Alpha elevate reviews
- Thread starter powwow
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Finally getting to where i like mine. More of a getting used to it thing. It is really quick. Completely weeds out the diveyness. You have to be on your a game with the 154 elevated and in full narrow but it is flat out fun. It needs the right input and the right brap or it will hang you out before you know it. In a way you need throttle control and in a way it is out the door because you need more track speed to keep up with the longer sleds. It is really unforgiving in deeper snow when climbing. All or nothing. If you are scratching you are flipping. Especially in deep snow when the flap is straight out. That is part of the attraction of the 154. Even though it's easier it is harder. If not in for that, go 165. I am not a fan of sucking the front up. That is part of what keeps you on the hill. Change it in the rear.
How have Alpha Elevates been in the spring snow this season? I’m getting close to snow checking the Elevate so looking for some feedback.
Got my first ride on the Elevate last Saturday May 23. I only installed the spindles on my Alpha and left the skid in the stock front hole and didn't change the limiter strap. I had already dropped the rear skid mount to the bottom hole. Installed like this the the track sat flat on my concrete garage floor whereas before it always had a bit of light under the rear paddles. Skis are centered on the spindles.
On the trail it felt a bit more unstable in the corners which is a complaint I have about the stock Alpha too. That said I'm tall and wear a heavy pack so I'm top heavy. The snow was hero snow with 6-8" of wet fresh snow on top so not ideal conditions but more than good enough to play in. I didn't find it rowdy at all and would actually prefer a bit more ski lift for hooning and re-entries so I may raise the rear of the skid again for spring conditions. On edge it felt much more predictable like the balance point was a lot wider. Previously I had some issues whipping tight turns with my feet on both boards. I would need to go wrong foot forward and plant my inside foot as a pivot/rudder. Now it is more predictable and not as inclined to lay right over where I would lose control. On sidehills it felt more predictable too. I could get it right to the edge of washing out and hold it there. J-turns are easier both uphill and downhill and it is more forgiving on the downhill carve as well when you push it to the edge it doesn't want to plant the rudder ski and pivot around it as much. The elevator seemed a bit tougher as you need to pull it over harder to get the inslope ski out but that could have been the heavy snow on top as well. Climbing it was super planted and predictable on the one chute I pulled.
I'm a big fan so far but can't wait to try it on a powder day next winter.
On the trail it felt a bit more unstable in the corners which is a complaint I have about the stock Alpha too. That said I'm tall and wear a heavy pack so I'm top heavy. The snow was hero snow with 6-8" of wet fresh snow on top so not ideal conditions but more than good enough to play in. I didn't find it rowdy at all and would actually prefer a bit more ski lift for hooning and re-entries so I may raise the rear of the skid again for spring conditions. On edge it felt much more predictable like the balance point was a lot wider. Previously I had some issues whipping tight turns with my feet on both boards. I would need to go wrong foot forward and plant my inside foot as a pivot/rudder. Now it is more predictable and not as inclined to lay right over where I would lose control. On sidehills it felt more predictable too. I could get it right to the edge of washing out and hold it there. J-turns are easier both uphill and downhill and it is more forgiving on the downhill carve as well when you push it to the edge it doesn't want to plant the rudder ski and pivot around it as much. The elevator seemed a bit tougher as you need to pull it over harder to get the inslope ski out but that could have been the heavy snow on top as well. Climbing it was super planted and predictable on the one chute I pulled.
I'm a big fan so far but can't wait to try it on a powder day next winter.
Any word on your updated recommendations or spring/shock packages?
Finally Picked Up An Alpha One
This is the kind of stuff I needed to hear, thanks guys! I was telling my wife that back in the day, there were no such thing as mountain sleds and we did our best through mods to build one. Like many of you, I have continued to do that for decades. It's become a tradition for me to research...
www.snowest.com
IceAge gave the shock spring recommendations in the above thread last spring. "AC PN: 2704-010 210# rear spring. (stock is 175#)"
Finally Picked Up An Alpha One
This is the kind of stuff I needed to hear, thanks guys! I was telling my wife that back in the day, there were no such thing as mountain sleds and we did our best through mods to build one. Like many of you, I have continued to do that for decades. It's become a tradition for me to research...
IceAge gave the shock spring recommendations in the above thread last spring. "AC PN: 2704-010 210# rear spring. (stock is 175#)"
Thanks for linking that in for us..
On our side by side testing we were BLOWN away by what the spring change did for us. The was absolutely making or breaking the performance of the 20 hardcore in side by side testing. Regardless of having an elevate or not we think this is a key upgrade anyone can make to their sled.
I just got my front track shock from Nextech in Canada.
They re-valved the shock and based on my rider weight, they installed a Fox 125 lb. spring to replace the stock 110 lb. spring.
They said the re-valve will improve the shock performance as much or more than the spring change.
I can't wait to give it a try.
They also said the rear track shock works fairly well as is and if I understood correctly, they said if they re-valved it I would loose the lockout function.
They re-valved the shock and based on my rider weight, they installed a Fox 125 lb. spring to replace the stock 110 lb. spring.
They said the re-valve will improve the shock performance as much or more than the spring change.
I can't wait to give it a try.
They also said the rear track shock works fairly well as is and if I understood correctly, they said if they re-valved it I would loose the lockout function.
Lockout is awesome in deep snow.
Just before forward motion stops, it will still wheelie but u just turn it a bit and ur riding a very controlled wheelie across the hill at a slight uphill angle. Feels like its never gonna get stuck.
Sent it
Finally Picked Up An Alpha One
This is the kind of stuff I needed to hear, thanks guys! I was telling my wife that back in the day, there were no such thing as mountain sleds and we did our best through mods to build one. Like many of you, I have continued to do that for decades. It's become a tradition for me to research...
IceAge gave the shock spring recommendations in the above thread last spring. "AC PN: 2704-010 210# rear spring. (stock is 175#)"
Awesome, thank you! I hadn’t seen the other thread.
I’ve just ordered one, excited to see the change it makes this year.
Okay, I have been reading this thread and I am about to install my Elevate kit on my 2020 Hardcore 165. I had the front track shock re-valved and re-sprung with a Fox 125# spring by Nextech this summer. Even though I removed both shocks to send to Nextech, they convinced me not to ship the rear shock and said that shock is pretty decent and that I should at least give it try first. Maybe I should go ahead and order the 210# rear track spring? I have already added the new longer limit strap and the thicker bump stop.
Now the question is, should I drop both the front and rear suspension mount bolts to the lower holes? I ask because I have been reading how several on here seem much happier with the front axle bolts back in the stock holes.
It sounds like pretty much everyone has dropped to the lower hole on the rear drop brackets, right?
Now the question is, should I drop both the front and rear suspension mount bolts to the lower holes? I ask because I have been reading how several on here seem much happier with the front axle bolts back in the stock holes.
It sounds like pretty much everyone has dropped to the lower hole on the rear drop brackets, right?
Sure did. 1 inch preload for now.
Where did you get the longer limiter strap? Or is it part of the Elevate kit?
Preload equals amount spring is compressed from an unloaded state.
