[ATVEditor]

Hello everybody.

My name is Lucas Cooney and I am the editor-in-chief of ATV.com. Last week I spent a few days in Utah with Honda and some other media folks test driving the Honda Talon 1000X and 1000R.

If you've got any questions about machines or the experience, please let me know.

 

[Eagleye]

Hey Lucas, glad to have you. I would like to know if you guys found there to be a notable difference between the X and R from your test drives. I know the suspension setups are different, but with regular trail riding would that come into play? How'd you find the DCT?

 

[ATVEditor]

We drove the two Talons in very different terrain, so it's a bit tough to compare. We drove the 1000X in tighter trails, while the 1000R circuit was dunes and rock crawling.

The DCT works as well as it does in the Pioneer. Might be nice if low gear was geared a bit lower for crawling and more technical terrain, but it worked well for everything we saw. It's always nice to have the ability to gear up or down manually on the fly, which we experimented with.

 

[250R Man]

Lucas, How would you rate the Honda against the other non Turbo cars out there so far as performance? And does it feel like the motor torque is above the competitors?

 

[ATVEditor]

As far as the engine goes, performance is comparable with the majority of non-turbo Sport UTVs. But we were testing between 3,000 and 5,000 feet in elevation, so the engine performance suffers as you typically lose about 3% of power for every 1,000 feet.

The only place I really felt the high end being down at all was climbing hills in the dunes. Not only were we at 3,000 feet (putting the car down maybe 9 or 10%), but the sand was wet and heavy. Thus, it struggled on some of the climbs.

Ideally I'd have comparable cars on hand to see exactly how they stack up, but we will have to wait a bit for that opportunity.

 

[Hookedup]

I don't know if Honda has disclosed this kind of information to you guys, but has there been any talks of single seat or 4 up versions of the Talon? Not expecting something like that to arrive for a few years, just wonder what Honda has in the pipeline.

 

[ATVEditor]

The manufacturers like to keep things like that to themselves, unfortunately. I wouldn't be surprised to see a four-seat Talon in the next year or so, though.

 

[BajaRunner]

The manufacturers like to keep things like that to themselves, unfortunately. I wouldn't be surprised to see a four-seat Talon in the next year or so, though.

Apparently some Honda powersports representative was quoted saying the Talon will be "the first of many Sport SxS announcements" so at least we have that to run with. although vague info, looking towards rival brands for what's selling, will present all but confirmed ideas of whats to come. Honda almost always goes head to head.

 

[Eagleye]

I'm sure its only a matter of time before Honda goes the forced induction route with the Talon as well. Already seen some big injector ECU tuning for the RZR XP.

 

[moneypit]

Is the cab size identical in the X and the R? I read the frame is the same on both models. I'm a taller rider and every inch of leg room counts.

 

[ATVEditor]

Is the cab size identical in the X and the R? I read the frame is the same on both models. I'm a taller rider and every inch of leg room counts.

I didn't notice any difference with the interior space. The driver seat moves back enough to keep me comfortable (I'm 6'2"). My passenger was bigger than me and we weren't rubbing elbows either.

The passenger area is a bit odd. There are foot rest areas on each side, along with a deeper area where you can stretch your legs a bit - but it's only wide enough for one foot at a time.

 

[ATVEditor]

I'm sure its only a matter of time before Honda goes the forced induction route with the Talon as well. Already seen some big injector ECU tuning for the RZR XP.

I'm not convinced they will have a turbo model for sale any time soon. I thought Yamaha would have something by now with the YXZ, but it's only available as an accessory. Honda may go that route first.

 

[Gage]

On he past two RZRs I've owned, the s&b Particle Separator was a device sent from heaven. Do you foresee the need for one on the Talon?

 

[Alaskawild]

Did you happen to do any slow riding and rock crawling? If so did you have any overheating issues w the clutches?

 

[ATVEditor]

Did you happen to do any slow riding and rock crawling? If so did you have any overheating issues w the clutches?

We did some rock crawling, but not enough to really stress anything. To be fair, rock crawling is not in my wheelhouse, so I didn't really seek much of it out. I am hoping to get my writer a 1000R for a rock crawling project this summer, though.

 

[ATVEditor]

On he past two RZRs I've owned, the s&b Particle Separator was a device sent from heaven. Do you foresee the need for one on the Talon?

I don't have any experience with that product (or anything similar), so I can't really say.

 

[BajaRunner]

On he past two RZRs I've owned, the s&b Particle Separator was a device sent from heaven. Do you foresee the need for one on the Talon?

As someone who has seen how much the Sport SxS segments have to offer with brands that have established themselves, I'd say you should expect it. The global scale and reach the Talon and others like it from Honda will have, means S&B's might be watching.

I suggest you email/tweet/facebook message/etc. S&B about the Talon. Chances are its on their to do list.

 

[Alaskawild]

We did some rock crawling, but not enough to really stress anything. To be fair, rock crawling is not in my wheelhouse, so I didn't really seek much of it out. I am hoping to get my writer a 1000R for a rock crawling project this summer, though.

Thanks for the response, I live in Pennsylvania and there are many spots we will have to crawl. I’m sure it will be fine.

 

[Crazy Larry]

Hello everybody.

My name is Lucas Cooney and I am the editor-in-chief of ATV.com. Last week I spent a few days in Utah with Honda and some other media folks test driving the Honda Talon 1000X and 1000R.

If you've got any questions about machines or the experience, please let me know.

I was wondering while using manual I noticed when you are stopping that it will down shift by itself. I thought what ever gear you were in manual that would be the gear it stays in not so when stopping. Did you notice anything like that?