Assault RMK Setup Help

[cb2honk]

12' Assault RMK with 5.1 track and front arm mounted in the Pro's mounting location.

I'm comming off of a 08 dragon 700.

This sled is kicking my butt. I could ride the dragon anywhere, now I feel so uneasy with the way the assault handles, I won't go into certain areas. I have stiffened the front track shock and loosened the rear shock and loosened the front shock springs. clickers are 1 click from softest setting. ski's narrowest setting. I have also tried the setting up per manual and that is horrible. The snow we were riding in was 6-12 inches with hard base underneath. If i hit another track while side hilling it would throw me off the sled. Also, when climbing up hill in semi setup snow the skis are PLANTED, there is basically NO ski lift. Should I move my mounting back to the assault position?? I'm lost!

 

[cb2honk]

I'm probably 200lbs with all my gear on ready to ride.

 

[Tree Boss]

I have left my Assault with the 5.1 on the lower hole and the front end does come up more then my 11 Pro did. I will go to the rmk hole but if you want more front end lift then go back to the stock hole and try that.

 

[cb2honk]

I don't want it to wheelie out of control but about 3-6 inches off the snow during a climb makes it alot easier to control compared to the skis being planted to the snow.

 

[Elfonzerio]

I'm 210 lbs. with an 11 assault. I set the rear shock to the recommended sag and the clicker 2 clicks from the softest setting. I relocated the middle shock arm to the upper hole, and run the shock a hair above "1/4" from being as loose as it goes. For the fronts I threw it up on its side and and loosened the shocks up all the way and then re tightened them to barely hand tight. I run the clickers all the way soft on the powder and 3 click from fully hard on the trail. I have battle with suspension setup for a while now and I finally conquered this bitch, me and my machine are now one. Great carving, sidehilling, climbing, boondocking, but not so great on the trail but whatever, I hate trails.

 

[akgiauque]

I'm 210 lbs. with an 11 assault. I set the rear shock to the recommended sag and the clicker 2 clicks from the softest setting. I relocated the middle shock arm to the upper hole, and run the shock a hair above "1/4" from being as loose as it goes. For the fronts I threw it up on its side and and loosened the shocks up all the way and then re tightened them to barely hand tight. I run the clickers all the way soft on the powder and 3 click from fully hard on the trail. I have battle with suspension setup for a while now and I finally conquered this bitch, me and my machine are now one. Great carving, sidehilling, climbing, boondocking, but not so great on the trail but whatever, I hate trails.

I am not on an assault but a pro. I messed mine up good (had an XP ride circles around me) and went back to the factory settings and started to play with it. Front shocks light, middle shock about 1" of threads for the preload and rear shock as light as I can without bottoming out excessively. Did that and the ride is back to awesome.
I would stiffen the middle shock preload and set the others as per your manual then loosten and stiffen from there.

 

[Elfonzerio]

I am not on an assault but a pro. I messed mine up good (had an XP ride circles around me) and went back to the factory settings and started to play with it. Front shocks light, middle shock about 1" of threads for the preload and rear shock as light as I can without bottoming out excessively. Did that and the ride is back to awesome.
I would stiffen the middle shock preload and set the others as per your manual then loosten and stiffen from there.

The assault's have stiffer spring rates, I ran middle at 1" and track wanted to wash out on sidehills. I don't like the rear to soft cause I still like to do some drops and launch it occasionally, so factory sag for me, and it works... extremely well.
Same deal here though, mine was handling like **** cause I kept messing with it and my 2 xp buddies I ride with kept dogging on my pro-ride. Now that I have mine dialed in and they see some of the crazy **** that machine (partially myself) can do, they keep quiet.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

CB, try setting the suspension back to factory spec..then play with rider position...start with the handlebars inline with the post, then move them 1-2" forward and ride..if not good move them 1-2" back of inline with the post and retest..I have noticed the bar position makes a huge difference in how the sled feels to different riding styles and this may just get you where you want the sled to be....

 

[cb2honk]

CB, try setting the suspension back to factory spec..then play with rider position...start with the handlebars inline with the post, then move them 1-2" forward and ride..if not good move them 1-2" back of inline with the post and retest..I have noticed the bar position makes a huge difference in how the sled feels to different riding styles and this may just get you where you want the sled to be....

I have tried all three positions you mention here, and the best for me was rolled back. And the only reason I think i liked that better was because it kept my weight back off the skis bit and didn't get bucked near as much when running across tracked up snow. I just want to get this thing as plush when carving as my dragon is and be able to bump the clickers up when I feel like jumping a bit. It feels like I am back on my 08 xp, where i had to have my feet way back on the boards to carve.

 

[cb2honk]

I'm 210 lbs. with an 11 assault. I set the rear shock to the recommended sag and the clicker 2 clicks from the softest setting. I relocated the middle shock arm to the upper hole, and run the shock a hair above "1/4" from being as loose as it goes. For the fronts I threw it up on its side and and loosened the shocks up all the way and then re tightened them to barely hand tight. I run the clickers all the way soft on the powder and 3 click from fully hard on the trail. I have battle with suspension setup for a while now and I finally conquered this bitch, me and my machine are now one. Great carving, sidehilling, climbing, boondocking, but not so great on the trail but whatever, I hate trails.

I will give this a try my next trip out. How is the weight transfer with this setup?

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

I hear you...I normally stand with my toe tips about even with the foot hoop to about 8-10" back for most all technical riding, my bars are pretty much in line with the post...my rear track shock is cranked up 4 turns over stock, frt skid shock is up 1 turn and ski shocks are stock( my sled is a pro 163 and the suspension is super soft..my buddies 163 is super stiff and I have to really work to sidehill his and keep control compared to mine...where do you have the limiter set at? makes we wonder with the skid in the rmk holes if it just has too much frt ski pressure to allow the skid to function right? might need to order a set of holz limiter straps so you can let the skid out more so it transfers better......

 

[G-Force]

Having issues getting mine dialed in as well.
Tonight I went with the following for (hopefully) tomorrows ride :
235lbs with gear, wow I need a gym membership lol

Front ski shocks : 2 turns tighter from stock, basically fully tightened.
#3 click from softest
Front skid shock : tightened spring so 7/8" behind the collar. # 2 click from
softest
Rear skid shock : 10" spring length as per manual, maybe 9 3/4" tough to
get the tape in there accurately

My reasoning being my rider weight needs the springs turned up, but keep the compression turned down so the shock will still cycle fully..

Any comments/recommendations? Am I out to lunch here?

G.

 

[sledstew]

Move the skid to the top bolt, replace the front spring with part Number 704378-133
Set front shocks at 3 or 4 clicks , move bars back a bit depending on your height.
will help you out drastically!!

 

[cb2honk]

Move the skid to the top bolt, replace the front spring with part Number 704378-133
Set front shocks at 3 or 4 clicks , move bars back a bit depending on your height.
will help you out drastically!!

How do i order that part number and what is the difference in springs?

 

[polarispro]

cb2honk, send me a pm, and I'll tell you what worked the best for me on the 12 Assault, might not work for you but worth a try.

 

[cb2honk]

pm sent