broncbob Posted July 27, 2010 Report Share Posted July 27, 2010 I'm in the market for new shocks all around, but I'm kinda lost on what I should get on the front end. I don't want to blow more money than I really have to. I ride the dunes, aggressively. Not a lot of jumps, but lots of high speed bowels and g outs and rough sand from time to time. I come in at 290 ready to ride, I have stock A arms and a +6 swing arm. I'm thinking a stage 3 in the rear, but I'm not sure what to get in the front. I have friends that run works steelers and love them, but nothing better than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
So Cal Suspension Posted July 27, 2010 Report Share Posted July 27, 2010 I'm in the market for new shocks all around, but I'm kinda lost on what I should get on the front end. I don't want to blow more money than I really have to. I ride the dunes, aggressively. Not a lot of jumps, but lots of high speed bowels and g outs and rough sand from time to time. I come in at 290 ready to ride, I have stock A arms and a +6 swing arm. I'm thinking a stage 3 in the rear, but I'm not sure what to get in the front. I have friends that run works steelers and love them, but nothing better than that. If you're not wanting to spend the extra on Elka's... go with Axis. Axis shocks, internally, are almost identical to Elka, without the price tag. Both use the same style piston/valving setup, and the same seal head design. In the dunes run a dual rate setup. Triple rates are a waste in almost every application. More of a selling point than anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ban99 Posted July 27, 2010 Report Share Posted July 27, 2010 I ride the same, agressive dunes for the most part and was originally gona go with the elka piggy back but ended up getting a great deal on Elka Dune Edition. They are miles ahead of stock and have a decent price. I have not noticed much fade even on the long rides. My opinion is resevoirs are not necessary for the dunes. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
So Cal Suspension Posted July 27, 2010 Report Share Posted July 27, 2010 I ride the same, agressive dunes for the most part and was originally gona go with the elka piggy back but ended up getting a great deal on Elka Dune Edition. They are miles ahead of stock and have a decent price. I have not noticed much fade even on the long rides. My opinion is resevoirs are not necessary for the dunes. Hope this helps. You're correct, mostly. Rezzies provide more than just cooling on ATV shocks. They separate the oil from the nitrogen, disallowing emulsification. It keeps the oil viscosity the same no matter how long you ride. With smooth body, or non res shocks, you mix the nitrogen and oil together, causing foaming, and varying degrees of dampening and rebound. So as you ride, you are actually mixing air into the oil, and more or less creating foam, rather than a steady oil consistency. I'm working on a design right now to convert standard non-res shocks, and integrate a dividing piston into the bodies. Fox, bilstein, king, and swayaway, along with other offroad shock manufacturers have been doing it for years, but for some reason ATV shock builders haven't caught on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooker82 Posted July 27, 2010 Report Share Posted July 27, 2010 I just bought a new elka stage 3 rear for my raptor. That way I can run there linkage and get an extra 3 in of wheel travel. I just have works on the front of both my raptor and banshee. They are nice upgrade from stock for sure. If you do get elka's for the front then I would at least get the 3's so you have a high speed compression knob. I doubt you would see much bennifit going with the 4's to get the high and low speed compression adjustment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbcmudtruck Posted July 27, 2010 Report Share Posted July 27, 2010 If your going to get resivoir shocks, get the stage threes. Not being able to adjust my shocks would drive me nuts. With that said, stage threes would be the absolute most I would put on my bike. The Elites wouldn't do anybody much good if they weren't heavily involved in mx/xc riding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broncbob Posted July 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2010 If you're not wanting to spend the extra on Elka's... go with Axis. Axis shocks, internally, are almost identical to Elka, without the price tag. Both use the same style piston/valving setup, and the same seal head design. In the dunes run a dual rate setup. Triple rates are a waste in almost every application. More of a selling point than anything. All the prices I can find on Axis shocks are higher than Elkas! Where are you finding them cheaper? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
So Cal Suspension Posted July 28, 2010 Report Share Posted July 28, 2010 All the prices I can find on Axis shocks are higher than Elkas! Where are you finding them cheaper? Are you looking for brand new? Or used? Brand new, the Axis shocks are more than Elka's, but not by much. Used, Elka's generally carry a higher price tag than Axis. Axis shocks are harder to find, but when you do, odds are they will be cheaper. Also, Axis is owned by Penske, so you know they aren't playing around. Don't get me wrong, Elka is still the #1 name when it comes to ATV shocks But on a scale of 100, Elka being 100, Axis is about a 98. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrMeyer Posted July 28, 2010 Report Share Posted July 28, 2010 I would got with a set of Elkas anyday. But the Axis I would go with over many others. They would be my next inline. Matt knows his stuff. Your best around would be to find a set of shocks that have Compression and Rebound adj on the shocks. That way you can dial your bike in for the types of dunes your riding. I have two sets of Elks Dunes on 2 bikes and never have looked back. They did some great R&R for Dune Ed shocks. They work great and now have 3 other friends that I ride with at Glamis wanting the same shocks after they have take my bike for a ride. To save some coin and putting that money to the front shocks. I would just sent your rear to Matt and have him revalve and spring it for the dunes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theeechozen1 Posted August 17, 2010 Report Share Posted August 17, 2010 Im about your size fully loaded with the sixxer rack full of drinks and have been running the Cheapo Elka Dune Edition fronts for 2 years... Ride at the dunes 90% of the time. I jump the piss outta my bike on every ride and constantly slam down wheelies, No fade, EVER! $445 direct from Elka in Canada Now are the adjustables and Adj w/Rezzies gangster? Hell Yes! Wish I had em. But the stage 1s bolted up and got it done, never even played with the preload. After they broke in they were superplush. that being said I nutted up on my golfcart project and got the rezzies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bansheesrtoys Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 (edited) man look for store cleance sales i got a pair of elka piggyback stage 3 shocks for my banshee for 799 even no taxes or shipping charges from motosports.com that was march of this yr. Edited October 3, 2010 by bansheesrtoys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Washburn Posted November 13, 2010 Report Share Posted November 13, 2010 How often and aggresivly do you ride is the question you have to answer when choosing a Basic PB shock to a stage 3-4 shock. Elka shocks are not Better than Custom Axis shocks. Axis shocks are the shit and each set is hand built, valved according to specs, and tested before the go out. not just taken off a rack. Axis shocks are also alot more expensive and take aloooooooooot longer to ship out because they are handeled on an individual basis like that. I went with Elka over Axis because I think ELKA shocks are just as good and they came out with the dual linkage. I wouldnt have a problem in the world running Axis shocks on anything. Espically a 250R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
So Cal Suspension Posted November 14, 2010 Report Share Posted November 14, 2010 Elka shocks are not Better than Custom Axis shocks. Axis shocks are the shit and each set is hand built, valved according to specs, and tested before the go out. not just taken off a rack. Axis shocks are also alot more expensive and take aloooooooooot longer to ship out because they are handeled on an individual basis like that. I went with Elka over Axis because I think ELKA shocks are just as good and they came out with the dual linkage. I wouldnt have a problem in the world running Axis shocks on anything. Espically a 250R. Well, Elka and Axis shocks are 99.9% identical, internally. One is not better than the other, in any way, shape or form. I suppose Elka would be "better" due to the fact that they can keep up with orders. One of the downfalls of Axis is that they are disgustingly under-staffed. It does not have anything to do with their quality control, or anything of that sort. Every Elka shock is made as orders come in. If you haven't had the opportunity to visit the Elka factory in Quebec, I highly recommend it. Every shock they build is custom built. EVERY shock is dyno'd before it leaves their hands. I just wanted to get the facts out there. I'm with you on the fact that I prefer Axis over Elka, simply because when I'm placing a $2500 stock order, Axis will take the time to confirm my order. Elka just "hopes" they get it right. In conclusion, both shocks are at the top of their game, neither one is better than the other. I have personally dyno'd both shocks one right after the other, and one doesn't out perform the other a noticeable amount. Numbers were almost identical. I use a Roehrig 3VS for all of my dynoing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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