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0860silverado
Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Hello everyone. I bought my 2016 P1000-3 EPS brand new in late December 2016. After six months of ownership I feel like I can give an honest and educated review of the machine.
First... The Good:
Everyone knows that Honda can certainly build a great engine and this piece is no exception. It's strong throught it's rpm range with surprising throttle response, particularly at low (2700ish) rpm and it doesn't seem to mind revving to its 8000 rpm redline. No strange sounds or vibrations from the engine. Starts the same perfect way every time, hot or cold. Idles buttery smooth. Hasn't lost a drop of oil. The engine itself is a beautiful piece of machinery to look at.
The electronic power steering is a must have for a machine this heavy. I didn't want it at first but the only white unit my dealer had in stock included PS. Now, I'm very glad I got it because my Polaris 570 midsize without PS can become a workout while trying to turn slowly or when stopped and it's only 2/3rds the weight of the Honda. It feels natural... like a car with traditional hydraulic power steering.
The suspension soaks up small bumps and large holes with ease, never with any jarring or jerking of the steering wheel. Comfortable, smooth ride.
The Bad:
The thing that puzzles me is, how can the same company that designed such a masterpeice of an engine create such a poorly engineered chassis! It flexes so much that i can hear it and see it warping/deforming my roof and windshield when going over certain terrain.
So far, the transmission is holding up fine but with all the problems these units are having, it scares me. I did opt for the 4 year unlimited mile warranty but I was told that they'll only change one set of clutches under warranty. After that, it's considered abuse. Basic rules... DO NOT TOW ANYTHING!!! EVER!!! When going uphill or through sand or mud, do so in low range and keep transmission in first gear. Thankfully for me most of my use is on road shoulders. Never in mud or sand. I just miss not being able to put my utility trailer in my back yard like I used to do with my 570. I'm babying it as much as possible until Honda (or the aftermarket) comes out with a clutch fix. Hopefully, it'll last until then.
It almost seems as if the machine was designed in a lab by separate teams who never consulted with each other and never tested it in the field. An impossible number of pieces and parts and welds and brackets and plastic fasteners and screws (several of which I had to tighten or replace because they simply fell out) and-and-and some kind of weird network of thick, rattling coat hangers twisted and tied together to (apparently) hold up the floor. Mine had one of it's zip ties inside out so it wasn't "zipping" and it rattled like crazy. It looks like a prototype chassis or something built-as-you-go. "Weld this bracket here...ok...now what? Weld another bracket there to hold this bracket"!!! Real messy under that seat and backrest.
There was an unbelievable amount of heat sucking up from seat and blowing through dash shifter slots!! It made the machine unusable in summer with an already sweltering heat index of 115 degrees! I installed an automotive heatshield material from the front of the seat to the top of the backrest all in one piece with only slits cut for the seat belts and mounts. That was something Honda could've and should've done. Works wonders. I haven't figured a fix for the shifter slots yet.
I bought the factory Honda hard roof, one piece hardcoat windshield, rear panel, side view mirrors and rear view mirror. The windshield leaks badly when traveling through rain. My work requires me to carry important paper charts so this was a major letdown. The windshield-to-roof seal system is a complete failure. I can see daylight through it. I had to stick foam pipe wrap along the windshield pillars to stop the shield from rubbing the pillars. It was almost worn enough to create a split in the windshield and because it took all the paint off, it's now rusted and I'll have to sand/paint that area.
The rear panel screws to hold the window in the panel were all stripped and fell out one by one until I replaced them all with one size larger.
My tilt bed hits the rear panel when I tilt it. (By the way, it is ONLY designed as a tilt bed, not a dump bed so if you have 500 pounds of sand to unload, bring your shovel).
The only way to check your oil is by raising the tilt bed so if you like checking your oil before each ride, be sure not to put your tools or ice chests in the bed before! (Took me about eight screw-ups to get that habit in my head!!)
Too small fuel tank only lets me work 8 or 9 hours per day between fill ups. I'm used to working 12 -14 hour days in the summer.
Too small cup holders won't hold a soda bottle or sports drink bottle. Only cans!!!
Had to make brackets that extended the side view mirrors out 4" because all I could see was the seat behind me instead of the truck barrelling down on me!!
Had to make a bracket that lowered the rear view mirror 7" beacuse all I could see was the ROPS and rear panel shell behind me instead of the truck barrelling down on me!! It could be that Honda uses all the same accessories like mirrors etc for all of their SXS models and they just don't work on the 1000.
Front wheel alignment was so far out of adjustment that my front tires were ruined after 6 hours of use!!! Ordered new tires and checked/adjusted front end alignment. Cost me $230.00.
The Ugly: Aside from the hideous windshield it's a nice looking machine.
First... The Good:
Everyone knows that Honda can certainly build a great engine and this piece is no exception. It's strong throught it's rpm range with surprising throttle response, particularly at low (2700ish) rpm and it doesn't seem to mind revving to its 8000 rpm redline. No strange sounds or vibrations from the engine. Starts the same perfect way every time, hot or cold. Idles buttery smooth. Hasn't lost a drop of oil. The engine itself is a beautiful piece of machinery to look at.
The electronic power steering is a must have for a machine this heavy. I didn't want it at first but the only white unit my dealer had in stock included PS. Now, I'm very glad I got it because my Polaris 570 midsize without PS can become a workout while trying to turn slowly or when stopped and it's only 2/3rds the weight of the Honda. It feels natural... like a car with traditional hydraulic power steering.
The suspension soaks up small bumps and large holes with ease, never with any jarring or jerking of the steering wheel. Comfortable, smooth ride.
The Bad:
The thing that puzzles me is, how can the same company that designed such a masterpeice of an engine create such a poorly engineered chassis! It flexes so much that i can hear it and see it warping/deforming my roof and windshield when going over certain terrain.
So far, the transmission is holding up fine but with all the problems these units are having, it scares me. I did opt for the 4 year unlimited mile warranty but I was told that they'll only change one set of clutches under warranty. After that, it's considered abuse. Basic rules... DO NOT TOW ANYTHING!!! EVER!!! When going uphill or through sand or mud, do so in low range and keep transmission in first gear. Thankfully for me most of my use is on road shoulders. Never in mud or sand. I just miss not being able to put my utility trailer in my back yard like I used to do with my 570. I'm babying it as much as possible until Honda (or the aftermarket) comes out with a clutch fix. Hopefully, it'll last until then.
It almost seems as if the machine was designed in a lab by separate teams who never consulted with each other and never tested it in the field. An impossible number of pieces and parts and welds and brackets and plastic fasteners and screws (several of which I had to tighten or replace because they simply fell out) and-and-and some kind of weird network of thick, rattling coat hangers twisted and tied together to (apparently) hold up the floor. Mine had one of it's zip ties inside out so it wasn't "zipping" and it rattled like crazy. It looks like a prototype chassis or something built-as-you-go. "Weld this bracket here...ok...now what? Weld another bracket there to hold this bracket"!!! Real messy under that seat and backrest.
There was an unbelievable amount of heat sucking up from seat and blowing through dash shifter slots!! It made the machine unusable in summer with an already sweltering heat index of 115 degrees! I installed an automotive heatshield material from the front of the seat to the top of the backrest all in one piece with only slits cut for the seat belts and mounts. That was something Honda could've and should've done. Works wonders. I haven't figured a fix for the shifter slots yet.
I bought the factory Honda hard roof, one piece hardcoat windshield, rear panel, side view mirrors and rear view mirror. The windshield leaks badly when traveling through rain. My work requires me to carry important paper charts so this was a major letdown. The windshield-to-roof seal system is a complete failure. I can see daylight through it. I had to stick foam pipe wrap along the windshield pillars to stop the shield from rubbing the pillars. It was almost worn enough to create a split in the windshield and because it took all the paint off, it's now rusted and I'll have to sand/paint that area.
The rear panel screws to hold the window in the panel were all stripped and fell out one by one until I replaced them all with one size larger.
My tilt bed hits the rear panel when I tilt it. (By the way, it is ONLY designed as a tilt bed, not a dump bed so if you have 500 pounds of sand to unload, bring your shovel).
The only way to check your oil is by raising the tilt bed so if you like checking your oil before each ride, be sure not to put your tools or ice chests in the bed before! (Took me about eight screw-ups to get that habit in my head!!)
Too small fuel tank only lets me work 8 or 9 hours per day between fill ups. I'm used to working 12 -14 hour days in the summer.
Too small cup holders won't hold a soda bottle or sports drink bottle. Only cans!!!
Had to make brackets that extended the side view mirrors out 4" because all I could see was the seat behind me instead of the truck barrelling down on me!!
Had to make a bracket that lowered the rear view mirror 7" beacuse all I could see was the ROPS and rear panel shell behind me instead of the truck barrelling down on me!! It could be that Honda uses all the same accessories like mirrors etc for all of their SXS models and they just don't work on the 1000.
Front wheel alignment was so far out of adjustment that my front tires were ruined after 6 hours of use!!! Ordered new tires and checked/adjusted front end alignment. Cost me $230.00.
The Ugly: Aside from the hideous windshield it's a nice looking machine.
