| A 1,083 cc, manual transmission UTV Story by Tom | | | | of rear travel from the individual trailing swing arms, |
| Roderick, Jul. 18, 2008 | | | | most trail obstacles are easily cleared by simply |
| The expression of each passerby is essentially the | | | | driving over them, but occasionally some finessing is |
| same: a long, hard stare indicating the recognition | | | | needed to traverse certain encumbrances. Providing |
| process at work, followed by the wrinkled brow of | | | | our Trooper some extra ground clearance are the |
| unfamiliar identity. If we stop the vehicle we’re | | | | McCoy-installed 14-inch blacked-out ITP wheels and |
| quickly approached and greeted with the statement, | | | | 30-inch ITP tires, raising ground clearance by 2.5 |
| “That’s cool,” and the quick follow-up | | | | inches. The McCoys also installed the optional Safari |
| question, “What is it?” to which Jerry McCoy | | | | rack and lightbar kit, increasing the retail price of the |
| of McCoy Motorsports cheerfully replies, | | | | vehicle and combined accessories to approximately |
| “It’s a Joyner.” | | | | $13,000. |
| Most have never heard of the Tempe, Ariz. UTV | | | | McCoy Motorsports, renowned in the motorcycle |
| manufacturer, but their interest is apparent and Jerry | | | | realm as a top tier performance-derived customizer |
| McCoy enthusiastically obliges their curiosity. | | | | of two-wheelers, offers a power pack for the |
| “It’s powered by a 1,083 cc, fuel-injected, | | | | Trooper that increases horsepower by 25%, from 85 |
| four-cylinder engine manufactured by Chery,” he | | | | to 105, and top speed from 65 mph to 75 mph. The |
| begins while reaching for the conveniently located | | | | Pikeville, Ky. business has also been influential in |
| brochures and business cards he packed before | | | | providing Team Joyner with useful input regarding |
| leaving the parking lot. “It has a five-speed | | | | model upgrades and technical changes. |
| manual transmission, is EPA and CARB approved, | | | | “The cool thing about Joyner is that they listen |
| comes stock with 13 inches of ground clearance and, | | | | to qualified dealers when they know somebody does |
| get this, retails for only $12,000.” | | | | fabrication or is into racing or high- performance,” |
| It’s the combination of the fuel-injected | | | | says Jerry. “They listen to what you have to say |
| four-cylinder engine and low price that slackens the | | | | and they kind of leaned on us.” |
| jaws of the inquisitive. | | | | For example, the McCoys suggested that Joyner |
| The model we’re tooling around the Upper | | | | employ a CV joint in the Trooper and once Joyner |
| Tellico OHV Area is the Team Joyner USA Trooper | | | | determined it a good idea the company implemented |
| T2, the twin-seat version of its four-seat | | | | the change immediately. |
| counterpart, the Trooper T4. And speaking of seats, | | | | The four-cylinder engine powering the Trooper is |
| the high back bucket ones in the Trooper T2, | | | | constructed by Chery Engine Company, a subsidiary |
| featuring five-point harnesses, are the plushest | | | | of Chery Automobile Company. Located in Wuhu |
| backside supports to ever grace a stock UTV. At | | | | City, China, Chery Automobile Co. is China’s |
| the end of a long day of slow-grinding our way up | | | | fourth largest automobile manufacturer — an |
| and down Tellico’s elevation changes, Jerry and I | | | | impressive accomplishment considering the |
| hop out of the Trooper to load it on the trailer | | | | company’s first car rolled off the assembly line in |
| without the fatigue often associated with an | | | | December, 1999. The 1,083 cc engine, located closely |
| afternoon spent in the grip of lesser seating | | | | behind and below both the driver and passenger, |
| accommodations. | | | | emits a quiet yet pleasurable burble and combined |
| Located in the Unicoi Mountains of North Carolina, a | | | | with its fuel injection system didn’t cough or |
| component of Southern Appalachia, Upper Tellico | | | | chug when asked to perform at either low or high |
| OHV is an 8,000-acre park varying in elevation from | | | | revs. |
| 2,500 feet to nearly 5,000 feet with miles of rugged, | | | | While the Trooper’s manual transmission provides |
| steep terrain. Although strangely unmarked by | | | | expected amounts of engine braking, the hydraulically |
| identifying signs, as if locals were wanting to keep | | | | actuated, four-wheel disc brakes seemed to lack |
| out strangers (In Appalachia? Go figure.), the park is | | | | some initial bite but are otherwise capable of stopping |
| a gem on the North Carolina/Tennessee border. | | | | the 1,730-pound machine. |
| After a while of Jerry driving the Trooper and me | | | | The ample rear storage area is great for carrying |
| snapping the Canon, Jerry slides into the passenger | | | | tools, spare parts, coolers, firewood and a host of |
| seat while I take over shop behind the steering | | | | other essentials. Factory accessories for the Trooper |
| wheel. | | | | include a roof rack, brushguard, GPS and |
| An immediately apparent difference between the | | | | communications systems. McCoy makes items such |
| Trooper and its Japanese competitors is the use of a | | | | as a windshield, diamond plate top and more. Factory |
| five-speed, plus reverse, manual transmission. For | | | | upgrades available for other models, such as the |
| those who enjoy actively participating in off-road | | | | Commando, and apparently coming soon for the |
| recreation the manual transmission is a welcome | | | | Trooper, include a canvas enclosure kit (think of a |
| benefit. The almost- too-light hydraulic clutch and | | | | softop Jeep) and a hard shell enclosure kit, a heater |
| standard gear pattern make shifting easy and when | | | | unit and by the end of the year an air-conditioning |
| navigating steep, rocky single-tracks or when | | | | unit. |
| speeding down a fire road the additional skills needed | | | | In addition to the Trooper, T2 Team Joyner USA |
| to masterfully synchronize and manipulate clutch and | | | | offers 12 other models varying in capacity, style and |
| gears heighten the sense of fun and satisfaction. Due | | | | size from the 250 cc, two-seater, single-cylinder Sand |
| to the low gearing and abundant torque of the | | | | Viper for $4,000 to the two-liter, 5-passenger Sand |
| four-cylinder Chery engine, most of the steep terrain, | | | | Runner for $20,000. All Joyner UTVs come with an |
| including rocks and logs, Jerry and I cover is easily | | | | included three- month warranty (three less than its |
| managed in second gear. | | | | Japanese competitors) but McCoy Motorsports |
| On the Trooper’s dashboard just to the right of | | | | offers a choice of various extended warranties. |
| the steering column are two toggle switches and | | | | According to the Team Joyner web site the |
| two levers. The first toggle switch engages 4WD | | | | company was founded in 2003 and boasts a 300,000 |
| while the second one operates the winch. With the | | | | sq. ft. manufacturing facility with more than 300 |
| front wheels under power and all four wheels spinning | | | | employees. Of course that’s all in China, but |
| independently the operator can now lock together | | | | company owner John Burns Sr.’s vision is “to |
| the rear or front wheels by throwing the first or | | | | bring an alternative recreational vehicle to the US |
| second lever respectively. | | | | market that would be recognized by consumers.” |
| Combining the Trooper’s drive options with 13 | | | | If the Trooper is an indication of his dedication to |
| inches of ground clearance and 12 inches of front | | | | that vision, he may well be on his way. |
| travel from the individual dual A- arms and 12 inches | | | | |