Hardcore or not?

[IowaM1000]

Haven’t been around these new cats much lately but I’m going to be picking up a 2020 alpha. I like the look of the silver alpha one better, but $250 to go up to the red hardcore With coil over shocks sounds like a good deal. Are the shocks a major improvement over the alpha one? The stiffened running boards aren’t a big concern as I’ll be putting on aftermarket boards.
Thanks in advance

 

[summ8rmk]

Sounds like the front skid shock is a failure on the hardcore. People are maxing out the pretension and still bottoming out on the rail...

Sent it

 

[tswan]

Sounds like the front skid shock is a failure on the hardcore. People are maxing out the pretension and still bottoming out on the rail...

Sent it

Curious about what you got going on? Rode with 2 yesterday one with a silber turbo and had zero issues. Snow level went from minimal coverage to bumper deep on a 3-4 foot base. I personally like the air shocks on the standard alpha.

 

[summ8rmk]

Curious about what you got going on? Rode with 2 yesterday one with a silber turbo and had zero issues. Snow level went from minimal coverage to bumper deep on a 3-4 foot base. I personally like the air shocks on the standard alpha.

I'm good, 19 Alpha 85psi front shock.
Seen quite a few posts on Facebook with issues. Think it's a soft spring on the hardcore.

Sent it

 

[Vern]

I've seen the issues on Facebook as well. Between the soft spring on the hcr and cat recommending no more than 60 psi on the front float on the mc for '20, I'm thinking cat attributes the broken rails last year to to stiff of spring pressure instead of the shock bottoming out like most people seem to think.

 

[tswan]

Interesting..Thanks. I don't do facebook so was curious about what was going on. I am also not a jumper so I run 50 on the front skid of my 19 alpha. Been really happy with my setup.

 

[summ8rmk]

I've seen the issues on Facebook as well. Between the soft spring on the hcr and cat recommending no more than 60 psi on the front float on the mc for '20, I'm thinking cat attributes the broken rails last year to to stiff of spring pressure instead of the shock bottoming out like most people seem to think.

I believe its 60psi minimum in the front track shock. Last yr it was 35psi.

Sent it

 

[kiliki]

All 6 in our group of 2020 alphas came with 40 psi i the front shock from the factory
150 in the rear

 

[Vern]

I believe its 60psi minimum in the front track shock. Last yr it was 35psi.

Sent it

35 is still the initial setting from factory, ill have to check the manual again when I get home but I'm pretty sure I read 60 max somewhere.

 

[summ8rmk]

Hmm, i thought i read a discussion on here about the 60psi rating and someone said that it was the minimum requirement from cat. I don't have a 2020 to look at. Can't find the manual online either.
I know that at 35psi, mine would bottom out.
Sent it

 

[IowaM1000]

Well this didn’t make the decision any easier. Hahaha. Doesn’t make much sense to spend more on shocks that still bottom out tho...

 

[Jesser04]

I rode my 2020 Mountain cat today there is definitely a learning curve but I’m loving it would recommend it for sure.

 

[Vern]

@summ8rmk This is out of the 2020 manual.

 

[summ8rmk]

Thanks Vern. I hate spreading bad information. I won't be running mine at or below 60psi.


All the pics of broken rails i seen last yr. The front breaks were in front of the shock. That leads me to believe that rail bottomed out up front and broke the rail.

This is what's happening to the hardcores.
Frontend bottoming out.

Sent it

 

[Jesser04]

I just checked my front pressures they are set at 75 I’ll check the rears tomorrow. @summ8rmk what pressures at you gonna run? Coming off of a 2016 M8000 the alpha there is definitely a learning curve. It turns on a dime I had my shocks on firm all day I can’t imagine how it turns on soft I felt like I was riding a stand up jet ski. I also have the elevate kit I’m not sure how that’ll effect the shocks.

 

[kiliki]

WTF?

 

[summ8rmk]

@Jesser04 last yr, i was happy with 55-85-125. 190# person on a 165.
Ice age recommend adding 10# with elevate kit.

Sent it

 

[kiliki]

Was tested at 75* tho

 

[Vern]

Thanks Vern. I hate spreading bad information. I won't be running mine at or below 60psi.


All the pics of broken rails i seen last yr. The front breaks were in front of the shock. That leads me to believe that rail bottomed out up front and broke the rail.

This is what's happening to the hardcores.
Frontend bottoming out.

Sent it

Ya, I've seen those pics. Listening to those stories and reading what I posted in the manual just leads me to believe that cat thinks it's a spring stiffness issue. I'm new to the alpha this year, and to a float front track shock so I'll be figuring all this out myself.

 

[kiliki]

set it at 50 psi and work out form there.