Man!!! What a great review! You covered all the areas that any "real" user cares about. Thanks for taking the time to share. You are a true "hero" to the personal user market.
Hey, I just wanted to give you a shout out from Northern, Ontario, Canada. I have owned : Yamaha Kodiak 450, 2 Grizzly 700, Yamaha Viking, and a Honda TRX 420 ( wife's quad). I just purchased a 2020 Honda Pioneer(moose brown) because of your videos! I have watched them all, and thus, it lead to the purchase! Thank-you! Cheers, lad , subscribed!
I am 71 yrs old and bought a new Pioneer 500 in 2015 ,me and my wife love it .my 6ft5 son-in-law took it for a spin and fell in love with it so he bought one also. Now my wife,my daughter, my son-in-law and I all love riding around together.
I got the mirrors on. Had to fab some extra Rubber strips. Got the rearview on today. Both packages were missing parts. Got a refund. let me keep um. I got the turn signals on order. Put my tag on. Slow moving sign. Bought a cover.
I bought a P5 3 months ago and have had 0 problems with it and 1000 miles tough little machine. But does need taller tires, I'm going with 4+3 Delta 12 inch wheels and 27 inch tires. I won't need spacers with those wheels and add to the width. Here in WV you need the width as well as height for stability. I really enjoy your videos, keep riding!!!
I've got a pioneer 500 2015 an it's been the best Lil work horse around I use it for everything I do. Ive hauled more pulling a trailer them most people would the own trucks. An it's got close to ten thousand miles on it and the only thing that's not original on it is a key switch and I had to put a top end kit in it other than that everything's original except for the tires it's been one hell of a little machine and it's still going strong
Great video! I just got the 1000 and the throttle response is hard to get used to in the tight rocky stuff. I can see how the 500 would shine in the tight woods. 🏁
Mike Yerke I have a 1000-5 as well as the 500 and the 500 is still my go to machine if the family is not going along. It's just perfectly tailored for trail riding save the shocks and no front locker.
Just purchased a Pioneer 500 for me and my daughter so she didn't have to ride on the back of the four-wheeler with me we absolutely love it grins as big as can be driving it
I bought the Honda 1000 about 7 months ago and would not look at anything else now. It seats 5 with the 2 rear seats folding down and the back turns into a dump bed. It is FAST and great in snow, mud and uphill. I often take it on 20 mile rides in the mountains of New Mexico with an elevation over 10,00 feet. It is perfect for work and play. Honda means quality and I have not had one issue with my side-by-side.
Hitting the American Road I had a Pioneer 1000-5 for a little over a year and did a review of it as well. I really liked it but the kids hated the rear seats because it got really hot back there and the bars behind the front seats got hot enough I worried about them burning themselves on it. I sold it for a Wolverine X4 and don’t regret it at all as t’s a lot better suited for us. I would probably consider a Pioneer 1000-3 in the future but probably not going to get one now that the Talon is out...lol. Thanks for commenting!
I got one with heated cab and I will keep it forever. Utvs are for Cruzing not speed. It's the quietest utv out there and that helps u sneak up on deer and not miss the animals. Ali can go on and on about this thing
What a fun review. Thank you for taking the time making this video. Me and my wife were looking into one of these a couple years ago and then we looked into other brands and soon we were wanting something with POWER!!! However, we decided to purchase any machine during that phase of our life. Now we're looking at ATV's, but a part of me wants to look at side x sides again. Hmm. It would have to be a Honda Pioneer 700 or Wolverine X2 with removable rear seats for kids (when they come along). Maybe the X4, just seem rather long, and has a limiter on the speed compared to the X2 I believe.
That sounds great! I found your great videos due to the comment you have on a Yamaha post from Facebook :-) Also, I was able to find out the X2 and X4 are both limited to 52mph - which is sad.
I love mine, it's pretty stock except for roof, and cargo boxes on back. I'm thinking of upping the tire size though. Just hauled out a caribou in a meat wagon a couple of days ago through thick brush and mud. The little P500 did great!
jjdogbutte I would go no less than 26" when the time comes. 27" to 29" are ideal and can fit stock with only the frame mod on the more aggressive 29". It helps these little guys out a lot in ground clearance and ride!
I haven't but am running 1.5" wheel spacers with mine so. It actually feels less tippy than it did stock. If you go to big without spacer than, yes, it will more than likely make it want to tip easier. If you don't plan on running spacer I would probably not go any bigger than 26" if you do a lot of off camber riding.
Great review. Very fair. Actually recommended one of these to my Mother and Step Father for their place out in Idaho cause they need a 50" machine with a bed. Now, that being said, I don't think you can really compare this to a RZR. My XP1000 will do things by accident that the Pioneer is just not capable of doing. I get the whole Honda reliability thing, and that's the route I went in the past. This time I wanted performance, and I was willing to do a little more maintenance and repair to get it. The RZR (any of them) will out-do any of the Honda SxSs just about anywhere on any terrain. The key to the CVT is to just not abuse it. There are plenty of guys with thousands of miles on a belt. If it goes it costs $100 and takes 20 minutes to change on the trail. Then you don't worry about it for another thousand miles. First belt drive I ever had was a Suzuki and I was very skeptical, but it was flawless, and it was ALWAYS in the right gear when you hit the throttle.
I've also been looking for different rims but haven't had any luck since I want to keep the machine at 50 in wide. Just wondering if you've seen anything. Ride the P 500 here in Colorado and can't wait to get the shocks. Also got the power steering and that's great for us old timers!
I don't at the moment and the style of tire best for you would depending on your riding habits, location, and would very greatly anyway. I do however recommend going with at least a 27" tire when you upgrade regardless of what tire you get. The added ground clearance, ability to run lower psi if needed thanks to more sidewall, and the fact there is no noticeable loss in power really help make the P5 a great machine!
I have a Rancher and a Rubicon. My Rancher has Kendra Bear Claws on it and I’ve been pretty happy with them so far. I was thinking about going with the Bear Claw HTR for my Rubicon. How do you think those tires compared to the Maxxis that you are running? I also live in KY.
Great video! I was torn between the Honda 500 and the Yamaha Wolverine, reliability is #1 up north here when civilization can be 5 hours away and no cell service, etc. My friend purchased the Honda and loves it, and....over 4,000 miles in rugged northern British Columbia trails, never had a problem with a CVT on a Yamaha, and he never had a problem with his Honda. :)
You couldn’t go wrong with either one! I picked up a new Wolverine X4 to go with my P5 and it’s a great Machine. Yamaha now has a 10 year warranty on their belts too so that speaks volumes as to how dependable their cvt’s are
Hope it holds up better than the pioneer 700. My 2015 model with 2100 miles requires work more than it gets used. Bad thing is its been used lightly on our land where we used a kawasaki mule before that had 5000+ hours (didn't have a odometer).
Awesome vid I have a 2016 p5 on 26 inch bear claws and it's a beast I love it. Also i give you a 8.5 on the cart wheel.....you never screamed out weeeeee as you did it
Thank you for posting the great review! We are currently considering one of these for work but are a little concerned that our tallest employee (6'3", 230lbs) may not fit. What do you think? We will be using it on a construction site over the next two years, so don't expect to be driving the vehicle for longer than 10-15 minutes at a time. Also, where did you get the silver diamond tread box? Does it lock? We would need one to store equipment. Thanks!
Geoffrey Cline I think it will be fine for all the longer they would be riding in it. I know of some "larger" owners that don't have a problem with it and they ride a lot longer than that. The tool box is just a 4 foot bedside mount box from lowes I had on my truck when I had a carpentry business. It's just the right size and it locks.
It is very underrated. 95% of people rate machine on power and even by that it’s just on how fast something goes. The 500 doesn’t go fast by any means but it does have power. It’s just all down low with its gearing. You can throw 30” tires on a stock P5 and not have to worry about it. Try that with a stock Polaris or can -am and say bye bye belt...and axels...and hello constant overheating...lol. Plus the price point of them make for an excellent entry level trail buggy.
I know you said you were running 27" bighorns, but what do they actually measure out at? I'm getting a 500 in the spring, and was looking at putting 26" bighorns on the unit. I heard they measure out at 26.5". Do you think the additional torque required to run the big tires will cause any long term transmission issues? I know it is geared much lower than other sxs brands as it is using the same engine/transmission package I have in my foreman. However, I've heard other brands require upgrades to run larger tires without causing problems. Second question!! I know you put on the Walker Evans shocks too. The new 500's come with a two stage suspension. Would you still recommend swapping to the Walker Evans shocks? Thanks for the help. Your videos are helping me pass the months until I can get my own Pioneer 500.
My bighorns measure 26 1/4 right now and are worn down pretty good so 26.5” sound about right. As far as bigger tires hurting the machine, the P5 is geared low! It can handle up to 30’s with no problems from what I’ve seen. As far as the new dual rate progressive shocks on the 17+ models, not much of an improvement. Plus you loose an inch of ground clearance with them so not worth it. Best to get a set of Walker Evans or Elka.
I have a 2017 Honda Poineer 1000 and I cant say i am that happy with it. True it has a regular transmission but it shifts so hard it will shake things out the side. It chirps the tires wearing them out fast. Its suspention is weak ( tie robs brake fairly easy), its front bumper is tied into the suspension so if the bumper gets bent, well your pioneer will not track straight. It has poor suspention travel, It feels under powered for a 1000cc ( top speed 46mph on flat surface), No cup holders if you remove your doors. Cheap plastic ALL over, I agree the tires are JUNK. Ground clearance is sad. brake pads wear out fast. Windshield mounts break, the net doors are ridiculous .
Austin Seubert I almost got the 700 to go along with the 500 as our family hauler...till i test drove the 1000-5. Thats what ended up on the trailer...lol. All three of them are great machines!
AppalachianMountianRiders we got our pioneer before the 1000 came out I suspect that we would have gotten the 1000 if it was out or we where considering a gator
Hey Jason two questions for ya. In this video at the time what windshield is on the P5 here? Also what winch do you have on it? Thanks man! I’m loving my olive 18’ P5 so far. Ready to start my build after a few months of having it now. Your a big reason I traded my Kymco UXV 450 in for it. Hope Honda is giving you some good commission! Lol
It’s smooth. Was jerky and clunky till break in the it smooth out and a little fine tuning with the adjustment got it even smoother. I’m on 32” tires now and can’t hardly even feel the shifts...lol
Thanks for the informative video.we are considering purchasing a pioneer here for the farm but only the 700 model is imported.at 18000 euro.my husband william is 6'8" tall and 280lbs.so would the 700 model suit us for our needs?.thank you .we're in southern Ireland.
I test drove one today and find that it meets all my needs in terms of size, power, etc... My remaining questions have to do with its snow handling capabilities here in Colorado. I live at top of very steep and unforgiving private road and my current ATV is how I get up and down in winter (I keep one vehicle at bottom) and how I carry groceries & animal feed to my house. Any thoughts on that? Also, how did you decide on the Big Horn tires?
frank the only time I’ve had problems in the snow is getting into unseen snow drifts the cause me to high center the machine. Other than that it does great. Don’t forget we will be seeing a front locker come out for these in a few months so that will be a big game changer and tremendous benefit as well. I went with the bighorns because they were a!used set I found in local classifieds and were a good deal...lol. Great tire though for everything except deep sticky mud.
Thats one thing i've noticed on cvt side by sides is no matter the speed they're traveling, the engine is wrapped out all the time. If im just putzing down the road at 5 mph, why do i want the engine wrapped out?? Been looking at the honda 500 so i thank you for sharing the video
I believe you have 27s on your Pioneer 500. If you had to do it all over again would you still choose the 27’s? Any regrets there such as loss of torque?? Just trying to make an informed decision. I already have 1.5 inch spacers. Thank you in advance my friend.... Jim Denis
jim denis 27’s are a really good match for the P5 and work very well for trail riding. I have a 16 model year which is geared just a bit lower than the 18+ and there wasn’t a big enough power loss to notice. Of corse now I’m getting ready to throw some 32” tires on my P5 but I’m doing a pretty big build with it this year to get them to fit...lol
jim denis if it’s not the P5 with auto and manual shift. Those are the ones that had a slightly higher gear. Even if it is it should handle 27” tires well.
I watched your video before buying mine, I think the p5 is a great machine. Thanks for the review. Did you adjust the valves at 20 hours like Honda recommends or did you wait? I’m getting ready to do my first service and was just curious.
Russ989 welcome to the P5 family! Mine didn’t need adjusted at 20 hours and with almost a thousand miles they still don’t. If your doing you service your self they are not hard to check. Search over on hondasxs.com and there is a good write up there on how to check them.
Hey man, love the channel. I've been watching quite a few of your videos on the Pioneer 500. I've got an issue with my machine and I was hoping you could help me troubleshoot. I'm hearing a chirping/high pitched grinding noise whenever I turn when driving. It sound like it's coming from the front tire area. It's been this way for quite a while, probably the last 30 or so hours. I figured that it was just sand caught up in the brakes and that it would work itself loose, but it hasn't. It sounds like the sound is coming from both sides, but I can't tell for sure. I recently realized that it was only making the noise whenever I'm turning the steering wheel. The slightest amount of pressure on the steering wheel produces the noise. The chirping increases in speed the faster I am driving. The SxS has had no maintenance other than oil changes. It currently has 130 hours and 1000 miles on it. What do you think the issue could be? My best guess is that it may have gotten some grit inside of the boots, however all of the boots are in good shape. Are these boots greased from the factory? Should I grease them with a needle? I'm at a bit of a loss here.
My first thought is your wheel bearing are going bad or are already bad. Turning puts more stress on the wheels bearings then going straight so usually the first sign they are going bad is you’ll hear a noise like your hearing when turning but not so mush when going straight. A quick way to check is jack the front end off the ground and check for top and bottom wobble in the tire. You can also spin the tire by hand and see if noise is still there.
Also your axle joints are greased so DO NOT attempt to grease them with a needle. You risk damaging the boot and that will cause problems for you later…lol
@@AppalachianMountainRiders Thanks for the reply. Turns out it's most likely worn brake pads. The sound I was hearing was nearly identical to the squealing noise that can be heard in your Pioneer 500 brake job video. I hosed down the front rotors with some WD-40 and went for a ride in a safe area. The sound was lessened significantly after the application of the WD-40. I'm surprised that the stock pads are already making noise. I've never had pads wear this fast before. I'll be using your brake job video as a guide to get these ones switched out. Any recommendations on brake pads? OEM is 4 times as expensive as aftermarket, are they worth the extra money?
Hey there what kind of Full Tilt windshield you got there? Just ordered my we shocks tonight thanks to you! Wife's going to leave me but I'll still have my two dogs and my P 500 LOL
MrRunner10 the windshield is from www.utvwindshieldsandaccessories.com. Not a bad windshield for the price. You can look them up on you tube, they have install vids that give you a better look at it. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying my vids! Especially since I'm just getting my channel up and running.
How do you feel like the noise level is in the cabin? I’m coming from an older sxs (teryx) that was very loud. I don’t expect any sxs to be quiet at wot but would like to be able to have a comfortable conversation with a passenger around 25 mph. What are your thoughts on the noise level in that range?
@@AppalachianMountainRiders are you running spacers on the front only, and all tires are the same size on stock rims? What tire size are you running? Thank you!!
I know! The funny thing is I don't mind CVT's in atv's or UTV's but I absolutely despise them in cars. But then I'm old fashion and still prefer manual transmissions.
Do you have any issues with heat coming off the engine behind the seat? If so how did you correct it? We rode ours today and the seat got so hot because the engine was putting off so much heat.
I never thought the heat was that bad and I even have a front and rear windshield. I know running with out a windshield or with just a half windshield cuts down on the heat a lot. There are kits you can get that are a fitted heat mat to help. Check out the Honda SxS club forum too. A lot of great tips and ideas on there to help.
Wanting to buy one to ride me and my wife and our baby who’s on the way. Gonna put a back seat on the back rack so it can seat 4 people. Don’t care fr for a lot of speed I just want a reliable ride. Would this be the best option? I like the idea of gears vs a belt. I ride dirt roads mostly and trails with my friend and we do some minor mud riding
I'm very interested in buying the Pioneer 500 to take on hunting trips in the British Columbia mountains but my brother tells me that, even though it's a 50" sxs, I would not be able to go all the places they go on their ATVs. I'm curious to know your thoughts, do you think this unit would go anywhere a traditional ATV (quad) would?
A Allan Without a doubt as long as even the 50” isn’t too wide. Most bigbore ATV’s are 48” so I can’t see the 2 extra inches being a problem. The height of the roll cage may be if there are a lot of low objects to go under though. That’s food for thought. The only thing the P5 lacks in from the factory is ground clearance. I’m the only side by side in my group of riding buddies and my 500 does better than most of there fourwheelers. Adding a little bit bigger tire helps tremendously!
Hey, man. I really think you do a nice job with your channel. I've recently purchased a p500. Sure smells hot after riding, maybe that's normal for break-in? Noisey little bugger also. The rear end or diff is quite loud also. Hopefully normal stuff?
That is normal stuff for the 500. What your smelling is all the coatings in the new stuff burning off and it will go away in a few miles. As for the noise, that’s the nature of the 500. It uses square cut gears for the diffs which is super strong but also noisy. After your break in period switch to a 75-140 diff oil and it will quiet it down quite a bit. The a great little buggies and tough as nails so a little noise to me means nothing considering having the peace of mind to know it’ll get you home every time!
tythomps correct. I have upgraded the shocks to Walker Evans remote reservoir and the ride is awesome. I have install and review vids of that. The downside to the newer model shocks is that all though they do give a slightly softer ride, but not that much from what I've herd, you do lose an inch of ground clearance. That's quite a bit for a machine that already sits pretty low to the ground.
@@donschlonski2936 riding on a dirt road between Trails I easily go 60 on my dirt bike and i would do the same on my atv but it doesn't go that fast. But I get your point 50inch wide and top-heavy would be kind of sketch going that fast
lawnmowerdude a couple things. The 3 speed trans in the 700 isn’t very good for hilly terrain and really robs the 700 of power. The 5 speed of the 500 is much, much, better. Also considering power, all though the 500’s engine is smaller displacement than the 700, the pioneer 500 actually has a better power to weight ratio and feels peppier. The 500 is also geared lower so if you plan on adding bigger tires it turns them better. The 500 is a nimble little guy and great for tight trails. If you need a dump bed then the 700 wins obviously but if you’re needing a dump bed it would be worth it to go to the 1000. Can’t argue the price of the 500 either especially if you wait and get a left over unit from a previous model year!
can you powerslide sideways with this? top speed is 37 mph I think, wondering if it can still do the fun stuff when not going slow on trails. Also, does your right knee bump up against the center console on trails?
Jake Stoler too speed is 42 and it is geared low and has plenty of torque. But if your wanting to do power slides than this might not be best machine for you. Yes it will do it, trust me it will, but it’s not an on demand thing like bigger side by sides. As far as knee hitting the center console, not a problem because there is no center console...lol.
I have been watching these videos for two days and I couldn't figure out why this guy looks so familiar. Have I met him or what? Well it just hit me when I walked by my wife watching tv. It's Steve from Sex in the City!!!😂😂😂😂
Thank you for your helpful response! Do you know if the Pioneer 500 will fit in the back of a Ford F-150 that has a 5.5' long bed? With the gate down it's 7.5' long. Between the wheel wells the bed is 50" wide.
It will. You may want to reinforce the tailgate though and not rely on the wire straps for support. Even a sheet if plywood or OSB would be enough to help distribute the weight a bit. My pioneer stock fit in the back of my 07 duramax no problems. I have an eight-foot bed and could even close to tailgate when it was on stock tires
Just bought a pioneer 520 for many of the reasons you mention in the video! It's hard to kill a Honda. What did you have to do to fit the 27" big horns?
Depends how true to size the 28’s are. There may be some minor rubbing on the frame with some 28’s. I’ve towed a bit and the P5 does good with its low gearing. Seeing how tour’s is a 520 I would recommend towing only in manual mode so it’s not trying to upshift while towing when you don’t want it to.
@@AppalachianMountainRiders appreciate the fast reply. The more I read, the more I may also do wheel spacers so that may fit 28’s. Yeah, I have trucks and tractors for heavy towing but since this will be a farm/work buggy, I’m planning on dragging a small utility trailer around a fair bit. Have you had any warranty claims? Cheers, Daron
got a 2020 pioneer 500, I'm getting a high pitch scretching noise in 5 gear [ a little in 4th gear ] going fast in manual mode, I will be testing again in auto mode ! what might be the problem ?
Not too bad...till you throw wheel spacers on...lol. Even then the doors do an ok job. I had a 660 Rhino myself and the P5 is a lot better then it was for keeping mud off you.
I’ve been debating trading my Kymco UXV 450 in for a P500 or pioneer 700. But I can’t decide. I like my Kymco a lot. It’s a solid machine and good size. But there’s just something about the pioneers that intrigues me. The 1000 is amazing but to much money (as most SxS and atvs are today. 10k or less is plenty)
It’s the paddle shifters...makes you feel like you’re driving a sports car...lol. I don’t know much about Kymco but the Little Pioneer 500 are tanks! Spend anytime on Facebook groups or in forums and you would be amazed at how people beat on them and they just keep right on going!
jew0182 i hear you on the top end...lol. An aftermarket locker will be out later this year though so that’s one problem solved but still, it will be at extra cost to the owner.
AppalachianMountainRiders so I’ve found a used 2015 with hardly no miles. But it is paddle shifters only without the auto option. How often do folks use the auto vs the manual mode?? Would I regret not having the AT/MT option? This particular 2015 in the olive color with roof an windshield for under 6k
Most that I know say auto only works good and flat level ground like if you’re using the P5 on a farm. For trail riding, especially with lots of hills, the auto doesn’t work so well. One thing to consider as well is the auto is geared slightly higher so you loose some of that bottom end pull and power that makes these little guys an unstoppable trail machine. I would say that you found a great deal and personally I wouldn’t pass it up just to get the auto version!
Yes Sir, would you feel comfortable giving advice to someone that would use the Honda 500 in a completely different environment than your East TN application? I spend the spring, summer, & fall in Wyoming either in the Bighorn Mountains or the Wind River Mountains. No “mud” to speak of out here, just steep, rocky trails mostly out in the open. My concern is the power available in the Honda 500 in regards to the steep trails and the issue of stability of the 50 inch width on the slopes. Can you speak to any of the issues that I will face if I choose to purchase this machine? Thanks for making your videos, I enjoy them very much.
John Cole as far as power for hills, the P5 is a billy goat that will climb anything as long as you got traction. What I would suggest is if you don’t have to stay at 50” for trail access, throw some 2” wheel spacers on her or get aftermarket rims that have enough off set to give you a couple inches width, or do both. I would suggest disconnecting the rear sway bar as well as it gives you more articulation in the suspension. Finding a good tire made for the rocks will be key as well and I would recommend no less than a 26” tire to replace the 24” the P5’s come with. You can fit up to a 28”/29” depending on tread with just the spacers or offset rims. The P5 has plenty of power to turn the bigger wheels and it will actually give you a touch more top end speed!
John Cole I would recommend you head over to Hondasxs.com and check out the forum when you have time. You will probably be able to find P5 owners that ride the kind of stuff you’re asking about. Maybe even some that ride the same places you mentioned.
I live in Cody and had the same concern. Just looked them over a couple times thins week. The tire upgrade is $1000. They kill you on accessories that we need. There is a heater for $500, and the top with doors and back window is around another $600, and I didn't even ask about the windshield. I am tired of beating the snot out of my suburban, but it has more ground clearance than this machine. It is fully skid plated though. I like the features but the tires are so damned small. They let you drive them in the parking lot, but be nice if they had a trail course of actual obstacles.
Brian Smith these are the 2.0 but I’m a bigger fan of the originals. These are 27” and not even close to rubbing but I have 1.5” spacers. I have run them without the spacer though and they still do rub even at full flex or compression of the suspension.
Question for you. I have a 500 pioneer with a water temperature light coming on mostly when it warms up and running down the road. Fan is coming on no mud in the radiator and has enough in the radiator and res tank. Wondering if you have a idea. Thank you for your videos!
I would say you have air in the system as my first thought. There is a blender screw on top of the thermostat housing on 15 and 16 models years like mine but I think they moved it on 17+ and I’m not sure where it is. I would check that first!
I run a atv salvage business I can already tell you the overly complicated Honda transmission it’s not superior to CVT transmission I had much rather change a belt Then split the transmission to change out clutches
They are great little machines and the aftermarket is finally starting to step up and give them some love! All the flaws I pointed out in this vid are now able to be remedied!
@@AppalachianMountainRiders We just came from the dealer and traded the Polaris for one. I can't wait to fire it up and put some hours on it. We got a windshield. soft top with dust shieldand 25" tires and doors. Thanks for your videos. They helped us make the decision.
I sure would. It will go everywhere the can am will go and get you back where the can am may not (cough...blow belt...cough) LoL. Don’t get me wrong though I do really like the new Maverick trail but the P5 is just a little unstoppable tank that only lacks on top end speed. The only issue that I mention in the vid that has yet to be fixed is the front locker which is in the works. I plan on Keeping my P5 for a long time.
Robert Segrest these things are bulletproof little tanks! Honda always seems to get ridiculed over there utv's but they have far less problems than the more popular ones out there.
Those are the stock rims but I have 1.5” spacers as well. Doesn’t feel tippy at all with the spacers and 27’s. I put the spacers on back when I still had the stock tires on.
Man!!! What a great review! You covered all the areas that any "real" user cares about. Thanks for taking the time to share. You are a true "hero" to the personal user market.
Hey, I just wanted to give you a shout out from Northern, Ontario, Canada. I have owned : Yamaha Kodiak 450, 2 Grizzly 700, Yamaha Viking, and a Honda TRX 420 ( wife's quad). I just purchased a 2020 Honda Pioneer(moose brown) because of your videos! I have watched them all, and thus, it lead to the purchase! Thank-you! Cheers, lad , subscribed!
I've been considering buying a Pioneer 500 and this video was exactly the feedback I was looking for.
Very well done, and I thank you.
Glad I could be of help!
Buy it it’s totally worth it!!
@@Chiefab22 I did and I love it. (Of course I put bigger wheels and better shocks on it).
I am 71 yrs old and bought a new Pioneer 500 in 2015 ,me and my wife love it .my 6ft5 son-in-law took it for a spin and fell in love with it so he bought one also. Now my wife,my daughter, my son-in-law and I all love riding around together.
I bought one today. The reliability was my greatest factor.
I got the mirrors on. Had to fab some extra Rubber strips. Got the rearview on today. Both packages were missing parts. Got a refund. let me keep um. I got the turn signals on order. Put my tag on. Slow moving sign. Bought a cover.
Im glad Honda does not use a cvt in their machines - gears are far superior to belts.
I bought a P5 3 months ago and have had 0 problems with it and 1000 miles tough little machine. But does need taller tires, I'm going with 4+3 Delta 12 inch wheels and 27 inch tires. I won't need spacers with those wheels and add to the width. Here in WV you need the width as well as height for stability. I really enjoy your videos, keep riding!!!
Smart man Honda reliability!
I've got a pioneer 500 2015 an it's been the best Lil work horse around I use it for everything I do. Ive hauled more pulling a trailer them most people would the own trucks. An it's got close to ten thousand miles on it and the only thing that's not original on it is a key switch and I had to put a top end kit in it other than that everything's original except for the tires it's been one hell of a little machine and it's still going strong
Thanks for taking the time to do this review. Very helpful.
+Tim Senger my pleasure!
Thanks for the honest and informative review man!
BRENDAN W Thank you very much!
great great great video..really informative. ..thanks and keep up the good work!
Great video! I just got the 1000 and the throttle response is hard to get used to in the tight rocky stuff. I can see how the 500 would shine in the tight woods. 🏁
Mike Yerke I have a 1000-5 as well as the 500 and the 500 is still my go to machine if the family is not going along. It's just perfectly tailored for trail riding save the shocks and no front locker.
Excellent review. Just the perspective I am looking for and evaluating a UTV. And the cartwheel for a grown man is not bad.
I just got mine today. 6'1" and 230 lbs. and still a comfortable interior!
How many miles have you put on it since then ?
@@user-mw9iv7mx5h over 4000. Just sold it for a Z force 800ex. Better desert trail capability for us.
You are really good at video's. I'm gonna watch you regularly.
Thanks for putting this video together. It was helpful to me.
Just purchased a Pioneer 500 for me and my daughter so she didn't have to ride on the back of the four-wheeler with me we absolutely love it grins as big as can be driving it
I bought the Honda 1000 about 7 months ago and would not look at anything else now. It seats 5 with the 2 rear seats folding down and the back turns into a dump bed. It is FAST and great in snow, mud and uphill. I often take it on 20 mile rides in the mountains of New Mexico with an elevation over 10,00 feet. It is perfect for work and play. Honda means quality and I have not had one issue with my side-by-side.
Hitting the American Road I had a Pioneer 1000-5 for a little over a year and did a review of it as well. I really liked it but the kids hated the rear seats because it got really hot back there and the bars behind the front seats got hot enough I worried about them burning themselves on it. I sold it for a Wolverine X4 and don’t regret it at all as t’s a lot better suited for us. I would probably consider a Pioneer 1000-3 in the future but probably not going to get one now that the Talon is out...lol. Thanks for commenting!
Nice ride, to me it's a bit better than an atv. It's on my bucket list. Great review.
I got one with heated cab and I will keep it forever. Utvs are for Cruzing not speed. It's the quietest utv out there and that helps u sneak up on deer and not miss the animals. Ali can go on and on about this thing
Alex Stepanchuk believe it or not I think the P1k is quieter than the P5.
Dude ! Awesome job ! ! Very informative And Most Fair. Keep Up The Good Work Sir
What a fun review. Thank you for taking the time making this video. Me and my wife were looking into one of these a couple years ago and then we looked into other brands and soon we were wanting something with POWER!!! However, we decided to purchase any machine during that phase of our life. Now we're looking at ATV's, but a part of me wants to look at side x sides again. Hmm. It would have to be a Honda Pioneer 700 or Wolverine X2 with removable rear seats for kids (when they come along). Maybe the X4, just seem rather long, and has a limiter on the speed compared to the X2 I believe.
I just bought an X4 so there will be lots of vids to come that may help in your decision!
That sounds great! I found your great videos due to the comment you have on a Yamaha post from Facebook :-) Also, I was able to find out the X2 and X4 are both limited to 52mph - which is sad.
Honda Best on Earth!
I love mine, it's pretty stock except for roof, and cargo boxes on back. I'm thinking of upping the tire size though. Just hauled out a caribou in a meat wagon a couple of days ago through thick brush and mud. The little P500 did great!
jjdogbutte I would go no less than 26" when the time comes. 27" to 29" are ideal and can fit stock with only the frame mod on the more aggressive 29". It helps these little guys out a lot in ground clearance and ride!
AppalachianMountianRiders Have you noticed any additional tendency to tip over on side hills or going over an obstacle with larger tires?
I haven't but am running 1.5" wheel spacers with mine so. It actually feels less tippy than it did stock. If you go to big without spacer than, yes, it will more than likely make it want to tip easier. If you don't plan on running spacer I would probably not go any bigger than 26" if you do a lot of off camber riding.
It's also worth noting I disconnected my rear sway bar which gives a bit more articulation as well so it keeps the wheels on the ground better.
Great review. Very fair. Actually recommended one of these to my Mother and Step Father for their place out in Idaho cause they need a 50" machine with a bed. Now, that being said, I don't think you can really compare this to a RZR. My XP1000 will do things by accident that the Pioneer is just not capable of doing. I get the whole Honda reliability thing, and that's the route I went in the past. This time I wanted performance, and I was willing to do a little more maintenance and repair to get it. The RZR (any of them) will out-do any of the Honda SxSs just about anywhere on any terrain. The key to the CVT is to just not abuse it. There are plenty of guys with thousands of miles on a belt. If it goes it costs $100 and takes 20 minutes to change on the trail. Then you don't worry about it for another thousand miles. First belt drive I ever had was a Suzuki and I was very skeptical, but it was flawless, and it was ALWAYS in the right gear when you hit the throttle.
Thanks for the demonstrations for oil check, clutch adjustment and manual shifting!
I've also been looking for different rims but haven't had any luck since I want to keep the machine at 50 in wide. Just wondering if you've seen anything. Ride the P 500 here in Colorado and can't wait to get the shocks. Also got the power steering and that's great for us old timers!
P.S. is great for us young bucks too! It’s definitely nice to have to eliminate bump steer!
Fantastic channel! Thanks for the content. Do you have a tire comparison/recommendation video?
I don't at the moment and the style of tire best for you would depending on your riding habits, location, and would very greatly anyway. I do however recommend going with at least a 27" tire when you upgrade regardless of what tire you get. The added ground clearance, ability to run lower psi if needed thanks to more sidewall, and the fact there is no noticeable loss in power really help make the P5 a great machine!
I have a Rancher and a Rubicon. My Rancher has Kendra Bear Claws on it and I’ve been pretty happy with them so far. I was thinking about going with the Bear Claw HTR for my Rubicon. How do you think those tires compared to the Maxxis that you are running? I also live in KY.
Great video! I was torn between the Honda 500 and the Yamaha Wolverine, reliability is #1 up north here when civilization can be 5 hours away and no cell service, etc. My friend purchased the Honda and loves it, and....over 4,000 miles in rugged northern British Columbia trails, never had a problem with a CVT on a Yamaha, and he never had a problem with his Honda. :)
You couldn’t go wrong with either one! I picked up a new Wolverine X4 to go with my P5 and it’s a great Machine. Yamaha now has a 10 year warranty on their belts too so that speaks volumes as to how dependable their cvt’s are
Hope it holds up better than the pioneer 700. My 2015 model with 2100 miles requires work more than it gets used. Bad thing is its been used lightly on our land where we used a kawasaki mule before that had 5000+ hours (didn't have a odometer).
Awesome vid I have a 2016 p5 on 26 inch bear claws and it's a beast I love it. Also i give you a 8.5 on the cart wheel.....you never screamed out weeeeee as you did it
What a great review! Thank you. We have the same terrain up here in upstate NY.
I have a 2017 and absolutely love it !
Thank you for posting the great review! We are currently considering one of these for work but are a little concerned that our tallest employee (6'3", 230lbs) may not fit. What do you think? We will be using it on a construction site over the next two years, so don't expect to be driving the vehicle for longer than 10-15 minutes at a time. Also, where did you get the silver diamond tread box? Does it lock? We would need one to store equipment. Thanks!
Geoffrey Cline I think it will be fine for all the longer they would be riding in it. I know of some "larger" owners that don't have a problem with it and they ride a lot longer than that. The tool box is just a 4 foot bedside mount box from lowes I had on my truck when I had a carpentry business. It's just the right size and it locks.
I'm 6ft 2in and weigh 275. I really don't have a problem in mine.
Any suggestion on getting to the OIL FILTER ? Thanks
I've always thought the p5 was severely underrated machine.
It is very underrated. 95% of people rate machine on power and even by that it’s just on how fast something goes. The 500 doesn’t go fast by any means but it does have power. It’s just all down low with its gearing. You can throw 30” tires on a stock P5 and not have to worry about it. Try that with a stock Polaris or can -am and say bye bye belt...and axels...and hello constant overheating...lol.
Plus the price point of them make for an excellent entry level trail buggy.
I know you said you were running 27" bighorns, but what do they actually measure out at? I'm getting a 500 in the spring, and was looking at putting 26" bighorns on the unit. I heard they measure out at 26.5".
Do you think the additional torque required to run the big tires will cause any long term transmission issues? I know it is geared much lower than other sxs brands as it is using the same engine/transmission package I have in my foreman. However, I've heard other brands require upgrades to run larger tires without causing problems.
Second question!! I know you put on the Walker Evans shocks too. The new 500's come with a two stage suspension. Would you still recommend swapping to the Walker Evans shocks?
Thanks for the help. Your videos are helping me pass the months until I can get my own Pioneer 500.
My bighorns measure 26 1/4 right now and are worn down pretty good so 26.5” sound about right. As far as bigger tires hurting the machine, the P5 is geared low! It can handle up to 30’s with no problems from what I’ve seen. As far as the new dual rate progressive shocks on the 17+ models, not much of an improvement. Plus you loose an inch of ground clearance with them so not worth it. Best to get a set of Walker Evans or Elka.
Great Video. Grerat attitude. Keep em coming.
I have a 2017 Honda Poineer 1000 and I cant say i am that happy with it. True it has a regular transmission but it shifts so hard it will shake things out the side. It chirps the tires wearing them out fast. Its suspention is weak ( tie robs brake fairly easy), its front bumper is tied into the suspension so if the bumper gets bent, well your pioneer will not track straight. It has poor suspention travel, It feels under powered for a 1000cc ( top speed 46mph on flat surface), No cup holders if you remove your doors. Cheap plastic ALL over, I agree the tires are JUNK. Ground clearance is sad. brake pads wear out fast. Windshield mounts break, the net doors are ridiculous .
I love our pioneer 700 best money ever spent
Austin Seubert I almost got the 700 to go along with the 500 as our family hauler...till i test drove the 1000-5. Thats what ended up on the trailer...lol. All three of them are great machines!
AppalachianMountianRiders we got our pioneer before the 1000 came out I suspect that we would have gotten the 1000 if it was out or we where considering a gator
Just brought mine home today! LOVE IT...Camo 2017 winch windshield top cargo tray....Yoohoo!
Ricky Maynard welcome to the P5 family!
Hey Jason two questions for ya. In this video at the time what windshield is on the P5 here? Also what winch do you have on it? Thanks man! I’m loving my olive 18’ P5 so far. Ready to start my build after a few months of having it now. Your a big reason I traded my Kymco UXV 450 in for it. Hope Honda is giving you some good commission! Lol
How is the shifting? What would you call it, smooth, a bit jerky, quite jerky and clunky sound. I have a 520 it also has automatic as well as manual
It’s smooth. Was jerky and clunky till break in the it smooth out and a little fine tuning with the adjustment got it even smoother. I’m on 32” tires now and can’t hardly even feel the shifts...lol
Exactly the review I was looking for.
nice one year review...do you think the P500 would be good for pushing snow with blade.
A lot of people use them for plowing and they work great. Definitely want to do the reverse lever bypass for plowing though.
Thanks for the informative video.we are considering purchasing a pioneer here for the farm but only the 700 model is imported.at 18000 euro.my husband william is 6'8" tall and 280lbs.so would the 700 model suit us for our needs?.thank you .we're in southern Ireland.
I test drove one today and find that it meets all my needs in terms of size, power, etc...
My remaining questions have to do with its snow handling capabilities here in Colorado. I live at top of very steep and unforgiving private road and my current ATV is how I get up and down in winter (I keep one vehicle at bottom) and how I carry groceries & animal feed to my house. Any thoughts on that?
Also, how did you decide on the Big Horn tires?
frank the only time I’ve had problems in the snow is getting into unseen snow drifts the cause me to high center the machine. Other than that it does great. Don’t forget we will be seeing a front locker come out for these in a few months so that will be a big game changer and tremendous benefit as well.
I went with the bighorns because they were a!used set I found in local classifieds and were a good deal...lol. Great tire though for everything except deep sticky mud.
Thank you for reply with good info. These are nice machines.
Thats one thing i've noticed on cvt side by sides is no matter the speed they're traveling, the engine is wrapped out all the time. If im just putzing down the road at 5 mph, why do i want the engine wrapped out?? Been looking at the honda 500 so i thank you for sharing the video
Don't plan on buying one but you did a very good review!!!!
I believe you have 27s on your Pioneer 500. If you had to do it all over again would you still choose the 27’s? Any regrets there such as loss of torque?? Just trying to make an informed decision. I already have 1.5 inch spacers. Thank you in advance my friend.... Jim Denis
jim denis 27’s are a really good match for the P5 and work very well for trail riding. I have a 16 model year which is geared just a bit lower than the 18+ and there wasn’t a big enough power loss to notice. Of corse now I’m getting ready to throw some 32” tires on my P5 but I’m doing a pretty big build with it this year to get them to fit...lol
My is a 2017 P500. Would my low gear be the same as your 2016??
jim denis if it’s not the P5 with auto and manual shift. Those are the ones that had a slightly higher gear. Even if it is it should handle 27” tires well.
I watched your video before buying mine, I think the p5 is a great machine. Thanks for the review. Did you adjust the valves at 20 hours like Honda recommends or did you wait? I’m getting ready to do my first service and was just curious.
Russ989 welcome to the P5 family! Mine didn’t need adjusted at 20 hours and with almost a thousand miles they still don’t. If your doing you service your self they are not hard to check. Search over on hondasxs.com and there is a good write up there on how to check them.
I checked it out, that’s a pretty good write up on the procedure. Thanks for the advice.
Hey man, love the channel. I've been watching quite a few of your videos on the Pioneer 500.
I've got an issue with my machine and I was hoping you could help me troubleshoot. I'm hearing a chirping/high pitched grinding noise whenever I turn when driving. It sound like it's coming from the front tire area. It's been this way for quite a while, probably the last 30 or so hours. I figured that it was just sand caught up in the brakes and that it would work itself loose, but it hasn't. It sounds like the sound is coming from both sides, but I can't tell for sure. I recently realized that it was only making the noise whenever I'm turning the steering wheel. The slightest amount of pressure on the steering wheel produces the noise. The chirping increases in speed the faster I am driving. The SxS has had no maintenance other than oil changes. It currently has 130 hours and 1000 miles on it.
What do you think the issue could be? My best guess is that it may have gotten some grit inside of the boots, however all of the boots are in good shape. Are these boots greased from the factory? Should I grease them with a needle? I'm at a bit of a loss here.
My first thought is your wheel bearing are going bad or are already bad. Turning puts more stress on the wheels bearings then going straight so usually the first sign they are going bad is you’ll hear a noise like your hearing when turning but not so mush when going straight. A quick way to check is jack the front end off the ground and check for top and bottom wobble in the tire. You can also spin the tire by hand and see if noise is still there.
Also your axle joints are greased so DO NOT attempt to grease them with a needle. You risk damaging the boot and that will cause problems for you later…lol
@@AppalachianMountainRiders Thanks for the reply. Turns out it's most likely worn brake pads. The sound I was hearing was nearly identical to the squealing noise that can be heard in your Pioneer 500 brake job video. I hosed down the front rotors with some WD-40 and went for a ride in a safe area. The sound was lessened significantly after the application of the WD-40. I'm surprised that the stock pads are already making noise. I've never had pads wear this fast before. I'll be using your brake job video as a guide to get these ones switched out. Any recommendations on brake pads? OEM is 4 times as expensive as aftermarket, are they worth the extra money?
I have a 2016 500. I absolutely love it
Hey there what kind of Full Tilt windshield you got there? Just ordered my we shocks tonight thanks to you! Wife's going to leave me but I'll still have my two dogs and my P 500 LOL
Hahaha!
The windshield is from utvwindshieldandaccessories.com it’s a nice windshield and is not super expensive for the hard coat
Nice, informative video! Appreciate the review!
I really enjoy your videos. What front windshield do you have on the P5?
MrRunner10 the windshield is from www.utvwindshieldsandaccessories.com. Not a bad windshield for the price. You can look them up on you tube, they have install vids that give you a better look at it. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying my vids! Especially since I'm just getting my channel up and running.
How do you feel like the noise level is in the cabin? I’m coming from an older sxs (teryx) that was very loud. I don’t expect any sxs to be quiet at wot but would like to be able to have a comfortable conversation with a passenger around 25 mph. What are your thoughts on the noise level in that range?
Just curious.... I assume the 27's are 9 inches wide, are you over 50" in the front now? Thanks and keep the videos coming.
RJ Nixon yes I am. I have 1.5" spacers on too and measure at just under 54".
@@AppalachianMountainRiders are you running spacers on the front only, and all tires are the same size on stock rims? What tire size are you running? Thank you!!
In this vid I’m running 1.5” spacers on all wheels with 27”x9” front and 27”x11” tires on the rear with the stock rims
Great review!!
10/10
Best cartwheel ever 🚜
😂😂😂👍🏻
@@AppalachianMountainRiders am I the first? 🐓
Funny how Honda tries so hard to avoid the CVT in their ATVs and UTVs, yet are huge at incorporating them into their automobiles.
I know! The funny thing is I don't mind CVT's in atv's or UTV's but I absolutely despise them in cars. But then I'm old fashion and still prefer manual transmissions.
Big red
Do you have any issues with heat coming off the engine behind the seat? If so how did you correct it? We rode ours today and the seat got so hot because the engine was putting off so much heat.
I never thought the heat was that bad and I even have a front and rear windshield. I know running with out a windshield or with just a half windshield cuts down on the heat a lot. There are kits you can get that are a fitted heat mat to help. Check out the Honda SxS club forum too. A lot of great tips and ideas on there to help.
Wanting to buy one to ride me and my wife and our baby who’s on the way. Gonna put a back seat on the back rack so it can seat 4 people. Don’t care fr for a lot of speed I just want a reliable ride. Would this be the best option? I like the idea of gears vs a belt. I ride dirt roads mostly and trails with my friend and we do some minor mud riding
im looking to buy one tomorrow !
Great video.....thanks for ur review!
I'm very interested in buying the Pioneer 500 to take on hunting trips in the British Columbia mountains but my brother tells me that, even though it's a 50" sxs, I would not be able to go all the places they go on their ATVs. I'm curious to know your thoughts, do you think this unit would go anywhere a traditional ATV (quad) would?
A Allan Without a doubt as long as even the 50” isn’t too wide. Most bigbore ATV’s are 48” so I can’t see the 2 extra inches being a problem. The height of the roll cage may be if there are a lot of low objects to go under though. That’s food for thought. The only thing the P5 lacks in from the factory is ground clearance.
I’m the only side by side in my group of riding buddies and my 500 does better than most of there fourwheelers. Adding a little bit bigger tire helps tremendously!
Hey, man. I really think you do a nice job with your channel. I've recently purchased a p500. Sure smells hot after riding, maybe that's normal for break-in? Noisey little bugger also. The rear end or diff is quite loud also. Hopefully normal stuff?
That is normal stuff for the 500. What your smelling is all the coatings in the new stuff burning off and it will go away in a few miles. As for the noise, that’s the nature of the 500. It uses square cut gears for the diffs which is super strong but also noisy. After your break in period switch to a 75-140 diff oil and it will quiet it down quite a bit.
The a great little buggies and tough as nails so a little noise to me means nothing considering having the peace of mind to know it’ll get you home every time!
@@AppalachianMountainRiders Great! We'll do. Thanks a lot for the peace of mind and reply! I do really enjoy it otherwise.
@@AppalachianMountainRiders btw, its got like 25-30 mi. still smells hot. Maybe its just me.
Always liked your videos!
Appreciate it!
Its a perfect ATV on a small trail
Great video review! What model year is yours?
tythomps it's a 2016.
ok. so paddle shift only then. not the 2017 with auto mode or updated suspension springs.
tythomps correct. I have upgraded the shocks to Walker Evans remote reservoir and the ride is awesome. I have install and review vids of that. The downside to the newer model shocks is that all though they do give a slightly softer ride, but not that much from what I've herd, you do lose an inch of ground clearance. That's quite a bit for a machine that already sits pretty low to the ground.
Also keep in mind if you change the tire size the speedometer will be off so 42 might be... (i dont know the math) 48mph ish
never should be going that fast in this. No way.
@@donschlonski2936 riding on a dirt road between Trails I easily go 60 on my dirt bike and i would do the same on my atv but it doesn't go that fast.
But I get your point 50inch wide and top-heavy would be kind of sketch going that fast
What made you pick the 500 over the pioneer 700?
lawnmowerdude a couple things. The 3 speed trans in the 700 isn’t very good for hilly terrain and really robs the 700 of power. The 5 speed of the 500 is much, much, better. Also considering power, all though the 500’s engine is smaller displacement than the 700, the pioneer 500 actually has a better power to weight ratio and feels peppier. The 500 is also geared lower so if you plan on adding bigger tires it turns them better. The 500 is a nimble little guy and great for tight trails. If you need a dump bed then the 700 wins obviously but if you’re needing a dump bed it would be worth it to go to the 1000. Can’t argue the price of the 500 either especially if you wait and get a left over unit from a previous model year!
can you powerslide sideways with this? top speed is 37 mph I think, wondering if it can still do the fun stuff when not going slow on trails. Also, does your right knee bump up against the center console on trails?
Jake Stoler too speed is 42 and it is geared low and has plenty of torque. But if your wanting to do power slides than this might not be best machine for you. Yes it will do it, trust me it will, but it’s not an on demand thing like bigger side by sides. As far as knee hitting the center console, not a problem because there is no center console...lol.
Informative and funny review!
Love my Pioneer 500!
Great review. What's the ground clearance on this jewel?
A measly 8.5”...lol. That’s why I recommend putting a 27” tire on ASAP!
@@AppalachianMountainRiders You have the right idea on the tires. Thanks.
I have been watching these videos for two days and I couldn't figure out why this guy looks so familiar. Have I met him or what? Well it just hit me when I walked by my wife watching tv. It's Steve from Sex in the City!!!😂😂😂😂
Thank you for your helpful response! Do you know if the Pioneer 500 will fit in the back of a Ford F-150 that has a 5.5' long bed? With the gate down it's 7.5' long. Between the wheel wells the bed is 50" wide.
It will. You may want to reinforce the tailgate though and not rely on the wire straps for support. Even a sheet if plywood or OSB would be enough to help distribute the weight a bit. My pioneer stock fit in the back of my 07 duramax no problems. I have an eight-foot bed and could even close to tailgate when it was on stock tires
Just bought a pioneer 520 for many of the reasons you mention in the video! It's hard to kill a Honda.
What did you have to do to fit the 27" big horns?
Not a thing. 27” tires will fit stock.
@@AppalachianMountainRiders would 28” work without mod?
Also, have you towed much? If so what did ya think?
Depends how true to size the 28’s are. There may be some minor rubbing on the frame with some 28’s.
I’ve towed a bit and the P5 does good with its low gearing. Seeing how tour’s is a 520 I would recommend towing only in manual mode so it’s not trying to upshift while towing when you don’t want it to.
@@AppalachianMountainRiders appreciate the fast reply. The more I read, the more I may also do wheel spacers so that may fit 28’s.
Yeah, I have trucks and tractors for heavy towing but since this will be a farm/work buggy, I’m planning on dragging a small utility trailer around a fair bit.
Have you had any warranty claims?
Cheers,
Daron
what tires do u run kind and size
got a 2020 pioneer 500, I'm getting a high pitch scretching noise in 5 gear [ a little in 4th gear ] going fast in manual mode, I will be testing again in auto mode ! what might be the problem ?
How’s the getting muddy factor? I have a rhino that’s a mud slugger.
Not too bad...till you throw wheel spacers on...lol. Even then the doors do an ok job. I had a 660 Rhino myself and the P5 is a lot better then it was for keeping mud off you.
Good review thanks!
I’ve been debating trading my Kymco UXV 450 in for a P500 or pioneer 700. But I can’t decide. I like my Kymco a lot. It’s a solid machine and good size. But there’s just something about the pioneers that intrigues me. The 1000 is amazing but to much money (as most SxS and atvs are today. 10k or less is plenty)
It’s the paddle shifters...makes you feel like you’re driving a sports car...lol. I don’t know much about Kymco but the Little Pioneer 500 are tanks! Spend anytime on Facebook groups or in forums and you would be amazed at how people beat on them and they just keep right on going!
AppalachianMountainRiders yeah Honda’s have always been tanks. I just wish the P500 had a little more top end and a front locker.
jew0182 i hear you on the top end...lol. An aftermarket locker will be out later this year though so that’s one problem solved but still, it will be at extra cost to the owner.
AppalachianMountainRiders so I’ve found a used 2015 with hardly no miles. But it is paddle shifters only without the auto option. How often do folks use the auto vs the manual mode?? Would I regret not having the AT/MT option? This particular 2015 in the olive color with roof an windshield for under 6k
Most that I know say auto only works good and flat level ground like if you’re using the P5 on a farm. For trail riding, especially with lots of hills, the auto doesn’t work so well. One thing to consider as well is the auto is geared slightly higher so you loose some of that bottom end pull and power that makes these little guys an unstoppable trail machine.
I would say that you found a great deal and personally I wouldn’t pass it up just to get the auto version!
i use one of these for work and yes im 14 and have a job
Yes Sir, would you feel comfortable giving advice to someone that would use the Honda 500 in a completely different environment than your East TN application? I spend the spring, summer, & fall in Wyoming either in the Bighorn Mountains or the Wind River Mountains. No “mud” to speak of out here, just steep, rocky trails mostly out in the open. My concern is the power available in the Honda 500 in regards to the steep trails and the issue of stability of the 50 inch width on the slopes. Can you speak to any of the issues that I will face if I choose to purchase this machine? Thanks for making your videos, I enjoy them very much.
John Cole as far as power for hills, the P5 is a billy goat that will climb anything as long as you got traction. What I would suggest is if you don’t have to stay at 50” for trail access, throw some 2” wheel spacers on her or get aftermarket rims that have enough off set to give you a couple inches width, or do both. I would suggest disconnecting the rear sway bar as well as it gives you more articulation in the suspension. Finding a good tire made for the rocks will be key as well and I would recommend no less than a 26” tire to replace the 24” the P5’s come with. You can fit up to a 28”/29” depending on tread with just the spacers or offset rims. The P5 has plenty of power to turn the bigger wheels and it will actually give you a touch more top end speed!
John Cole I would recommend you head over to Hondasxs.com and check out the forum when you have time. You will probably be able to find P5 owners that ride the kind of stuff you’re asking about. Maybe even some that ride the same places you mentioned.
I live in Cody and had the same concern. Just looked them over a couple times thins week. The tire upgrade is $1000. They kill you on accessories that we need. There is a heater for $500, and the top with doors and back window is around another $600, and I didn't even ask about the windshield. I am tired of beating the snot out of my suburban, but it has more ground clearance than this machine. It is fully skid plated though. I like the features but the tires are so damned small. They let you drive them in the parking lot, but be nice if they had a trail course of actual obstacles.
Richard Miller, They may have quoted you for a wheel and tire package. You can upgrade to the bighorns for around $600 and keep the stock rims.
What size bighorns do you run 2.0? Or original? Any rubbing?
Brian Smith these are the 2.0 but I’m a bigger fan of the originals. These are 27” and not even close to rubbing but I have 1.5” spacers. I have run them without the spacer though and they still do rub even at full flex or compression of the suspension.
Hey - did you ever do the valve adjustment the manual calls for early on?
Nope. 1700 miles and my valves are still right on the money. You can here it when the start to need adjustment.
Question for you. I have a 500 pioneer with a water temperature light coming on mostly when it warms up and running down the road. Fan is coming on no mud in the radiator and has enough in the radiator and res tank. Wondering if you have a idea. Thank you for your videos!
I would say you have air in the system as my first thought. There is a blender screw on top of the thermostat housing on 15 and 16 models years like mine but I think they moved it on 17+ and I’m not sure where it is. I would check that first!
Great review
great review!
I run a atv salvage business I can already tell you the overly complicated Honda transmission it’s not superior to CVT transmission I had much rather change a belt Then split the transmission to change out clutches
How in the world do I find the rear u joint for the rear drive shaft ?
Unfortunately I bought a polaris 3 years ago. I can't wait to trade it for one of these.
They are great little machines and the aftermarket is finally starting to step up and give them some love! All the flaws I pointed out in this vid are now able to be remedied!
@@AppalachianMountainRiders We just came from the dealer and traded the Polaris for one. I can't wait to fire it up and put some hours on it. We got a windshield. soft top with dust shieldand 25" tires and doors. Thanks for your videos. They helped us make the decision.
Awesome! Congrats!
Hello , would you still recommend this unit ? I know this might sound crazy but I'm looking at this or a can am lol
I sure would. It will go everywhere the can am will go and get you back where the can am may not (cough...blow belt...cough) LoL. Don’t get me wrong though I do really like the new Maverick trail but the P5 is just a little unstoppable tank that only lacks on top end speed. The only issue that I mention in the vid that has yet to be fixed is the front locker which is in the works. I plan on Keeping my P5 for a long time.
AppalachianMountainRiders , thanks man that helps, i was thinking 27/10/14 all the way around
Adam Newman that would be a nice setup for the P5! I have 27x9 front and 27x11 rears.
can am all the way
i have a 2015 model with 5300 miles on it no problems
Robert Segrest these things are bulletproof little tanks! Honda always seems to get ridiculed over there utv's but they have far less problems than the more popular ones out there.
Just turned 11,000 trouble free miles on mine
Robert Segrest -good to know-I pick up my 2015 SATURDAY...:)
Any ideas on getting to the oil filter easily ? Lol
It looks like those are stock rims, how is the stability moving up to the 27in tires?
Those are the stock rims but I have 1.5” spacers as well. Doesn’t feel tippy at all with the spacers and 27’s. I put the spacers on back when I still had the stock tires on.
Hey what do you clean your foam air filter with? Gas? Spray cleaner?
Dawn dish soap and water.
@@AppalachianMountainRiders so does that remove the oil from the filter?