2013 Honda Big Red 700 Top Speed
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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
How does it compare to competitors? The Rhino & the Artic Cat?
I am considering one of the three, the big red seems bigger & uglier, but safer. Also how does it compare in speed?
Is it strictly a work machine like the Gator or is it a off road and trail riding machine too.
Any other input is appreciated.
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if trail riding is what you do, the rhino is for you. if you work out of it at all and just ride some dirt roads, big red is for you. I personally just sold a rhino to get a big red. Broke three belts with the rhino! I am more concerned with reliability than faster and trail ridable. But just to let you know the big red out runs a rhino 700 without any mods. Rhino gets it in hondas low first gear, but 2nd and 3rd big red pulls right by! Also after sitting in the big red you dont wont to sit back in the tighter cabin of the rhino.
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I bought a Big Red because the Polaris Ranger was too noisy and too much vibration. But the Big Red still has both, just only 80% of the Ranger in-cab noise and vibration. It also is surprisingly loud if you are riding behind one in another ATV, so it will need a muffler silencer if you hunt out of it.
I rode in a Polaris RZR, stock exhaust. It was smooth and whisper quiet compared to the Big Red. I wish my Big Red was that good.
The Big Red is electronically governed at 40 mph. It cuts out at that speed.
It also scoops water into the engine if you drive up to the hubs very long. It sucks the splashes into the airbox from under the passenger seat like a thirsty dog. Eventually it gets into engine and tranny. Cost me over $500 to flush engine and trans. Water not covered by warranty. I since put a snorkel up into the roll cage (5' off ground) just in case. Honda really messed up in design here. They also sold me mine without the airbox plug at the bottom and water got in there, too, but after I plugged that, water still got in through the under the seat intake.
I bought the camo model. I was told it was color impreganted through the plastic. It looked like it was too, when you look at the hood from the inside, you see black color wisps coming through into the base tan color. Turns out the camo on the hood is just a decal !!! Mine is peeling off like a bad sun burn. They should call the camo model the "Big Tan" as mine will be all a mono-tan or beige color by the end of its first year.
The accessory "cigarette lighter" plug between seats does not work. No continuity in socket, so its a bad plug.
In cold weather, it takes 10 minutes for the engine and trans fluids to warm up before the UTV will move at even a crawl. If you try to move it before it warms up, trans slips and it just sits there.
Suspension is weak and short ranged. Needs stronger springs in back.
Hopefully it provides me with no other surprises. Probably my last Honda.:rant:
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On the trails I can keep up with the RZR's I ride with but in the long flat sections they leave me behind with there higher top speed. Both guys I ride with though find the Big Red way quiter than the RZR and when I ride behind them I can hear there bikes over mine. I have never had any issues with water and have driven through a lot of it. I have added a 2" lift and disconnected the rear sway bar and have found a big difference in the ride. I do agree it needs a longer travel suspension with better shocks and springs for serious trail riding.
My dad has a Prowler and I find it is always in need of getting something adjusted. It is alright machine but it is in constent need to have stuff tightened and tuned. This turned me off from getting one.
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On the trails I can keep up with the RZR's I ride with but in the long flat sections they leave me behind with there higher top speed. Both guys I ride with though find the Big Red way quiter than the RZR and when I ride behind them I can hear there bikes over mine. I have never had any issues with water and have driven through a lot of it. I have added a 2" lift and disconnected the rear sway bar and have found a big difference in the ride. I do agree it needs a longer travel suspension with better shocks and springs for serious trail riding.
My dad has a Prowler and I find it is always in need of getting something adjusted. It is alright machine but it is in constent need to have stuff tightened and tuned. This turned me off from getting one.
You must be a Big Red Salesman?
(1) The Big Red stock exhaust is not quieter than the standard RZR with a stock exahaust. The Big Red has considerably more vibration than the RZR. These observations were made as a passenger in both, same day. I have decibel meter and I can provide data if needed. The difference is severe. I tested the Big Red 2009 against a Polaris Ranger 2009, both brand new. The Big Red is smoother, less vibration and quieter than the Polaris Ranger, BUT NOT THE POLARIS RZR!!!
(2) The Big Red cannot "keep up" with a RZR under any conditions as it is too heavy, too wide, too slow, truns too widem the suspension travel is too short, underpowered, shocks suck and the ground clearance to total length ration is not as good as the RZR. The Big Red is a a good machine within its design standards, but not way can keep up with a RZR on any surface. I bought a Big Red because it carrys more stuff ans Honda in the past has been a reliable engine.
(3) You have not driven in water over your axles if you haven not had trouble. The stock, unmodified Big Red is a sponge and has serious design flaws for use in water. Your owners manual has specific warnings about driving in water over the middle of the wheels. Your warranty has specific exemptions for water instrusion in the engine and trans. They would not have put that in there if they did not know the limits. The Big Red is a good machine if you keep it away from water and don't try to keep up with RZRs!:rotfl:
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NO I am no salesman but I am an owner who as put a lot of miles on his machine. As for the noise myself and my passenger and the 2 RZR owners and there passengers all find the Big Red quieter than the RZR. We are not running at WOT but maybe 3/4 throttle and it makes a huge difference.
The Big Red can keep up with a RZR on the trails we ride. No it does not handle the same but it is a different beast. It really doesn't matter what you are driving on certain trails there is a speed at which you can drive and be comfortable and safe unless you want to beat yourself and machine up. As I said though in the wide open sections they will leave you behind. The Honda would also not be my choice for a race machine either but that is not what I bought it for.
I cannot think of one time that I have crossed water where the water has not ran across the floor of the machine and I have never had any issues. Sorry wish I could say different but I have never had an issue. I have over 1000Km on my bike and it runs first rate. I have checked the air filter changed the oil and other stuff and have never noticed any signs of water. I do store it in my garage and it is heated so I don't know if that makes a difference or not.
I have friends and family that own RZR's, Rhino's and Prowlers and each machine has a list of strengths and weakness. In the end I bought a Honda because of some of the problems the other machines had. The Honda suited my riding style and was well suited to the job I wanted it to do. I would say that that 95% of my use is trails and general riding.
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The big red when cold, before you warm up the fluid, makes for more engine noise and a little sluggish first gear and a harder shift between gears and results in loud operation until warm. But like any machine you need to allow it to warm up , especially in the colder months. Once warm (5-10 mins) if you are in the correct rpm range when cruising, cabin noise is not bad at all. If you stay in the mid to high rpm range of second gear it will stay in second and ofcourse be louder. For example when riding a dirt road at 16-18 mph you should accelerate enough to allow red to shift to third gear which is about 17-19mph. Once it shifts to third you are in a lower rpm range which is quieter. It will stay in 3rd gear down to 12-14 mph unless up hill. Same applies to 1st to 2nd gear in lower speed cruising. This is just something you get a feel for while riding, its not something thats in the manual or anything.
As for vibration, its not too terrible, but IS there! If you have a top and windshield, be sure it was installed with the rubber weather strip where any parts that just rest together and not fasten tight with each other. also make sure your doors are properly adjusted to where you have to shut them kinda hard(not slamming) because a loose door has a lot of vibration. its like a car door that if not fully shut it will still lock but it has a second click. you can move the striker in untill you get a snug fit between latch and striker.
But all in all, for riding dirt roads drinking a silver can, and hauling some fire wood, you cant beat knowing your turning the key of a beltless HONDA. As i mentioned in a earlier reply, i have broke three belts on a rhino and been stranded. That kinda broke me from the belt drives. I used it to pull some rather heavy loads and did cross some water and the belt slipped and probably caused damage to cause the later belts to break while just cruising. But i do the same stuff with my big red. I have pulled my 2200+ pound Suzuki Samurai on a trailer behind the honda and had no problem.
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NO I am no salesman but I am an owner who as put a lot of miles on his machine. As for the noise myself and my passenger and the 2 RZR owners and there passengers all find the Big Red quieter than the RZR. We are not running at WOT but maybe 3/4 throttle and it makes a huge difference.
The Big Red can keep up with a RZR on the trails we ride. No it does not handle the same but it is a different beast. It really doesn't matter what you are driving on certain trails there is a speed at which you can drive and be comfortable and safe unless you want to beat yourself and machine up. As I said though in the wide open sections they will leave you behind. The Honda would also not be my choice for a race machine either but that is not what I bought it for.
I cannot think of one time that I have crossed water where the water has not ran across the floor of the machine and I have never had any issues. Sorry wish I could say different but I have never had an issue. I have over 1000Km on my bike and it runs first rate. I have checked the air filter changed the oil and other stuff and have never noticed any signs of water. I do store it in my garage and it is heated so I don't know if that makes a difference or not.
I have friends and family that own RZR's, Rhino's and Prowlers and each machine has a list of strengths and weakness. In the end I bought a Honda because of some of the problems the other machines had. The Honda suited my riding style and was well suited to the job I wanted it to do. I would say that that 95% of my use is trails and general riding.
No disrespect, I just want to keep this board honest. If everyone keeps singing praises because they just dumped $10K plus an a UTV, Honda will never improve the things and they do need to be improved.
I wish mine was as water proof as yours, maybe it is now that I snorkeled it. Honda was absolutely unsympathetic to warranty claims for water, Water was barely to the floor boards.
If a RZR pulls up next to me and wants to race for pink slips, I am going to pass.
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I shopped around rode lots of different bikes and bought the Honda because it was what I felt was the best bike to suit my needs. I am very happy with it.
We did a run today back in the country and my buddy on his RZR was there we shot this video of me in the water. This is no wheres near the deepest I have been in and I have never had any issues. The water was over the floor boards and I spent a fair amount of time in the water break the ice to get through. This video is on the way back.
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WOW!! Thanks for posting that video. It is clear to me now that when I took the Big Red at delivery and they did not have that air box plug in the bottom of the air box that it must have been the issue that pulled water into the air box via engine vacuum. Of course, getting Honda to admit responsibility is another matter. Your video had your BR under more water than I have ever run in
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I am going to have to check mine when I get home. But we have to drive in water that deep almost everytime we go out. That spot was on the trail we normally take back in the country and as you can see is why I have no issues keeping up with the RZR's. This area has a lot of hidden rocks and is very rough. We had to tow one RZR out when it hit a rock and split his base pan. Also ride noise is not an issue because we are riding much slower and I can hear the RZR as his rpm's are up and the red's are much lower due to the 3 speed tranny. I will start a thread with a few pictures of our riding area.
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do you want to see the big red in the water¿, its a beautiful machine....
lus1:
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firpo9 the water in your video looks a little warmer then the water I was in.
Here are a few more. I had to bake the Big Red into the water as the trail was to tight and it was going to rip the front fenders off the bike.
And another video of the bike in the snow doing a hill climb. It was steeper than the video shows.
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I just took my Red for its maiden voyage. Now I did not get a Red to play on, its used for hunting and work around the house so take this with grain of salt. This suspension is seriously harsh. Where my daughter on the XP could flat out hold it wide open I had to back off throttle so it did'nt bounce me out of the seat. It's that bad, we traded machines and her words were "the suspension sucks". Not bad for a 13 year old.
All in all I've been over and under this machine for 2 days straight in the shop and other than a few "why'd they do that" everything looks solid and well built. All I care is that I dont have to fix the dang thing so much. Which is why I own a Honda now.
Keeping my fingers crossed, Grin
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It does get a little better but not much. I disconnected the rear sway bar and found it help some but I noticed a bigger improvement in traction in two wheel drive more so than the ride quality.
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sfrankland... do you have any photo how does it looks whith the sawy bars disconected¿, thanks!
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Got a foot of snow so I got to try the adapted Polaris plow out. Everything worked well and noticed that BR turning radius is way smaller the XP. I was able to make 1 point turns instead of 2 so its a time saver as well. Stock tires did great job also. Safety netting has got to go.
Grin
2013 Honda Big Red 700 Top Speed
Source: https://www.pioneerforums.com/threads/how-does-big-red-compare-to-others.72308/
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