Considering a Pioneer 500 but...

[doolin64]

Will I be satisfied?

I've owned my fair share of atv's and dirtbikes. My most recent atv was a 2012 Kawi Brute Force 750. My current dirtbike is a 2011 Husaberg Fe390. What I've realized is that I don't/didn't get out on them as much as I would like. I work 2 jobs and have 2 small children. I sold my Brute to get a down payment money for an investment property. At the time I was really only using it to plow snow, drag a trailer around the yard and take the kids for joy rides around my neighborhood.

Bought the dirtbike this year and love it. But I've ridden 5 times all year. It would be much easier if i could take one of my children with me. Yes the Pioneer 700-4 would be perfect, but its too big and a tad out of my budget.

A couple years ago while on vacation my wife and I rented Polaris Sportsman 400s and we had a blast. The power was lacking but you could ride around and have it pinned without getting in trouble.

This brings me to the P5. Love the size (will fit in my basement), love the price, and I like the looks. Paddle shifting I'm guessing will be fun too. I want a machine to plow snow, take the kids for rides (nothing extreme), use around the yard moving firewood etc, and to take ice fishing.

Things I'm worrued about. My left foot seems cramped, I also worry about the power...will it be enough? I wish I could demo one.

Thoughts?

 

[Admin]

 

[doolin64]

I should add, I'm considering a used Rhino...tad bigger but the price is right. Only issue is the non bench seat, carburated, buying someone else's issues. Upside I'd save $3,500.

 

[500oneer]

At first I thought it was cramped but not anymore. I'm 6 ft size 14 shoe. I like the paddle shift but if you are switching to reverse a lot it's not much fun. Warning: after roof,windshield and everything else you need your over$10,000 fast.

 

[doolin64]

That's another reason why I was sort of leaning on the used Rhino. Could to know, I have a size 14 and well and I'm 6'2.

Could you please expand on the reverse issue? How do you get into reverse with that lever? In the past while plowing with my atv, I tend to make that transition a lot.

 

[500oneer]

For reverse you have to take your hand off the wheel and pull a lever in the middle of the dash while tapping the paddle shift. You have to wait for the electric shifts. Pioneer 700 and rhinos are a lot faster. By the way I used to have a 650 brute force and that green witch tried to kill me!

 

[doolin64]

Do you down shift to reverse holding the lever? When you say a lot faster, do you mean shifting or get up and go?

I liked my Brute but I did not like the cvt lile I did my Grizzly's.

 

[Hondasxs]

Say you are in 4th gear. To switch to reverse you have to pull the handle with your right hand and gear down 3,2,1,N,R with your left all while giving it a tap on the gas so it changes gears in between each level.

On the 700 you just have one lever to move to R with one motion.

Can't speak for takeoff. Haven't road/seen a P5 yet in action.

 

[ohanacreek]

Say you are in 4th gear. To switch to reverse you have to pull the handle with your right hand and gear down 3,2,1,N,R with your left all while giving it a tap on the gas so it changes gears in between each level.

On the 700 you just have one lever to move to R with one motion.

Can't speak for takeoff. Haven't road/seen a P5 yet in action.

Ridden Hondas since the time when the BigRed only had 3 wheels. Downshifting past neutral to get to reverse has always been the way they've done it.

The 700 just taking the single lever two notches ... Takes maybe a second once you get used to the zigzag pattern. Of course you want to be stopped when doing so.

 

[doolin64]

Thank you for the explanation. When plowing the I can't imagine being in anything beyond 2nd. But the tapping of the gas seems strange and I could see myself getting a little impatient.

 

[500oneer]

The shifting from forward to reverse is faster on pioneer 700 and rhinos. I don't tap the gas at all between shifts. Takeoff is better than a cvt.

 

[doolin64]

Gah! This is why I need to try one of these machines. Anyone with one live in Mass?

 

[birdman]

Northern N.H. here, Great riding and you can ride the roads legally

 

[doolin64]

How far up in NH, which side Vermont or Maine. Headed to see family in VT next weekend near Waterbury.