First any comparisons to the Pioneer is because that is a familiar Item with everyone... really not fair to compare Sport vs Utility/Hybrid both designed to do different things
There have been some issues with the KRX and some have been addressed - will list below
- Clutch bolts - couple of first buyers experienced their clutch "blowing up" due to a clutch bolt not being tight from factory - was quickly addressed from Kawi.
- Axles - some have experienced their rear axles popping out due to a faulty C clip - also quickly addressed from Kawi
- One way bearing - Kawi announced that their were some units with faulty one way bearing in the transmission that would cause the machine to potentially lock up if they rolled backwards down him in H or L - was addressed and Kawi is replacing
- Over pressurized Gas tank - don't know that has been addressed by Kawi but lots of quick DIY's out there
- Sagging springs - the ride is goos in the KRX but some have reported having to readjust their springs to get back to original ride height as the springs will settle in after a bit... I seem to hear this same issue with Polaris owners
- Current issue that is being addressed now - Knuckles on the front wheels breaking when suspension is full droop (or quickly goes to full droop when wheels are turned all the way right or left. - there are some DIY fixes and Kawi has warrantied everyone or at least I have not seen someone saying they were not replaced for free... they also have new stock numbers but opinion si out on if that really fixes or not.
and to be fair the two issues that I am looking for a fix from Honda on are
- Steering - sometimes locks slightly when turning let or right ... maybe freeze is a better word
- Local dealer says they have testing and it only does that on aftermarket bigger tires like 30's or 32's that if they put stock tires back on they can not repeat same issue (on same machine) - granted don't know if true or not
- Low going out... - To me this one is a lot like the clutch issue - sure seems to be happening a lot and the response seems to be that the cable is just out of adjustment - several people report getting their adjusted and it continuing to clunk -...
- It is around enough on the internet being posted that something is not right.. maybe they need a new cable that wont stretch
- Maybe they need to train the dealers better - Honda controls who represents them -
- I know a powerhouse dealer that has had to replace quite a few low gears - 4 in 2 weeks last time i was down there
I love my pioneer I take it places that i would never have dreamed as I bought it for different purposes and it has opened up the world of SXS riding to me. My pioneer also rides good, smoother than a lot of Sport machines when riding rocky slow steady speed trails... Only time I get to wanting a sport is when I ride two local parks that are both set up to being challenge parks - the tipsiness just freaks me sometimes and I really wish there was a great way to improve the cage that looked decent and did not raise the center of gravity.
With all that I am doing to my Pioneer, a cage is on the radar, but I would have it made to exactly match factory not because it think it’s perfect design but because I already have money in the full enclosure.
@JTW has said this and I agree the Pioneer is a really good machine but the group we ride with that takes the terrain we do loaded the way we do. The Pioneer takes heavy modification to do it then it takes repairs after hundreds of miles of floggings. Hopefully knowing snuffs skill and knowledge, and seeing what his has gone through with V1 of the LT, V4 won’t have as many issues as the SATV with spacers.
I personally won’t buy a KRX or Talon until I don’t need more than 2 seats for the family, the X4 is a school bus like all the other 4 seat machines. If I didn’t need to fix the front after Tackett I probably would have stayed stock but changed the upper a-arm mounts to survive the SATV better.
However the KRX is very attractive because while it’s “heavier” than the other sport machines, it’s probably just as heavy as they are one they are built to tackle the terrain the same way it does off the production line. It’s a little longer but still has a better turning radius than the Talons.
The benefit of not swapping half the parts on it and having a pile of parts and taking the time and effort to do it is worth extra money. Honda really should offer a “rock” version like can-am. If they did it would sell even for a substantial markup over the “base” as long as it wasn’t a DEALER added option or a 3rd party factory authorized accessory.
Honda themselves needs to do it off the production line, let their engineers wear the drunk goggles they use to teach people how bad drinking and driving is and release them on a course with extra safety gear and bubble wrap clothes, or let our group test it for them as independent contractors. They’d rule the market with a “Ready To Rock Crawl machine”
The dune and desert machines are great for west of the Mississippi but the east coast is a very popular riding destination.
The shouldn’t forget the flat landers. I’m sure Honda could use their marine expertise to slap a jet drive or something onto a mud machine. The 300fourtrax are probably the only 25 year old mud machines that are still pretending to be submarines and aren’t rotting at the bottom of a mud hole somewhere.
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