Poll....What Spring / Shock Setup Works Best

[outlandish]

Other than the expensive Elka's, Works, Stadium's etc. Which of these combos is working the best?

Please explain why you voted the way you did.

[steve800]

Cool, first to vote... Here are my results from the new gas shocks and heavy duty springs:

I installed all four new shocks and springs today. None were covered under warranty. I only got a short ride in but am very pleased. The front feels better than adding the rear shorty to me.

2007 800 XT (not a max). no rider in these measurements. I pushed each end down and let it come back up slowly to take clearances. all accessories and bags wereremoved. full ricochet skids plates on. 26'' MudLite XTRs with 4 lbs of air. measurements were taken from the garage floor to bottom of the skid plates.

With Stock shocks:

8 7/8 in - Front clearance with rear shorties installed and adjustment collar on middle setting.

10 5/8 in - Rear clearance with adjustment collar on middle setting.

New HPG shocks and springs

10 3/4 in - Front clearance with adjustment collar on middle setting.

10 3/8 in - Rear clearance with adjustment collar on middle setting.

So, I got an increase on the front of 1 7/8 in and lost 1/4 in on the rear. I ended up leaving the rear at the middle setting and put the front on the second from lowest. This gives me 10 1/2 inches up front and seems to feel even with the rear.

[one800]

I tried the new heavy duty replacement springs and found them as soft and saggy as the originals were so went back to the rear shorty setup. With this setup i have about 10.5 in. clearance on front at lowest setting.

[steve800]

one800 wrote:

Quote:

I tried the new heavy duty replacement springs and found them as soft and saggy as the originals were so went back to the rear shorty setup. With this setup i have about 10.5 in. clearance on front at lowest setting.

What size tires do you have? Do you have skid plates? I had under 9'' with the rear shorty on the front shocks on the middle setting. that's with 26'' mudlites.

[BigBuck]

I think the new HD spring is best utilized with the Bilsteins. The stock shock's are junk, like the stock springs. My .02

[Yellxt]

I voted with the majority. It's my thinking that the new shock and spring were designed to work together for the best performance. From what I've been reading this combo has been doing OK. So, that's what I ordered.I feel if you mix the new with the old you'll be disappointed as some have already mentioned.

YellXT :wavy:

[MtnOuty]

one800 wrote:

Quote:

I tried the new heavy duty replacement springs and found them as soft and saggy as the originals were so went back to the rear shorty setup. With this setup i have about 10.5 in. clearance on front at lowest setting.

There's been some posts saying the oem shocks have no resistance, that they're no good.

How much resistance did you encounter in your shocks while switching springs around?

I'm wondering if it might be just as well to get the new shocks without the new springs, after reading your post, which is the 4th choice in outlandish's poll.


Edit: This is a post from dmax02 afterputting new springs on oem shocks, as one800 also did: "I have had a chance to put some miles on my machine. I don't think these springs are what some of you want. I lost 1 1/4" GC so far. They feel really good though. I guess if you want the full 12" GC you are going to have to buy the new package. Later! Frank"

Again, maybe just buy the new shocks with the rear shortys up front?

Outlandish, I hopethis is on topic. I'm going to getjust the shocks and will come back with GC and ride characteristics.

[J.D.]

Ive never ridden the 800, but i have the 650. I ended up buying the 500 and the reason was because I bout flipped when the nose dug in on a turn. I dont have the power, but the 500 stock rides and handles tons better. Now that they are coming up with alternatives on the front shocks I am having some regrets. However my 500 seems to be as fast as my friends honda rincon.

[one800]

steve800 wrote:

Quote:

one800 wrote:

Quote:

I tried the new heavy duty replacement springs and found them as soft and saggy as the originals were so went back to the rear shorty setup. With this setup i have about 10.5 in. clearance on front at lowest setting.

What size tires do you have? Do you have skid plates? I had under 9'' with the rear shorty on the front shocks on the middle setting. that's with 26'' mudlites.

I just have the 26in. carlisle stockers on and the brp skid plate. When i put the heavy duty replacements on i dropped down to close to 9in. only. As to MtnOuty's question about the shocks, mine don't seem to have a lot of resistance.

[MtnOuty]

Thanks, one800. That cinches it for me, new shocks, no new springs, all around. I have the oem rear shortys all around, stock upper springs front and rear, will be installing the new shocks in the oem double springs XT, oem rear shortys in the front and rear.

If that doesn't do the job,will check out OSO's spring maker, since new upgrade springs are no better thanwhat came with our quads.

Two riders now have said the new 'upgrade' springs do not work any better than the oem springs. Several riders have said the oem shocks are notvery good at all, no resistance.

Any comments on the use of the oem upper springs front and rear? Any commentson this approach?