P500 Are 2017/8 P5's only marginally better on suspension?

[utahyank]

I have read with great interest the threads on the relatively harsh ride of the 2014/6 P5's....and looked at the videos of the WE shock comparisons to OEM...........Honda says they made an improvement to the stock shocks starting in 2017....Do owners of the 2017/8 units find the ride still rather jarring, or is there a noticeable improvement? Would the cost of WE shocks still be worth it on the newer models? thanks.

 

[Admin]

 

[Gassygordo]

I have read with great interest the threads on the relatively harsh ride of the 2014/6 P5's....and looked at the videos of the WE shock comparisons to OEM...........Honda says they made an improvement to the stock shocks starting in 2017....Do owners of the 2017/8 units find the ride still rather jarring, or is there a noticeable improvement? Would the cost of WE shocks still be worth it on the newer models? thanks.

Good Question

 

[RumpRocket]

I own a 2017 P500, I turned the shocks down to the lowest setting....I find it to be a "softer ride" and more comfortable for me....I'm 64 and I call myself and easy rider.

 

[utahyank]

I own a 2017 P500, I turned the shocks down to the lowest setting....I find it to be a "softer ride" and more comfortable for me....I'm 64 and I call myself and easy rider.

thanks for the reply....I am 80, and would like to be an "easy rider" if the machine will let me be.....hah.....

I will put on the WE shocks if I have to, but they are pricey.....

 

[DG Rider]

I saw someone state that they thought the newer shocks rode slightly better.. @Buford maybe? I Believe they also lose a touch of ground clearance. A good set of aftermarket taller radials will help a lot, but at the end of the day, it's a short, narrow machine with not a lot of travel.

 

[utahyank]

I saw someone state that they thought the newer shocks rode slightly better.. @Buford maybe? I Believe they also lose a touch of ground clearance. A good set of aftermarket taller radials will help a lot, but at the end of the day, it's a short, narrow machine with not a lot of travel.

My assumption is that there may be a modest improvement, but that the ride will still be relatively rough......relative to, say, a Polaris Razor...I didn't want a Polaris because I have seen too many issues with their tranny and dust-caused engine problems....the Honda is the right machine for me, but I will probably have to change shocks....about $1200 for all four, I think.........ouch..

 

[lee]

It sound like part of the problem is very few people have ridden all the options back to back.
I would guess that purchasing a set of OEM shocks is rather pricey but there are many dealers still showing old stock units available.
Selecting a newer unit to get the shocks might hide the cost.

What we really need to do is get @jay_man81 a set of shocks or lend him a vehicle to make the definitive side by side by side test.
And to assign a value to the various upgrades.

 

[DG Rider]

Another thing is air pressure. I see guys talking about running 15 psi in these and it just blows my mind...esp for an easy rider. Last ride I ran 5/5 Front/Rear and may go down to 4 rear...and would do the same up front if it didn't make the steering so heavy.

 

[Russ989]

My 2017 p5 is alright, yeah I would like for it soak up more bumps, etc but for a machine this light I expect it to be a little rough. Seems to ride more smoothly when I’m hauling a#% with the skinny pedal hugging the floor lol.

 

[utahyank]

Another thing is air pressure. I see guys talking about running 15 psi in these and it just blows my mind...esp for an easy rider. Last ride I ran 5/5 Front/Rear and may go down to 4 rear...and would do the same up front if it didn't make the steering so heavy.

I have duly noted your comment on tire pressure.....I will probably get down to that 5 area....I am having PS installed so the steering should be all right......

 

[HUCK]

The aftermarket shocks you are referring to are not designed for a smoother ride . If your riding HARD and bottoming out you need them if not , the best you can do is set your shocks at softest and run whatever tires you have as low on pressure as you can . That's it . P5s are short and narrow . Shocks are almost vertical . They will never ride very soft . Sorry

 

[Little_g]

It’s a rough riding machine no matter what. Came from a 15 to a 17 and no difference. Just how it is.

 

[utahyank]

It’s a rough riding machine no matter what. Came from a 15 to a 17 and no difference. Just how it is.

thanks for that reply.....you have the comparison I was looking for.....I will set the 2018 shocks at the softest setting, and if it is too rough for my wife, the options of taller tires, less psi, and better shocks are still there....thanks to all.....

 

[Mudder]

Bigger diameter tire and lower air pressure helped alot, like said above. Wife approved!

 

[GRANITE]

27" tires, 14" rims, I ran 5 lbs air front and rear and when pushed harder on those rocky trails I bottomed out alot and nose dived heavy a few times but I'm a big guy. I'm on the fence on buying WE shocks when I'm not 100% sure about the result after. Everyone that said they had them said they were an improvement however everyone also said they were sore and tired after a long day's ride at the takeover. So if that's the case, stock shocks vs WE shocks might improve ride quality but due to travel size and limitations of suspension, I don't think its gonna be a night and day better ride. jmho

 

[Backwoods]

27" tires, 14" rims, I ran 5 lbs air front and rear and when pushed harder on those rocky trails I bottomed out alot and nose dived heavy a few times but I'm a big guy. I'm on the fence on buying WE shocks when I'm not 100% sure about the result after. Everyone that said they had them said they were an improvement however everyone also said they were sore and tired after a long day's ride at the takeover. So if that's the case, stock shocks vs WE shocks might improve ride quality but due to travel size and limitations of suspension, I don't think its gonna be a night and day better ride. jmho

My 2017 rides pretty good as long as speed is kept reasonable and the wife doesn't complain that means a lot

 

[Backwoods]

My 2017 rides pretty good as long as speed is kept reasonable and the wife doesn't complain that means a lot

 

[Alan aka Davinci]

I have at 2015 P5 and I love that little beast and I just deal with the harsh ride but my question is how do so many of you people use the word P5 and suspension in the same sentence?

 

[utahyank]

My 2017 rides pretty good as long as speed is kept reasonable and the wife doesn't complain that means a lot

I took my 2018 on some medium to rough trails yesterday, and I can live with the less than smooth ride....I love the way the tranny responds both on upshifts and downshifts....soooo much better than cvt....

 

[DG Rider]

I took my 2018 on some medium to rough trails yesterday, and I can live with the less than smooth ride....I love the way the tranny responds both on upshifts and downshifts....soooo much better than cvt....

Did you play with pressure or try the swaybar?

You have width restrictions?