I'm thinking very serious about getting a Honda Pioneer 4. How is the engine braking going down hill?
The tranny on the Rincon ATV is not good and needs a lot of braking compared to my Rubicon ATV when going down hills.
Seeking orientation on side by sides, differences between brands/models/designs
- Thread starter bigsnowdog
- Start date
- Views: 9419
I'm thinking very serious about getting a Honda Pioneer 4. How is the engine braking going down hill?
The tranny on the Rincon ATV is not good and needs a lot of braking compared to my Rubicon ATV when going down hills.
Code54
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2005
- Messages
- 4,308
- Location
- Putnam Co. West Virginia
- Tractor
- Kubota MX5100, Kubota BX25D,1957 Farmall Cub Lo-Boy Kubota KX91-3, BCS 853
This is coming from a RZR guy....
The Honda Pioneer is a VERY nice machine for a combo of work and play. With the folding extra seats it will work for 4 people and yet you still don't need to give up the dump bed. Nice design and getting great reviews!
The Honda Pioneer is a VERY nice machine for a combo of work and play. With the folding extra seats it will work for 4 people and yet you still don't need to give up the dump bed. Nice design and getting great reviews!
crazyal
Super Member
I assume that the Big Red is the engine/ transmission as the new Pioneer. The compression braking works well on my BR, the disc brakes work well too.
crazyal
Super Member
I assume that the Big Red is the engine/ transmission as the new Pioneer. The compression braking works well on my BR, the disc brakes work well too.
jimgerken
Veteran Member
We test drove several and bought the 825 Gator, a year ago. Now that the Honda is out I would have to look at that very seriously before buying. At the time of purchase, we really wanted a tool not a pure toy. But it had to scoot and offer a good fun ride too. The 825 does all that well. Excellent suspension (with fox shocks), great ground clearance, fully skid plated, very wide as mentioned, virtally impossible to roll it, hauls and hydraulically dumps 1000 lbs with flat bottomed 4 foot wide bed (think plywood), pulls 1500 lbs, two nice bucket seats, 44 mph topspeed, usual John Deere quality. We have worked it hauling rocks and fencing (really like the slide-in, slide-out cab), and its a blast on the road too, going downtown for a pizza or a fish fry. Depending on your state laws you can use class ii ATVs on the roads.
Whichever model you choose, consider the rear differential. If it is not differential equipped, every corner on your driveway, lawn and trails will get dug up. Its like a solid axle quad, but at three to four times the weight, so significant turf damage ocurrs. A differential also allows it to turn tighter when not locked or in four wheel drive.
Whichever model you choose, consider the rear differential. If it is not differential equipped, every corner on your driveway, lawn and trails will get dug up. Its like a solid axle quad, but at three to four times the weight, so significant turf damage ocurrs. A differential also allows it to turn tighter when not locked or in four wheel drive.
foggy1111
Elite Member
^ Good post Jim....and good things to consider. A means to un-lock the rear differential is one change I would like on my new Honda Pioneer. In my situation it is not a deal breaker as I am primarilly on my hunting property.....but I still would like that feature in order to do less damage to turf.
(I'd likely opt for PS if it were available too.....but the Pioneer steering effort is "OK".)
I really like the size of the Pioneer, good load capacities - much like the deere.....and if I dont have enough room in my bed.....I always have a trailer available to get the job done. When it comes to top speed.....seems mid 40's is fast enough for me with a short WB vehilce like a UTV. Power seems adequate for my needs.
I didn't know I would like the 1/2 doors on the Pioneer. But they really increase safety and keep you cleaner when riding in mud. The Honda is a nice blend of trail and work machine.....IMO.
One other consideration tho.....in Minnesota the trails have some limits on CC's and weight. 800 cc's and 1500 lbs. My machine slips under the limits and can be ridden on the MN trails. A good thing. Also, my machine fit perfectly on a five foot wide x ten foot long aluma trailer.....which I already owned. Great for travel to nearby trails.
(I'd likely opt for PS if it were available too.....but the Pioneer steering effort is "OK".)
I really like the size of the Pioneer, good load capacities - much like the deere.....and if I dont have enough room in my bed.....I always have a trailer available to get the job done. When it comes to top speed.....seems mid 40's is fast enough for me with a short WB vehilce like a UTV. Power seems adequate for my needs.
I didn't know I would like the 1/2 doors on the Pioneer. But they really increase safety and keep you cleaner when riding in mud. The Honda is a nice blend of trail and work machine.....IMO.
One other consideration tho.....in Minnesota the trails have some limits on CC's and weight. 800 cc's and 1500 lbs. My machine slips under the limits and can be ridden on the MN trails. A good thing.
Also, my machine fit perfectly on a five foot wide x ten foot long aluma trailer.....which I already owned. Great for travel to nearby trails.PapaPerk
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2004
- Messages
- 2,293
- Location
- USA
- Tractor
- Kubota L3830, Ford Golden Jubilee, 1939 Sears Economy, Polaris Ranger 400, Honda Foreman 450 ES, 2004 Dodge Diesel 3500
^ Good post Jim....and good things to consider. A means to un-lock the rear differential is one change I would like on my new Honda Pioneer. In my situation it is not a deal breaker as I am primarilly on my hunting property.....but I still would like that feature in order to do less damage to turf.
(I'd likely opt for PS if it were available too.....but the Pioneer steering effort is "OK".)
I really like the size of the Pioneer, good load capacities - much like the deere.....and if I dont have enough room in my bed.....I always have a trailer available to get the job done. When it comes to top speed.....seems mid 40's is fast enough for me with a short WB vehilce like a UTV. Power seems adequate for my needs.
I didn't know I would like the 1/2 doors on the Pioneer. But they really increase safety and keep you cleaner when riding in mud. The Honda is a nice blend of trail and work machine.....IMO.
One other consideration tho.....in Minnesota the trails have some limits on CC's and weight. 800 cc's and 1500 lbs. My machine slips under the limits and can be ridden on the MN trails. A good thing.
Yeah I think an unlocking rear diff should be industry standard on UTV's! Polaris is selling tons of machines because they have unlocking rear diffs.
Having a locked rear diff is stone age technology in my opinion.
foggy1111
Elite Member
Actually I believe most of the UTV's have a locked rear diffy. I think Polaris is one of the few that offer a differential.
That's how I feel about belt driven transmissions on UTV's too.
jimgerken
Veteran Member
Its good to hear that the Polaris has this open differential switch (I looked it up and they call it "Versa Trac Turf Mode Switch"). More and more guys are getting these UTVs and I fear for the quality of our hard-earned trails. I'd like to think people had the common sense to stay home when the trails are damp or muddy, but I have seen the opposite to be true. And even on dry days a solid rear axle on a 1800-2000 lb machine (with two riders) can do many times the damage of a solid axle ATV with one guy riding it.
So, my Gator 825 has an open rear diff, which can be locked when you need it, Polaris has the Versa Trac, and someone told me his Rhino had an open and lockable rear differential. It seems that all the other UTV machines I have researched have solid rear axles. Any input from you guys on that?
So, my Gator 825 has an open rear diff, which can be locked when you need it, Polaris has the Versa Trac, and someone told me his Rhino had an open and lockable rear differential. It seems that all the other UTV machines I have researched have solid rear axles. Any input from you guys on that?
