The rare 1990 Honda FL400R Pilot recently for sale on eBay resembles today’s modern utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) and side-by-sides.
Honda introduced the FL400R Pilot in 1989 as a successor to the four-wheeled Odyssey FL350. The Pilot helped create a new standard for off-road recreational vehicles by combining ATV-style tires and wheels with a two-stroke engine, long travel suspension, and advanced safety features.
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Designed as a high-performance single-seat off-road vehicle with go-kart/buggy styling, the 1990 FL400R Pilot features a 397-cc liquid-cooled, two-stroke engine. Power is delivered to the rear wheels via a fully automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT). It offers electric and pull-cord starting.
You read that correctly: the Pilot is powered by a 397-cc two-stroke engine. For off-road enthusiasts who love the sweet sound of a two-stroke engine, the FL400R delivers an ear-to-ear grin with the simple press of the steering-wheel-mounted thumb throttle.
It looks more like a Formula One design than an all-terrain off-road vehicle from more than three decades ago.
Innovation Throughout
The FL400R Pilot features independent front and rear coilover shocks with remote reservoir units on the rear. That provides exceptional handling and stability for a 34-year-old vehicle. The coilovers are sufficient to tackle terrain like sand dunes, mud, rocks, and forested trails.
When Honda created the FL400R Pilot, it emphasized safety. The machine comes equipped with a driver roll cage and full-harness seat belt, which was significant at the time. The Pilot’s steering-wheel-mounted thumb throttle and hand brake eliminate the need to engage foot pedal controls.
Although the model developed a dedicated following, Honda produced the FL400R Pilot for only two years: 1989 and 1990.
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The Pilot’s advanced suspension and handling characteristics demonstrated the potential of high-performance off-road vehicles. This pushed other manufacturers to innovate and improve their designs.
Although its production was short-lived, the FL400R Pilot remains a pioneering model in the history of off-road vehicles. The Pilot’s innovative design was truly ahead of its time—and perhaps too early to market.
The seller of this 1990 FL400R Pilot model says it’s been garage-kept. The vehicle includes newer aftermarket UTV wheels and headlights. It has only approximately 1,000 miles of total running time. There’s still plenty of life and rip-roaring fun left in its engine and chassis.
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