The 2013 John Deere Gator RSX 850i

It’s official; John Deere is releasing not one but THREE all-new versions of the sport inspired Gator RSX 850i Side x Side and ATV Illustrated was on hand to see what the new machine is made of.  From our first official look it’s clear this machine is designed to carry Deere much further into the sport segment than they’ve ever been before. 

Visually the new RSX 850i offers a very muscular, sporty look, and we love how the body lines swoop from front to back with integrated doors and rounded corners on all surfaces.  Some of the body panels are shared with the XUV 550, and in our testing they were found to be durable, and all wear areas received a tough coating designed to resist and hide scratches.  This Deere is designed to look great long after you bring it home.  We really like the open air intake vents in the front hood, but the hood air scoop is more than just ornamental.  The new RSX 850i models feature a large front radiator to keep the engine cool, and the hood opening provides a little better airflow.  Under the front hood is a large storage bin with a rubber seal around the top, and it will be a welcome feature when it comes time to carry a ton of gear or tools into the woods.  Deere didn’t stop with just the exterior panels though and inside the crew compartment are two large bucket seats.  Again the styling, instrumentation, and driver and passenger accoutrements are outstanding.  Most sport riders will first ask about power though.

The new Gator RSX 850i is powered by an 837cc 4-stroke V-twin engine mated to a closed loop Electronic Fuel Injection system.  The Piaggio engine churns out a claimed 62 hp  (59.5 ft-lb torque) with 53 mph listed as top speed, and that puts the RSX right on par with other models in the class.  As with all UTVs, the RSX gets up to speed with a CVT style transmission, and the shifter is between the seats, along with a passenger hand hold.  While the motor is all-new for Deere, much of the chassis components such as the main frame and A-arms are shared with the XUV 550.  The suspension is far superior to any other Deere though, and the new RSX gets preload adjustable FOX shocks, and FOX 2.0 models on the Sport model.  This Deere is designed to run through the whoops!  Ground clearance is listed at 10.5 inches, with 9 inches of travel at both ends, and all models get twin piston disc brakes at all wheels.

There are actually three versions of the new RSX 850i, and while they share many components here is how they stack up.

Gator RSX 850i Sport

• Sport Seats
• 14” Cast Aluminum wheels with Maxxis tires
• PreRunner Bumper
• Cargo Box Rails
• Sport Steering Wheel
• Fox 2.0 Performance Series shocks with Piggyback reservoir

Gator RSX 850i Trail

• Sport Seats
• 14” Cast Aluminum wheels with Maxxis tires
• 3000lb Warn Winch
• Front Brush guard
• 2in front receiver hitch with recovery loops
• Fox Shocks – Internal floating piston – preload adjustable
• Rear Bumper
• Cargo Box rails

Gator RSX 850i Base Model

• 12” Cast Aluminum wheels with ANCLA tires
• Fox Shocks – Internal floating piston – preload adjustable
• Standard bucket seats

Deere is very serious about their entry into the sport Side x Side market and the new RSX shows a lot of promise.  We can’t wait to get one on the trail for a first ride tomorrow!  Check in later for a first ride report!

Click here to check out a video preview of the 2013 John Deere RSX 850i