Suspension Set Up

[mxbanshee]

Describe your terrain or track and what's been working and what has not. Just read a cool article about braking late comming into a corner. Most guys like to use the rear brake to help slide the rear of the quad aroud the corner and get you going in the right direction faster. I've always done this too... mostly. Well, I learned that if you use your front brakes, it compresses the front suspenstion, allowing more tire to stay in contact with the dirt at a greater force. Allowing you to turn the quad easier. I guess this is why Elka states that if you are lacking traction, it is generally cuz your suspenstion is to stiff for the track. So I guess we can simplyfy this (or generalize) that the softer a track the softer a suspenstion can be.

See, those fancy shocks are for more than just soaking up a landing!

There are other things at play here too, it's not quite that easy... Like on a softer track you can run more rebound on the rear, this helps keep the rear in contact with the ground.

Anyways... This stuff is fun, let's go.

What terrain do you ride? What have you found?

Edited April 8, 2005 by mxbanshee

[PUSH THE THROTTLE]

I've found my Elkas are awesome everywhere I ride.

[mxbanshee]

Let's go guys...

 

I know that everyewhere you read, Elka, LSR, and Roll all recomend 4.5 degree Camber and Castor for MX and CrossCountry. We all know these are starting recomendations... Anybody find a better setting for a certain terrain? We would be kidding ourselves to think guys like Gust and Natalie bolt up a front end and run 4.5 degrees all the time. It is these little subtelties that never get talked about. You don't pick up an ATV Sport and read about so and so's susspension settings.

 

I truly believe that at the level of GNC Pro the difference between the top three guys has A LOT to do with suspension settings they chose for that track. Not to take away from certain guys that are just plain better, guys who could win on a stocker.

[mxbanshee]

I'm trying to start conversation here...

 

Anybody notice that Gust runs 19in quad rate Elka's with only three springs. Ya, it's like they think that 4 springs is just not needed to get a nice progressive spring rate. This might be something I try... With 4 springs packed onto a shock it makes for a lot of variables to play with. If I try to think like them...we need the Zero Pre Load spring, one weaker progressive rate spring, and one (long one) for the big hits. Comments?

 

Here's a photo... not the best quality...but you get the idea.

Edited April 9, 2005 by mxbanshee

[PUSH THE THROTTLE]

Maybe your post would be better suited in the MX forum?

[Fireman-hott]

I know what your talking about, as I have always used my front brake I use my back maybe when I'm jumping thats about it.

I can dive right into the corner balls to the wall and turn and shoot out like a rocket without a problem.

I do run a zero preload spring also. I can case some woops with my elkas and be fine.

Honestly I thought thats how everyone hit corners, if you down shift right bfore you hit the corner your R's will be high enough that you can powerslide if need be, and/or be righ tin the powerband when you nail the gas again.

[fixitrod]

A couple notes

 

You should run compression as soft as the track will let you. If you are barely scraping on the biggest jump it's perfect.

 

Spring adjustments are for ride height for the most part, not to make it take bigger jumps. You may need to go to a heavier springs if the vavling is close.

 

Adjust rebound to keep the wheels on the ground but not so fast it's bucks you up on the jumps. You can't go fast if your wheels aren't on the ground.