Going back to the shocks yes i did have to change the front springs.To a single stage 275 pound but i still have a stock duel rate on the back.Cant bring myself to the single stage on the rear you never know whats going in the bed around here.The wife likes to go rock hunting.The ride height is stock or just a little higher.Sway bar still on.If i wanted a way better ride i would have a Talon.
I would be curious to see a picture of your rear dual rates with no load. My rig is a little on the heavy side. The factory dual rate range was pretty much gone unloaded sitting still. I have fox with single rate coils and I appreciate them. I have a little more pre load on the rear of my machine. It works out great at home for what I do and on the trail. I can typically move 500lbs of feed in the bed with no severe squat. Mine is a 1000-5 and will also see the rear seats used often on the trails. Most of my rear passengers total 300-400. If I remember correctly I did 250lb on the front and 300lb on the rear. Here is some information I put together on my adventures.
I just purchased these for my 2020 pioneer 1000-5 and as far as I know they should fit and work well just the rate is different from the 3 seater to the 5 seater. I plan on changing springs either way if I had I purchased new or not. These are supposed to be new open box. I made an offer of $900...
hondasxs.com
As others have stated. From the research I have done, elka is great. You typically need alot of money for them. They are a buy once, install, and done. The fox shocks can be a great budget shock (when compared to elka 3+) and a great shock in general if you are willing/capable of some coil swaps.
Otherwise if you are interested in a better ride at the cheap I have heard good things so far about the rough country shocks.
Personally my opinion is at the end of the day the pioneer averages 8-9" of suspension travel. There is only so much that can be done. When other sport machines can travel 15+" I would not spend elka money on a pioneer unless the pioneer was my absolute only machine I would ever operate at extreme sport machine level situations. If I were in need of elka 5s I would just by a Talon.
Shocks can be like politics and everyone has an opinion. But, anything is better than the stock Honda shock ride.
