Honda’s clever Quickflip seating lets you choose the amount of seating or cargo bed space you
need for the moment.
WHAT KIND OF 4WD SYSTEM DOES IT
HAVE?
Selectable 2WD/4WD with a lockable
front differential. You can select 2WD
or 4WD and lock or unlock the front
differential with a lever on the dash.
HOW FAST IS IT?
The 700-4 Deluxe can hit 40 mph.
Being a recreation utility machine, the
Pioneer doesn’t accelerate as hard
as lighter, more powerful 700cc sport
machines, but it gets down the trail
pretty quickly.
HOW IS THE POWER DELIVERY?
Having manual and automatic shift
modes lets you use the Pioneer’s
power the way you like rather than
working with a fixed style of power
delivery. Shifting manually makes the
Pioneer feel sportier for trail riding,
and the ability to hold the machine in
first can come in handy in mud or for
challenging towing or hauling chores.
Automatic mode lets you relax
and enjoy the ride. You’ll feel the
transmission shifting, so it’s not as
smooth as a belt-type automatic, but
you don’t have to worry about belt
wear.
WHAT KIND OF SUSPENSION HAS IT GOT?
The Pioneer has double-A-arm
suspension front and rear, with a rear
sway bar to reduce body roll. There’s
7. 9 inches of travel up front from nonadjustable shocks. Spring preload-adjustable rear shocks provide 9.1
inches of travel.
HOW DOES THE SUSPENSION WORK?
The 700-4 Deluxe delivers a
remarkably smooth ride, even on
bumpy, rocky trails, as long as you
don’t push the machine too hard.
Get too aggressive and you’ll feel the
front end bottom on big impacts. For
normal trail riding and exploring, the
suspension is fine.
HOW IS THE HANDLING?
It’s nimble and very stable. The
Pioneer 700-4 is built on the same
platform as the two-seat Pioneer 700,
so its 76.8-inch wheelbase helps
it corner effortlessly and maneuver
easily in confined areas. The Honda’s
59.7-inch width and its relatively low
stance make it reassuringly stable when
cornering or traveling on sloped terrain.
HOW IS IT ON HILLS?
Confidence-inspiring. The 700 has
enough power for practically any hill
normal trails put in your path, and the
versatile 4WD system makes sure the
Pioneer finds traction.
The 700-4’s natural engine braking
and strong disc brakes provide plenty
of control on difficult downhills.
Honda’s Pioneer 700-4
Deluxe offers fully
automatic and manual
shifting with no drive
belt worries.
