Honda Talon Specs and Everything you Need to Know

The Honda Talon 1000X and 1000R are top notch UTVs that are still fairly fresh in the UTV industry. They’re gaining in popularity, but you’re less likely to come across a Talon than, say, a RZR at a ride park, but does that mean they’re any worse? Here’s the Honda Talon’s specs and some of the coolest features Honda’s packed into their premier sport side-by-side.

Top Features of the Honda Talon

Honda DCT Transmission

The best thing about the Honda Talon is, hands down, the Honda DCT transmission. Both the 1000R and 1000X models have a DCT, and it’s a huge improvement over the traditional belt-driven clutch setup that most side-by-sides use.

Not only does a Honda DCT transmission eliminate the belt as a failure point, but it also shifts incredibly quickly and smoothly. DCT stands for “Dual Clutch Transmission,” which basically means that the next gear is already engaged before you shift to it. It’s so smooth, you might not even feel it change.

The Talon takes advantage of the DCT by also including a manual transmission mode. By using the paddle shifters on the wheel, you can have reactive gear control similar to high-performance supercars. You can shift down before turns for extra engine braking. You can also decide when to shift up giving you a higher level of acceleration control. This kind of transmission control is rare in the UTV industry.

I-4WD

I-4WD is Honda’s solution for an automatic front differential locker. A front differential locker is key to getting traction in 4WD. If one wheel slips, a locked diff will give power to the other wheel so it can pull you out. If it’s not locked, all the power goes to your slipping wheel and you’re stuck. You can’t have your front diff locked all the time though because you sacrifice a ton of turning control. Each manufacture has to come up with a diff that locks when you need it to, and unlocks when you don’t.

Honda does it in a unique way with I-4WD.

When you switch your Honda Talon to 4WD, the rear axles use a traditional locking mechanism but the front axles do not. Instead of truly locking, the brakes are applied individually to each front axle when slippage is detected.

This braking action transfers torque to the gripping wheel without actually locking anything. The result is a subtle diff-lock feel that’s not as aggressive as other lockers, but still keeps you in control without harsh engagement.

FOX Live Valve

FOX Live Valve suspension isn’t a standard feature, but that doesn’t mean it’s not awesome. It’s similar to Polaris’ Dynamix or Can-Am’s Smart-Shox in that it takes input from the driver and key points on the machine to adjust shock stiffness on the fly.

It’s not as complex as the more expensive solutions on the market, but it does provide awesomely smooth suspension you’ll love.

Specs for the Honda Talon 1000R

The Honda Talon 1000R is the the Talon’s race-spec model. It as a 68-inch-wide suspension for high-speed cornering and stability. The novel combination of trailing arms, radius rods, and A-arms help stabilize camber through the suspension’s full range of motion.

Here are the rest of the Honda Talon 1000R specs:

Engine

Suspension

Brakes

Tires

Measurements

Other

Honda Talon 1000X Overview

The Honda Talon 1000X is closer to a traditional trail model. With a narrower 64-inch-wide suspension, it’s more fit for trails than the 1000R. The 1000X also has a 4-seater option so you can bring the whole family.

Here are the rest of the Honda Talon 1000X specs:

Engine

Suspension

Brakes

Tires

Measurements

Other

Final Thoughts

The Honda Talon is an excellent member of the naturally aspirated UTV family. It makes the most of its 104 horsepower with smart Honda features that make driving it feel oh-so-good. And it’s hard to come by a DCT that feels as good as the Talon’s on or off-road.

Even with the Honda Talon’s modest specs, the starting MSRP of $20,999 combined with the kind of high-quality features that Honda excels at make it one of the coolest side-by-sides in the industry.