Am I crazy? Trading Honda in

[ehart814]

Well, I've been around this forum for a minute. Started with a Pioneer 500, then moved to a 1000-5. I've owned it for 5 years, using it no less than once a week but often daily. It's been a great machine for my needs. I haven't posted here much at all the last few years though.

Anyway, Kawasaki has some big discounts on their Ridge models and having a sealed cab with HVAC. HVAC was always the only thing that could have gotten me away from my Honda as it has been flawless.

Well it's looking like I'm jumping ship. Between the HVAC, sweet interior, plush suspension, standard 3 year warranty, and a huge discount I couldn't resist. I am nervous that I could be making a mistake...but we will see. My dad bought a Teryx in 2020 and has beaten the hell out of it for 5000 miles and it's been incredibly durable. My hope is the Ridge will be too.

Unfortunately, being a new model, there isn't much of a forum presence like there is here for the Hondas. There also isn't much out there for aftermarket stuff - but the Ridge is pretty much done right out of the gate. But, no backup light????? seriously? There's a few little things like that but the sealed cab with HVAC and COMFY seats - pretty nice...

 

[Admin]

 

[DRZRon1]

Well, I've been around this forum for a minute. Started with a Pioneer 500, then moved to a 1000-5. I've owned it for 5 years, using it no less than once a week but often daily. It's been a great machine for my needs. I haven't posted here much at all the last few years though.

Anyway, Kawasaki has some big discounts on their Ridge models and having a sealed cab with HVAC. HVAC was always the only thing that could have gotten me away from my Honda as it has been flawless.

Well it's looking like I'm jumping ship. Between the HVAC, sweet interior, plush suspension, standard 3 year warranty, and a huge discount I couldn't resist. I am nervous that I could be making a mistake...but we will see. My dad bought a Teryx in 2020 and has beaten the hell out of it for 5000 miles and it's been incredibly durable. My hope is the Ridge will be too.

Unfortunately, being a new model, there isn't much of a forum presence like there is here for the Hondas. There also isn't much out there for aftermarket stuff - but the Ridge is pretty much done right out of the gate. But, no backup light????? seriously? There's a few little things like that but the sealed cab with HVAC and COMFY seats - pretty nice...

Don’t be scared, it will be just fine and have fun with it - enjoy the comfort

 

[ChadD]

@Todd627

 

[ChadD]

@hondabob

 

[Hello_Darkness]

Not to be that guy, but there's complaints of engine heat in the interior and belt issues with aggressive riding or hauling heavier loads.

I'd like to ride in one to hear the noise, Kawi s*** is always loud as hell.

 

[ehart814]

Not to be that guy, but there's complaints of engine heat in the interior and belt issues with aggressive riding or hauling heavier loads.

I'd like to ride in one to hear the noise, Kawi s*** is always loud as hell.

Yeah, the teryx's are super noisy and I wasn't crazy about them at all until my dad owned one. He had two polaris's previously and they were both literally junk before they hit 1000 miles. His Teryx has been trouble free, amazingly. And I assure you it has not been babied. They are built very well. The Ridge was designed to be smoother and quieter, but built to work. Looking at them, it's not hard to tell they are very high quality. And Kawasaki's warranty has a very good reputation as well. With the inline 4 (detuned motorcycle basically), it runs high RPM and i'd say it's "buzzy". Will take some getting used to. But very smooth power and pretty wicked top end. I'd prefer more off the line torque for towing, but it is what it is. I'm concerned about belt drive (I hate it) but I don't think it will be hard to get used to when I turn the heat on, or the AC next summer.

 

[Mudwisel]

Yeah, the teryx's are super noisy and I wasn't crazy about them at all until my dad owned one. He had two polaris's previously and they were both literally junk before they hit 1000 miles. His Teryx has been trouble free, amazingly. And I assure you it has not been babied. They are built very well. The Ridge was designed to be smoother and quieter, but built to work. Looking at them, it's not hard to tell they are very high quality. And Kawasaki's warranty has a very good reputation as well. With the inline 4 (detuned motorcycle basically), it runs high RPM and i'd say it's "buzzy". Will take some getting used to. But very smooth power and pretty wicked top end. I'd prefer more off the line torque for towing, but it is what it is. I'm concerned about belt drive (I hate it) but I don't think it will be hard to get used to when I turn the heat on, or the AC next summer.

They usually have very good belts The bottom end can be fixed with some clutch work

 

[Robobrainiac]

I have the Pioneer 1000-5 and a Teryx4. Both serve their purpose well. Both have their pros and cons. From what I have seen and read the kawasaki platform is pretty much the "best belt" and most durable of cvt machines. The Teryx is loud. So loud it makes my wife hate it. I can get annoyed by it. We use a rugged radio intercom system in the Teryx to drown out the noise. So far from my experience when riding in friends belt machines they are just all notoriously loud in their own way. I think the high RPM nature of CVT is just loud in general. So far I don't have much to complain about with my Teryx when it comes to the mechanical side of things. I am part of this forum and the Teryx forum and the Teryx forum does not even come close to half of what this HondaSXS forum is.

 

[Robobrainiac]

If my two cents is worth anything I would recommend Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha to anyone in that order. I wouldn't recommend anything else. Maybe a Can-Am Maverick turbo if you "need" top speed.

That is just based on my research between machines.

 

[hondabob]

My dealer has one with $7,200 off. The 2025 models haven't been announced yet, so it looks like they are not selling very well. I trust Honda but just hate to buy a first-year model. Both of my Teryx models had no problems with several thousand miles. I will wait a couple more years on Honda for a A/C model but I'm in my mid 80's so I may buy the 2026 Ridge. The back of the seat heat problem should be easy to fix.

 

[JACKAL]

Well, I've been around this forum for a minute. Started with a Pioneer 500, then moved to a 1000-5. I've owned it for 5 years, using it no less than once a week but often daily. It's been a great machine for my needs. I haven't posted here much at all the last few years though.

Anyway, Kawasaki has some big discounts on their Ridge models and having a sealed cab with HVAC. HVAC was always the only thing that could have gotten me away from my Honda as it has been flawless.

Well it's looking like I'm jumping ship. Between the HVAC, sweet interior, plush suspension, standard 3 year warranty, and a huge discount I couldn't resist. I am nervous that I could be making a mistake...but we will see. My dad bought a Teryx in 2020 and has beaten the hell out of it for 5000 miles and it's been incredibly durable. My hope is the Ridge will be too.

Unfortunately, being a new model, there isn't much of a forum presence like there is here for the Hondas. There also isn't much out there for aftermarket stuff - but the Ridge is pretty much done right out of the gate. But, no backup light????? seriously? There's a few little things like that but the sealed cab with HVAC and COMFY seats - pretty nice...

Nah, Go for it, enjoy it while it lasts, then we'll see ya back in 2 years $35k lighter. 😁 I learned my lesson the hard way with my RMAX4 1000, engine blew 4400 miles, $6, 800 to get it repaired - back to the Hondas.

 

[GRANITE]

I've been lurking myself on FB Ridge pages. The things I'm reading from owners are a cheap flimsy cab system, doors that rattle and randomly pop open on the trail, heat in cab, noise and jumpy takeoff. I honestly haven't ever been on any atv or SxS that wasn't noisy or hot!! Or if its not one its the other! That's just the nature of the beast. Some people just like to b****, moan and complain about everything!

I drove a Ridge recently and its nice yes and it has some good features. The inline 4 cyl has a unique sound but revs to like 8500rpm at like 45mph. That s*** would get old quickly. You sit alot more upright in and its more along the lines of a Polaris Ranger than anything. The 3yr factory warranty sounds great but to me warranties AREN'T worth the paper they are wrote on anymore! Mfg don't wanna stand behind anything anymore and always blaming someone or something else as to why something a part fails!

 

[KyGal83]

Don’t be scared, it will be just fine and have fun with it - enjoy the comfort

Exactly this. Just get out there and enjoy it. Life is too short to worry about it. If it doesn’t work out there is a market for them, you sell it and move on to the next. Just get out there.

 

[DRZRon1]

Exactly this. Just get out there and enjoy it. Life is too short to worry about it. If it doesn’t work out there is a market for them, you sell it and move on to the next. Just get out there.

Exactly

I was told not to by a 2015 F150 aluminum body 1st gen truck, it would rattle and paint fall off - 10 years later it’s primo

I was told not to buy a 1st gen 2019 talon - will be nothing but problems - ok the springs and air filter location sucked but who cares


if nobody bought 1st gen of anything - that would be interesting

 

[Jason W]

Make yourself happy, allways heed advise from those trusted, use it, enjoy life, screw the haters

 

[ChadD]

Not to be that guy, but there's complaints of engine heat in the interior and belt issues with aggressive riding or hauling heavier loads.

I'd like to ride in one to hear the noise, Kawi s*** is always loud as hell.

Neighbor's mule sounds like a bus! Looks like it too 😉🤣

 

[ehart814]

I've been lurking myself on FB Ridge pages. The things I'm reading from owners are a cheap flimsy cab system, doors that rattle and randomly pop open on the trail, heat in cab, noise and jumpy takeoff. I honestly haven't ever been on any atv or SxS that wasn't noisy or hot!! Or if its not one its the other! That's just the nature of the beast. Some people just like to b****, moan and complain about everything!

I drove a Ridge recently and its nice yes and it has some good features. The inline 4 cyl has a unique sound but revs to like 8500rpm at like 45mph. That s*** would get old quickly. You sit alot more upright in and its more along the lines of a Polaris Ranger than anything. The 3yr factory warranty sounds great but to me warranties AREN'T worth the paper they are wrote on anymore! Mfg don't wanna stand behind anything anymore and always blaming someone or something else as to why something a part fails!

Yeah, I've been reading about them and seeing the same as you - and I have a friend that bought one so I get feedback there too.

Fortunately the local dealer I'm working with has a good service department and my old man having a Teryx he bought there had some warranty work done and it went well so that makes me feel a lot better. For what it's worth, the service guy told me that Kawasaki is very easy to work with as far as their warranty claims. I don't go swamping so I think I'll be okay. It's not like Kawasaki hasn't been around.

 

[ehart814]

Nah, Go for it, enjoy it while it lasts, then we'll see ya back in 2 years $35k lighter. 😁 I learned my lesson the hard way with my RMAX4 1000, engine blew 4400 miles, $6, 800 to get it repaired - back to the Hondas.

Wow I'm surprised to hear that! My cousin has about 10k on his wolverine 850 and it still runs new. His last one blew at around 5k (old 700 wolverine) but that was just cuz he let his ex old lady run it and she melted it down wide open on the road after it was already overheating... I thought the yamahas were as durable as anything out there

 

[JACKAL]

Wow I'm surprised to hear that! My cousin has about 10k on his wolverine 850 and it still runs new. His last one blew at around 5k (old 700 wolverine) but that was just cuz he let his ex old lady run it and she melted it down wide open on the road after it was already overheating... I thought the yamahas were as durable as anything out there

I thought they were reliable too, wife, I and the dogs were just out for a scenic ride when it started making terrible knocking, pulled over immediately, got trailer brought to us , turned out rod bearing was gone and other components had more wear than expected. Yamaha tech said he had rebuilt 9 of the RMAX 1000 engines from Windrock all at around 3k miles, but these were rentals, I had not been hard on this machine at all.

 

[ehart814]

I thought they were reliable too, wife, I and the dogs were just out for a scenic ride when it started making terrible knocking, pulled over immediately, got trailer brought to us , turned out rod bearing was gone and other components had more wear than expected. Yamaha tech said he had rebuilt 9 of the RMAX 1000 engines from Windrock all at around 3k miles, but these were rentals, I had not been hard on this machine at all.

That is not good at all. This is the first I'd heard of that - Though I admit I haven't done much research, I just assumed they were good. But even a rental unit shouldn't go at 3k - they get maintained by the book usually. Running them hard shouldn't hurt them. Usually what kills motors is lack of maintenance or overheating from mud