If you're looking to get a honda talon plow set up before the first big storm hits, you've probably realized that these sport side-by-sides are surprisingly good at pushing snow. Most people think of the Talon as a pure trail machine—something meant for ripping through dunes or flying down forest tracks—but once you hook a heavy-duty blade to the front, it turns into a serious workhorse. There's something pretty satisfying about sitting in a bolstered bucket seat with a 1000cc engine at your disposal while the neighbors are out there struggling with hand-held blowers.
Choosing a plow for a machine like the Talon isn't quite the same as picking one for a utility quad or a slower UTV. You've got a lot of power and a very specific chassis design to work with. You don't want to just bolt on the first thing you find on sale. You need something that can handle the speed and the torque of the Talon without ripping the front end off.
Why the Talon Actually Makes a Great Snow Mover
It might seem overkill to use a high-performance sport UTV for chores, but the Honda Talon has a few tricks up its sleeve that make it better at plowing than you'd think. First off, the i-4WD system is a lifactor. Unlike traditional locking differentials that can make steering a nightmare on slick surfaces, the Talon's system manages traction naturally. When one wheel starts to spin on a patch of ice, the brake traction control kicks in, sending power where it actually needs to go. This means you aren't fighting the steering wheel as much when you're trying to angle the blade.
Then there's the transmission. Most side-by-sides use a CVT (belt drive). While belts are fine, they can get hot and slip when you're trying to shove a massive pile of wet, heavy snow. The Talon uses a Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). It's a gear-on-gear setup. When you're in low range, pushing a heavy load, you have a direct mechanical link to the ground. You don't have to worry about smoking a belt because you got a little too aggressive with a snowbank.
Picking Your Blade: Steel vs. Poly
When you start shopping for a honda talon plow, the first big decision is the material of the blade itself. Usually, you're looking at either powder-coated steel or a high-density polyethylene (poly).
Steel blades are the old-school standard. They're heavy, which is actually a good thing when you need the blade to "bite" into hard-packed snow or ice. They're also generally cheaper. The downside? They can rust if you don't stay on top of the paint, and snow tends to stick to the metal more easily. If you've ever had to stop every five minutes to scrape frozen slush off your plow, you know how annoying that is.
Poly blades, on the other hand, are incredibly slick. Snow just slides right off them, which makes it easier to "throw" the snow further away from your driveway. They also don't rust, and they have a bit of "flex" to them. If you hit a hidden curb or a frozen stump, the poly blade can absorb some of that impact rather than transferring all that energy directly into your Talon's frame. They usually cost a bit more, but for many owners, the lack of maintenance makes it worth it.
Finding the Right Width
Don't be tempted to go too small. A 60-inch blade might seem big, but remember that the Talon is a wide machine. Once you angle the plow, a 60-inch blade might not even cover the width of your tires. You'll end up driving over the snow you're trying to clear. For a Talon, you really want to look at a 66-inch or 72-inch blade. The 72-inch is usually the sweet spot—it clears a wide enough path that your tires stay on the clean pavement even when the blade is fully angled.
Mounting Systems: Front vs. Mid-Mount
This is where things get a bit technical, but it's important. You have two main options for how the plow attaches to your Honda.
Front-Mount Systems
A front-mount setup attaches right to the front bumper area. The big advantage here is ground clearance. Since the mounting plate is up high, you don't have to take it off when you go trail riding in the summer. It also makes it way easier to hook up the plow—you just drive up, click it in, and you're done. You don't have to crawl around on the cold ground trying to find pin holes under the machine.
Mid-Mount Systems
Mid-mounts attach to the frame under the middle of the UTV. This is technically a "stronger" way to plow because the force of the snow is being pushed into the strongest part of the chassis. However, it's a bit of a pain. You lose ground clearance, and if you leave the mount on during the summer, you're definitely going to snag it on rocks or logs. If you're planning on doing some truly industrial-scale plowing, go mid-mount. For most people clearing a long driveway, a front-mount is much more convenient.
Lifting the Blade: Winch or Actuator?
Most honda talon plow kits rely on a winch to raise and lower the blade. It's simple and it works. If you already have a winch on your Talon (which you probably should anyway), you're halfway there. Just keep an eye on your winch rope. Using a steel cable for plowing is a recipe for disaster because the sharp angles will eventually cause it to fray and snap. A lot of guys switch to a short "plow strap" during the winter—it's a thick, 5-foot piece of synthetic webbing that handles the constant up-and-down motion much better.
If you want to get fancy, you can go with a hydraulic or electric actuator. This gives you "down pressure," meaning you can actually force the blade into the ground to scrape up ice. A standard winch-lifted plow only relies on its own weight to stay down. Actuators are awesome, but they're significantly more expensive and involve more wiring.
Small Upgrades That Make a Big Difference
Once you've got the main honda talon plow installed, there are a few "quality of life" things you might want to consider.
- Wear Bars: These are the metal strips at the very bottom of the blade. They take all the abuse. If you're plowing gravel, look into "skid shoes" which keep the blade an inch or so off the ground so you don't scoop up your entire driveway and dump it in the yard.
- Side Markers: Those little orange sticks on the edges of the blade. They might look dorky, but when you're trying to maneuver near your garage or a parked car, they help you see exactly where the edges of the plow are.
- Lighting: The Talon's headlights are great, but the plow blade often blocks them when it's raised. Adding a small LED light bar to the top of the cage or the hood can save you a lot of squinting during late-night snow sessions.
Real-World Performance and Maintenance
Pushing snow with a Talon is honestly a blast. The power is there, and the machine feels planted. One thing to watch out for is your speed. It's easy to get carried away because the Talon feels so stable, but hitting a hidden manhole cover at 15 mph is a great way to bend your frame or snap a plow mount. Slow and steady is the move.
After you're done for the day, give the plow a quick rinse if your local roads use salt. Even the best powder-coating will eventually give way to salt brine. A little bit of WD-40 on the pivot points and the trip springs will keep everything moving smoothly for the next time the sky decides to dump a foot of the white stuff on you.
At the end of the day, a honda talon plow turns a toy into a tool. It's one of those purchases that you might hesitate on initially because of the cost, but the first time you clear your driveway in ten minutes while staying relatively warm and dry, you'll wonder why you waited so long. Just make sure you get a mount that's built for the Talon's specific frame, pick a wide enough blade, and you'll be the person everyone on your street is jealous of when the blizzard hits.