power |
33.5 HP |
| Fuel Tank Capacity |
7.6 gallons |
| Battery |
12 volts 32
amp |
| Overall Length |
155.5
in. |
| Overall Width |
52.3 in.
|
| Overall Height |
74.8 in.
|
| Seat Height |
31.1 in.
|
| Ground Clearance |
11 in. |
| Front Tire |
25x8-12 |
| Rear Tire
|
25x10-12 |
| Wheelbase |
113 in.
|
| Dry Weight |
1540 lbs |
| Bed Capacity |
330 lbs |
| Towing
Capacity |
220 lbs |
| Front
Suspension |
Independent
Double Wishbone |
| Rear
Suspension |
Independent
Double Wishbone |
| Front Brake |
Dual
Ventilated Hydraulic Disc |
| Rear Brake |
Dual
Ventilated Hydraulic Disc |
| Color |
Black,
Blue, Dark Green, Vista Camouflage (*Extra Fee May
Apply) |
| Warranty |
12
Months Limited Warranty |
More Photos:
Manufacturer Info:
Bennche, Inc.
1434 Patton Place, STE 106
Carrollton, TX 75007
Toll Free: 888-881-3036
Website:
www.bennche.com
Direct Link:
Bighorn 700X
Crew
|
