Best Shocks- 08 RMK IQ

[GoBigParts]

I have the standard RMK and I am thinking of upgrading the shocks. I want a shock that will handle bigger holes and jumps but yet offer a compliant ride the rest of the day that aren't going to beat me up. Trust me I had one of those 440 REV races that took me forever to get the thing to ride decent on anything but the biggest of craters.

What is my best option?

 

[rmk2112]

I love the Fox Zero Pros......good all around ride & performance.....easily adjustable....and best of all they can handle any hard riding you want to throw at them and not be temper-mental like alot of the air shock can be.
It's just a good all around shock.

 

[MORSNO]

Here's another option that I am looking at to replace the factory Walker Evans air shocks on my 07 Dragon from Tri City Performance. I've heard that Max can do some great custom valving and spring set ups.

Front shocks; Walker Evans Clickers with dual rate springs.

Rear track shock; Walker Evans W/remote reservoir and 16 position clicker.

Front track shock; Walker Evans W/dual rate spring.

http://www.tricityperformance.net/eshopitems_cat_2332-18092-52719-75941.Suspension.htm

 

[mountainhorse]

IMO... the WE Needle Coilovers offer excellent performance with compression adjustablilty. (Tri City Polaris has the most experience with this shock)

The Fox Zero Pros offer close to the same performance without compresson adjustemt (ski shocks) for less money. (Carls has the most experience with this shock)

 

[MARV1]

I like my Zero Pro's as they can take any kind of rough terrain I dish at them. Also have a set of Floats with FBP air chambers on the '07 and find they ride a bit smoother and can handle the abuse of rough Alaskan terrain as well.

 

[GoBigParts]

Thanks of the input. I think I am going with the Ryde FX 9200 series rebuildable aluminum for the rear because I can get them at cost.

I am leaning toward the zero pros for the front the carls offer. Do they come with the spring?

Or should I do the Fox Floats on the front?

 

[Angermangement890]

From what you describe, I would look very hard at the Z-bro's shocks with triple rate springs. Having had, Carl's valved floats, Walker Emulsion shocks, stockers on an IQ chassis and a set of Carls valved Fox's (gen II) I would say the Z-bro's are hands down a superior shock.

 

[rmk2112]

................I am leaning toward the zero pros for the front the carls offer. Do they come with the spring?..........

I had taken out my sway bar. When I ordered mine, I had them put in the 110# spring instead of the 100# to compensate for it.
Yes, the spring is included

 

[MNIQR]

I also vote for the Exit (Z Broz) shocks. Far and away better than any other shock ive ran(and thats alot).

 

[MURFDOG]

Exits for sure, great shocks!

 

[Clarke673]

the best shocks in order are

Fox EVOL X shocks
Z-broz tripples
Fox Zero pro + resivoir

 

[GoBigParts]

I also vote for the Exit (Z Broz) shocks. Far and away better than any other shock ive ran(and thats alot).

What makes them so much better. Ride, no fade?

I like a shocks that are soft enough to isolate me from stutters and smaller bumps but stiff enough that keeps the sled in control in the big holes. I know there is a compromise because no shock does both well. I believe that is where dual or tripple stage spring rates, or valving comes in.

The Zbros look like more money than I want to spend however, if they do what I explained above well it may be worth it.

 

[mountainhorse]

For what you are describing the DSC function on the Fox Evol-X's is what will give you want you want... compliance on the smaller stutters and more firm control on the big square edged bumps/drops/jumps.

The EXIT shocks are super high quality, with Triple rate springs, large 5/8" shafts, great valving and oil control.

Exit X-0 shocks $850 for the pair (triple rate springs, non adjustable compression)
Exit X-1 shocks $1105 for the pair (triple rate springs, adjustable compression)

Fox Evol-X's $1500 for the pair [adjustable compression/rebound, DSC adjustment (hi/low), 2 spring rate adjustments (main/evol chambers) ]

Fox Zero pro, $550 (single rate spring, no compression adjustment)

Fox Evol-R $950, [rebound adjustment, 2 spring rate adjustments (main/evol chambers)]

Walker Evans Needle Coil spring shocks [Dual rate springs, Compression adjustment]

Ryde FX 9200 series about $500 (single rate spring, no compression adjustment)

Fox Racing Shox: How the DSC Works
The DSC valve has two parallel paths through which oil flows. The low-speed circuit is an
adjustable needle and jet seat. The high-speed circuit is a valve stack backed by a
compression spring. The preload in this spring controls the point at which the valve stack
opens

The LSC (low speed compression) adjuster primarily affects the compression damping
during slow suspension movements such as g-outs or smooth jump landings. It also affects
wheel traction and the harshness or plushness of the vehicle (note that low-speed has nothing
to do with the speed of the vehicle!). Choose a LSC setting that gives good body control (roll in
corners, dive under braking, squat under acceleration, etc) without causing excessive
harshness or loss of traction. The following graph shows the typical range of adjustability for
the LSC adjuster from full firm to full soft with the HSC adjuster held constant at 10 clicks out:

The HSC (high speed compression) adjuster mainly affects the compression damping
during medium to fast suspension movements such as steep jump faces, harsh flat landings
and aggressive whoops. The goal is to run as little high-speed compression damping as
possible without bottoming. The following graph shows the typical range of adjustability for the
HSC adjuster from full firm to full soft with the LSC adjuster held constant at 10 clicks:

 

[akrevrider]

What makes them so much better. Ride, no fade?

I like a shocks that are soft enough to isolate me from stutters and smaller bumps but stiff enough that keeps the sled in control in the big holes. I know there is a compromise because no shock does both well. I believe that is where dual or tripple stage spring rates, or valving comes in.

The Zbros look like more money than I want to spend however, if they do what I explained above well it may be worth it.

Triple rate Exit shocks here w/no sway bar~ 360 miles. Totaly changed the sled on the trails and hard pack while making high speed runs to and from the truck. No issues at all from the shocks~highly recommmed
Z-Broz from their customer service and products .

 

[GoBigParts]

For what you are describing the DSC function on the Fox Evol-X's is what will give you want you want... compliance on the smaller stutters and more firm control on the big square edged bumps/drops/jumps.

The EXIT shocks are super high quality, with Triple rate springs, large 5/8" shafts, great valving and oil control.

Exit X-0 shocks $850 for the pair (triple rate springs, non adjustable compression)
Exit X-1 shocks $1105 for the pair (triple rate springs, adjustable compression)

Fox Evol-X's $1500 for the pair [adjustable compression/rebound, DSC adjustment (hi/low), 2 spring rate adjustments (main/evol chambers) ]

Fox Zero pro, $550 (single rate spring, no compression adjustment)

Fox Evol-R $950, [rebound adjustment, 2 spring rate adjustments (main/evol chambers)]

Walker Evans Needle Coil spring shocks [Dual rate springs, Compression adjustment]

Ryde FX 9200 series about $500 (single rate spring, no compression adjustment)

Wow, Good information. Thanks

 

[NapaMatt]

Fox Floats!!! II


my .02

 

[Clarke673]

For what you are describing the DSC function on the Fox Evol-X's is what will give you want you want... compliance on the smaller stutters and more firm control on the big square edged bumps/drops/jumps.

What he said! I can lay my sled over nice and slow and almost compress the shocks. Side hill all day long and take woops at 50 mph. It rides 10 times better than my race sled. With minimal adjusting, i can hit 100 ft jumps all day.

 

[harrysmith500]

Exit Shocks FTW

 

[Angermangement890]

What makes them so much better. Ride, no fade?

I like a shocks that are soft enough to isolate me from stutters and smaller bumps but stiff enough that keeps the sled in control in the big holes. I know there is a compromise because no shock does both well. I believe that is where dual or tripple stage spring rates, or valving comes in.

The Zbros look like more money than I want to spend however, if they do what I explained above well it may be worth it.

What makes an Exit shock superior:

Larger 5/8" shock shafts, stays true and takes tons of abuse

Remote resiviors: they hold more oil so the shocks don't heat up/fade under aggressive use, greater oil volume allows you a to run a more aggressive valving package without killing the ride and the ability to make precise adjustments. (compression/rebound adjusters)

The shock oil paths are much different than an OE shock or a Fox, this allows the shock work easier, the oil doesn't heat up as much and helps deliver longer life between rebuilds.

Triple rate springs, three springs rates with crossovers give you the ability to have a spring rate for small bumps, one for the medium bumps and a spring rate for the large hits.

Valved for your weight and riding style.

30 Day Ride quality gurantee, spring rate changes and valving adjustments

MADE IN THE USA!!!!!!! With pride, no low bid quality pieces here.


The X1's which offer compression damping adjustment retail for $1050, not the $1105 previously posted. The X2's are available and add a rebound adjustment for $1250.


The Fox Shocks tout a lot of adjustment, its nice and if your shooting 100' gaps or drops you may need it, but in most situations I find the adjustments to be ignored after a while, most people simply refuse to continue messing with shocks daily and most never want to play with shocks for weeks on end. Most guys want a significant improvement in ride quality and hard riding performance and they want the shock to work without constant adjustment or attention, be durable/reliable and deliver a smile on their face after a days ride knowing their hard earned money was well spent. Its a tough bill to fill, but the Exit brand shocks do it very well.

 

[Ryde907]

have had the zeropros and the evolx on the iq rmk, the evolx has the better all around ride and is both soft in the small stuff and can handle the big stuff. Both will take a beating.