Well, after selling my 2021 Honda Pioneer 700 one year and 400 miles after purchasing it new off the showroom floor so I could upgrade to the Honda Pioneer 1000 Forest, and doing so, I've finally surpassed the 100 mile service mark, had the service (a $900 service of a brand freaking new machine WTF???), I took my first real ride yesterday and have some observations. The first 100 miles were around the property and helping a friend out at his ranch so no real variety. Yesterday, however, I took a 50-mile ride up into the mountains with a friend of mine to test things out.
Off the top of my head observations a day after that ride:
What a difference in power from the 700. Much more power! I love the paddle shifters and the ability to go from AT to MT at will. I also love the clearance and bigger wheels/tires.
Much more comfortable and roomy in the cab and ironically, quieter. Love the ride.
In steep terrain, there is simply no comparison. The 1000 has much more power and much better compression for the return down the hill. I was constantly on the brakes in the 700 even descending mild inclines.
There is still a good amount of heat that comes up through the seat, however, nothing like the 700 and I love the extra storage under the driver's seat as well as the netting below the dash. Love the interior and exterior bed lights, lighter outlet in the bed and options for additional accessories built into the dashboard.
The dump bed is a beast! I helped my elderly ex-Marine neighbor who cannot lift any more move two pallets of stove pellets from his driveway to his garage last weekend. As a good Marine Drill Seargent would, he very vocally supervised while I moved all of the bags of pellets - a little too vocal at times for a friendly neighbor offering free labor! Anyway, I loaded 25 40lb. bags at a time from the pallets onto the buggy, moved them from the driveway to the garage and offloaded them and hardly even knew they were back there in transit. Lather, rinse, repeat - until the job was done. Small specimen but I was impressed.
Questions:
My buggy is a loud shifter. Has been since I bought it in July and still is after the first service where all systems checked out perfectly. Is that normal on the Pioneer 1000?
There is a different kind of unfamiliar vibration it seems (new to me anyway) when I am going at speeds in the mid-thirties. I never traveled that fast in the 700 other than topping it out a couple times in the low 40's (42) just to see how fast it would go. Yesterday I had a couple occasions to travel a few miles in the mid-thirties and it just seemed like it vibrated a little. Anyone?
Turf Mode - what can you guys tell me about when and if I should be using that other than on grass? Is it for pavement or flat surfaces IE. long ass 55 mph flat Nevada gravel roads?
Overall impression - I've leaned heavily on you all since first purchasing my 700. When I realized I needed something a little more specific to my uses, I did not hesitate after you all gave a thumbs up to the 1000. Thank you! It is exactly what I was looking for and needed and I love it so far! Only 150 miles in, but could not be happier. Would love feedback on my questions above regarding the loud shifting, vibration and turf mode. Thanks again!
Off the top of my head observations a day after that ride:
What a difference in power from the 700. Much more power! I love the paddle shifters and the ability to go from AT to MT at will. I also love the clearance and bigger wheels/tires.
Much more comfortable and roomy in the cab and ironically, quieter. Love the ride.
In steep terrain, there is simply no comparison. The 1000 has much more power and much better compression for the return down the hill. I was constantly on the brakes in the 700 even descending mild inclines.
There is still a good amount of heat that comes up through the seat, however, nothing like the 700 and I love the extra storage under the driver's seat as well as the netting below the dash. Love the interior and exterior bed lights, lighter outlet in the bed and options for additional accessories built into the dashboard.
The dump bed is a beast! I helped my elderly ex-Marine neighbor who cannot lift any more move two pallets of stove pellets from his driveway to his garage last weekend. As a good Marine Drill Seargent would, he very vocally supervised while I moved all of the bags of pellets - a little too vocal at times for a friendly neighbor offering free labor! Anyway, I loaded 25 40lb. bags at a time from the pallets onto the buggy, moved them from the driveway to the garage and offloaded them and hardly even knew they were back there in transit. Lather, rinse, repeat - until the job was done. Small specimen but I was impressed.
Questions:
My buggy is a loud shifter. Has been since I bought it in July and still is after the first service where all systems checked out perfectly. Is that normal on the Pioneer 1000?
There is a different kind of unfamiliar vibration it seems (new to me anyway) when I am going at speeds in the mid-thirties. I never traveled that fast in the 700 other than topping it out a couple times in the low 40's (42) just to see how fast it would go. Yesterday I had a couple occasions to travel a few miles in the mid-thirties and it just seemed like it vibrated a little. Anyone?
Turf Mode - what can you guys tell me about when and if I should be using that other than on grass? Is it for pavement or flat surfaces IE. long ass 55 mph flat Nevada gravel roads?
Overall impression - I've leaned heavily on you all since first purchasing my 700. When I realized I needed something a little more specific to my uses, I did not hesitate after you all gave a thumbs up to the 1000. Thank you! It is exactly what I was looking for and needed and I love it so far! Only 150 miles in, but could not be happier. Would love feedback on my questions above regarding the loud shifting, vibration and turf mode. Thanks again!
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