The bogies are versions of Siemens' SF5000 bogie. The design has an axle distance of , with radial arm primary suspension utilising steel coil springs with rubber elements; the secondary suspension is an air spring design supporting a bolster. Motor bogies have traction forces transmitted from bogie to frame via rods from a centre pivot. Mechanical brakes are wheel mounted discs. The Class 185 is heavier and has a stiffer suspension than the Class 158 it replaced on some routes; On some routes including the Hope Valley route, York to Scarborough Line, Hull to Selby Line (Micklefield junction-Hull), and between Northallerton and Middlesbrough the Class 185 units were not permitted to operate at the same speeds as the Sprinter type DMUs; however the higher acceleration of the Class 185 units could be used to partially offset the lower speed restriction. Between Northallerton and Middlesbrough, Class 185s and Sprinters now use the same speed limits.