DaddyDubbs
Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
WELCOME ! Glad to see you got the FASTEST VERSION ! blue ones are fastest ya knowHello all,
A couple years ago I saw two Honda Pioneer 500s at the campsite across from me at Warm Lake Campground, located near Cascade, Idaho. One was red and one was blue. They intrigued me with their compact size, but I truly thought they were the most unusual looking atv/utv/?? whatever kind of vehicle I had ever seen. I come from the atv world, own four atvs and have been riding a Yamaha Grizzly 700cc atv for years, and am used to riding pretty aggressively. I asked the folks that owned the Pioneers all kinds of questions, mostly about how they handle the trails. I then researched the heck out of the little utvs for the next year and decided to finally purchase one. Of course, the next model year offered the 520 with more power and a dump bed with better shocks, but I still like the 2020.
I only had the Pioneer 500 out on the trails a few times but I am impressed with how it manages the trails. I am in my late 60's and don't ride as fast as I used to, so the Pioneer suits me fine. I don't even miss the power steering, but might add it later. The power it has for the small displacement was a pleasant surprise. Going up steep hills is no problem.
What I really, really like is that my wife likes to ride with me now. She never was comfortable riding on the back of the big grizz, or riding her 350 grizzly beside me. Even more shocking is that she likes driving the Pioneer 500, and now claims it is "her ride." Since she allowed me to spend the cash to purchase it, I will let her think it is "her ride." She likes the automatic mode and I like taking it through the gears.
Two of my biggest complaints after first riding it, is that 1. the tires suck, and 2. the shocks suck. I put 26" bighorn 2.0 tires on the 500 almost immediately, and have some front Walker Evans shocks ordered for the front. I also added a 4500 lbs. winch, a half windshield, Honda soft top, black center caps for the stock wheels, some awesome side mirrors, a rota-pax gas container and mount, a roll bar storage bag, and some large plastic tool boxes for the rack.
I am anxious to learn all I can from all you folks about this great little machine.
Idahotruckman
View attachment 255209
Just wait. These guys are the best. You made a great choice with the Honda and the Hondasxs.comThank you for the warm welcome, folks! What a great bunch of people!
Love to. Videos of N Idaho rides are awesome.Welcome aboard! If ya head North give a hollar!!
Welcome Idahotruckman! I too am new to the forum. Been a member for about two weeks now, but just did my first post yesterday. There are TONS of great info, tips and tricks throughout this forum. Although I have added relatively the same accessories as you (hard roof though), i plan on going with 27s. Don’t know about the walker shocks cause of how spendy they appear to be. But due to the info i read in this forum, i added 1.5 spacers to the rear (did notice an immediate difference), plan on 27s for tires and plan to mod the exhaust. Have to say I love the blue color 😉Hello all,
A couple years ago I saw two Honda Pioneer 500s at the campsite across from me at Warm Lake Campground, located near Cascade, Idaho. One was red and one was blue. They intrigued me with their compact size, but I truly thought they were the most unusual looking atv/utv/?? whatever kind of vehicle I had ever seen. I come from the atv world, own four atvs and have been riding a Yamaha Grizzly 700cc atv for years, and am used to riding pretty aggressively. I asked the folks that owned the Pioneers all kinds of questions, mostly about how they handle the trails. I then researched the heck out of the little utvs for the next year and decided to finally purchase one. Of course, the next model year offered the 520 with more power and a dump bed with better shocks, but I still like the 2020.
I only had the Pioneer 500 out on the trails a few times but I am impressed with how it manages the trails. I am in my late 60's and don't ride as fast as I used to, so the Pioneer suits me fine. I don't even miss the power steering, but might add it later. The power it has for the small displacement was a pleasant surprise. Going up steep hills is no problem.
What I really, really like is that my wife likes to ride with me now. She never was comfortable riding on the back of the big grizz, or riding her 350 grizzly beside me. Even more shocking is that she likes driving the Pioneer 500, and now claims it is "her ride." Since she allowed me to spend the cash to purchase it, I will let her think it is "her ride." She likes the automatic mode and I like taking it through the gears.
Two of my biggest complaints after first riding it, is that 1. the tires suck, and 2. the shocks suck. I put 26" bighorn 2.0 tires on the 500 almost immediately, and have some front Walker Evans shocks ordered for the front. I also added a 4500 lbs. winch, a half windshield, Honda soft top, black center caps for the stock wheels, some awesome side mirrors, a rota-pax gas container and mount, a roll bar storage bag, and some large plastic tool boxes for the rack.
I am anxious to learn all I can from all you folks about this great little machine.
Idahotruckman
View attachment 255209
Welcome to the club. I started with a P500, they are great machines.Hello all,
A couple years ago I saw two Honda Pioneer 500s at the campsite across from me at Warm Lake Campground, located near Cascade, Idaho. One was red and one was blue. They intrigued me with their compact size, but I truly thought they were the most unusual looking atv/utv/?? whatever kind of vehicle I had ever seen. I come from the atv world, own four atvs and have been riding a Yamaha Grizzly 700cc atv for years, and am used to riding pretty aggressively. I asked the folks that owned the Pioneers all kinds of questions, mostly about how they handle the trails. I then researched the heck out of the little utvs for the next year and decided to finally purchase one. Of course, the next model year offered the 520 with more power and a dump bed with better shocks, but I still like the 2020.
I only had the Pioneer 500 out on the trails a few times but I am impressed with how it manages the trails. I am in my late 60's and don't ride as fast as I used to, so the Pioneer suits me fine. I don't even miss the power steering, but might add it later. The power it has for the small displacement was a pleasant surprise. Going up steep hills is no problem.
What I really, really like is that my wife likes to ride with me now. She never was comfortable riding on the back of the big grizz, or riding her 350 grizzly beside me. Even more shocking is that she likes driving the Pioneer 500, and now claims it is "her ride." Since she allowed me to spend the cash to purchase it, I will let her think it is "her ride." She likes the automatic mode and I like taking it through the gears.
Two of my biggest complaints after first riding it, is that 1. the tires suck, and 2. the shocks suck. I put 26" bighorn 2.0 tires on the 500 almost immediately, and have some front Walker Evans shocks ordered for the front. I also added a 4500 lbs. winch, a half windshield, Honda soft top, black center caps for the stock wheels, some awesome side mirrors, a rota-pax gas container and mount, a roll bar storage bag, and some large plastic tool boxes for the rack.
I am anxious to learn all I can from all you folks about this great little machine.
Idahotruckman
View attachment 255209
Curious - what was the immediate difference you noticed when you installed spacers on just the back? What specific improvements were there? I only ask because I have 1.5" spacers I am going to install on just the rear for now. I am new at all of thisWelcome Idahotruckman! I too am new to the forum. Been a member for about two weeks now, but just did my first post yesterday. There are TONS of great info, tips and tricks throughout this forum. Although I have added relatively the same accessories as you (hard roof though), i plan on going with 27s. Don’t know about the walker shocks cause of how spendy they appear to be. But due to the info i read in this forum, i added 1.5 spacers to the rear (did notice an immediate difference), plan on 27s for tires and plan to mod the exhaust. Have to say I love the blue color 😉