Howdy, all!
QUESTION: Do any of you have any experience or even second hand knowledge as to whether or not the power, torque, abilities, etc. of a Honda Pioneer 500 are capable and sufficient for enjoying a USFS-designated mountain OHV trail system?
The Admiral and I are looking at a 2020 Honda Pioneer 500 as our “initial”* plunge into off-roading (we finally made it to the new (year-and-a-half) Honda outdoor sports dealership about 1/2 hour from our house, yesterday).
Background: Themnogoodsumsaguns that started the thread about their PA off-roading in the “Events” forums last month probably have NO idea the excitement, adrenalin and “new chapter” of outdoor camaraderie they have sparked in my household! But, we are tempering the forgoing with research, research and more research.
Situation Driver: That aforementioned thread led us to discovering (!) this trail system less than an hour from our front doorstep!
USFS webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/null/recarea/?recid=49004&actid=32
USFS brochure: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd604184.pdf
Private “ATV Trails” webpage: http://www.atvtrails.org/Carolina_ATVtrails/Brownmountain.html
We figure that, at 50”, the Pioneer 500 will allow us to access at least 28-miles of the 34-mile trail system so we can assess what our next “investments” should be (I.e. “Talon” for her (but, 65” would limit her to only 15-miles - roughly half - of the 28-miles of trails restricted to 50”) and the quad I know Imagonna want...)
Big question in our minds (having as little practical knowledge as we do now vs the veritable MDS mind-trust here!) is:
Does a new Honda Pioneer 500 have the power, torque, abilities, etc. required for the two of us to capably and sufficiently do our initial “scouting” and “scoping out” of this USFS-designated mountain OHV trail system - INCLUDING THE “MOST” DIFFICULT SECTIONS?
NOTE: (A group of incredibly friendly dirt bike riders (the only other souls up there yesterday) told us the two things that make trails “more” or “most” difficult over others are: Sharp Turns Combined With Steep Grades - versus “obstacles”. They definitely cautioned, the closer to 50” you stay the more places you’ll be able to go!
QUESTION: Do any of you have any experience or even second hand knowledge as to whether or not the power, torque, abilities, etc. of a Honda Pioneer 500 are capable and sufficient for enjoying a USFS-designated mountain OHV trail system?
The Admiral and I are looking at a 2020 Honda Pioneer 500 as our “initial”* plunge into off-roading (we finally made it to the new (year-and-a-half) Honda outdoor sports dealership about 1/2 hour from our house, yesterday).
Background: Themnogoodsumsaguns that started the thread about their PA off-roading in the “Events” forums last month probably have NO idea the excitement, adrenalin and “new chapter” of outdoor camaraderie they have sparked in my household! But, we are tempering the forgoing with research, research and more research.
Situation Driver: That aforementioned thread led us to discovering (!) this trail system less than an hour from our front doorstep!
USFS webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/null/recarea/?recid=49004&actid=32
USFS brochure: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd604184.pdf
Private “ATV Trails” webpage: http://www.atvtrails.org/Carolina_ATVtrails/Brownmountain.html
We figure that, at 50”, the Pioneer 500 will allow us to access at least 28-miles of the 34-mile trail system so we can assess what our next “investments” should be (I.e. “Talon” for her (but, 65” would limit her to only 15-miles - roughly half - of the 28-miles of trails restricted to 50”) and the quad I know Imagonna want...)
Big question in our minds (having as little practical knowledge as we do now vs the veritable MDS mind-trust here!) is:
Does a new Honda Pioneer 500 have the power, torque, abilities, etc. required for the two of us to capably and sufficiently do our initial “scouting” and “scoping out” of this USFS-designated mountain OHV trail system - INCLUDING THE “MOST” DIFFICULT SECTIONS?
NOTE: (A group of incredibly friendly dirt bike riders (the only other souls up there yesterday) told us the two things that make trails “more” or “most” difficult over others are: Sharp Turns Combined With Steep Grades - versus “obstacles”. They definitely cautioned, the closer to 50” you stay the more places you’ll be able to go!