TEST: Hisun Strike 1000 EPS

On May 11, 2016

Hisun Motors has been providing products for some of the biggest names in UTVs and ATVs for 10 years, and the Strike 1000 is Hisun’s sportiest UTV. The Strike 1000 has an impressive list of standard features, including EPS, EFI, a CVTech clutch and locking front and rear differentials. It’s powered by a 976cc V-twin with dual-range CVT and gives a lot of bang for the buck.

Articulation is good in rocks, and the Strike 1000 has 13 inches of ground clearance and locking front and rear diffs. A windshield also comes standard, but we were in too much of a rush to install it before this fun snow ride

WHAT’S A STRIKE 1000?
Hisun has long been a manufacturer of ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles and scooters in China, and final assembly of its UTVs and ATVs is completed at its massive facility in Dallas, Texas. Hisun has developed a dealer network that stretches from Anchorage, Alaska, to Rangeley, Maine, and to Zephyr Hills, Florida. The new Strike 1000 has a 976cc EFI-fed V-twin that makes a claimed 65 horsepower and does 70 mph in high range and 50 mph in low. The Strike 1000 shares its V-twin engine with two 95mm, 11:1-compression pistons and 75mm stroke with the Strike Crew 1000 and utility Sector 1000, and all sport a dualrange CVT with CVTech Trailbloc IBC clutch. Strikes have a sporty, non-tilting bed with a 350-pound capacity, highback bucket seats, aggressive styling, and a tilt steering wheel with EPS assist.

HPG piggyback shocks deliver 11 inches of travel with long A-arms, and they have adjustable compression and rebound damping, plus ring preload adjusters. Four-wheel hydraulic brakes and a parking brake on the center console are also sporty, and the Strike has a locking front differential and unlocking rear diff. The engine sits behind and between the seats with a center-exit, dual-outlet exhaust, and it tows 1200 pounds via a 1.25-inch receiver.

Standard equipment includes EPS, a 3500-pound winch, side mirrors, turn signals in the heavy-duty front bumper, emergency flashers, adjustable highback seats, roof, windshield, horn, analog-digital display, LED halo lights, and new two-tone aluminum wheels with aggressive Wanda tires. It’s EPA/ CARB compliant and has a one-year limited warranty.

HOW DOES COST COMPARE?
At $13,999 the Strike 1000 EPS is a bargain, especially with its standard 3500-pound winch, roof, windshield, mirrors, heavy-duty front bumper and piggyback shocks with adjustable compression, rebound and ring preload. Arctic Cat’s Wildcat 1000X starts at $17,499, while Can-Am’s Maverick 1000R starts at $16,399 without EPS and $17,449 with it. The new Polaris RZR S 1000 EPS is $17,999, and the S 900 is $15,499 or $16,499 with EPS. The Can-Am Commander 1000 DPS is $14,449, and the Honda Pioneer 1000 is $13,999.

The 976cc V-twin produces 65 horsepower with 11:1 compression and two 95mm pistons. It has Delphi EFI induction with a single throttle body feeding both cylinders. On the other side, the CVT cover ducts up to a RZR-like side-bed intake with frog-skin inlet, and it has a drain in the CVT outer cover.

HOW FAST IS THE 976CC V-TWIN?
Not very fast. At 976cc, the Strike is very much like Can-Am’s V-twin, but it’s more Commander than Maverick. Hisun claims 65 horsepower, and Can-Am claims 85 horsepower for its Commander 1000 engine. Throttle response is good, but acceleration is lethargic compared to other 1000s. It’ll do 70 mph in high range and 50 mph in low, but it takes a while to get there. The closed-loop EFI gets the EPA and California Air Resources Board squeals of approval.

HOW IS THE DELIVERY?
Smooth and steady. With a top speed of 50 mph for low range, the CVT tuning could be better for hardcore off-roading. It gets the job done, but we’d like to see lower gearing with a top speed around 40 mph.

High range is good for up to 70 mph. The locking front diff is nice, as is the unlocking rear diff, which helps turning and saves turf. The CVs are stout, and the axles are protected by nice aluminum A-arm guards.

The tilt steering wheel has excellent padding and shape with protrusions at 2 and 10 o’clock for thumbs-up driving, and the center is a horn button. Turn signals and emergency flashers are controlled by toggles under the instrument cluster.

WHAT ABOUT THE HANDLING?
Also smooth and steady. There’s a good combination of turning agility and straight-line stability, and the unlocking rear diff helps in tight, twisty trails. Aggressive tires and the smooth power delivery also aid turning, but the soft suspension produces a lot of body roll in corners. It slides predictably on harder surfaces, and we were impressed with its sure-footedness on snow and ice.

Yit piggyback shocks have 18-position compression and rebound adjusters; ours came set at 13 clicks out on compression and 10 clicks out on rebound. EPS assists the rack-and-pinion steering, and there is an oil cooler in front of the fan-assisted radiator

HOW IS THE SUSPENSION?
Pretty good. Long and sturdy A-arms are mated with Yit piggyback shocks with 18-position compression and rebound adjusters and dual-ring preload adjusters. Damping and spring rates are in the ballpark with the standard compression setting of 13 clicks out, front and rear. The shocks do a good job on small hits and trail junk but bottom pretty easily. They’re the same shocks that come on the Tactic 1000 4×4 ATV and are pretty small and spindly for a sport UTV. They heat up pretty quickly in desert whoops.

HOW STRONG ARE THE BRAKES?
Not very strong. Four-wheel hydraulic brakes with ventilated discs look good on paper, but it takes a lot of pedal pressure to get them to bring the
Strike down from speed. The console mounted parking brake is especially weak, and we couldn’t find a way to adjust the cable.

The Strike 1000 EPS is Hisun Motors USA’s sportiest UTV, and it gets new two-tone, 14-inch, aluminum wheels with new Wanda 27-inch radials for 2016. It sports a ton of features at a low MSRP of $13,999 with EPS.

WHERE IS THE STRIKE HAPPIEST?
We took the Strike up in the Sierra Madre Mountains, and it was great on the twisty forest trails, snow, ice and slush. The sedate power delivery and aggressive tires are great for slick conditions, and the ride is really fun on USFS roads and trails. Its turn signals, horn and windshield make it easily licensed for the street in 23 states, so you can connect with distant trails too.

The speedometer and tachometer are analog and easy to read, and the digital readouts include a trip meter (mph/kph), clock, range, and fuel and temperature levels. It also has indicator icons for everything including park and no seat belt

HOW ABOUT TRAIL COMFORT?
It’s excellent. The roof, windshield, seats and tilt steering wheel are all very nice, and noise and vibration levels in the cabin are low. Smooth power and suspension add to a comfortable ride, and the instruments and toggle switches are easy to read and use. We’re not a big fan of the side nets, and the latches aren’t nearly as easy to use as those on the Can-Am Commander or Maverick. There are no passenger hold points other than the loop high on the cage. It has over fenders, but the wide 69.3-inch stance puts the tires well outside of the overfenders, so snow and mud get slung into the cab and onto the seats and occupants. Mud flaps and doors would be better.

We’ve never seen a gnarlier front bumper, and it has embedded turn signals and a 3500-pound winch. LED halos encircle the low-beam headlights, but they turn off when the high beams are turned on. The Wanda tires offer great traction in many conditions.

LED taillights flank white LED turn signals in back, and bed capacity is 350 pounds. The closed-loop EFI and center-exit exhaust are high-tech, and the Strike 1000 will tow 1200 pounds. We like the A-arm guards and muffler shielding.

WHAT’S OUR FINAL ANSWER?
There’s a lot to like on the Hisun Strike 1000, especially the EPS, smooth power and suspension, winch, roof, windshield, turn signals, mirrors, and horn. It comes fully loaded at the same price as a bare-bones Honda Pioneer 1000, and it’s a great machine for cruising the high country. Cabin comfort is excellent, and the suspension and handling are good, but the brakes and CVT need work.

SPECS
2016 HISUN STRIKE 1000 EPS
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION
Engine type …Liquid-cooled, 4-valve, SOHC 4-stroke V-twin
Displacement …976cc
Bore x stroke …91mmx75mm (2)
Compression ratio …11:1
Lubrication system …Wet sump
Induction …EFI 54mm throttle body
Starting/back-up …Electric/none
Starting procedure …In any range, brake engaged
Air filter:
Type …Paper mesh/screen
Transmission …Dual-range CVT w/ CVTech clutch
Drive system …2WD/4WD w/ locking diffs
Final drive f/r …Shaft/shaft
DIMENSIONS/CAPACITIES/WEIGHTS
Fuel capacity …7.9 gal.
Wheelbase …85”
Overall length/width/height …113.4”/69.3”/74.8”
Ground clearance …13.0”
Claimed dry weight …1,388 lb.
Bed capacity …350 lb.
Hitch …1.5-inch receiver
Towing capacity …1200 lb.
ROLLING CHASSIS
Frame …2-inch, high-strength steel
Suspension/wheel travel:
Front Dual A-arms & piggyback shocks w/ adj. comp./reb./prel./11”
Rear Dual A-arms & piggyback shocks w/ adj. comp./reb./prel./11”
Brakes:
Front …Single-piston hydraulic discs
Rear …Single-piston hydraulic discs
Tires:
Front …27×9-14 Wanda radial
Rear …27×11-14 Wanda radial
DETAILS
DC outlet …Auto-style waterproof plug
Lighting:
Front …Four 60W headlights
Rear …Twin tail/brake lights
Instrumentation …LCD speedo/odo/tach/trip/hour/fuel/gear position/diagnostics/clock
Colors …Black, red, blue, orange, white, camo
Minimum recommended operator age …16
Suggested retail price …$13,999
Contact …www.hisunmotors.com, (972) 446-0760

TEST: Hisun Strike 1000 EPS

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