If you own a UTV or side-by-side, you know good suspension is everything – it means more speed, better control, and way more fun when the trail gets rough. Bilstein recently showed off what their new Black Hawk UTV shocks can do, handing the keys to racing pro Nicole Johnson for a serious desert test in Ocotillo Wells, California. The plan was simple: drive a bone-stock Polaris RZR XP1000 through a tough desert section, then immediately hop into an identical RZR equipped with the only difference being the addition of new Bilstein Black Hawk UTV shocks.

Johnson, acclaimed as the “first female to finish King of the Hammers and retired monster truck driver,” didn’t pull any punches about the stock RZR. She described it as “crazy and kind of beats you up,” adding that if she pushed it, it felt like it “was going to just buck out of control.” She further noted that the stock UTV simply “Isn’t stable on the ground, to be honest.”

But switching to the RZR with Bilstein Black Hawk shocks brought an immediate change. “Huge difference,” Nicole Johnson stated. She explained she “was able to pretty much go flat in a bunch of the spaces.” The transformation in handling and driver confidence was clear. “Night and day difference … honestly! Same power, night and day difference,” she commented.

Where the stock machine bucked and pounded, Johnson observed that with the Bilsteins, “this is like we’re more on top” of the punishing whoops. The improved ride also meant it was “way less fatiguing too because the vehicle wasn’t bucking as much.”

Bilstein Product Manager Shane, riding shotgun, briefly explained the technology. He mentioned the Black Hawk’s “Zone Control” system uses five independent damping zones, including an internal hydraulic bump stop (with its own 10-position clicker) to fight bottoming out, and a rebound cut-off valve to help keep the tires planted.

After the test, Johnson’s verdict was clear: “…if you’re going to make only one change to your stock UTV, Bilstein Black Hawks are total game changers.”

Nicole Johnson’s feedback, coming from a driver with impressive off-road credentials, certainly highlights what advanced suspension can do. It’s also great to see talented female drivers like her increasingly in the spotlight, pushing equipment to its limits in demanding motorsports.