All-New 2019 Honda Talon 1000R

Ride Red has never been so excited, and rightfully so as it introduces the new Talon 1000R and Talon 1000X to the public and finally enters the sport SxS market with claws out! The big bird is loose, and with the powerful 999cc fuel-injected inline twin-cylinder engine making the power, this machine is ready to rip. Honda has adapted the engine platform from its popular Pioneer 1000 SxS and made significant changes to ensure it performs like a sporty aggressive engine should. From the new camshaft design to the unshrouding of the intake valves and some mild porting, the Unicam engine design is set to produce great power. The air intake is also very large in size, and with a 46mm throttle body, air in means power out!

Power is transferred to the Honda gear-on-gear transmission featuring the DCT system. This Dual Clutch Transmission enables not only smooth shifting but, with the advent of the paddles behind the steering wheel, the driver is very much in control of gear position. This gives smooth but very quick gearing changes on the fly. There is also the AT, or auto mode, and MT, or manual mode, switchable on the dash. This further enables the driver to tailor their ride day according to their personal liking, whether it is shifting themselves or allowing the computer to find the shift for them. A third selection is the Sport mode and that gives drivers longer duration between shift parameters, so you get into more of the power of the 999cc engine before shifting.

The Talon also carries the popular I-4WD from the Pioneer family to handle tough or more technical trails. This "intelligent traction" gives the Talon brake traction control as well as making it easier to drive with no kickback in the steering wheel. The I-4WD is optimized for many different riding conditions including mud, snow, high-speed open desert, and those days when crawling around in tight, rock-covered paths is your goal.

What sets the Talon 1000R apart from its sibling, the Talon 1000X, is its sheer width as well as the 4+ link system. This 68.4-inch rig has one of the most uniquely designed rear suspensions in the industry while being damped by one of the most popular shock companies in the dirt. Honda's Talon 1000R sports Fox Podium 2.5 shocks with QS3 adjusters on the reservoir. This basic adjustment keeps the driver thinking about driving and not about how many clicks from zero they are. Simplifying the tuning process for the general public is always a plus. It's a blast to drive and comfortable as well. The cab is made up of high-back fully bolstered seating with all of the important buttons and levers well within reach. The driver seat adjusts for any legal-sized driver, and the tilt steering is very accommodating. There is even a passenger handhold, so they too have somewhere to sink their talons in for the ride!