Still going strong!
The saying goes ‘if it ain’t broke -don’t fix it’, so it’s no surprise to see an old favourite in the shape of the Honda CT125 still doing it like it always did, but with a revamp from the iconic CT110 that started things.
Blue Wing Honda loaned us a TRX500FPA so we could get reacquainted with the ‘big red’. It remains a great ride and all you need in a large quad for the farm.
The TRX500FPA has a 499cc OHV liquid-cooled single with 92 x 75mm bore and stroke – a strong engine which coped well lugging through slow, tight forest sections of the track we tested it on, and it was equally happy being opened up for a blast home along Muriwai Beach at 60km/h.
You can still order the 500 with a manual gearbox, but we’d opt for the automatic fitted to our test bike, which has a manual mode available should the rider want to hold a gear for steep conditions or while towing. The manual selection is quick and helped with some steep descents, although even left in automatic, the engine breaking on its own would have stopped the big Honda running away on us. Low ratio was only needed once on a very steep section.
The other feature on the FPA model is power steering – an option on the lesser variants of the 500 and one we do not hesitate to recommend. The price difference is about $850 and we’d spend it. It takes the shock out of the handlebars over rough ground and makes it safer and easier to manoeuvre regardless of the conditions as the bars won’t wrench in your hands like unassisted steering can. Weighing 294kg the TRX500 is not a fatty, but is still a big unit and the power steering certainly makes it more nimble.
Time didn’t allow for a tow test, but we know from previous tests that the TRX500 is fit for the task, especially with the rigid rear axle that maintains ground clearance regardless of load.
Bikes with independent rear suspension generally soak up the bumps better than the solid axle with dual-dampener swing arm on the Honda, but it is still a comfortable ride and farmers will want to consider the towing and maintenance advantages of the simpler set up.
Overall comfort and usability on the 500 is excellent. The 861mm seat height will accommodate most riders well. The independent double wishbone front end is compliant, and the single-gate gear selector is, like most of the major controls, intuitive to use.
The TRX500FPA costs $15,845+GST; the cheaper manual version, without power steer, costs $13,905. You can buy cheaper quads, but even at that money, it remains a convincing package.
www.honda.co.nz
