I’m about midway by means of my second day of driving the Honda Talon 1000R-4 side-by-side after I see a log fallen throughout the forest path at Mid-America Outdoor motorsports park in Jay, Oklahoma. The considered lifting off the throttle crosses my thoughts for a short second, however then I keep in mind what I’m driving. I’ve acquired almost 18 inches of suspension journey within the entrance and 20 within the rear, four-wheel drive and Fox shocks. I don’t should elevate for something.
I preserve my foot in it and hardly really feel the log as we pop over it. What can’t this factor do?
Talon 1000X vs 1000R
Truly, there are just a few components the place the Talon waivers, however let’s get into the nitty gritty first. The Honda Talon UTV is obtainable in just a few totally different configurations. The X sequence is for people who need to mess around a bit whereas the R sequence with its wider stance, longer wheelbase and extra suspension journey and is geared in the direction of efficiency driving. My R tester options the brand new 4 seat configuration, so convey the youngsters alongside – your loved ones goes for a journey.
What units the Talon aside from opponents just like the Polaris RZR and the Can Am Maverick is its transmission. Whereas different side-by-sides characteristic a belt-driven constantly variable transmission, the Talon goes with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. This makes the Talon way more satisfying to drive. It does nice by itself, with Sport mode holding the gears longer, however I may also swap it to handbook mode and use the column mounted paddle shifters. Whereas a side-by-side is an efficient utility for a CVT, permitting for simple hill climbs and easy acceleration, I a lot desire this DCT. I really feel like I’m in whole management of the automobile.
I’m additionally a fan of the brand new energy steering system within the Talon. It is likely to be weighted a bit on the lighter facet, nevertheless it returns to heart rapidly and has a fast ratio. The system additionally reduces bump steer whereas on rocky terrain. That is particularly noticeable whereas driving up a rock-bottomed river. I can’t see what lies beneath the 12 inches or so of water, however not as soon as is the steering wheel ripped out of my palms as I hit the unseen rocks. After a day of wheeling by means of stated river and rock-strewn, rutted out forest roads I don’t really feel like I’ve been in an all-day cage match with Andre the Large. This factor is very easy to drive.
We clamber up and over hills, shifting from two-wheel to four-wheel drive on the fly. Most hills could be conquered in four-wheel drive excessive however I strive low gear to get me down among the steepest slopes. There aren’t any mechanical lockers right here. As an alternative the rear will get a brake-based torque vectoring system and the entrance will get a limited-slip differential. It’s high quality out right here the place the hills are rutted out with only a few rocks however I’d like to get the Talon right into a rock crawling state of affairs to see the way it does.
Honda likes to tout the Fox stay valve shocks on the Talon with Regular and Sport modes in each excessive and low gears. Sport can present extra stability at increased speeds and with heavier hundreds than regular however on these trails it’s powerful to really feel the distinction by means of the outdated butt dyno as we aren’t actually going too quick.
Nevertheless, I get to journey proper seat with professional driver Elliot Watson in a inventory 1000R-4 on the brief course at Mid-America and right here the shocks actually shine. We fly off jumps, sail by means of the air and land softly with no bottoming out or wheel scrub. Taking the turns at what seems like 1,000,000 miles an hour all the time makes me really feel like we’re a half a second away from rolling over, however the shocks can deal with way more physique roll than I believe. It’s a blast, even from the passenger seat.
You need tech? Too dangerous
Absent is any form of navigational system. Honda mounted up a Garmin nav system for our drive that’s accessible as an adjunct for $750.00, nevertheless it wasn’t all that intuitive to make use of. If in-dash expertise is essential to you, look to Polaris and the Trip Command system that goes above navigation with efficiency knowledge, bluetooth, a back-up digicam and extra.
Inside I just like the cozy seats and the brand new gauge cluster is entrance and heart – earlier years had the meter within the heart stack for … causes, I suppose. The doorways present loads of safety from the weather and so they come normal with door nets to maintain wayward objects out and flailing palms in. There are cup holders, slightly storage cubby within the heart console and storage nets, however I could not discover a USB port. There’s a 12-volt outlet, nevertheless.
Extra horses, please
Nevertheless nimble, enjoyable and succesful the Talon is, it’s removed from an ideal journey. Though the Talon revs as much as 8,500 rpm, it solely produces 100 horsepower from its naturally aspirated engine. I really feel the dearth of energy climbing a steep hill on the brief course. Each Watson and I need to go quicker however the Talon doesn’t have it in her. In the meantime you will get a turbocharged CanAm Maverick with 135 horsepower or a whopping 200 ponies. Even the Polaris RZR XP base mannequin is available in with 114 horsepower and it is some 300 kilos lighter besides.
The Talon has the smallest tires of the bunch, sporting 28-inch Kendas wrapped round 15-inch wheels. They do the whole lot I would like them to do on my take a look at drive, however two different journalists acquired flats throughout our a number of runs.
Nonetheless, I can’t deny how enjoyable the Talon is when the path will get twisty. Honda additionally throws me in the appropriate seat in its race prepped 1000R-4 with Ethan Ebert behind the wheel. This rig has been modified for simply two folks whereas retaining the longer wheelbase, and its wider besides. There may be some race-specific tools right here however the powerplant stays the identical. Ebert does not care one bit concerning the slender trails and retains his foot on the throttle regardless of the myriad bushes lining the monitor. The Talon retains its composure and nimbly threads the needle by means of the obstacles and I’m guffawing with unbridled glee. I’ve one “code brown” second the place I’m positive we’re going to tumble ass over tea kettle, however Ebert assures me we’re removed from the Talon’s limits. We attain the top of the monitor and all I need to do is have one other go.
The Talon 1000R-4 begins at $25,799. That’s about the identical worth as the bottom Polaris RZR XP 4 and the Can Am Maverick X3 four-seater. You’ll get extra energy with the latter however the dual-clutch transmission makes the Talon a lot simpler to drive.
Should you plunk your cash down for a Honda Talon, it is best to discover a using college earlier than heading out to make dumb driving selections. Facet-by-sides are very succesful automobiles and it is simple to drive past your limits. I additionally encourage you to observe the Tread Evenly ideas and align your self with fellow riders who reveal land stewardship. As all the time, put on your security gear and save the grownup drinks for trails’ finish.
