The Bad Boy brand has some unique technical pull because the company already offers off-road models that feature both gas and electric power as well as a hybrid SxS, the Ambush, that features both.

The just-released Stampede 900 is a something new for Bad Boy. Exclusively a gas powered big-inch SxS with no electric driveline features, the Stampede uses a dry sump, 846cc, 80-hp liquid- cooled EFI parallel twin connected to a CVT.

Generating 59-ft-lbs of torque, this engine represents substantial power for a new offering in the SxS biz and opens the door for much more than just utility use.

The Stampede uses selectable 4-wheel drive and has locking front and rear diffs. Suspension duties are handled by double A-arms at all four corners and front and rear sway bars. There’s 11.25-inches of ground clearance and EPS is available but optional.

Inside, there’s a 3-person bench seat, a tilt steering wheel and full doors reaching up high, protecting the driver and passengers’ shoulders. One unique feature is the Stampede’s digital dash screen. This big 5.25 x 3.25, center-mounted display toggles up all the info you’ll need and is a classy upgrade users will love and undoubtedly compare to the competition.

To cover work duties, the Stampede’s bed offers 24 cubic feet of cargo space, an extended cab with extra storage behind the driver, 2000-lbs of towing and 600-lbs in the box. Bad Boy offers its Fast-N-Latch cargo securing system with 70 special work-specific attachments for hauling cargo while keeping everything securely fastened down – a nice feature and one we’re frankly surprised to see so fully developed on a new vehicle.

Standing back and admiring the Stampede, we’ve got to admit this is a fully evolved vehicle that has plenty of sizzle and good looks. Build quality is excellent and its styling is both modern and very appealing. Maybe the best thing for a new brand entering the market, the Stampede is backed by a very large company with big resources to keep buyers happy over long periods of ownership.

We’ll be testing the Stampede as soon as we can get our hands on one and will keep you up-to-date on more developments.

What’s the most likely SxS candidate for a turbocharger tonic within the next 12 months?

There’s no doubt the buyer-focus is clearly aimed at boosted big-inch SxSs. Polaris and Can-Am are selling turbo- charged RZRs and Mavericks by the boatload and there’s little doubt the most rabid consumers are hungering for more power.

We’re guessing it’ll be a tie between Yamaha, with its YXZ and Arctic Cat’s Wildcat to get a turbo. We’ve been saying this for a while now and we can’t wait to see if Yamaha offers a turbocharged version of its 1000cc triple to the sxs market and if we might see a boosted version of this engine for Cat’s pure-sport Wildcat.

The two companys’ engine-chassis supply agreement, carried forward from their snowmobile divisions, is just too tempting to pass up and the 998cc DOHC Yamaha triple is already being used in the YXZ.

With the same 998 triple already powering a turbocharger in Yamaha’s new Sidewinder snowmobile, converting a YXZ into a turbo edition would be like taking a trip through the parts bin.

There’s no question new ATV sales have been taking a hit the last couple of years while SxS sales have been steadily escalating.

If you’ve been out on the trails, though, it’s hard to deny there are far more ATVs in use than SxS vehicles.

This tells us clearly that ATV activity is still extremely popular and ATV riders are still super active. What we’re seeing are plenty of older ATVs (in the range of 3 to 7 years old) with upgraded tires, shocks and other aftermarket equipment.

It may be of interest to note that even though side-x-sides are selling like ice water in a blast furnace, it’s estimated the market is somewhere around 300,000 units a year.

That’s a far cry from what the ATV market was for well over a decade. In its hayday – and it wasn’t that long ago – there were in the neighborhood of a million ATVs being sold worldwide per year. Those 4-wheelers are still out there and they’re being used – a lot.

Another thing we’ve observed is that not necessarily everyone who buys a SxS is an ATV user. Many are, but many aren’t, and some hardcores who own ATVs will confess “you can take my ATV from my cold, dead hands” before they’d invest in a SxS.

We think there’s going to be a positive shift in the market as the economy keeps getting healthier and sales will start to surge upward over the next couple of years. Riding an ATV is just too much fun to see things continue the way they’ve been going.