P500 Floats like a butterfly, stings like a .................Red Wasp

[Montecresto]

Haha. Ok so I disconnected my sway bar. Left the cabin for the 5 mile run to the NF. First a couple miles on gravel then rural asphalt road. No real discernible difference there. Didn't really feel the "drift" that some have mentioned. Once in the NF and on the abandoned logging roads (which are overgrown and rutted out to merely trails now) I began to feel the difference. It is as though the rear spring/shock assemblies are working independent so the ride feels more like (but not completely like) my PoPo, it seemed to float over the ruts and bumps and rocks. Mama noticed it right off.

In the 50 miles we did Saturday, I navigated through multiple off camber events, the kind that always lifted one wheel off the ground, but this time I kept my wheels on the ground. In one particular place we both were certain this was it, but it stayed upright, to both our surprise.

So, I still can't see why it has a sway bar, but for the time being, I'll leave it on but disconnected and wired up (yeah, the zip ties both broke) and continue to experiment with it before I'm certain enough to remove it altogether.

One other thing. Sunday's ride was to the Ouachita river where we finally found a piece of bank that we could negotiate down in and back out without winching. But running in the river, the Yellow Jacket had difficulties a couple times, and once, the Red Wasp had to winch him out. He said, "that's it, I've got to get new tires"! Oh, and on Saturdays ride, he clocked 50 miles while I clocked 45!!!! So, those of us with larger tires than stock are not accumulating accurate mileage. Oh, and I lost the pig tail off my receiver, the hook off my winch cable, and the scabbard off my chainsaw.

Any way, I have an overall positive review of the sway bar disconnect but will continue experimentation with it.

A few pics over the weekend.

 

[Admin]

 

[webby]

View attachment 17137 View attachment 17139 View attachment 17141 View attachment 17142 Haha. Ok so I disconnected my sway bar. Left the cabin for the 5 mile run to the NF. First a couple miles on gravel then rural asphalt road. No real discernible difference there. Didn't really feel the "drift" that some have mentioned. Once in the NF and on the abandoned logging roads (which are overgrown and rutted out to merely trails now) I began to feel the difference. It is as though the rear spring/shock assemblies are working independent so the ride feels more like (but not completely like) my PoPo, it seemed to float over the ruts and bumps and rocks. Mama noticed it right off.

In the 50 miles we did Saturday, I navigated through multiple off camber events, the kind that always lifted one wheel off the ground, but this time I kept my wheels on the ground. In one particular place we both were certain this was it, but it stayed upright, to both our surprise.

So, I still can't see why it has a sway bar, but for the time being, I'll leave it on but disconnected and wired up (yeah, the zip ties both broke) and continue to experiment with it before I'm certain enough to remove it altogether.

One other thing. Sunday's ride was to the Ouachita river where we finally found a piece of bank that we could negotiate down in and back out without winching. But running in the river, the Yellow Jacket had difficulties a couple times, and once, the Red Wasp had to winch him out. He said, "that's it, I've got to get new tires"! Oh, and on Saturdays ride, he clocked 50 miles while I clocked 45!!!! So, those of us with larger tires than stock are not accumulating accurate mileage. Oh, and I lost the pig tail off my receiver, the hook off my winch cable, and the scabbard off my chainsaw.

Any way, I have an overall positive review of the sway bar disconnect but will continue experimentation with it.

A few pics over the weekend.

View attachment 17137 View attachment 17139 View attachment 17141 View attachment 17142

Thanks for the update Monte....I've been thinking about disconnecting mine.

 

[Montecresto]

Thanks for the update Monte....I've been thinking about disconnecting mine.

Go right ahead. Leave it in place, if you like the feel you can completely remove it, if not, connect it back up. There's really nothing to loose that I can tell by experimenting with it. And if you read what others have said, they're not looking back.

 

[Jbird]

Monte, what area are you riding in and what town were you close to? Do y'all own a cabin near there?

 

[Montecresto]

Monte, what area are you riding in and what town were you close to? Do y'all own a cabin near there?

So my buddy has a cabin on the Ouachita river, five miles from the ONF. Near Sims. I'm going to be organising a ride at Wolf Pen Gap later in the year. You may be interested. If you'd like to ride with us in the ONF sometime, let me know, we ride average 2-3 weekends a month and will be next weekend.

 

[Jbird]

So my buddy has a cabin on the Ouachita river, five miles from the ONF. Near Sims. I'm going to be organising a ride at Wolf Pen Gap later in the year. You may be interested. If you'd like to ride with us in the ONF sometime, let me know, we ride average 3-4 weekends a month and will be next weekend.

Thanks we would like that. Still waiting on Big Tex to call me saying our new trailer is ready so we will have some way to haul this thing. We also need to get our initial service and we'll be ready to go.

 

[Jbird]

Your buddy's cabin must be pretty close to ours. We are on the Quachita river between Oden and Pencil Bluff.

 

[Tflynn]

I thought you would like it disconnected and I'm glad you were able to feel the articulation and the tires staying on the ground. In an earlier post I mentioned I rarely use 4 wheel lock on my 700 with the bar disconnected and this is why. With four tires on the ground 3wd gets you almost anywhere!

 

[Montecresto]

I thought you would like it disconnected and I'm glad you were able to feel the articulation and the tires staying on the ground. In an earlier post I mentioned I rarely use 4 wheel lock on my 700 with the bar disconnected and this is why. With four tires on the ground 3wd gets you almost anywhere!

Yes, you did. That makes sense, good point. Thanks @Tflynn.

 

[Montecresto]

Your buddy's cabin must be pretty close to ours. We are on the Quachita river between Oden and Pencil Bluff.

Wow, that's crazy. He's down stream a few miles. Is your cabin right on the river, and do you ride that area?

 

[Montecresto]

Thanks we would like that. Still waiting on Big Tex to call me saying our new trailer is ready so we will have some way to haul this thing. We also need to get our initial service and we'll be ready to go.

Ok cool, we'll keep in touch about this. Good trailer maker you chose too! Just noticed you've got the 1000, we'll have to stick to the wider trails, but no problemo.

 

[webby]

Go right ahead. Leave it in place, if you like the feel you can completely remove it, if not, connect it back up. There's really nothing to loose that I can tell by experimenting with it. And if you read what others have said, they're not looking back.

I'll give it a go. That's what is so cool about this forum.....I never would have thought to do that. A lot of experienced guys (and gals) willing to share info.

 

[Jbird]

Wow, that's crazy. He's down stream a few miles. Is your cabin right on the river, and do you ride that area?

We are in an area that is about 200 acres behind gates on a mountain and the Quachita river is about 1/4 mile from our cabin. We have deeded river access. Our main road coming in here crosses NF land at the op of the hill but it is to steep and grown over to get access from our property. I need to find a forest service road near here to gain access. We ride in here but the trails are limited. We do ride down to the river and ride along for some distance but you never know what has washed into the way with all the floods this year.

 

[Montecresto]

We are in an area that is about 200 acres behind gates on a mountain and the Quachita river is about 1/4 mile from our cabin. We have deeded river access. Our main road coming in here crosses NF land at the op of the hill but it is to steep and grown over to get access from our property. I need to find a forest service road near here to gain access. We ride in here but the trails are limited. We do ride down to the river and ride along for some distance but you never know what has washed into the way with all the floods this year.

That sounds really nice!

 

[Montecresto]

I'll give it a go. That's what is so cool about this forum.....I never would have thought to do that. A lot of experienced guys (and gals) willing to share info.

True that, I was walked through a very difficult (to me anyway) dual battery set up by another member and of course there's been a tremendous amount of encouragement concerning the sway bar disconnect.

 

[ehart814]

View attachment 17137 View attachment 17139 View attachment 17141 View attachment 17142 Haha. Ok so I disconnected my sway bar. Left the cabin for the 5 mile run to the NF. First a couple miles on gravel then rural asphalt road. No real discernible difference there. Didn't really feel the "drift" that some have mentioned. Once in the NF and on the abandoned logging roads (which are overgrown and rutted out to merely trails now) I began to feel the difference. It is as though the rear spring/shock assemblies are working independent so the ride feels more like (but not completely like) my PoPo, it seemed to float over the ruts and bumps and rocks. Mama noticed it right off.

In the 50 miles we did Saturday, I navigated through multiple off camber events, the kind that always lifted one wheel off the ground, but this time I kept my wheels on the ground. In one particular place we both were certain this was it, but it stayed upright, to both our surprise.

So, I still can't see why it has a sway bar, but for the time being, I'll leave it on but disconnected and wired up (yeah, the zip ties both broke) and continue to experiment with it before I'm certain enough to remove it altogether.

One other thing. Sunday's ride was to the Ouachita river where we finally found a piece of bank that we could negotiate down in and back out without winching. But running in the river, the Yellow Jacket had difficulties a couple times, and once, the Red Wasp had to winch him out. He said, "that's it, I've got to get new tires"! Oh, and on Saturdays ride, he clocked 50 miles while I clocked 45!!!! So, those of us with larger tires than stock are not accumulating accurate mileage. Oh, and I lost the pig tail off my receiver, the hook off my winch cable, and the scabbard off my chainsaw.

Any way, I have an overall positive review of the sway bar disconnect but will continue experimentation with it.

A few pics over the weekend.

View attachment 17137 View attachment 17139 View attachment 17141 View attachment 17142

Great pics Monte... I'm still trying to get someone else to buy a P500 to ride with me... no luck though. A very close friend of mine had decided to buy either a P500 or a Rhino clone and he passed away unexpectedly a couple weeks ago. That's why I've been kinda quiet lately.

It would be a blast to ride with with another P500, especially in such a great place as you get to ride. BTW... I have almost 800 miles on mine already. And I just bought it on Good Friday!!!

 

[Montecresto]

Great pics Monte... I'm still trying to get someone else to buy a P500 to ride with me... no luck though. A very close friend of mine had decided to buy either a P500 or a Rhino clone and he passed away unexpectedly a couple weeks ago. That's why I've been kinda quiet lately.

It would be a blast to ride with with another P500, especially in such a great place as you get to ride. BTW... I have almost 800 miles on mine already. And I just bought it on Good Friday!!!

I'm very sorry for your loss buddy, that's truly a shame. I hope you find a suitable riding partner soon. It does make for very enjoyable trail riding. I can't believe you've already put that many miles on yours. I've had mine for almost two years and I have just over 1,200 miles. Btw, FYI. Saturday's ride my buddy logged 50 miles, while I logged 45. So those of us with larger tires are not accurately accumulating miles.

 

[ehart814]

I'm very sorry for your loss buddy, that's truly a shame. I hope you find a suitable riding partner soon. It does make for very enjoyable trail riding. I can't believe you've already put that many miles on yours. I've had mine for almost two years and I have just over 1,200 miles. Btw, FYI. Saturday's ride my buddy logged 50 miles, while I logged 45. So those of us with larger tires are not accurately accumulating miles.

Thanks...

Yeah i'm on the back roads a lot. If I ride at all, it's at least 5 - 8 miles at 30 MPH or so just getting to and from the trails - and I ride it most days. So the vast majority of the miles are very easy miles in high gear, and no mud. The Kenda's are holding up marvelously. Hardly any noticeable wear. Yeah I know the taller tires are going to throw the mileage off a bit, and the speed. At first I was surprised by the 45 to 50 difference, but when you think about it that's about 10%. Compare the circumference of the stock front tire which is about 74.57" to the circumference of my 26" Kenda tires which is roughly 81.64". The difference is 7" - around 10%. So it all makes sense.

 

[Montecresto]

Thanks...

Yeah i'm on the back roads a lot. If I ride at all, it's at least 5 - 8 miles at 30 MPH or so just getting to and from the trails - and I ride it most days. So the vast majority of the miles are very easy miles in high gear, and no mud. The Kenda's are holding up marvelously. Hardly any noticeable wear. Yeah I know the taller tires are going to throw the mileage off a bit, and the speed. At first I was surprised by the 45 to 50 difference, but when you think about it that's about 10%. Compare the circumference of the stock front tire which is about 74.57" to the circumference of my 26" Kenda tires which is roughly 81.64". The difference is 7" - around 10%. So it all makes sense.

Haha, I hadn't thought of that. You're always thinking I noticed.

 

[sthomp54]

I'm very sorry for your loss buddy, that's truly a shame. I hope you find a suitable riding partner soon. It does make for very enjoyable trail riding. I can't believe you've already put that many miles on yours. I've had mine for almost two years and I have just over 1,200 miles. Btw, FYI. Saturday's ride my buddy logged 50 miles, while I logged 45. So those of us with larger tires are not accurately accumulating miles.

It might be the other way around. With my stock tires I was really going 38 when it said 42, with the 26" the speedo is dead on...