My FB write up. I went direct to them on my lunch hour.
Daily Rx, Arizona 1266
If you are like me, you’ve either had, or wanted a CJ, FJ or like vehicle in your “yoot”. And at times miss the old school tech and simplicity. You guys remember that? Seeing an old CJ2A used as a snow plow parked behind the shop class at your rural high school. Or that surplused M38A1 serving as a fire break plow at your nearby volunteer fire station. Or had a 70’s model FJ 40, CJ5 or CJ7 that has that distinctive mechanical whine as you rev it up to speed before you shifted. And the thing considered a “laptop” was a book, a Swanson TV dinner, or a pole dancer named Candy. One thing I remember was the dirt mixed with oil smell as you lay over the radiator trying to tube that carb. Great times huh?
Wait, what? Tuning carbs sucked. Never could get that straight!
For those who don’t know me, I’m a Mahindra Roxor owner, end user, like all of you. And no, I’m not from India. I don’t work for them, any dealer or any shop. I’m like you and had to have a one. If you were like me, maybe you’ve rebuilt a vehicle. And know not only the expense but tiiiiiiimmmmeeee invested in doing so. So when Mahindra Roxor dealer tells you the price, it about knocks you over. Not that way! Like the unmentionable brand has me over and over with the ever climbing sticker prices. But Sb the other way. As in affordable.
Catch is, sold as UTV (RUV or Side by side) off road only. And one of those limitations, the dang speed limiter, or governor. Well it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out, that it can be figured out. A few tricks to open the Roxor up and see her go to highway speed is disconnectinge the speedometer or cutting one of the wires. Which wire? I have no idea. Because, even though I can resplice wires like a pro, I’m not doing that.
In comes Vivid Racing. Lucky for me it’s located in the Phoenix metro area. I picked up my Roxor about a week and a half ago. Still waiting to get the plate for it and CJ5 windshield parts are in route. The next thing in order is that tuning, or reflash the Electronic Control Module which control the air, fuel and ignition (I think) to prevent it from speeding past 45 MPH. Not being able to go over 45 MPH is the sole physical limitation to being highway capable. Unless you don’t mind traveling tractor speed on the highway like the Amish.
I had to privilege to chat with Ryan Michael from Vivid about getting this done. Honestly, I’ve never heard of them until I looked at this Roxor. I’m sure other shops either have or are working on such. Price wise seems tall for just hooking up a laptop and doing the clickity clack keyboard task like you see in the movies.
Some geeky kid, part of a rough crew with a nick name like, “techno”, “rabbit” “wired”, “neo” or something else stupid. And in a dingy out of the way car shop with car parts all over the place, graffiti on the walls and he has a glass desk smack dab in the middle of the maintenance bays with at least 8 huge screens, you get the idea.
Well, it’s none of that. By a long shot. Very much the opposite of a dirty greasy shop from what I saw people. In the Phoenix area, we have no shortage of dingy dirty auto and other shops. Let’s not get into what I’ve seen at other shops. Ryan gave me a quick tour of the place an all I saw was nothing less than professional. The place was far more impecable than a Tijuana plastic surgeon’s office. Scratch that, more impecable than some doctor’s offices in the US and on par with the better ones.
What does that tell me? Well, for starters, the owner has his stuff together. Along with that, professional appearance indicate professional work. Something many small business owners do not understand and miss. This permeates on to the employees, and affect work product. Typically, your highly demanded products come from companies exactly like this one.
From what I saw Vivid’s roots comes from racing and street vehicles. Not tractor diesel engines. That being said, I have no doubt whatever they do to 1266’s ECM it is in great hands. That’s because they are into performance. It is a butt chafe that I have to pay for another company to undo what the manufacturer had to do in order to get me this to buy. But it’s a small price considering. Considering I rather have these guys tune something which is beyond my knowledge and capabilities.
The Roxor is a new genre of recreational vehicles. Not that it hasn’t been done before, because that’s exactly what it is, bringing to market what we once had. And probably better. It’s old tech being built by newest tech. More consistency in product quality, tighter tolerances, and less room for human error. Along with that, in Vivid’s case, it’s no different.
Follow up to come of how it worked. I’m pretty darn positive it will work great.
Update:
No surprise there, huge difference. Again, only 31.6 miles driving neutered. I did a bit off road, gotta remember it’s not a RZR. I did stall out going up an embankment. It’s soft dry powdery soil with crusty top layer.
There’s a stretch of road to let the ponies loose. It hit 60 plus before the realization of no windshield said, I’m good. I’m confident 60 is good in 4th gear. Handled great.
Note about transfer case lever, I did pull the lever on to 4 high but it went back into 2 high. Give it some break in time. 4 low is even trickier.
More to come. Plates!! Where the hell are you
And I have to add. With around 1300 Roxors out there, someone will mess it up and YOU DON'T WANT TO MESS UP THAT HARNESS PLUG!!
See the YT video on Oil Cap and ECM unplugging if you have doubts.


