Alpha elevate reviews
- Thread starter powwow
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I have 2 rides now on my alpha with the elevate kit. I love this sled! Coming off an axys, it feels just like my axys with more traction. I cant wait to get it in some deep stuff. Now that said, i never rode it without the elevate kit.
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Did you have to do anything with the shocks or is it a bolt and play?My Alpha elevate is actually sitting up higher than the pro. This makes me very happy.
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Very simple install.
The hardest part is removing the skid to drill the tunnel. Only time u touch the shocks is to add 10psi.
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Drill the tunnel? What are drilling the tunnel for?
After getting some more seat time I am starting to feel like I can provide an honest review of my elevate kit. Although due to low snow conditions my buddies and I have not been willing to swap sleds back and forth for fear of breaking something on someone else’s sled so as a result I am working off of memory from last year and comparisons to my buddies. But I really feel like the elevate gets the sled up on the snow better. Even with the increased approach angle it just seems to get on top and go. The raised height makes the sled so stable and easy to keep on its side even on the steepest side hill. When riding last week my buddy made a comment about how much wash he was feeling in the rear of his alpha in the snow conditions and I felt like I was 100% confident and stable so something there is improved. We are both strong riders. Also blunt stalls (reentries) seem so easy with the longer limited strap and raised front you can really just flip over backwards at will. The first couple rides it seemed a little hard to control on the 154” but now that I am used to it with some shock tweaks I just lean forward and it seems manageable. I look forward to getting some comparisons to stock on same day conditions but so far my only regret is not buying this setup in December of last year and going a whole season without it. The cost was my only holdup and so far it seems 100% worth it.
What are you finding works for shock pressures?
That is still a work in progress. I’ve softened the center shock about 4 turns and stiffened the rear shock about 4 turns two different times. Not sure about that much but trying to see if I can make it stay down on the front a little more when I need it to.
The 154 is Definitely a tail standing mother. Thought mine was fine until the snow flap stuck straight out. Then it will flip at will. Anybody that thinks the no flap doesn't make a difference is crazy. Definitely doesn't plow or dive in the snow like my 165 without elevate. I don't know what is different other than the obvious track length and elevate kit but I thought last years 165 would stick to a track, in the trees, like no other. The 154, not so much. Definately need to ride it 10 mph faster. Going to chalk it up to first ride of the year and not used to it. Rode my buddy's 163 kurt's kaos and the 165 expert and the consensus was the alpha was hands down the funnest sled. The kaos is definitely a weapon in the trees. The expert was everyone's least favorite. I think it need the rear suspension adjusted. Definitely wish I could ride it on the trail and then switch. Alpha rides the worst of the 3 on the trail.
My 154 with the elevate and no flap is also a tail stander. Really have to have throttle control
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With the flap down it is pretty normal but mine curled up and was straight out after first stuck and then it flips at will. Throttle control was not an option with what we were playing on in the trees. Sled is no problem cutting across things but we were climbing through the trees. Have to carry 10 more mph track speed to hang with the 165s. If you aren't flying you are flipping.
I had about every light on the thing flashing at me. Oil was full when I left. I am also worried about sled when spring hits because I seen the heat light twice. Once without scratchers if that tells what snow was like and once with scratchers down. 20 seems to run a bunch hotter than my 19 165.
The 2020 hardcore sleds have a VERY different shock config in the skid then the other models. Stock hardcores are wheeling like crazy and elevate is getting a bit out of hand with them. Definately taking a unique shock config for this model.
Well they did drop the spring rate from 235 to 175 from 19-20
Has anyone tried running the front suspension in the factory hole and just drop the back?
I want the track to be even on the ground instead of just the front holding the weight while the back of the track is up in the air.
I know it will put more ski pressure and i don't really want that but i think it will help tame the wildness and maybe i won't get stuck on the trail when there is ice...
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I want the track to be even on the ground instead of just the front holding the weight while the back of the track is up in the air.
I know it will put more ski pressure and i don't really want that but i think it will help tame the wildness and maybe i won't get stuck on the trail when there is ice...
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The track is perfectly flat with them in the lower holes and the longer limiter strap. This is whe limiter strap was required to allow the front of the rails to come down level with the rear.
I have wondered about trying that but I think it would be way too much ski pressure. You would be more likely to get stuck on the icy trail trying to push those skis as they dig.
My 165 ,the back of the track doesn't touch the ground. The sled is supported by the front. Been this way since day one. The longer limiter strap just lets the front come down more. Maybe mine is an anomaly? The only way I can get the back of the track to touch the ground is if I let all of the air out of the front shock.
The rear only needs to come down ~1/2"
Or front up 1/2".
The elevate with dropped skid is better than stock But still not flat like it should be.
All the weight is supported by ~16in of the rail...
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