Honda

HONDA VS. POLARIS:  Performance meets supreme comfort By the staff of Dirt Wheels HONDA TALON VS. POLARIS GENERAL At first glance, a comparison between a sport machine like Honda’s Talon 1000X-4 and a sports recreation model like the Polaris General XP 4 Deluxe might seem somewhat odd and perhaps even ill-advised. But, as we looked a little closer, it started to look like a natural comparison. Although it wasn’t one of the facets that prompted the comparison, both machines are new models for 2020. Certainly,…

4x4 WAR: HON vs. SUZ. The hot news so far in ’98 has been the two all-new, big-bore, four-wheel drives from Honda and Suzuki. Called the Honda Foreman 450S and the Suzuki QuadRunner 500, the two machines were only recently introduced to the press, with our first rides reported in our last two issues (DW Feb. ’98 and DW Mar. ). In the never-ending  4x4 War: Hon vs Suz. This issue marks the first time these ma­chines will do battle in a head-to-head shootout situation. The January Dirt Wheels featured a shootout…

**Editors Note- Test from our DEC 97 issue. Pair of Duncan Doughnuts. When it comes to reliable performance, Dun­can Racing is extremely confident of the products that it sells. So confident, in fact, that it offers a 30-day, 100% money-back guarantee with all of its performance products. If you are not happy with the performance, quality, or reliability of any Dun­­can Racing product, send it back and your money will be refunded. We wanted to put Loren Duncan, the owner of Duncan Racing, to the test, so we had…

250cc Sport ATV Comparison: Honda TRX250X vs. Kayo Jackal 200 vs. Can-Am DS250 By the staff of Dirt Wheels 250cc SPORT ATV COMPARISON There was a time when 250cc sport quads were considered big and powerful. Basically, the lead dogs in the industry. That was many years ago now, though. Currently, 250cc-class sport quads are considered mild and civilized. In reality, the performance is every bit as good as any ATV before the advent of 250cc two-strokes or 450cc performance four-strokes. They are fun on…

2020 HONDA PIONEER 700 4-DELUXE: Versatile, effective, and fun for a bargain By the staff of Dirt Wheels  2020 HONDA PIONEER 700-4 DELUXE The point of view is important in the case of the 2020 Honda Pioneer 700-4 Deluxe. If you are looking for a capable work machine that looks stylish but will also provide fun for recreation, then you have good reasons to look at a Honda. If the idea of no drive belt to deal with is attractive, you’re getting even warmer. Looking for an affordable four-seat machine with a short…

**Editors Note-This project Honda High Lifter 355 originally appeared in the December 2000 issue of Dirt Wheels magazine. High Lifter Honda 300 4x4 Honda’s 300 (2WD & 4WD) has been one of the best workhorse ATVs of all time. For over ten years now, it has racked up an enviable sales and reliability record that is unmatched in the industry. But with the introduction of Honda’s Rancher line of ATVs in 2000, the 300 was put out to pasture and replaced with this more powerful and versatile 350cc 4-wheeler. There…

This was the epic Sport Shootout between the Honda 400EX the Yamaha Raptor 660R and Bombardier's DS 650. Not since the halcyon days of the late eighties has there been as much excitement in the high-performance ATV ranks as there is right now. Honda got the ball rolling just a few years ago with the introduction of their excellent-handling and ex­tremely nimble FourTrax 400EX. The Honda set new standards with its sporty ride characteristics and impressive reliability record. Only Yamaha’s twin-cylinder…

**Editors Note-This story originally ran in Dirt Wheels April 2000 HOT MODS FOR QUADS Several years ago, CT Racing developed the first aftermarket aluminum cylinder for the Honda 250R engine. Called the Pro-Cross (originally Pro-X), this new cylinder allowed ATV racers much more leeway with motor modifications than the stock 250R offered. In the motorcycle motocross world, engines with various types of power valves have been standard equipment for well over a decade. Virtually every 250cc and 125cc race bike has…

By the staff of Dirt Wheels XTC POWER PRODUCTS 2019 HONDA TALON TURBO Chris Leaming is a facilitator. He and his father Rob are partners in Gilbert, Arizona-based XTC Power Products. They moved there to grow their company that specializes in UTV electronic parts, such as street-legal turn-signal kits, and switch and wiring solutions. Rob and Chris have owned and built a large number of machines over the years. Despite not owning many Hondas lately, Leaming describes himself as a “Honda guy.” Among his current…

Many of the fully restored machines you see gracing the pages of Dirt Wheels Magazine lately are the work of Mike Palmgren owner of Vintage Motorsports Restorations. Mike not only loves restoring machines back to their former glory, he owns a few as well. For years he sat on this untouched, first year,  Honda U.S. 90 but now thinks it shall have a new home. Today, he’s crating up the rare Honda, with a slight patina, and sending it to its new owner in England.  Stay tuned to the pages of Dirt Wheels for more of Mikes…

The Deluxe edition By the staff of Dirt Wheels, Photos by Kevin Wing Here is a fun fact: the recreational utility ATV market is still Honda’s bread and butter in the four-wheel category. When Honda had multiple sport quad models on dealer floors, the ranch-style performers easily had double or more sales. Honda 4x4s have a reputation for being the most durable and long-lasting in the business, which obviously helps sales. People purchase 4x4 ATVs for work and recreational performance and enjoyment. It is quick and…

Simply a showpiece By the staff of Dirt Wheels After only four years in production (1986–1989), the Honda Fourtrax 250R became the most popular sport ATV of its time, and they sold tens of thousands of them easily. In the 1990s and early 2000s, many were transformed into masterpieces like what you see here. It was a time without current production machines to build and compete with, but that didn’t stop hungry racers from using the best, and at that time, it was hands down the best 250R two-stroke. Today, modern…