Am I crazy? Trading Honda in

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hondabob

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My 2019 talon is close to 42,000 miles and still runs like new. The rear axle joints are clunking and will lock up on full extension. I just ordered new Honda axles. If Honda has an A/C model and dealers have problems they can sent it to the car dealers for repairs. Honda may require dealers to have the necessary equipment to make A/C repairs. My riding buddy and I put 39,000 miles on the Teryx models without a breakdown. The belt drive was a PITA to change a belt requiring the gas tank to be removed.
 
ehart814

ehart814

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My 2019 talon is close to 42,000 miles and still runs like new. The rear axle joints are clunking and will lock up on full extension. I just ordered new Honda axles. If Honda has an A/C model and dealers have problems they can sent it to the car dealers for repairs. Honda may require dealers to have the necessary equipment to make A/C repairs. My riding buddy and I put 39,000 miles on the Teryx models without a breakdown. The belt drive was a PITA to change a belt requiring the gas tank to be removed.
I would absolutely prefer a Honda HVAC model but surely they will be north of $30k, maybe even $35k and I can't swallow that pill. Kawi has a pretty good reputation as far as reliability and the 3 year warranty is a big seller for me on an expensive machine. It wouldn't even be realistic for me if they weren't offering $7k+ discounts on them right now - and my dealer is way backordered on Pioneers so I'm getting decent trade allowance. I highly doubt we will see any discounts on Hondas at least for a few years.

Pretty impressive the miles you get on them. Around here with all the mud very few machines ever see 10,000 miles and I'd never buy one!

One of the most exciting things (to me) about these HVAC models is I can drive through the car wash! haha
 
GRANITE

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My wife wants us to get a 4 seater so the Ridge is out for me. I'm considering another P1K5 but my teenage girls have grown and unsure about their comfort in back of it! We checked out a Talon over weekend and I didn't fit in it very well. Being taller and bigger I want to be comfortable driving!
 
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Wiley

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I drove a Ridge recently and it's nice yes and it has some good features. The inline 4 cyl has a unique sound but revs to like 8500rpm at like 45mph.......

I've not ridden in one yet but when talking to the sales manager at the local Honda/Yamaha/Kawasaki store about the Ridge he said when he rode it, he felt it was too short geared plus ran at higher RPM than necessary even when going slow. This won't bother some but I think it would me.
 
ehart814

ehart814

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I've not ridden in one yet but when talking to the sales manager at the local Honda/Yamaha/Kawasaki store about the Ridge he said when he rode it, he felt it was too short geared plus ran at higher RPM than necessary even when going slow. This won't bother some but I think it would me.
This is legit, based on everything I've heard - lots of new owners report this. A friend of mine bought one which is one of the reasons i'm interested. He said the same thing. A company called JBS makes a clutch spring that is a quick bolt on and it lowers the rpms by about 1000 rpms everywhere. Many positive reviews of that spring.

Personally, I understand the power delivery of a short stroke inline four cyl engine and it's going to be buzzy. I also like the idea of it being geared too low because of how I use it. I regularly pull a heavy cart with firewood which is 2000+ pounds and my splitter, etc. Plus, if it is geared way too low that is good for upsizing tires - 33" tires clear on these with no mods. 30" is plenty for me and my use though.
 
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Wiley

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This is legit, based on everything I've heard - lots of new owners report this. A friend of mine bought one which is one of the reasons i'm interested. He said the same thing. A company called JBS makes a clutch spring that is a quick bolt on and it lowers the rpms by about 1000 rpms everywhere. Many positive reviews of that spring.....
The JBS kit sounds like a worthwhile upgrade.

I like my MULE Pro MX and its CVT with wet clutch is quiet and so smooth starting off. Like all CVTs I just wish there was a way to "short shift" it to its highest ratio say when traveling on level or downhill under light throttle.
 
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ehart814

ehart814

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The JBS kit sounds like a worthwhile upgrade.

I like my MULE Pro MX and its CVT with wet clutch is quiet and so smooth starting off. Like all CVTs I just wish there was a way to "short shift" it to its highest ratio say when traveling on level or downhill under light throttle.
Yeah, it seems JBS is the way.

I don't understand why, but Kawasaki did not use a wet clutch on the Ridge. I know very little about CVT's (because I generally hate them) but it seems to me that a wet clutch is a huge advantage - belt life, smooth engagement. I find it weird that the Ridge doesn't have a wet clutch.
 
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GRANITE

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I think CVT's have a place in many platforms and they work decent in them. Doesn't Honda use a CVT in most of their cars these days?
 
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Wiley

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CVT's have many advantages but the one other disadvantage is they don't provide a real wide ratio. On SXS's they work around it with two ranges. Toyota Rav4 and probably others work around it using an actual 1st gear then shifts up to CVT mode.
If there was just a selector to "short shift" the CVT into higher ratios it would enable lower motor rpm when cruising on level or down hill. The P520 in auto mode has the same issue to an extent but changing to manual mode lets us short shift up to 4th or 5th.
 
ehart814

ehart814

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I think CVT's have a place in many platforms and they work decent in them. Doesn't Honda use a CVT in most of their cars these days?
Yeah, they started using CVT's in their early hybrids - the insight, and civic hybrid. Suzuki, Nissan, probly others used the JATCO CVT's in lots of cars. Pretty much everyone has used them. They still suck. I hate them in cars more than in side by sides. My wife's suzuki kizashi had a CVT and we sold the car at almost 190k - never a transmission issue. It was fine, I just don't like how they drive.
 
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ehart814

ehart814

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Anyhow, the main thing that I need to say is that I paid for the lifetime membership and I'm going to use it until I die even if I have to pollute the hell out of the "other makes" forum with kawi BS!

I also still have my 85 big red and a trx300 4x4 and If I put them side by side.... yep that's a hondasxs
 
trigger

trigger

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Anyhow, the main thing that I need to say is that I paid for the lifetime membership and I'm going to use it until I die even if I have to pollute the hell out of the "other makes" forum with kawi BS!

I also still have my 85 big red and a trx300 4x4 and If I put them side by side.... yep that's a hondasxs
You're one of the OG's in my book ehart, always welcome. :cool:
 
lowranger

lowranger

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Anyhow, the main thing that I need to say is that I paid for the lifetime membership and I'm going to use it until I die even if I have to pollute the hell out of the "other makes" forum with kawi BS!

I also still have my 85 big red and a trx300 4x4 and If I put them side by side.... yep that's a hondasxs
My wife has a 1993 Honda trx300 4x4 and she loves it. I just bought her some running boards for it.
 
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