[Agar426]

This sounds like a silly question, but....how suitable is the Talon for occasional utility use. Not ranch work, I am thinking more like hunting? I know.....right tool for the right job. The Pioneer is too utility in my mind, and quite frankly.....Honda doesn't make the machine I want, which is a cross between the Pioneer and the Talon. The bulk of the use would be for recreational trail riding, but....during that time of the year, could I put it to use during a hunt? I realize that other brands make something like what I have in mind, the General, the Commander, Wolverine, but to be honest, I'd rather ride red while forcing a square peg into a round hole, than not ride red. Unless Honda has something up their sleeves with regard to a new machine we don't know about, is what I'm thinking even viable?

So.....I know there are ways to enclose the cargo area, and for a deer hunt, it would likely be suitable, but for elk, that may be a two trip affair. I am also thinking a cab heater (available), windshield, larger tires to get over rocks, front rack, winch, gun rack, etc. Any thoughts? What would I need to consider? Any major mods? Gearing changes, etc? Just thinking out loud, wondering what folks have done, etc. Thank you!

 

[Big had]

I have been in them all, pretty much. Here in SoCal we mostly recreate. From the sand dunes of the world famous Glamis to our wide open deserts. Of all the machines out there I would say the Can Am Commander would be the right setup if your looking for a farm/hunting rig that is capable of also keeping up with the recreation users. It is a very stout and reliable machine with excellent suspension and a usable bed area.

 

[19PSU88]

I also have had multiple RZR’s, a Pioneer and now a Talon.
I live in Eastern PA so it’s all woods and lots of rocks up and downhills.

The Pioneer could go everywhere but the suspension was horrible and was like driving an old truck but tranny and engine were phenomenal - my wife took one ride in the Pioneer and simply said what’s wrong with you and sell it, simply because of the ride. My buddy has a pioneer for his farm and it works phenomenal for farm work, hauling dogs, etc. - after $2500 in shocks and stuff to go trail riding he gave up and bought a YXZ.

The talon with a roof rack, cargo bed rack and some shock work can cruise wherever all the others can.

Is with dirt bikes, always easier to make a motocross into a woods bike than a dual sport into a motocrosser.

 

[HavasuDave]

Unless you need a narrow UTV because of width limitations where you live, get the R model. The suspension is long travel and excellent! I have had the RZR 800 and 1000. I spent lots of money to re-valve and put different springs on to get a great ride. I rode the Talon R and X at Moab(Honda factory test ride) the X rides like a Polaris RZR 800/900. The R rode better than my 1000 with the upgraded suspension. After riding the Honda, I drove my RZR on the exact same trails, the Talon R was waaay better. And you know what else? The Honda has anti-lock braking and traction control in i-4WD! That is the best feature other than a real transmission with 6 speeds in high and low. If you are climbing and descending you put it in low and unless you want to go over 40 mph, you never have to switch back to high. I put 30" tires on, but it would easily take 32" or much bigger. (The X has limits for tires) My clearance in the front is over 14" and it's over 13" in the back.

As for windshields and back/side windows, there are many after market products that you can chose from. Check Super ATV, they offer forum members discounts so use the forum message feature to ask for a code to get the discounts. RokBlokz sells excellent mud flaps and rock deflectors. They work welll!
I think ATV HQ has a big selection of gun/equipment racks. I don't know where except maybe above your head in the roof area you would mount them. But there is plenty of headroom.

Best of all they are very fun to drive, the automatic transmission allows you to still use paddle shifters, so going into a turn, you don't have to hit your brakes, you shift down and accelerate out of turn, it goes back to automatic. Or put in manual and have a ball. Or put it in sports mode. You won't find a UTV more fun to drive. Tested the Textron wildcatXX (the runner up in my mind, but the Honda was better). The CanAm Maverick, RZR 1000 Pro Ultimate(though the Dynamix suspension is awesome, hopefully Honda will offer it on the R not just the 4 seat X) That is something i might get after market is the Fox LiveValve.

Home Page - SuperATV

www.superatv.com

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[Agar426]

Great feedback everyone! Thank you so much for the comments! Keep 'em coming if you don't mind. My mind is swimming with all of the options. I live in New Mexico, which has a few 50" trails, but where I hunt, it would actually be lots of two track, with some rock crawling opportunities on old washed out logging roads, so width isn't too much of a concern, other than fitting between rocks and bushes. I would definitely want a heater and windshield, back window as well. Wouldn't actually hunt off of the rig, but would use it for packing out, getting into trail heads, and of course, most of the hunting related use would be in scouting. I can cover many miles and learn many roads easily and comfortably in my ATV, but I am thinking the SxS would be the next level....

 

[Ray]

This sounds like a silly question, but....how suitable is the Talon for occasional utility use. Not ranch work, I am thinking more like hunting? I know.....right tool for the right job. The Pioneer is too utility in my mind, and quite frankly.....Honda doesn't make the machine I want, which is a cross between the Pioneer and the Talon. The bulk of the use would be for recreational trail riding, but....during that time of the year, could I put it to use during a hunt? I realize that other brands make something like what I have in mind, the General, the Commander, Wolverine, but to be honest, I'd rather ride red while forcing a square peg into a round hole, than not ride red. Unless Honda has something up their sleeves with regard to a new machine we don't know about, is what I'm thinking even viable?

So.....I know there are ways to enclose the cargo area, and for a deer hunt, it would likely be suitable, but for elk, that may be a two trip affair. I am also thinking a cab heater (available), windshield, larger tires to get over rocks, front rack, winch, gun rack, etc. Any thoughts? What would I need to consider? Any major mods? Gearing changes, etc? Just thinking out loud, wondering what folks have done, etc. Thank you!

Look at the RMAX

 

[dburt]

I am partial to Honda and Yamaha and currently have a Talon X-4 and where we live it would work great for hunting in the mountains. The cargo bed is not that big, not like a Yamaha R-Max 1000 XTR which has a nice large dump box on the two seat models, and sliding/folding seats in the rear of the four seat models, but it would work well anyway. I say go Honda, unless it's just not possible to do for whatever reason, and then plan B would be to go with a Yamaha Rmax 1000 XTR.

 

[dburt]

And one more thing about the Yamaha RMax 1000 transmission drive belt warranty- it's has a 10,000 mile warranty! See what kind of warranty you can get on a Polaris drive belt! Or any of the other belt drive transmission machines!