First Look: 2021 Honda Talon 1000X Fox Live Valve

The world of premium sport UTVs is blossoming. From the 195 hp Can-Am Maverick X3 Turbo to the manual-clutched Yamaha YXZ1000R, each machine offers drivers a unique experience. Still, most tend to focus on turning wide-open spaces into dragstrips.

Honda wanted to capture a piece of that market but decided to go about it in a slightly different way. At first glance the Talon 1000X Fox Live Valve side-by-side may seem unimpressive compared with segment contenders, but appearances can be deceiving. UTV Driver wanted to dig a little deeper, so we've added a Talon 1000X Fox Live Valve to our long-term test fleet to see what Honda engineers have baked into their premium trail-focused machine.

Honda’s first trick with the Talon 1000X Fox Live Valve is right there in the name; the active Fox suspension. It’s all-new for 2021 in the company’s two-seater UTVs. This system actively controls damping levels on each massive Fox 2.5-inch coilover to conquer every type of terrain you can throw at it. Hold the “Normal Mode” end of the toggle switch down for 10 seconds and it drops into demo mode. We were impressed with the wide difference between firm and soft settings not found on the base-model shocks. We look forward to putting the system through the wringer to see how it holds up.

The Talon 1000X also comes with Honda’s proprietary, dual-clutch, gear-driven transmission for split-second shifts and real engine braking, along with the i-4WD system with active torque vectoring on the front axle. Sprinkle in an ABS braking system, powered steering, and hill-start-assist mode to season things up. Then, to top it all off, a transfer case with 1.4:1 gear reduction in low range, a short 87.6-inch wheelbase, and a narrow 64-inch chassis width. Honda’s created a precision weapon for tight gnarly trails.

Follow along as we review the Talon 1000X with Fox Live Valve suspension over the next five months and subject it to every off-road park we can find.