Time Machine

I called the Elka 800 number and talked with their tech support folks, not sales. Got a lot of info on their products including their valve packages. Leave a message. They got back to me quickly.

My wife and I went for a ride over Labor Day weekend this year. She rode our Warrior. Her first time out to the dunes and first time on a manual shift quad. She did great. It was a busy weekend and the sand was pretty tracked up, but it was still a good ride. The Warrior suspension is pretty stiff. I've read that the Banshee shocks are a good upgrade for it, so that's where the shocks I just took off the Banshee are going. I had the rear rebuilt by a local rebuilder about a month before I ordered the Elka's. It would be great if I could put a set of Elka's on it, but that's not in the budget.

Took it out for a test run yesterday afternoon. Big difference. Smoother, more stable, more responsive. Front settings felt good, rear needs a bit more preload. Sunshine, smooth sand, no wind, about 40 degrees. Perfect riding. My outfit was the only one in the parking lot at Egin Lakes. You guys are missing some great riding.

Thanks. Dual Pistons sound good, I'll add it to the list.

Thanks, that's what I'm hoping. Maybe get out some time this week and give it a try.

Thanks for the suggestion. Checked it last night it was just under 3 inches.

Alba +2+1 arms with Elka Legacy standard travel shocks. Still need to get the alignment squared away. Supposed to be sunny and 40 degrees on Monday. Maybe take it out to the sand for a test run in the afternoon.

Nice, thanks. Cam will be doing my engine work so I'll talk with him about those SLP pipes.

Thanks Wayne, that looks like a good price, but I'm afraid it's not in the budget for now. I'm thinking of doing a 4 mil stock cylinder next year, so I'm interested to learn more about their claimed difference with that engine.

Thanks for all the comments guys, I learn more every day. Dyno run? That would be interesting. I've sent an inquiry to SLP about that.

Just went there, that's a good price. Damn!

Okay, thanks, I probably won't be buying any pipes until spring/summer, so I've got time to check this stuff out. Until then, the old FMF's will have to do.

Okay, thanks.

Pipes? I've been leaning towards T5's, but you mentioned Starting Line. They're just 30 minutes down the road from us. We've known their snowmobile work for years, hadn't considered their Banshee pipes. I just called and talked to Adam. He says they developed their pipe to maximize high AND midrange power. He's sending me some dyno charts and other info. He also said JDS (?) recently posted some comparisons between their pipes and some others. l'll have to check that out.

I like that plan! Putting the A-arms on as we speak.

Some of the guys we ride with are on 450's and I briefly considered switching, but I really like these 2 strokes.

Roger that, thanks. I'm new to Banshees and dune riding. I'd eventually like to have some more h.p., but I could see that the suspension needed to come first. I'm looking forward to next season to get these changes dialed in. C'mon April!

I talked with Cam about that. He said I could probably run the 91, but the 100 would be fine too. Planning on +4 timing.

Some new pipes and engine work are in the future, but between this and the suspension work I'm doing the budget is spent for this year. No porting, stock motor.

I finished this up last week. The Old: Hoses, stock head, TORS, stock reeds, overflow bottle, parking brake, stock air box Compression 117/118 at 5,000 feet, 91 octane non-ethanol pump gas w/Yamaha lube 32:1, 240 main jets, stock bore and crank, ran strong. The New: Silicone hoses, NOSS head w/ 19 domes, VF4 reeds, TORS delete, K&N pods Compression 138/140 at 5,000 feet, 100 LL AV gas w/ Amsoil Dominator 50/1, Mobil 1 4T gear oil Still have adjustable timing plate, in-line temp gauge and new sprockets and chain to put on. Took it out for a short run on the sand. Big difference, but running fat. Had 300 main jets in, switched to 290 but haven't had a chance to get back out and try it yet. Snow's coming this week so I might be done until April.

X2, good advice, that's what I did, called Elka, told them what, where and how I rode, they gave me their recommendation and that's what I told Alba I wanted.

Yes, dune valving. There was a mixup on the first order and they almost sent me trail shocks. So after I got mine I called Elka and had them check the serial numbers to be sure they were dune valving. Yes, dune valves.

Those are the Stage 3 Legacy steel shocks. If you order from Alba be sure to ask for your BHQ discount. I think other retailers may also offer a similar discount.

I didn't. Could have, the price isn't that much different. I just decided that standard travel would work for me. IMO, I would definitely do LT if you ride trails. For dunes, most seemed to think that Standard would be fine.

Here's what I went with. Lots of options and opinions out there, everybody thinks their idea's the best. I only ride dunes, no trails. Did a lot of reading here, talked with the guys out at the dunes and had several conversations with the folks at Alba and Elka. I decided this would work for me. Ordered it all through Alba. Takes 2-3 weeks to get the shocks from Elka. Order yours now and you can put the boxes under the tree! The rear is on, fronts going on this week. Hoping to get out this weekend and give it all a try, as long as we don't get too much snow!