P500 Am I gonna break this thing?

[Youlookutvish]

Hello!

I am a new rider and I went out and hit the trails for the first time with some experienced riders. Up to now I've been using it to cruise around my property on fairly flat land. My major concern while following these yahoos was that I would break my brand new 500. I hit a pretty big hole at around 35KM and hour and I felt the shock bottom out. They took me down some paths there were super bumpy. Any video I've seen of these guys are pretty tame, people tend to crawl. I was trying to keep up (not possible) and I ended up slowing down as I was bouncing around like a mad man. I am pretty sore today lol!

Do I need to be worried? Should I take er easy on my new toy?

 

[NTCPrezJB]

Hello!

I am a new rider and I went out and hit the trails for the first time with some experienced riders. Up to now I've been using it to cruise around my property on fairly flat land. My major concern while following these yahoos was that I would break my brand new 500. I hit a pretty big hole at around 35KM and hour and I felt the shock bottom out. They took me down some paths there were super bumpy. Any video I've seen of these guys are pretty tame, people tend to crawl. I was trying to keep up (not possible) and I ended up slowing down as I was bouncing around like a mad man. I am pretty sore today lol!

Do I need to be worried? Should I take er easy on my new toy?

There is a couple of reinforcement products out there that are pretty cheap insurance. I will try to find the posts for you. The P500 is a rough ride though. There are definitely some guys on here that run it hard. It seems to take it in stride. I wouldn't try jumping it and I'd use the brakes before the upcoming ditch/rock/root in the trail, but overall I think you're body will let you know when you are exceeding its limits. Shocks, bigger tires and spacers (spacers alone won't, but if you go up in tire size you really should widen the stance) will help smooth things out of course.

 

[Alan_Vander]

massive jumps probably will but just bottoming out the shocks is almost normal rough riding for these because the lack of suspension travel. i jave the 700 and it took 5 yrs of bottoming out shocks , pulling trucks out of mud holes, and portals and tires and tweaking hard before i ever broke the first thing.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

 

[Youlookutvish]

Thanks!

I did upgrade to 26" Bighorns on 5:2 offset . I will not worry. I may consider

There is a couple of reinforcement products out there that are pretty cheap insurance. I will try to find the posts for you. The P500 is a rough ride though. There are definitely some guys on here that run it hard. It seems to take it in stride. I wouldn't try jumping it and I'd use the brakes before the upcoming ditch/rock/root in the trail, but overall I think you're body will let you know when you are exceeding its limits. Shocks, bigger tires and spacers (spacers alone won't, but if you go up in tire size you really should widen the stance) will help smooth things out of course.

Hey there! thank you.

I did upgrade to 26" bighorns on 5:2.
9 in front 11 in back

 

[Youlookutvish]

massive jumps probably will but just bottoming out the shocks is almost normal rough riding for these because the lack of suspension travel. i jave the 700 and it took 5 yrs of bottoming out shocks , pulling trucks out of mud holes, and portals and tires and tweaking hard before i ever broke the first thing.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

Thanks man! I won't worry as much next time for sure

 

[ALM76]

Try adjusting the shocks up one notch. it'll still ride like a P5, but will take some of the initial "jolt" away.

It'll take a beating for sure

 

[NTCPrezJB]

Here is one of the insurance items I was thinking of...
P500 - Moose 2" Receiver Hitch Installation

 

[Mudder]

If riding fast and hard, think about A arm protectors, maybe upgrade to aftermarket skidplates. A large stick could bust through the plastic floor board and wheel well. Be mindful of ground clearance, especially for any rock crawling or ruts if riding with bigger machines.

 

[DaddyDubbs]

Welcome from Alabama. As others have mentioned they do ride hard and you will bottom out when riding in deep ruts due.

 

[Mudder]

Don’t know what terrain you were riding, but a recent bumpy ride where slow and steady was the key riding with a P1000. P500 - P500 at Coalmont, TN

 

[NTCPrezJB]

This was the other product I was thinking about...
P500 - A-Arm mount tabs tearing? Get one a these..

I just got a response that this product is no longer available.

 

[JCart]

Thanks man! I won't worry as much next time for sure

Checkout Elka Stage 3 (or higher) shocks.... best mod for smoothing ride along with radial tires. Quicker by 1 to 2 gears.

 

[HUCK]

Set your shocks to firmest and ride >!

 

[Splorin]

Follow at a pace you feel safe with too. As you improve your rig and get used to it you'll be draggin' them home with their busted whatevers.

 

[Youlookutvish]

Set your shocks to firmest and ride >!

Can you point me to a video or something talking about this?

Thanks!

 

[Youlookutvish]

Checkout Elka Stage 3 (or higher) shocks.... best mod for smoothing ride along with radial tires. Quicker by 1 to 2 gears.

Wow, those thing look BADASS. This might be my next expensive upgrade. Roof first, maybe a windshield.

 

[Mudder]

Can you point me to a video or something talking about this?

Thanks!

To twist shocks on different settings you could use an inexpensive spanner wrench. Or make it easier to turn with a pipe wrench while the wheel was jacked up off the ground. Found a video by @JsheII3 via shock adjustment search.
P500 - Rear Shock Adjustment 101 Hope it helps

 

[JCart]

Wow, those thing look BADASS. This might be my next expensive upgrade. Roof first, maybe a windshield.

Yup with winter on the way, roof and windshield are a must at a minimum. If you need to plough snow check out KFI products. Excellent gear, quality made. No question the Elkas Stage 3s are spendy as noted earlier one of the best mods I’ve done to my rig, along with radials, also nice to support a Canadian Co. Now the ride is pillowy controlled, surprised at how much quicker I can travel in all terrain. The other option to look at is dual air shocks on each corner, less expensive, albeit a DIY mod. Mines a work machine so I need reliability.

 

[gmacaluso]

Don’t know what terrain you were riding, but a recent bumpy ride where slow and steady was the key riding with a P1000. P500 - P500 at Coalmont, TN

Mudder, what is your tire setup and your useable travel as a result? Some of those ruts and boulders looked like a nightmare for even a full metal skid plate! Well navigated.

 

[Mudder]

Thanks, Just have 5-2 rims, 27 tires, 9 wide in front, 11 in rear, OEM shocks. Skid plate did get a few bumps when there was not other way to go. Follow the leader with a P1000 has its limitations.