Air Shocks Vs. Rider Weight

[Dogmeat]

Trying to see if there is a correlation between those who like their air shocks and rider weight vs. not.

Also, if you are happy with your air shocks, stock or modified, please explain why and also if you have any experience riding the same sled with an after market coil-over setup.

 

[richracer1]

I'll be watching this thread. My 09 700 RMK has the basic Polaris suspension/shocks on it. I recently installed a set of Float2 shocks on the skis. I've only been out once with them so I'm still working with them. I'm 185lbs w/o gear. I have the Floats at about 55lbs w/sway bar and the skis at a 40" stance - now narrowed to 39" to try on the next ride. The sled will be w/o sway (no choice) when I get my 38" Bark Buster kit put in later this week. Probably start at 70psi then.

 

[Scott]

GOOD THREAD!!!






I have a 2001 Pol GenII with 41" stance and 16.5" Fox Floats. I bought my Fox Floats from CMX closeouts in about 2006 (ish?) So I am guessing they were left over from when the Float2 came out. When was that?

Not sure I am getting the right performance out of them what I want...HOWEVER, I MAY have too wide of stance for this length of shock. I want to cut down my radius rods by an inch or so on each side.

 

[F-Bomb]

I can only comment on the PRO and IQ RAW. I have Fox Racing Shox (EVOL R on the PRO and EVOL X on the RAW) ski shocks. Ride hard ride often...trails and woops to mountain free riding. Shocks are flat out awesome and absolutely KILL the stock setups that are and were available for each app. Also note these are demo sleds we drag around the west and let consumers test as well. UNIVERSALLY test ride consumers love these setups. Once you've been on a premium well setup product like this you are ruined for ever enjoying a stock setup. RUINED

That said knowledge and customizing your individual setup is everything. Some great results and some not great results.

I can twist a couple knobs and add or subtract air pressure to completely change the felt and experienced performance. The other huge benefit is being able to dial your front suspension to work with your rear suspension. True high performance and an enhanced ride experience comes when your system has that ability. I guess the true benefit is being able to do so irregardless of how heavy you are and what vehicle you ride.

 

[Dam Dave]

no choices between Love or Hate!!! is life that left or right to you?

 

[Dogmeat]

So for the people voting in favor of air shocks, why? We have like, one post describing why.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

no choices between Love or Hate!!! is life that left or right to you?

You don't know Dog too well, do ya?

So for the people voting in favor of air shocks, why? We have like, one post describing why.

I like mine because they actually improved my ride from what the stock shocks were. I run Floats on the front, a coil-over Zero Pro on the center and a Zero Pro on the rear. I'm contemplating an upgrade to Z-broz.

I know your beef with this. I'd bet you we can get your shocks and Timbersled to do what you want in a day just playing with pressure combos.

 

[Dartos]

I have a 2011 M8 Sno Pro with the stock Floats. I like them so far because I can adjust the pressure for my 280lbs + riding gear and not have to go buy big boy springs like my last 3 sleds.

I am still learning about the floats only owning the sled for a month but they are good so far.

I just read in the new article, 2011 Deep Powder Challenge, the Cat had the worst ride in the bumps and trail. I guess I haven't been on the newer sleds enough to know the difference because the M8 is way better than my 2005 900 RMK. (anybody need a beat up old 900?)

 

[Dogmeat]

You don't know Dog too well, do ya?



I like mine because they actually improved my ride from what the stock shocks were. I run Floats on the front, a coil-over Zero Pro on the center and a Zero Pro on the rear. I'm contemplating an upgrade to Z-broz.

I know your beef with this. I'd bet you we can get your shocks and Timbersled to do what you want in a day just playing with pressure combos.

I've been dicking with the shocks all year. They don't work worth piss. The skid is awesome, the shocks just don't absorb shock.

 

[scaredycat]

once you load the rear skid of a m series, the geometry of the suspension combined with the non existent return rate of an air shock completely sags the sled down to the ground...air shock with a lightweight coilover to assist....ok maybe that would help

coilover , especially for the rear shock is a must

the only front air shock i would consider is maybe a fox evol but i know first hand the revalved progressive rated spring shocks are the way to go...

 

[Dogmeat]

I have a 2011 M8 Sno Pro with the stock Floats. I like them so far because I can adjust the pressure for my 280lbs + riding gear and not have to go buy big boy springs like my last 3 sleds.

I am still learning about the floats only owning the sled for a month but they are good so far.

I just read in the new article, 2011 Deep Powder Challenge, the Cat had the worst ride in the bumps and trail. I guess I haven't been on the newer sleds enough to know the difference because the M8 is way better than my 2005 900 RMK. (anybody need a beat up old 900?)

I thought it was about even between my stock 900 and my cat on the trail.

Now, the 900 with the Holz under it ... that was a caddillac

 

[PJ-Hunter]

I've been dicking with the shocks all year. They don't work worth piss. The skid is awesome, the shocks just don't absorb shock.

Are they still valved the way they came with the skid? Or did you send em off for re-valving and stuff?

From what I have heard, aftermarket valving on Floats is a bad thing. Everybody I know that has done that, regrets it. Mine are the sock valving from Fox and they work great. Granted, I'm about 65 pounds lighter than you but shocks should work in the same manner regardless of rider weight. Just adjust for your weight and style. But when shocks are valved for weight, then that messes with the air adjustment and the ratio associated with the psi.

Just a thought.

 

[HDEMWET]

i love my evols, on my nytro it seemed that the stock shocks weren't cutting it no matter how i adjusted them, i'd still bottom hard with the weight of all that engine and myself when landing downhill. with the new evols, no more bottoming, though i still need to play with the settings as its hard to steer on the trails, though great in the powder. i'm 6'2" and about 230 lbs without gear and riding a 2010 nytro xtx 144".

 

[Dogmeat]

Are they still valved the way they came with the skid? Or did you send em off for re-valving and stuff?

From what I have heard, aftermarket valving on Floats is a bad thing. Everybody I know that has done that, regrets it. Mine are the sock valving from Fox and they work great. Granted, I'm about 65 pounds lighter than you but shocks should work in the same manner regardless of rider weight. Just adjust for your weight and style. But when shocks are valved for weight, then that messes with the air adjustment and the ratio associated with the psi.

Just a thought.

The Carver valiving on the front shocks made them a lot better them a LOT better than stock but they still suck and are too harsh and there is no valve job that will take that characteristic out of the float.

The rear shocks are timbersled-spec floats, not the generic off-the-shelf kind.

But, I did find one advantage to floats today. lol. If you have to make an adjustment to your limiter straps, it's a lot easier because you can just deflate the shocks and adjust the straps easily .... so far thats the only advantage I've found to floats over coil overs quite frankly.

 

[chunkysoup]

I guess i dont "love" my air shocks but they definitely improved the ride over the stock race shocks on my iqr.

 

[POLZIN]

I have some floats for sale! when it came to chossing the best of the two Coilovers or floats for my holz skid the coilovers win every time . floats are to harsh by the time you get them to stop bottoming . this may be a problem for bigger guys particlarly . This is why the resivoirs are a good idea for the extra volume in particular and adjustability is good to of course. This is why Z-broz makes the BIGBOY exits for just this scenario.

Have you tried having them valve for quicker rebound? I think us big guys compress the shock further ( DUH) and need them to rebound faster ( skid shocks in particular ) so that the next hit isnt still in the up stroke. I think this makes them feel flat and harsh.

 

[richracer1]

I'll be watching this thread. My 09 700 RMK has the basic Polaris suspension/shocks on it. I recently installed a set of Float2 shocks on the skis. I've only been out once with them so I'm still working with them. I'm 185lbs w/o gear. I have the Floats at about 55lbs w/sway bar and the skis at a 40" stance - now narrowed to 39" to try on the next ride. The sled will be w/o sway (no choice) when I get my 38" Bark Buster kit put in later this week. Probably start at 70psi then.

Update, I love the Float2 shocks, but then just about anything is better than the cheapo shocks that come on the std RMKs, especially when they had almost 5K on them. Per Timbersled, I'm running 80lbs in the ski shocks due to not being able to run a sway bar and have the skis set around the 37 1/4" stance. I also put on Skinz breatheable protective covers for the Float shocks to help protect the shaft/cylinder surface from grime and debris. Oh and I've lost some weight this summer so with gear I'm pushing maybe 190lbs.

 

[M8Chris]

I hated my floats on my 2010 m8. I'm so happy I'm going to be on an assault this year because those are the best stock shocks you can get imo. I couldn't believe how much better that sled rode on the whoops on the trail. and in all mountain conditions they were far better then the floats. Its like going from a 1980 mexican honda civic to a brand new cadillac. The only aftermarket shocks I would really spend the money on are the Fox Evols

 

[mikew5945]

Dog,
Liked--didn't love-- my fox shocks on my 2011 M8.
I rode Jakes 2011 M8 with his Raptor shocks and now I hate fox.
Raptor shocks were the best. You can adjust all four in 30 seconds and ride WOT on any trail. They are bump eaters. Add the KMOD and you will be in heaven.