Went ahead and pulled the trigger on a 2018 Honda Pioneer 1000. My trusty 2015 Pioneer 700 has been absolutely problem free, but a buddy completely ruined me by tossing me the key to his new 1000. The powertrain is a completely different animal, 6 spd DSG transmission, lots of torque, and very smooth. Top speed of 67mph is largely academic for the type of riding that I do, but it putts around effortlessly. Suspension is pretty good with almost a foot of travel, and 12.8" of ground clearance. The bed is huge compared with the 700 and with a 2000lb tow capacity, and 1000lb load capacity, should be sufficient to do what I want it to do.

Congrats on your new rig.

You did well. I like that 1000 Honda. All my Honda products are well built and reliable. It's automobile type quality.

congrats !

fine machine !

Thanks, I’m picking it up on Friday afternoon.

Googled some pics. Shirley that has AC and stereo?

Hope it makes you happy, Badger.

Good deal, badger. I think I have pretty well narrowed my future SXS down to the same model you bought and maybe two others. Let us know how it performs and we do like pictures if that is possible, if not don't worry about it.

Since Photobucket crapped out, I've not been much on posting pictures, but I'll update on the machine when I've got a few miles on it.

Good deal badger.

What I am interested in is the drive train, will it hold back going down a steep mountain, with just the gearing, I don't care about that engine braking crap, a SXS should be able to gear down with the drivetrain. Where I live you gotta have some serious gearing to hold back on theses hills and I will be working one hard.

Whatever I buy its going to have to be farm and woods worthy, really not too interested in a sporty haul as$ machine for play its going to be a hunting and work machine.

Badger, that sounds badass!

Can you get a 'fully sealed, heated cab' on them like you can with Rangers?


BigR, I know a man who absolutely used the hell out of two of 700's.


As in, unless you are mildy crazy, you will not attempt the climbs and just pure wild driving off trail.


Rangers do okay but the Honda version is probably tougher. The same guy loves Yamaha 4 wheelers but had a lot of trouble with their side by side.

Sam, you can get the cab enclosure for them, but it in the $4k range to do it. Heater is also available. Can see that being a good thing in some climates, but not needed here. I’ve ridden many miles on the 700 with temps in the teens wearing hunting gear, gloves and a ski mask. With a roof, windshield and rear window, it was quite comfortable.

Yea Sam, it wouldn't be doing much narrow trail riding or straight up hill climbing, I know they have their limitations and I am not that wild anymore. I live up on a ridge top and there are only a couple of places I dare go up or down on my King Quad, sorry my nuts aint that fuzzy anymore. My brother in law did come up the safest area with his Rhino, but I don't think he ever went down it. Ball hooting, (wheels locked up sliding) while going down hill is a big concern with an ATV or SXS, but if its locked into 4 wheel drive I would hope that should not be happening. At the bottom of the hill is some trees and a stream, no good places to land.. My King Quad has never offered to slide down hill in 4 wheel drive.

does the honda still have that stupid paddle shift? a buddy bought one a few years ago,i hate that damned thing.why not just build a automatic like everyone else.

Paddle shift is available on all but the base model. You don’t have tto use it, as it does have a full auto mode, but it’s there in the event you want to select and hold a lower gear. I bought the base model as I don’t need anything more than that. But stupid? Can’t see why it’s stupid.

Badger, sounds about like the Ranger with another $4k for cab and heater. The add on's are way overpriced but quite handy for cold weather use. Before you know it you've got $20k into a big, glorified 4 wheeler which seems absolutely crazy!

I don't use our Ranger a lot but when the time comes to trade it in I will take a serious look at the Honda.




BIGR, be careful on those damn things!

I use a 700 Grizzly for chasing cows and have had couple minor wrecks, side flops. Thankfully nothing too serious, knock on wood.......

because automatic is the only way to go like everyone else. high and low range eliminates the need for shifting.

Splitting hairs here I know, but none of them are “automatic” except for the Pioneer 700 with it’s 3 speed automotive type auto transmission. The others are CVT transmissions that use a belt. Even the Pioneer 1000 is not a true automatic, but a DSG (Dual Sequentail Gearbox) 6 speed, essentially an automatically shifted manual gearbox. Because (Insert your favorite brand here) does it one way, doesn’t mean everyone else should either...............

I’m hunting with a guy right now, who’s a cattleman. We’re getting to our glassing spots in his 1000. Funny, just today I asked him the same thing about the transmission. He later showed me how it went down a steep grade in manual low without breaking. Prior to the Pioneer 1000 he had a Honda big red sxs. He likes the pioneer much better and said the pioneer 1000 transmission is much better than the big red for holding the machine back on a steep incline. He thought the pioneer 700 might have the same transmission as the big red had, but he wasn’t sure.

The Pioneer 700 and the Big Red have virtually the same transmission and engine. The Pioneer is a little better isolated from the cabin with an additional subframe for the drivetrain that used additional rubber mounts. Including the 1000, I've owned all three. None of the Hondas I've owned have had the first problem, except the usual self inflicted ones, like poking holes in CV boots in recently logged areas etc. I'll report on the 1000 when I've had the opportunity to put some miles on it. It's currently in my shop and I'm tinkering with the accessories as time permits. Winch, windshield , back up lights, light bar etc.

Good deal Farming, that's what I want, a drivetrain that will hold back, sorry I don't care about no engine braking, that's offered on some models. I think I would be crashed before the engine braking kicked in.....

Been off a few steep hills, I know that my king Quad will hold back down those steep hills, heck I have to give it some gas in super low to get it to go down hill...………..

Gotta have a SXS that will do the same or it is useless for me.

Photobucket is up and running dude. Lets see some pics!!

Imagine that! It works again............

Nice man enjoy

Badger, how is the new Honda doing so far, I know you have been trying it out?

BIGR, so far, I’m very pleased with it. I’ve only had about a day to play with it, as I’m currently in Germany visiting our kids and grandkids. The newest arrival got here on the 17th :), baby girl, and I’m besotted with her. The Honda is everything I expected, the only “disappointment” being the all terrain/trail type tires that simply don’t work in our Georgia clay. That is easily remedied though. Drivetrain is perfect for me, smooth shifts, lots of torque, and great engine braking. We have some very steep terrain and using low range and 4WD, needed because in 2WD going downhill the rear wheels will simply slide as you gather speed, the transmission will stay in 1st and you can descend at walking speed without braking. Haven’t yet wound it out as I’m still busy with break-in, but did a brief acceleration run on asphalt and let off at 59 mph. Still not at max speed, but felt pretty smooth. There’s more weight there than with the 700, and getting it unstuck in clay would take more effort, this the reason for a tire upgrade. That’s coming soon. So overall, quite satisfied with the upgrade from the 700. Much bigger bed, more interior room and more comfortable ride. The drivetrain is a pretty big improvement.

11 bags of corn in the bed in the 2nd photo. No sweat, made it ride a little smoother is all.

Badger, congrats on the new arrival and thanks for your response at a busy time. Speaking of new arrivals I was a great uncle on 8-8-18, my sisters daughter had a boy, he was a preemie but he is gaining weight and doing well now.


It appears that Honda, SXS is one that I will look at when I buy, the ability to creep down a steep grade and not gain speed is important to me. I like the windshield and all, great protection from limbs in the woods and the weather of course.

Looks like you are getting ready for the deer season, good deal, I hunted in Georgia way back in the early 90's, lots of deer down that way.