P500 Considering A Pioneer 500

[superrman77]

Guys I am very interested in getting a Pioneer 500. I grew up riding atvs and a Grizzly 660 was my last quad. I have ridden in the Pioneer 700 4 deluxe but didn't get to experience any big hill riding that I normally ride. I will be using this utv for hunting, work around the house, and trail riding in Eastern Ky and Wv. From what I have read most people are really enjoying the 500. It seems that it has a better gearbox than the 700. Is there any issue with the 500 powering out on big hills in 1st gear? How is the stability on side hills after the spacers or wider tires installed? Thanks

 

[Admin]

 

[trigger]

Welcome to the forum @superrman77 . The P5 is bulletproof and fills a niche being so small. It has its advantages and limitations.

 

[HUCK]

Plenty of 1st gear power as it is reallll low . Side hill stability with spacers and or offsets or both will be good but wider is always better for this . I didn't have spacers yet on this ooops . Much much better with just 1" spacers .

 

[alloutdoors]

Guys I am very interested in getting a Pioneer 500. I grew up riding atvs and a Grizzly 660 was my last quad. I have ridden in the Pioneer 700 4 deluxe but didn't get to experience any big hill riding that I normally ride. I will be using this utv for hunting, work around the house, and trail riding in Eastern Ky and Wv. From what I have read most people are really enjoying the 500. It seems that it has a better gearbox than the 700. Is there any issue with the 500 powering out on big hills in 1st gear? How is the stability on side hills after the spacers or wider tires installed? Thanks

I owned a Honda Pioneer 700 for a while and mine was a three speed auto without the ability to shift manually, but know that is an option on newer 700 models. The Honda Pioneer 500 has five gears, and a really.... low 1st gear and suspect if traction is available it would climb a wall before loosing power.

 

[NTCPrezJB]

I've not been on any serious hills with it yet (meaning stuff that you either make or roll (hopefully via the wheels )/slide back to the bottom on). That said it seems like it is stable stock (up/down hill and traversing sideways), but certainly wider is generally better when traversing. Power...it isn't going to win drag races, but if there is traction it will definitely crawl up whatever you are confident enough to point it at. It sounds like it will be a nice machine for the needs you describe. Just one mans opinion for what it is worth.

 

[jmcampbell54]

Hills, it climbs and descends very well. Can pull through ruts while rubbing the sides as well. Stock tires and drive train in those pics.


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[KYhillbilly]

Guys I am very interested in getting a Pioneer 500. I grew up riding atvs and a Grizzly 660 was my last quad. I have ridden in the Pioneer 700 4 deluxe but didn't get to experience any big hill riding that I normally ride. I will be using this utv for hunting, work around the house, and trail riding in Eastern Ky and Wv. From what I have read most people are really enjoying the 500. It seems that it has a better gearbox than the 700. Is there any issue with the 500 powering out on big hills in 1st gear? How is the stability on side hills after the spacers or wider tires installed? Thanks

I am in the same area as you ride Eastern KY and WV. I went from a Honda Rancher to my 500 and love it. If you want to go fast its not the machine for you but if you are using it to get into the areas you used your ATV for hunting or just getting it around its the best there is. I can get to all the places my Rancher made it to while in the comfort of setting and the safety of a full cage. I have a full enclosure now and as cold as it was this late season it was wonderful, no more frozen throttle thumb.

 

[qflyer]

Traction will be a problem before power on steep hills. I have a 35-40 degree (actually measured, not a guesstimate) hill in my back yard. Climbs and descends easily when dry. No way when wet.

This is my first UTV, so it may just be my inexperience talking, but it seems a bit tippy to me. It's better now on 5/2 offset wheels. Still considering spacers to help some more, but really don't want to go wider than 53-54" that I'm at now.

 

[alloutdoors]

I want to pick up on something mentioned by KYhillbilly and that is speed. The Honda Pioneer 500 isn't a speedster by any stretch of the imagination. I would say mine runs comfortable (no maxing out the RPM's) around 27-29 mph with a max speed of 33/34 mph. I view the Honda Pioneer 500 as an extremely nimble and capable unit, but speed monster, no.

 

[superrman77]

Thanks for all of the replies so far guys. I have been digging up a lot of the older threads. I have no doubt that this is an awesome machine. The price point is pretty awesome on it. But the fact that I will have to add a significant amount of money to it so it has the stability I want bothers me. I really want power steering and a diff lock. So maybe I will be better off buying a used one that has had a lot of the stuff already added such as tires, winch, etc. Thanks for all of the feedback guys. Keep it coming.

 

[Chooglin]

I want to pick up on something mentioned by KYhillbilly and that is speed. The Honda Pioneer 500 isn't a speedster by any stretch of the imagination. I would say mine runs comfortable (no maxing out the RPM's) around 27-29 mph with a max speed of 33/34 mph. I view the Honda Pioneer 500 as an extremely nimble and capable unit, but speed monster, no.

You saying the top speed on yours is only 33/34 ? You should max out at least 40/42 mph.........mine hits the limiter at 41/42 !

 

[alloutdoors]

Thanks for all of the replies so far guys. I have been digging up a lot of the older threads. I have no doubt that this is an awesome machine. The price point is pretty awesome on it. But the fact that I will have to add a significant amount of money to it so it has the stability I want bothers me. I really want power steering and a diff lock. So maybe I will be better off buying a used one that has had a lot of the stuff already added such as tires, winch, etc. Thanks for all of the feedback guys. Keep it coming.

Just and FYI, the 2015 model is paddle shift only, while the newer models have both paddle shift and ability to switch into AT (automatic transmission). Because my property is full of turns/stops the paddles are fine, no complaints, but do see the utility of AT if in more open areas with little need to be in a specific gear, so just something to consider when looking around.

Keep an up on Craigslist within a 100 miles of home and have a pocket full of cash on-hand and confident you can get one purchased right.

 

[alloutdoors]

You saying the top speed on yours is only 33/34 ? You should max out at least 40/42 mph.........mine hits the limiter at 41/42 !

I actually guessed, but you have given me a reason to pull it out today and take a lap. Heck today is the Daytona 500, so who knows the little Pioneer may break some records. Regardless, I will just imagine myself starting off in the pole position anyway from a dead stop....

 

[trigger]

This is my first UTV, so it may just be my inexperience talking, but it seems a bit tippy to me. It's better now on 5/2 offset wheels.

Lol, no experience needed to realize that!
Had 26's waiting for mine when it came home, only rode stock tires at dealer. Had them mounted on the factory wheels with no spacers and too much psi, first ride was pucker fest.
Ordered 1" spacers and it was better, aftermarket 5+2's and no spacers made it better yet. IMO, spreading the stance on a P5 makes the rider more confident and comfortable and the machine far more capable.

 

[Mudder]

Need some genus to make a gyro like a Segway, or sliding automatic counterweight on rack. LOL

 

[jmcampbell54]

Need some genus to make a gyro like a Segway, or sliding automatic counterweight on rack. LOL

That’s what a passenger is for.....


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[DG Rider]

Just and FYI, the 2015 model is paddle shift only, while the newer models have both paddle shift and ability to switch into AT (automatic transmission).

Am i wrong in that the 2017 wa the 1st with auto mode?

 

[alloutdoors]

You saying the top speed on yours is only 33/34 ? You should max out at least 40/42 mph.........mine hits the limiter at 41/42 !

I took the Pioneer out when the Daytona 500 started and found out it was running 33/34 mph at half throttle....

I will take it out tomorrow for full throttle, LOL..... FYI.. it hit 41-42 mph today

 

[Mudder]

Am i wrong in that the 2017 wa the 1st with auto mode?

2017, first with AT, and only year for that “classic” green.