Having Fun Side By Side

The 2019 Talon is Pure Fun on Wheels

- Brett T. Evans

We got our first taste of the 2019 Honda Talon sideby-side late last year, just before it was introduced alongside the Honda Passport SUV. Our brief drive in the two-seat sport UTV was all too short, giving us a taste of this machine’s capabilities but not allowing us to fully sample what it had to offer.

We were able to rectify that recently, and in scenic St. George, Utah, no less. Our drivetime in the Honda Talon would be split between the entry-level 1000X model and the sportier 1000R, and much to our surprise, both offered a distinctive driving flavor, making the purchasing decision much more nuanced than affordability.

Both Talons are powered by a 999cc parallel-twin engine with a 270-degree firing order, the latter of which gives the engine a smooth, even power delivery up to its peak of 104 hp. The mill is derived from the one found in the Honda Pioneer 1000 multipurpose UTV and the Honda Africa Twin motorcycle, using an oversquare cylinder layout with a larger bore than stroke, helping improve low-end torque. Four rubber mounts help isolate passengers from the engine’s vibrations, as well as protect the engine and drivetrain from spirited off-road driving.

The 1000X and 1000R both come with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, which employs separate clutches for even and odd-numbered gears. For example, while accelerating, the clutch on First disengages at almost the exact moment that the clutch on Second catches. That results in swift, snappy gearchanges, although unlike the Yamaha YXZ1000R and its available manual transmission, cog-swapping must happen one at a time—no skipping from Fourth directly to Second. There’s also some bucking at low speeds as the transmission’s computer tries to decipher whether the driver wants to creep forward or idle, but the same issue rears its head in CVT-equipped side-by-sides as well.