Thinking about changing the quad here currently. Have a 2012 500 at the moment and the bike has been faultless bar one fuel pump. Was looking at the new 500 IRS and have been told that their the way to go but I'm just kinda looking for peoples opinions that are using them everyday. Its 800 extra over the standard bike, does the auto gearbox give trouble? Is the independent suspension much better than the straight axle. The work the bike does would be 50/50 between lowland and upland. Thanks!
Honda 500 irs
- Thread starter Paul86
- Start date
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
IRS is brilliant, once you use it you will not go back to a trailing arm... but I think Honda are expensive for what they are.
For what it's worth, hold off buying anything... new bike coming. You might want it, or there might be good deals on the last of the old model 500
For what it's worth, hold off buying anything... new bike coming. You might want it, or there might be good deals on the last of the old model 500
Boydvalley
Member
- Location
- Bath
As above. Was advised to wait by someone from Honda Uk. He did However say warranty claims were well down on last of old model but still didn’t try to sell me the one we were stood round!
I did ask the salesman in the Honda dealership if there was anything new in the pipeline, he said he didn't think so but to talk to Honda at the ploughing. Maybe he knew and didn't want saying but who knows. When I bought the current 500 it was the first of the new model and I'm glad now when it comes to trading that it is.
The Seeker
Member
Don’t buy this generation buy the new 520
- Location
- breconshire
I'm sure they make a 500irs with footshift, less to go wrong than the auto with electric shift.
We used to have a 420irs, which we liked except for the auto.
exmoor dave
Member
- Location
- exmoor, uk
Had mine a year now and really like it, if you go with the electric shift/ auto, you get a high/low box too which i find really useful.
I've found it surprisingly good on fuel.
The auto box is abit of a gimmick I think so I barely use it...... but when you've caught a sheep for what ever reason and are holding it with one arm and need to drive with the other..... the auto switch is the biggest help ever!
If i have one gripe, the bike feels abit under powered with a trailer in high range, where as low range is abit low on the flat.
Edit.
The paintwork on the racks and surrounding metalwork is abit poor
- Location
- Cornwall
If you are seriously going off road ,the IRS with power steering will happily go where you would not dream of taking the trailing arm bike!
michael N123
Member
We’ve a 500 irs and 420 trailing arm and I’d rather take the 420 round the fell
The 500 feels a lot heavier and number than our last old type 500
michael N123
Member
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
That's not strictly true.
Honda's problem is the use of a single strut with the trailing arm. Between that and the bikes are narrow tracking meaning it's a very unstable platform on hill ground.
The Suzuki 400 is trailing arm also, but infinitely more stable - with 2 struts and a wider wheel tracking.
I've had both bikes above, and I'm on my 3rd bike with IRS. They both have plus and negative points - but it's more about how the whole package (bike) is put together. Some makes/designs are much better than others
- Location
- Cornwall
I find the IRS gives a lot more ground clearance plus it gives more grip as the tyres stay in contact with the ground.we have a 500 of each suspension type and you get stuck with IRS a lot less
west coast angus
Member
Get the Yamaha bought, you will not regret it! I got one 2 months ago, its a brilliant bike, cream of the crop?
- Location
- Devon
With a price tag to match?
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
west coast angus
Member
Far better than you would think, if driven sensibly it's not any worse than my Honda 420. Would highly recommend one?
- Location
- Dumfries & Galloway
If only you'd replied this morning!
I was looking at a 700 at a farm sale today... was cheap, but they didn't start it before selling so I was put off... spoke to a friend after, who's neighbour seemingly has one - word is it's no worse for fuel as the Yammy 450
AndrewG
Member
- Location
- Kirkcudbrightshire
I have the manual shift independent suspension 500 here mix of hill and upland, notice a huge diffenence in comfort over the fixed axle 420, especially on bad bumps on farm tracks although it maybe feels a bit unsteadier with being a couple inches higher, think it will be a case of getting used to the different handling of an independent suspension setup compared to a fixed axle with no body roll.
Don’t see there being a huge amount of differences with the new 520 apart from a new electric system to engage reverse on the auto models and a wee storage box on the front rack.
Don’t see there being a huge amount of differences with the new 520 apart from a new electric system to engage reverse on the auto models and a wee storage box on the front rack.
Agreed, we were a bit worried about fuel consumption but it’s not as bad as we thought. All it’s jobs done at an easy pace, great bike leagues ahead of the can am it replaced.
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