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The
TRX700XX has 9.3" of rear suspension
travel with preload adjustable piggy
back reservoirs shocks in the rear
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Besides the newest Honda TRX 700XX having a potent
powerplant, it also has a highly innovative independent
rear suspension (IRS), which is a first for Honda
sport ATVs. Honda’s sport ATV IRS system
is not an industry first because Polaris was the
first manufacturer to release the IRS system on
their Outlaw sport ATVs several years ago, but
the TRX 700XX is different in that the chain drive
and rear brake are more centrally located, which
allows for equal length shafts.
The TRX 700XX IRS provides an impressive 9.3
inches of wheel travel along with 10.2 inches
of ground clearance, which allows the 700XX
to go place many other sport ATVs wouldn’t
be able to negotiate with as much ease. The
IRS system does add some additional weight,
and the TRX weighs in at a wet weight of 508lbs,
which includes a full (3.6 gallon) tank of fuel.
Although the 700XX is quite nimble, it takes
a little more effort to make it slide as well
as a straight axle machine does, which is due
in part to being an IRS machine. The IRS and
sway bar helps to cut down on body roll and
make the quad feel very stable in turns. The
stock Dunlop tires hook up well and have heavier
sidewalls to cut down on side roll. The shocks
feel a little on the stiff side especially at
slow speed trail riding, but the faster you
ride, the smoother the suspension. The suspension
on TRX 700XX is apparently stiff at low speed
to help to minimize body roll and stabilize
the machine.
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The
TRX 700XX IRS (Independent Rear Suspension)
really shines when riding through rugged
and rocky terrain like a river beds or
even in tight woods trails with roots
and rocks as the photo above demonstrates.
I rode over a large rock on the trail,
and the 10.2” of ground clearance
allowed for easy passage over the rock
without even scraping |
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The
TRX 700XX handled better than expected
when launching it over the top of some
of the dunes and the suspension provided
a soft and predictable landing as well
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The independent rear suspension on the TRX
700XX also allowed it to track straight through
whoops while the suspension soaked up just about
anything we could throw at it, including some
decent size jumps. “It flew straight and
handled the hits very well. There was a couple
of times when I thought I was going to bottom
out, but the suspension just soaked it up,”
said Honda Red Riders test rider, Joe Bernal.
While in the air though, it was apparent that
the machine weighs a bit more than it’s
450cc sibling, as it wasn’t as easy to
throw around in the air. Since flying through
the air is not what this machine was primarily
designed for, it is something we can easily
overlook.
The TRX 700XX’s 10.2 inches of ground clearance
with the independent double wishbone suspension
with piggyback rezzie shocks really shined when
went traveled through some rugged and rocky sections
of the desert valley as we were able to ride over
many large rocks without dragging. “I went
over some pretty big rocks out there and never
hit the skid plate. I could definitely see myself
out there racing at Baja on this bike!”
stated Bernal. We must note that Honda has done
an excellent job providing protection to the chain
and rear sprocket of the quad and it would take
a huge impact to do any sort of damage to either
one.