What’s with 3-cylinder engines? Aren’t triples supposed to be more complicated, with more parts and increased weight?
Yet, Yamaha with its YXZ triple, is knocking the ball out of the park and, Can-Am has turned heads both on these shores and internationally (see article this issue) with its X3 triple.
Owners tell us, and our test riders will quickly attest, their smoothness and vibration-free performance is a genuine attraction. A 3-cylinder engine’s exhaust cadence is real ear candy, too.
The first 3-cylinder SxS we experienced was in John Deere’s utility focused XUV825i, using an Asian-built Chery EFI triple.
We absolutely loved its engine-tranny and power steering combo and quickly put it at the top of our list for desirable all-purpose Side x Sides. The silky smoothness of that engine did it for us.
It wasn’t long before the same engine was available in Kawasaki’s Mule PRO FXT and it, too, is a bastion of engine smoothness and velvety operation.
