Yamaha YXZ1000R Suspension Upgrade Guide: 64”, 72”, 77” and YX3 Rear Conversion

The Yamaha YXZ1000R is one of the most unique sport UTV platforms ever built.

It is raw, mechanical, driver-focused, and different from almost everything else in the side-by-side market. For owners who love the YXZ, that is exactly the point.

But once the car starts getting pushed harder, whether in the dunes, desert, chop, whoops, or high-speed play, the suspension becomes one of the biggest areas where the platform can be transformed.

That is where AVID Racing’s Yamaha YXZ suspension lineup is different.

Most companies offer one version of a long travel kit.

AVID offers a complete Yamaha YXZ suspension progression.

From stock-width bolt-on upgrades, to 72” long travel, to 77” race-width fabrication builds, to the highly searched YX3 rear conversion, AVID gives YXZ owners a path no other company offers.

This guide breaks down the four main options:

• XC 64” stock-width front and rear suspension
• MT 72” bolt-on front and rear long travel suspension
• LT 77” front and rear race suspension
• YX3 rear conversion

The goal is simple: help you choose the right suspension package for the way you actually drive.

Why Upgrade the Yamaha YXZ1000R Suspension?

The Yamaha YXZ1000R already starts with a strong identity. It is not a couch on wheels. It is not trying to be the softest or easiest car in the class.

It rewards drivers who want feedback, control, and a more connected feel.

But as the car gets faster, wider, heavier, or more aggressive, the demands on the suspension change. Stock components and stock geometry can become limiting when the car is being driven harder than Yamaha originally intended.

A proper YXZ suspension upgrade can improve:

• Stability at speed
• Strength in rough terrain
• Cornering confidence
• Chassis control
• Suspension travel and usable wheel movement
• Shock tuning potential
• Predictability in chop, whoops, G-outs, and transitions

The key word is proper.

A suspension kit is not better just because it is wider. A good kit has to work as a system. The front and rear need to stay balanced. The geometry needs to make sense. The car needs to feel more controlled, not just bigger.

That is the difference between simply adding width and actually upgrading the suspension.

The AVID Yamaha YXZ Suspension Lineup

AVID Racing offers four distinct suspension paths for the Yamaha YXZ1000R:

64” Stock-Width Kit

A bolt-on front and rear suspension upgrade for drivers who want strength, improved geometry, and better performance while keeping the car near factory width.

72” Long Travel Kit

A bolt-on front and rear long travel suspension system for drivers who want a wider, more stable, more capable YXZ without stepping into a fabrication-heavy race build.

77” Race Kit

A front and rear race-width suspension package for serious builds. This kit requires welding and fabrication and is intended for drivers who want a more aggressive, purpose-built setup.

YX3 Rear Conversion

A fabrication-based rear chassis conversion that brings a completely different rear suspension concept to the YXZ platform. This is one of the most unique and searched-for products in the AVID Yamaha lineup.

Each kit serves a different type of YXZ owner.

That is the point.

Not every car needs to be 77 inches wide. Not every owner wants to cut and weld. Not every build needs a rear chassis conversion. But for the driver who does, AVID has a path.

64” Stock-Width Suspension Kit: The Practical Upgrade

The 64” AVID Yamaha YXZ suspension kit is designed for owners who want a stronger, better-performing suspension system without making the car significantly wider.

This is the most practical upgrade in the lineup.

It is also the easiest place to start for drivers who like the size and feel of the YXZ, but want more confidence and durability out of the suspension.

The 64” kit is a good fit for:

• Trail cars
• Tighter terrain
• Recreational dune cars
• Drivers who want stock-width packaging
• Owners who want stronger suspension components
• Builds that need improved geometry without going long travel

The advantage of this kit is that it keeps the car manageable.

You are not turning the YXZ into a full-width race car. You are improving the car you already have.

For a lot of owners, that is the right answer.

The 64” kit gives the YXZ a stronger foundation while preserving the traits that made the platform appealing in the first place: compact size, sharp response, and a connected driving feel.

Best for:

The YXZ owner who wants a stronger, better-handling car without committing to extra width.

Install level:

Bolt-on.

72” Long Travel Kit: The Sweet Spot

The 72” AVID Yamaha YXZ long travel kit is the best all-around option for many owners.

This is where the car takes a major step forward.

The 72” kit adds meaningful width, stability, and suspension capability while still keeping the build realistic for most serious recreational drivers. It is wider and more capable than stock, but it does not require the same commitment as a 77” fabrication-based race setup.

For many YXZ builds, this is the sweet spot.

The 72” kit is a good fit for:

• Dune cars
• Fast recreational builds
• Desert play cars
• High-speed trail and open terrain
• Drivers who want more stability
• Owners who want a real long travel upgrade without welding

The biggest advantage of the 72” kit is balance.

It gives the car more stance, more suspension performance, and more confidence without pushing the build into full custom territory. That makes it one of the most usable upgrades for owners who want a serious suspension system but still want a practical install.

This is the kit for the driver who knows the stock car is not enough anymore, but does not want to turn the project into a fabrication-heavy race build.

Best for:

The YXZ owner who wants the best bolt-on long travel upgrade for dunes, desert, and aggressive recreational driving.

Install level:

Bolt-on.

77” Race Suspension Kit: The Serious Build Option

The 77” AVID Yamaha YXZ suspension kit is for drivers who are building a more serious car.

This is not the casual upgrade in the lineup.

The 77” kit is a front and rear race-width suspension package designed for owners who want maximum stance, maximum stability, and a more aggressive suspension platform. It is intended for builds where performance is the priority and the owner understands the commitment involved.

Unlike the 64” and 72” kits, the 77” kit requires welding and fabrication.

That distinction matters.

This is not the kit for someone looking for the fastest bolt-on install. This is for the owner building a purpose-driven YXZ and willing to do the work required to get there.

The 77” kit is a good fit for:

• High-speed dune cars
• Desert builds
• Aggressive drivers
• Race-inspired YXZ platforms
• Big-power cars
• Owners who want maximum width and stability

The wider stance changes the character of the car.

At speed, width matters. In chop, G-outs, transitions, and high-load situations, a properly built wider car can feel calmer, more planted, and more forgiving. For drivers pushing hard, that can be the difference between a car that feels nervous and a car that feels ready.

The 77” kit is the premium suspension path for the YXZ owner who is building beyond recreational bolt-ons.

Best for:

The serious YXZ owner building a wide, aggressive, high-speed car.

Install level:

Welding and fabrication required.

YX3 Rear Conversion: The Halo Product

The AVID YX3 rear conversion is one of the most unique products in the Yamaha YXZ aftermarket.

It is also one of the most organically searched products in the AVID lineup.

That makes sense.

The YX3 rear conversion gets attention because it answers a question serious YXZ owners have been asking for years:

What if the Yamaha YXZ had a different rear suspension platform entirely?

This is not a standard long travel kit. It is not a simple arm upgrade. It is a rear chassis conversion that brings a different rear suspension concept to the YXZ platform.

That is why people search for it.

They want to see it. They want to understand it. They want to know what is possible.

But the YX3 rear conversion is not for every build.

Like the 77” kit, it requires welding and fabrication. This is a serious modification for advanced builders, race-inspired projects, and owners who are comfortable with a custom suspension direction.

The YX3 rear conversion is a good fit for:

• Advanced custom builds
• Fabrication-heavy projects
• Race-inspired Yamaha YXZ platforms
• Drivers chasing a specific rear suspension behavior
• Owners who want something different from a traditional YXZ setup

The YX3 rear conversion is not the volume kit.

It is the halo product.

It creates curiosity, shows what AVID is capable of, and gives serious Yamaha owners an option they are not going to find anywhere else.

Best for:

The advanced YXZ builder who wants a unique rear suspension conversion and is prepared for fabrication.

Install level:

Welding and fabrication required.

Bolt-On vs Fabrication: Which Direction Makes Sense?

Before choosing a kit, the first question is simple:

Do you want a bolt-on suspension upgrade, or are you building a fabrication-level car?

That answer immediately narrows the decision.

If you want a bolt-on upgrade, focus on:

• 64” stock-width kit
• 72” long travel kit

If you are ready for welding and fabrication, consider:

• 77” race kit
• YX3 rear conversion

This is important because the wrong kit for the wrong customer creates frustration.

A 72” bolt-on kit is the better choice for most drivers who want a major suspension upgrade without cutting into the car. A 77” or YX3 setup makes more sense when the entire build justifies that level of commitment.

The best suspension kit is not always the biggest one.

The best suspension kit is the one that matches the car, the terrain, the driver, and the build plan.

Quick Comparison: AVID Yamaha YXZ Suspension Kits

Kit	Width	Front & Rear?	Install Type	Best Use
XC 64” Kit	Stock-width	Yes	Bolt-on	Stronger stock-width upgrade
MT 72” Kit	Long travel	Yes	Bolt-on	Best all-around long travel setup
LT 77” Kit	Race-width	Yes	Welding/fabrication required	Serious high-speed builds
YX3 Rear Conversion	Rear conversion	Rear conversion	Welding/fabrication required	Custom rear suspension builds

Which Yamaha YXZ Suspension Kit Should You Choose?

Choose the 64” kit if:

You like the size of the YXZ and want to keep the car close to stock width, but you want stronger suspension components and better performance.

This is the practical upgrade.

Choose the 72” kit if:

You want the best all-around Yamaha YXZ long travel kit with a bolt-on install.

This is the sweet spot for most serious recreational builds.

Choose the 77” kit if:

You are building a wide, aggressive, high-speed car and are ready for welding and fabrication.

This is the serious-build option.

Choose the YX3 rear conversion if:

You are building something custom and want one of the most unique rear suspension conversions available for the Yamaha YXZ platform.

This is the halo option.

Why Front and Rear Suspension Matters

The AVID 64”, 72”, and 77” Yamaha YXZ kits are front and rear suspension systems.

That matters.

A car does not handle with the front end alone. The front and rear suspension have to work together. When the car is balanced properly, steering input, rear grip, chassis attitude, shock tuning, and stability all become more predictable.

A front-only upgrade can change part of the car.

A full front and rear system changes the whole car.

That is why AVID builds complete suspension packages for the YXZ platform.

The goal is not just more travel.

The goal is a car that works better.

Why AVID Racing?

AVID Racing has one of the most complete Yamaha YXZ suspension lineups in the industry.

The reason is simple: not every YXZ owner is building the same car.

Some owners want to keep the car stock width and make it stronger. Some want the best bolt-on long travel setup they can get. Some are building 77” race-width cars. Some want to explore a YX3 rear conversion and take the platform further than most people ever will.

AVID supports all of those paths, because we love the platform ourselves. AVID built the lineup originally to upgrade our own builds and to fill a gap in the industry. 

That is what makes this lineup unique.

64”. 72”. 77”. YX3.

From bolt-on suspension upgrades to fabrication-level race builds, AVID gives Yamaha YXZ1000R owners options that other companies do not.

Ready to Upgrade Your Yamaha YXZ1000R Suspension?

If you are ready to upgrade your Yamaha YXZ1000R suspension, start by deciding what kind of build you are creating.

For a practical stock-width upgrade, look at the 64” kit.

For the best all-around bolt-on long travel setup, look at the 72” kit.

For a serious wide-track race-style build, look at the 77” kit.

For a custom rear suspension conversion, explore the YX3 rear conversion.

If you are not sure which direction makes sense for your car, contact AVID Racing and we can help you choose the right suspension package for your build.