Shocks...... Evol 2 or 3 ....$1000.... Really?

[AndrettiDog]

It's funny how people say the WE are garbage and raptors or fox are the best when their internals will fit the WE. It's all about setup.

Sorry TRS, but I couldn't disagree more. While the piggyback WE's are light years better than the worst shock ever made (IQ series WE's), It doesn't take me long to notice. I can bottom the rear shocks out on a trail full of whoops and the fronts on a small drop. I like to ride hard but probably no better than the rest of this group. Adjustability? Yeah, I moved the shock to the most travel I could. That's all the adjustability other than moving to another mount hole.

I went to Exit X1's on all four. I'm not sponsored and I don't any kick backs whatsoever. They just flat work and have almost too much adjustability. I will say that good shocks will make side hilling a little tougher although that can be adjusted too. The reason is that the super soft WE's work well for side hilling because there is no rebound and little resistance.

Oh, and I don't need to justify my purchase (well, maybe to the wife). I have come on here and complained about other purchases that didn't pan out (Team Tied, PAR Head, OFT tether, Craigerbuilt bag, etc).

 

[TRS]

Sorry TRS, but I couldn't disagree more. While the piggyback WE's are light years better than the worst shock ever made (IQ series WE's), It doesn't take me long to notice. I can bottom the rear shocks out on a trail full of whoops and the fronts on a small drop. I like to ride hard but probably no better than the rest of this group. Adjustability? Yeah, I moved the shock to the most travel I could. That's all the adjustability other than moving to another mount hole.

I went to Exit X1's on all four. I'm not sponsored and I don't any kick backs whatsoever. They just flat work and have almost too much adjustability. I will say that good shocks will make side hilling a little tougher although that can be adjusted too. The reason is that the super soft WE's work well for side hilling because there is no rebound and little resistance.

Oh, and I don't need to justify my purchase (well, maybe to the wife). I have come on here and complained about other purchases that didn't pan out (Team Tied, PAR Head, OFT tether, Craigerbuilt bag, etc).

I understand where you are coming from. For the majority of the riding public, a revalve is all they need. Most cannot tell the difference in a shock package. Then we have those who want to ride moguls and those who want a boondocking setup. There is a happy medium for both worlds, but not the best for each discipline.
And yes the WE air was the worst shock ever built, I worked on them for 2 weeks straight and tossed them for a set of Fox. All was good then.

 

[AndrettiDog]

For the majority of the riding public, a revalve is all they need.

But isn't that frustrating? We need to revalve to get the shocks right from the get go? It's not like we are trying to make the sled do something it wasn't intended for. One other thing I didn't mention when swapping out to X1's. I was able to sale my front WE's for $350 and the backs for another $300. So although the X1's might have cost $1000 (I got them for $750), the cost is actually less if you swap out your stockers.

I'm curious how the 2015 RMK "piggyback" shocks are going to work this year. I think Polaris took the Assault shocks and re-bodied them to work on the RMK. I like rebound adjustment so maybe these will be more of a happy medium than the standard coil over WE's. I would really like to get to the point where I don't have to fork out so much money when I buy a new sled. It's getting much harder for me to do that these days.

 

[wjl]

But isn't that frustrating? We need to revalve to get the shocks right from the get go? It's not like we are trying to make the sled do something it wasn't intended for. One other thing I didn't mention when swapping out to X1's. I was able to sale my front WE's for $350 and the backs for another $300. So although the X1's might have cost $1000 (I got them for $750), the cost is actually less if you swap out your stockers.

I'm curious how the 2015 RMK "piggyback" shocks are going to work this year. I think Polaris took the Assault shocks and re-bodied them to work on the RMK. I like rebound adjustment so maybe these will be more of a happy medium than the standard coil over WE's. I would really like to get to the point where I don't have to fork out so much money when I buy a new sled. It's getting much harder for me to do that these days.

Yes it is!
Shocks are a PIA, just think how many they order and sit around for how long?
In 2008 ski doo had rear shocks on new sleds with little or no pressure. The N2 leaked out.
Another thing is how fresh is the oil, the builders use drums not quarts. Lay the shocks flat for shipping and then install. When??
It does blow that one has to rebuild a "new" shock on a 13k sled but what you going to do.
Think what the factory would charge for "all out custom" set up?
At least Polars is offering some upgrades and that is a step forward.

 

[4strokeperformance]

Ohlins

This is what the Ohlins look like on the Pro. I've had great luck with them on my Yamaha's so we'll see how they work on something 150 lbs lighter.

 

[mountainhorse]

I didn't realize that there was an Ohlins specialist that makes them specifically for the PRO RMK's?

Got a link?

What springs are installed?

 

[sledneck_03]

This is what the Ohlins look like on the Pro. I've had great luck with them on my Yamaha's so we'll see how they work on something 150 lbs lighter.

Those looks awesome

 

[4strokeperformance]

Ohlins

Mountainhorse, I don't know of any vendors that make them Pro specific. These are a new set I had for my Apex and they bolted right up with the Yamaha brackets. I only had to drill one hole on each side. I've got various springs I may end up trying but either way I"m excited to see how they work with this light weight chassis.

 

[mountainhorse]

All of the majors... Fox, Raptor, Elka, Zbroz, Walker.. all have Chassis specific length/valving and springs for the PRO's. Ohlins are not represented well in the PRO Chassis... at least not in the USA/Canada.

The PRO Chassis with the bonded arms like you show require a specific length of 16.6" from eye-center to eye-center. The valving package is set up for that specific weight... even if you have a Compression AND rebound adjustment... The Base line valve stacks still need to be dialed-in for that chassis.

Now...with the weight of the Yamaha on the front shocks... I'd bet the springs are going to be on the stiff side.

If your ride height measures the same in the front with the stock shocks and the Ohlins (the measurement of both brands of shocks would need to be within 1/8" of each other)....then heck ... give it a try!!



.

 

[mountainhorse]

All of the majors... Fox, Raptor, Elka, Zbroz, Walker.. all have Chassis specific length/valving and springs for the PRO's. Ohlins are not represented well in the PRO Chassis... at least not in the USA/Canada.

The PRO Chassis with the bonded arms like you show require a specific length of 16.6" from eye-center to eye-center. The valving package is set up for that specific weight... even if you have a Compression AND rebound adjustment... The Base line valve stacks still need to be dialed-in for that chassis.

Now...with the weight of the Yamaha on the front shocks... I'd bet the springs are going to be on the stiff side.

If your ride height, distance from a fixed point on the chassis to the floor, measures the same in the front with the stock shocks and the Ohlins (the measurement of both brands of shocks would need to be within 1/8" of each other)....then heck ... give it a try!!



.

 

[AndrettiDog]

Now...with the weight of the Yamaha on the front shocks... I'd bet the springs are going to be on the stiff side.

Bingo! I was thinking the same thing. My brother tried coil over WE's on his IQ sled and it didn't work out. There is only 60 lbs difference (give or take) compared to 130 lbs more on the Apex.

 

[mountainhorse]

Never a bad Idea... the cost is in the effort to take off/ship/return/install.

$30 more plus a bit extra labor... for good measure and peace of mind...not a bad call.

The Walkers don't have a really good Ice Scraper built into the seals like the Fox/EXIT/Raptor shocks.



.

 

[BILTIT]

OK Mountainhorse, we get the point!!

Lol, just teasing.

 

[modrmk]

FOX FLOAT 3 EVOL SHOCKS

For the PRO at our shop are $750.00/pr.

 

[BILTIT]

And mine just showed up today!