e might be motocross enthusiasts before all else, but when Honda entered the side-by-side sport market with the Talon 1000X and 1000R, we couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel—and Honda was nice enough to invite us out to the Utah desert to do just that.

The Talon’s aggressive, motocross-like styling gives a favorable first impression that remains intact when you hit the dirt. Like a dirt bike, it feels responsive and nimble, and the suspension—especially on the wider R model, which boasts 20.1” of travel—begs to be flogged. Airborne antics were no problem, and 55 mph passes through long, knee-deep whoop sections were shockingly smooth. If you tried those same passes at half the speed in a truck or lesser side-by-side, you’d have to replace the fillings in your teeth. Comfortable seats kept us smashing all day without a hint of discomfort.

As much fun as it was blasting around the desert, it’s not the only thing the Talon is good for. After said high-speed buffoonery, our group leaders led us to some rock crawling sections to demonstrate the Talon’s climbing abilities. While the terrain probably wasn’t overly challenging for hardcore enthusiasts, the intimidation factor was definitely there, and some members of the road media who had zero dirt experience wondered out loud if it was even possible to climb. It was, and with astonishing ease. The Talons eagerly boosted up and down the rocks as if the wheels were made of glue, and even the greenest of drivers navigated through with no problem, which is a testament to how user friendly this piece of high-performance equipment truly is.

If you get a chance to pilot one of these machines, don’t pass it up. If you’re like us it’ll leave you wishing you had your own!