Powered by a Hisun 686 cc engine and getting a claimed 30 horsepower, the Axis 700 UTV has plenty of ability to handle tough work tasks. And its compact size, agility, and impressive acceleration for that of a mid-performance utility vehicle make it a great option for motoring through trails or wooded areas.
But what about the top speed if you want to open it up on a paved road? Well, the Axis 700 top speed is advertised as 50 mph. However, a number of owners have even reported hitting between 55 and 60 mph in their unmodified Axis 700 UTVs.
Axis 700 UTV Top Speed & Break-in Period
Owners of a brand new Axis 700 UTV should pay special attention to the instructions in the owner’s manual regarding the “break-in period” for the machine. These instructions state that for the first 25 hours of use, owners should essentially take it easy with their vehicle and not attempt to reach the top speed. This is important as both the engine and drive components are reliant upon this break-in period to eventually reach peak performance.
The top advertised speed of 50 mph will likely not be reachable until the Axis 700 has gone through this break-in period, and failure to properly break in the vehicle may result in a lower achievable top speed.
Can the Axis 700’s top speed be increased?
There is an installed speed limiter relay in the Axis 700, but unlike the speed governors that restrict the top speeds of models such as the Kawasaki Mule, the speed limiter only caps the speed of the Axis 700 when in reverse. It has no bearing on the vehicle’s forward speed.
The max forward speed of the Axis 700 is controlled by the gear ratio of the belt on the primary/secondary clutches. Short of replacing these, there isn’t much ability to adjust the speed.
The max engine RPM is controlled by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU). This ECU is technically adjustable, but is set at a secure limit to keep from blowing the engine. It could be adjusted to give the machine a minimal increase in speed and acceleration, but is not recommended.
Axis 700 UTV Won’t Reach Advertised Top Speed
If your vehicle was properly broken in but fails to reach its top speed of 50 mph in High gear, there are a few ways to attempt to correct this.
Ensure the tires are fully inflated as underinflation in the tires leads to less speed. The standard tire pressure recommended for the Axis 700 is 14 psi in the front and 16 psi in the rear.
Check the drive belt and ensure it is not old and/or loose. This could be preventing the Axis 700 from reaching top speeds. Signs it may be time to replace this belt are the vehicle snapping forward when accelerating rather than accelerating smoothly as intended, or rough acceleration in general. Ensuring the drive belt is fresh and tight should have a positive impact on the top speed of the Axis 700.
Check the spark plugs. If the spark plugs are worn or fouled, they may not be igniting fuel in the engine at the proper rate which can result in a lower top speed. If necessary, replace them with a high performance iridium spark plug.
Conclusion
For a mid-performance UTV, the Axis 700 holds its own in the speed department topping out at around 50 to 55 mph depending upon the terrain and load weight. There aren’t many other models in its price range with the same impressive mix of speed and power as that of the Axis 700 UTV.
