A Few Questions for ZX2 Owners

[TLKDPROD]

Rub-her Bumper

Hey guys I was doing a little water jet profile for my neighbour who needs to shim his springs 1/2" on his ever trusted Honda CRX beater and he gave me one of his new Monroe shock. Realized the thang's got a pretty good looking bumper to me... and it's 12.5mm rod... 3-3/8" long...

Following me here... I think if a guy ever throws a bumper like that on both of his shocks, he might get somewhere. Actually I'd suggest use this one and maybe cut it so it's 2" long first, go try it and then cut some 1/4" sections off to adjust as desired. That would drastically increase the stiffness of the last part of the stroke. Limiting the last part of the stroke of the shock as well. I don't know how that "rubber" reacts, if it collapses 50% or 80%... Everybody will agree that the last 2" of stock suspension travel is completely useless anyway by the nature of it, being so far off the scale on the falling rate side.

Of course before saying it's the missing link to get a progressive feeling out of the ZX2 or the Expert X, someone has to try it.
J&L do you know how to service shocks ? Ans as it's opened I'd also lighten up the shim stack on the rebound side just a tiny bit. It's a pretty cheap mod if a guy doesn't charge himself for his own time !!! Now that works out if you don't have a wife who charges YOU for your time without her !

Seriously I really think someone should try it.

 

[toddc]

Wow, it's nice to see this thread get resurrected, I almost forgot I started it! Like J&L, I tried all last year to get the ZX2 to work and have come to the realization that AD Boivin never designed this thing to go under a Hawk. It all makes since now that I look at it in retrospect.....all the calls to the factory and talking to engineers that had no idea how to tune it or even bolt it up to a Hawk for that matter! I've decided to put my Extreme back under it and talk some poor two skier into buying the ZX2. Hell, it may be the cat's meow for a planker.
I can't express how pissed I am with AD Boivin. If I didn't love the Hawks so much I'd sell them.......I have four of them now! Anyway, thanks for letting me vent!


-Todd

 

[TLKDPROD]

Here's the link to their patent if anybody wants to try to understand a little more...

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6234264.pdf

I really don't think there's much more to understand beside the fact that it is a very wrong positionning of the mounting points in the frame like the Expert X. Well, some guys's relocation brackets have solve the track tightening problem on the Expert X... It might just need a new relocation of both mounting point to work "just ok".

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

zx2 update nov09

Well I rode for the last 3 days with the zx2 and must say this was a quite comfortable experience. As I stated before I have installed 160lb springs from a indy 500. The ride down a very rough trail is great for the most part, very balanced from the forks to the skid. I tried a few different adj. on the spring and the revolver pins with ok results. I have 2 concerns for the type of riding I like to do. Off trail i'm looking for more weight transfer which I can't seem to get with this rail. 2nd is the same problem with all rails, bottoms out 2 easily on big hits.

So I guess there is hope for this rail depending on what you want to do as far as riding style.
First off you need to replace the springs with much lighter ones, progressive would be the only way to go. A float would be a good choice from what I know about them but pricey. I think a start rate of 180 to 300 might be a good choice.

Thierry I saw you rubber bump stop. I don't see why it would not work, unfortunatly I don't have the equipment to do shock rebuilds so I cant experiment myself.
When do we get an update on your build.

 

[RudeAwakening]

now that you know 160lbs is more of the sweet spot for ya, why not order up some 160lbs - 300lbs progressive springs

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

mtn riding

want more ski lift for mtns

 

[sledr2]

now that you know 160lbs is more of the sweet spot for ya, why not order up some 160lbs - 300lbs progressive springs

Where would I order something like that Jeremy?

want more ski lift for mtns

More ski-lift= less speed in the mountains.
I really like the attitude of my ZX2 in the mountains, It keeps the ski about 6" off the snow when I'm really chewin up a hill.

 

[TLKDPROD]

I have a progressive 150-225 spring I had custom wound last year for the front forward shock, paid 175 CAD plus taxes plus shipping for it, now I don't have any use for it... It could be a great spring for a ZX2 rider... !

I would let it go for 100$.

 

[kinger9]

I'm not much help for a snow hawk, but I have a ZX2 in my trail sled and its one of the best suspensions I have ever rode. My only complaint and its slight is when I get into the small chatter it likes to bounce over it vs soak it up. In the deep moguls I have never ridden so fast and not realized it, only to find out everyone is waaay behind me and I am waiting longer and longer as the trail gets rougher and rougher. This was a on a yamaha RX1 which I think AD did most of its testing on so maybe that is why it was almost perfect from them. It also made the sled feel soooo much lighter when jumping and horsing around in the ditches.

I had a M10, edge, and other suspensions in the sled and while they were all better then the OEM none were like the ZX2.

Back to the original questions long since gone now. My sled will not bounce a bit at all in the garage feels like I'm on 2x4's. Get it out on snow works perfect. The skid expands in the heat and contracts in the cold, make sure the track is piano string tight when in the 70 degree shop. Other then that use the locktite for keeping the bolts from backing out and your golden.

I'm going to run it as a 162" this year when I head west for the first time see how I like it then. I run it has a 121" back here in midwest.

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

new update

Today I had some spring rate tested so i can get some new springs for the zx2.
I said earlier that the polaris springs i had installed were 160 lbs but today I found out that they are dual rate and start out at only 60lbs. They could not tell me what the finish rate was which sucks.

my soft spring kit was told to be a 3 rate spring 120 160 180 they tested it and seems to be more like 140 lb spring.

boivin also said they now have a ultra soft spring kit 110 130 180 that was for very small people and girls. I think I would try them now but think they are still to stiff.
will keep updated.

 

[RudeAwakening]

i will try to get you guys the # for the place in California that will do custom springs for ya!

 

[buffaloHAWK]

boooiiinnnnnngggg!

here is another sping connection....

http://cannonracecraft.com/

Cannon RaceCraft Inc.
201 E. Hill St. Oklahoma City, OK 73105
ph. 405-524-7223 fax 405-524-2568


tell them the video well wasted time sent ya! they have a section in the vid of their shop and them winding up springs! super cool process

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

spring ride

Last night I installed the soft spring kit without the 3/4in spacers they had originally and feels pretty good now jumping on it in the shop. Will have to wait for snow to try it out in the real world.

I called Jim at MX tech in can. yesterday for sping prices 175.00 for custom wined per spring.

 

[toddc]

Last night I installed the soft spring kit without the 3/4in spacers they had originally and feels pretty good now jumping on it in the shop. Will have to wait for snow to try it out in the real world.

I called Jim at MX tech in can. yesterday for sping prices 175.00 for custom wined per spring.

That's how I've been running mine since last year and its still too stiff.

Interestingly, I rode a 136" 503F this past weekend along with my 600 in the mountains, and the 503 hooked up way better than my 600 ZX2. The ZX2 is so stiff it just wont weight transfer. The one thing that really bugs me about this whole thing, is my syspension seems to be stiffer than everyone else's out there. I've triple checking all the mounting positions and I'm sure they are correct. I may try just running one shock/spring, and see what that does. Hell, it can't really get much worse.

-Todd

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

sold zx2

I thought you sold your zx2 Todd. If you need softer you should get these polaris spring I have they are super soft. I will have to wait and see how it works now.