First things first- did anyone not go to Moab last week? Holy Cow I wish I would have said something on the forum before we left!
Backstory: I've been wanting to get out to Moab for maybe 5 years now, but I could never convince pops to make the trip with me. So this year I requested the PTO, made the plan and crossed my fingers I could get a buddy to go with me. It was going to be a group, but by the time the trip rolled around...there were just two of us. My buddy is a big jeep guy, so we went out for a week and rented a Jeep Sunday, Talon Monday and KRX on Wednesday. I almost have dad talked into buying a SXS (his old ass is still grasping onto his youth riding a foreman for now), and he's got it town to the Talon and KRX. He rented a '21 Live Valve down in WV a few months back and was unimpressed- told me he would buy another Pioneer first (I've got the 1000-5 Deluxe). So I figured this would be a good chance to test the two back to back and help the old man spend some of that moldy money of his.
So we rented the Talon from HighPoint. To be fair- it had 10k on it already. On some pretty gnarly terrain. Also of note- it had been tuned by Shock Therapy. The kid that checked us back in reports that was a VAST improvement over stock suspension. We started the morning riding M&M, and then came back into town to run Chicken Corners. My Talon impressions:
Pros: DCT is no doubt the superior drive system. Its quieter, snappier, more fun to drive. I thought it did a much better job shifting in auto than my Pioneer does, even with the aftermarket 30 inch tires. The Talon wasn't as quiet as my Pioneer, but WAY more enjoyable to ride (from a sound standpoint) than the KRX. I actually enjoyed the I-4WD (is it safe to say that here?). It did everything that we asked it to do. I still wouldn't pick it on the Pioneer as the lockers have never failed me, but it wouldn't stop me from buying the Talon.
Cons: The cab is tight. I'm 6' 225 lbs, my buddy is 5'7" 140 and frankly it was a little uncomfortable IMO. At least compared to the Jeep, Pioneer 1000 and the KRX. The power, frankly, didn't feel THAT much different than my Pioneer. I attribute that in part to the 30 inch tires, and part to the sand we were riding in. Definitely still snappier than the KRX, but I wasn't BLOWN AWAY with the power by any means. Our machine also rattled like crazy. This is likely due to 10k in the rocks, but not what I expected after reading about the fit and finish of the Talon. Biggest issue- that suspension is AWEFUL. Holy Cow. The guy at the shop told us it was way worse before the Shock Therapy treatment. TBH- for what we do, the way we ride, I think the Pioneer 1000 Deluxe suspension is better. That may sound crazy. The Talon R is a sport machine- suspension is a LITTLE better at speeds over 45mph, but TBH still didnt hold a candle to the KRX. The ride, was BAD. I hated to admit it, but there's no denying it- dad was right again
Wednesday we rented the KRX from High Point. It also had 10k on it. 32 inch tires. We hit 3D north of town, and then went back to town for Hell's Revenge, the Rim Trail and Fins and Things.
Pros: Suspension. Everyone says its like driving a caddy. Guess what? Its like driving a caddy. Soaks up the little rocks that jar your teeth out of your head in the Talon like a champ. The ride quality is the best I've ever been in (Talon, KRX, RZR XP1000 and Pioneer 1000-5 are my reference points). The cab is super spacious. Even with the seat all the way back, we got a backpack behind the seats. Nice phone storage up on the dash. Tach and speedo where they should be- above the wheel. Full doors. Lots of leg room. The cab is a little louder, but its truly superior in every other way.
Cons: TBH, its a little bit of a dog. Power delivery is slow and loud. It crawled up everything we pointed it at, but it wasn't in a hurry to get started. I will say unlike the RZRs there is no "quick on" when hitting the gas- power delivery is very smooth throughout the powerband. Other then the lack of "snap your head back" speed and noise, the KRX really is superior in every other way (when compared with the Talon).
Here's a picture of the Jeep. It was fun in its own right, but you get a lot more done in a SXS. Can't go to Moab and not Jeep at least a day though, right?
Final Thought:
I've now owned the RZR XP1000 Ride Command, Pioneer 1000-5 Deluxe, and spent 12 hours behind the wheel of the KRX and Talon 1000-R. My recommendation to dad: find a 2 seat Pioneer LE if you want I-4wd, or consider a Deluxe and add the Fox Shocks if you prefer the locker. If I HAD to choose between the sport machines, I'd go KRX, but TBH for the riding we do east coast (Mostly Hatfield McCoy), neither machine is as comfortable as my Pioneer IMO. The suspension on the KRX isnt THAT much better (at least below 30MPH) than my stock 1000-5 Deluxe, cab room is different but similar, and the constant whine of the belt is mind numbing. Then factor in the price tag and utility of the bed...its a no brainer for me. Pioneer 1000-5 really is the best of both (all) worlds.
Backstory: I've been wanting to get out to Moab for maybe 5 years now, but I could never convince pops to make the trip with me. So this year I requested the PTO, made the plan and crossed my fingers I could get a buddy to go with me. It was going to be a group, but by the time the trip rolled around...there were just two of us. My buddy is a big jeep guy, so we went out for a week and rented a Jeep Sunday, Talon Monday and KRX on Wednesday. I almost have dad talked into buying a SXS (his old ass is still grasping onto his youth riding a foreman for now), and he's got it town to the Talon and KRX. He rented a '21 Live Valve down in WV a few months back and was unimpressed- told me he would buy another Pioneer first (I've got the 1000-5 Deluxe). So I figured this would be a good chance to test the two back to back and help the old man spend some of that moldy money of his.
So we rented the Talon from HighPoint. To be fair- it had 10k on it already. On some pretty gnarly terrain. Also of note- it had been tuned by Shock Therapy. The kid that checked us back in reports that was a VAST improvement over stock suspension. We started the morning riding M&M, and then came back into town to run Chicken Corners. My Talon impressions:
Pros: DCT is no doubt the superior drive system. Its quieter, snappier, more fun to drive. I thought it did a much better job shifting in auto than my Pioneer does, even with the aftermarket 30 inch tires. The Talon wasn't as quiet as my Pioneer, but WAY more enjoyable to ride (from a sound standpoint) than the KRX. I actually enjoyed the I-4WD (is it safe to say that here?). It did everything that we asked it to do. I still wouldn't pick it on the Pioneer as the lockers have never failed me, but it wouldn't stop me from buying the Talon.
Cons: The cab is tight. I'm 6' 225 lbs, my buddy is 5'7" 140 and frankly it was a little uncomfortable IMO. At least compared to the Jeep, Pioneer 1000 and the KRX. The power, frankly, didn't feel THAT much different than my Pioneer. I attribute that in part to the 30 inch tires, and part to the sand we were riding in. Definitely still snappier than the KRX, but I wasn't BLOWN AWAY with the power by any means. Our machine also rattled like crazy. This is likely due to 10k in the rocks, but not what I expected after reading about the fit and finish of the Talon. Biggest issue- that suspension is AWEFUL. Holy Cow. The guy at the shop told us it was way worse before the Shock Therapy treatment. TBH- for what we do, the way we ride, I think the Pioneer 1000 Deluxe suspension is better. That may sound crazy. The Talon R is a sport machine- suspension is a LITTLE better at speeds over 45mph, but TBH still didnt hold a candle to the KRX. The ride, was BAD. I hated to admit it, but there's no denying it- dad was right again
Wednesday we rented the KRX from High Point. It also had 10k on it. 32 inch tires. We hit 3D north of town, and then went back to town for Hell's Revenge, the Rim Trail and Fins and Things.
Pros: Suspension. Everyone says its like driving a caddy. Guess what? Its like driving a caddy. Soaks up the little rocks that jar your teeth out of your head in the Talon like a champ. The ride quality is the best I've ever been in (Talon, KRX, RZR XP1000 and Pioneer 1000-5 are my reference points). The cab is super spacious. Even with the seat all the way back, we got a backpack behind the seats. Nice phone storage up on the dash. Tach and speedo where they should be- above the wheel. Full doors. Lots of leg room. The cab is a little louder, but its truly superior in every other way.
Cons: TBH, its a little bit of a dog. Power delivery is slow and loud. It crawled up everything we pointed it at, but it wasn't in a hurry to get started. I will say unlike the RZRs there is no "quick on" when hitting the gas- power delivery is very smooth throughout the powerband. Other then the lack of "snap your head back" speed and noise, the KRX really is superior in every other way (when compared with the Talon).
Here's a picture of the Jeep. It was fun in its own right, but you get a lot more done in a SXS. Can't go to Moab and not Jeep at least a day though, right?
Final Thought:
I've now owned the RZR XP1000 Ride Command, Pioneer 1000-5 Deluxe, and spent 12 hours behind the wheel of the KRX and Talon 1000-R. My recommendation to dad: find a 2 seat Pioneer LE if you want I-4wd, or consider a Deluxe and add the Fox Shocks if you prefer the locker. If I HAD to choose between the sport machines, I'd go KRX, but TBH for the riding we do east coast (Mostly Hatfield McCoy), neither machine is as comfortable as my Pioneer IMO. The suspension on the KRX isnt THAT much better (at least below 30MPH) than my stock 1000-5 Deluxe, cab room is different but similar, and the constant whine of the belt is mind numbing. Then factor in the price tag and utility of the bed...its a no brainer for me. Pioneer 1000-5 really is the best of both (all) worlds.
