$43,000 MSRP

• Ludicrous 300 horsepower engine

• Advanced chassis design

• Baby trophy truck appeal

The exotic factory race rig.

There aren’t many names in the world of off-road racing quite as legendary as Robby Gordon. With seven SCORE championships, three Baja 1000 wins, and a career in everything from trophy trucks to NASCAR, you could say the man knows a thing or two about going fast.

You could also say Gordon knows a thing or two about building race cars. Legend has it he played a major role in the design of the original Polaris RZR, gave Arctic Cat the blueprint for their current Wildcat XX, and then there’s his current brainchild, Speed UTV.

The Baja Bandit is one of Speed’s three models. It serves as the bonkers, compact two-seater in their lineup of built-to-order vehicles. Insanely powerful, incredibly stable, and absolutely loaded with race-ready engineering, the Baja Bandit is the exotic alternative to the industry’s fastest sport rigs.

How much power does it make?

The Speed UTV Baja Bandit utilizes a 999cc turbocharged parallel twin. On pump gas, the factory claims it makes 225 horsepower. But Speed UTV offers the Speed Key upgrade, a 300-horsepower factory E85 tune.

Even with the Speed Key upgrade, Speed will sell you a warranty to cover the engine. Yes, Speed UTV will sell you a 300-horsepower, 999cc parallel twin with a warranty. Owners say top speed is electronically limited to 93 mph, but race rigs rave been clocked at over 110 mph.

What makes it special?

The Speed UTV Baja Bandit is a built-to-order rig, designed and raced by off-road legend Robby Gordon himself. As far as side-by-sides go, this is about as close to a trophy truck as money can currently buy.

There’s the insane power we mentioned above, the massive, proprietary internal bypass shocks, dual-shear uniball control arms, forward mounted tie rods, a radius rod-free rear end, a three-speed (and ratchet-shifted!) CVT transmission, and one of the most extensive full-color digital dashes we’ve ever seen.

On top of that, the Baja Bandit is almost infinitely customizable from the factory. This rig is a fully customizable factory race machine with ample creature comforts. Sounds pretty special to us.

Why do I want it?

You buy a Speed UTV Baja Bandit because you want a truly race-inspired rig that lacks nothing in chassis quality or engine performance. With the Speed Key option and the right fuel, these machines are rated to a full 300 horsepower and are built to handle the roughest terrain at wide-open speeds.

Chances are you also want a unique, drool-worthy rig in a sea of Maverick Rs and RZR Pro Rs. Like bringing a Ferrari to your local track day, there’s no denying you’ll get some serious attention in a Baja Bandit. We’d argue it’s currently the most exotic car on the market, assuming you didn’t snag one of the 30 ultra-limited RZR Pro R Factory cars.

The Baja Bandit is the most compact offering in the Speed UTV lineup. That being said, at 95 inches tire to tire and a 77-inch track, this rig is built for stability. That generous length also makes for an incredibly roomy cab, especially for a two seat machine. You’ll find additional dividends in the massive 48″x36″ utility bed that’s rated to haul a full 350 pounds of gear.

Why don’t I want it?

For starters, $43,000 is a lot of money. You can get the all new supercharged Kawasaki Teryx4 H2 for about $5,000 less, and the same goes for the latest Can-Am Maverick R or Polaris RZR Pro R.

It’s also worth noting that unlike any of the Baja Bandit’s mass-produced alternatives, a robust dealer network, parts availability, and aftermarket support can be a grey area. Speed UTV provides a six month factory warranty on their rigs and offers an extended “white glove” warranty plan for up to 48 months, but you’ll have to shell out some serious cash to get it.

Sentiment among owners seems to be split. Some folks love their Speed UTVs and have zero complaints, some say they more or less live at the dealer waiting on parts and service to correct quality control issues. True, naysayers are always the loudest voices in the room, but we think its safe to say that there are more “unknowns” that come with investing in a Speed UTV than any of its mass produced competitors. That being said, Speed UTV owners all seem to agree that customer service for the brand is the best in the business.

What trim do I want?

As of this writing, Speed UTV is offering the Baja Bandit in two trims: there’s the more affordable LE (Limited Edition) trim, and then there’s the premium RG (Robby Gordon) edition.

If you’re considering a Speed UTV in the first place, chances are you aren’t hurting for cash. As such, we’d recommend shelling out for the RG edition, as it comes with $6,000 in additional upgrades according to Speed UTV. Those include window nets, color-matched chassis components, carbon suede seats, a radio intercom system, and a vented roof.

There’s only a $2,000 difference between the two, so the choice seems clear to us. Speed UTV used to offer a “base” model with stripped back equipment like plastic seats and non-IBP shocks for $32,000, but it doesn’t appear to be available any longer on their website. You can probably still get one by sending their team an email, but going cheap on the suspension kind of defeats the purpose as far as we’re concerned.

If I like this… what else should I look at?

If you want a flat-out sport rig but have some reservations about the quality or reliability of a Speed UTV, we’d recommend checking out the Kawasaki Teryx H2. Want a two-seater as your weapon of choice? Polaris’ RZR Pro R or Can-Am’s Maverick R are both proven contenders with ample dealer support.

2025 Speed UTV Baja Bandit Specs

*Current RG Edition specs shown*

Length: 136 in.

Width: 72 in.

Height: 70 in.

Wheelbase: 95 in.

Claimed Dry Weight: 2,398 lbs

Engine: Turbocharged inline two-cylinder

Displacement: 999cc

Transmission: CVT w/ three-speed dogbox gear selector

Claimed Power: 225 hp (300 hp with Speed Key tune)

Claimed Torque: NA

Fuel System: EFI

Steering: Hydraulic power steering

Drivetrain: Hi/Lo/OD/Reverse

Front Suspension: Proprietary position-senstive internal bypass shocks, 22″ travel

Rear Suspension: Proprietary position-senstive internal bypass shocks, 22″ travel

Front Brakes: Dual hydraulic disc

Rear Brakes: Dual hydraulic disc

Wheels F/R: Proprietary aluminum beadlock, 15 in.

Tires F/R: Proprietary 30 or 33/9.5/15

Bed Capacity: 350 lbs

Towing Capacity: 1,500 lbs.

Seating Capacity: 2

Ground Clearance: 15.5 in.

Fuel Capacity: 15 gal