A Few Questions for ZX2 Owners

[mnsnowhawk]

zx2 springs

i was told that this was an option in the late summer. i ordered my zx2 in the spring. Bad luck for me. they pobably still wouldn't have said anything. well, i got the new springs on order. they are out of stock right now. they said about a week for them to arrive at factory. tech said the stock springs are too hard and hawk riders will want the progressive ones. this is a spendy sport we love. have a good one fellow hawkers.

 

[buffaloHAWK]

it wouldnt be so expensive if they gave the right parts the 1st time around....we are all a bunch of ginny pigs testing for them.....

 

[toddc]

i think they are 180-460 or something like that....i put my 503 springs in my 600 suspension thats on a 503 hawk. havent got to test it yet. the 280 springs are way to stiff for small bumps but would still blow through the travel after a bigger hit. hopefully the 503 springs in the 600 skid on my 503will be the shiznit

Post up the results after you get a few rides on this configuration.....I'm looking at doing this on my 503F also.

-Todd

 

[RudeAwakening]

i would like to know also

 

[buffaloHAWK]

i only post results if we find out about that red van....

 

[RudeAwakening]

theres free candy in that van! why dont you get inside!

 

[roo]

got any windows in that rig?

theres free candy in that van! why dont you get inside!

stay away from school parking lots and u should be ok!

 

[roo]

where and how much?

Holy F'Hawk ! At that price, they should just take back the 280s and send you the correct rate springs, no questions asked. It's their mistake.

And by going somewhere else, I mean getting prog springs from someone else.

Attached is my kustom wound 3-4 kg/mm (168-224 lbs/po) Spring for my front forward shock. I still don't know if i'll use it. A pair of those would probably work pretty well underneath that ZX2.

want to do it right the first time!!!!!!!!!! would like to have some custom springs but don't have a base to go off zx2 is so new, guess? not like u can go to a shop and say " I have a 2003 503 hawk and I weigh 215#" going to try talking to adb one more time, if I don't get the results I'm looking for will have some made.
how much did U pay for yours?

 

[buffaloHAWK]

hey rude

the avatar pic is so small we cant read what it says.....my ambulance can haul way more candy than that lil thing...lol

 

[TLKDPROD]

want to do it right the first time!!!!!!!!!! would like to have some custom springs but don't have a base to go off zx2 is so new, guess? not like u can go to a shop and say " I have a 2003 503 hawk and I weigh 215#" going to try talking to adb one more time, if I don't get the results I'm looking for will have some made.
how much did U pay for yours?

185$CAD each... (ouch). Kutsom length, Kustom Inside dia (to fit the shock) and Kustom Progressive Rate. Ordered them from www.cycleimprovements.com , they're MX-Tech distributor/dealer in Canada. James is the guy I talked to, they're relly nice to work with.

 

[toddc]

UPDATE:
Well I finally received the soft spring kit several days ago and got them installed.....no change, suspension is still stiff. The new springs are abut .5" longer than the 280lb springs and then you install a .75" spacer on top of the adjuster. I could hardly get the spring compressed with my homemade tool to get the top retainer cap on. When assembled the close wound bottom wires are almost touching.....I don't seee how this is any better than the original 280lb springs......you have already used up one of the compression stages with the suspension at full sag. Maybe I'll try removing the spacers.
I'll call AD Bovin tomorrow
I'm about ready to punt this ZX2 out the f&*kin' door!


-Todd

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

soft spring

I just got my soft springs also. From a shop test, jumping on the pegs there is definetly more give in these springs. I will get a test with them this weekend and report back. I don't think the standard springs were terrible, for sure better than stock expert setup.

 

[toddc]

J & L,
Did you install the included spacers with the springs and are your bottom wires almost touching with zero shock compression? I'm beginning to think there is something else wrong with my suspension.

-Todd

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

spacers

I used the spacers. the bottom coils are very close. THese spring for sure are softer than the standard ones. what length track you have? limit strap setting? I am 180#s and can get mine to squat a little in the shop.

 

[toddc]

I'm 180# also, 136" track. I went 1 notch looser on the limiter strap than what the directions said. I oringinally had it in the recommended position but there was so much tension on it, I was afraid something was going to break.
I removed the spacers today, and the suspension is a little softer, but still not what it should be. Can you give me a measurement off your machine from the ground, at the center of the revolver pivot, and straight up to the bottom edge of the rear fender? My seat height is way less than before and I think there may be a relation to the stiff ride. Thanks

-Todd

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

Improvements for the zx2 rough ride update

Well as most of you know the zx2 is a piece of crap in most everyones mind. The expert was rough riding and the zx2 is just as bad if not worse, for sure worse if you use the new drop brackets made for the expert which works awsome.

In a last attempt to make the zx2 work right I decided to remove one of the shocks and spring asms. from the rail. I have the new soft springs so you know. The result from the shop. first time i ever got rider sag out of the hawk. Bouncing on the pegs and pulling back on the bars really hard I could get the suspension to collapse. I tried adjusting spring preload to stiffest and every posible configuration of the revolver pins. Seems to me not going to be ridable but at least the thing moves.

Next step. Today I got a set of polaris indy 500 front springs. I installed one spring on the non used shock and installed. Now I have one stock soft spring and one indy 500 spring. Now it seems quite stiff initally. Looking for a plush ride to make it float in the powder better. Seems pretty firm all the way through the travel now again.

step 3. I installed both indy springs on the softest settings. The revolver is set in hole 2 for more weight transfer and hole3 for plush ride. I should note that no matter what spring combo I have in there is no free sag. I do have about 2 inches of rider sag now and cant get to collapse by bouncing on the pegs and pulling back on the bars. I feel good about the setup now and will try this weekend in cooke city.

I was told these spring form the indy and 160lb springs.
I"M about 180lbs
Will let you all know as soon as i know how it works.

 

[RudeAwakening]

is the zx2 like the expert x where as the suspansion gets softer ( easyer ) to push down as it colapses?

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

Yes

yes every sled rail is that way that i know of

 

[TLKDPROD]

It's kinda hard to get a proper "sag feeling" out of a falling rate suspension. Since the first part of the suspension (where the sag is) is the hardest to collapse, if you get a good "sag feeling", you might end up with something so soft at the bottom you'll wish you stayed home drinking and looking at the beautiful color the ZX2's got. Unless a guy's able to get springs that are ridiculously progressive (we're talking over 200-250% from initial force here), the problem will remain. Air shocks are getting better at dealing with this though.

"You really gotta have your shocks tricked out to trick out the falling rate action of the levers on a Hawk suspension".

That being said I can't wait to try my new rising rate suspension equipped with a single 46mm fully adjustable Showa shock ! Looking good already... 2 or 3 more weeks...

 

[buffaloHAWK]

T

id like to be your east coast test rider....please send rear suspension to me soon before the snow flies so i can get it mounted up...thanks buffalohawk

damn i cant wait to see this set up....is it as cool as ur mt bike frame?!! single shock= 1/2 price revalve and respring compared to stock set-up! i like