peterlocal22 Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 whats up everyone. I just bought a 1998 banshee and I love it. I ride trails trails mostly, sometimes sand. Im starting to do jumps and as time goes on Im hoping to be hitting some big jumps by next summer so factor that in too. I want to replace the front shocks on the banshee. Does any one have any first hand nowledge on what brand I should get and what type dual or triple or whatever. Need help big time. Ive recieved differnet opinions but not from anyone who know fisrt hand. Thanks to anyone who can help me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rider22 Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Dual rate TCS, you won't be disappointed. However, there are a lot of variables you need to account for before making the final decision. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banshee17Racing Posted November 17, 2005 Report Share Posted November 17, 2005 I've had both triple rates and duals(what I have now). But they were two completely different shocks. The brand of shock all depends on what kind of money you have to spend. I would either recommend TCS or Elka. Elka's look a little nicer, but TCS makes just as niceof a shock as Elka. I think you need to decide how much money you want to spend, which company you're going to go with, then call whichever company and ask them what type of shocks you should get after you tell them what type of riding you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justintoxicated Posted November 18, 2005 Report Share Posted November 18, 2005 (edited) TCS has better valving than elka, and elka has a better shock body. I went with Elka Elite Dual Rate Dune Eddition Piggyback, they also have more adjustment than the TCS, they have hi-speed and low speed dampening as well as compression and rebound adjustment. I beleive TCS only has rebound and compression, not even sure on the compression, however their valving is awesome and having a perfectly valved shock can be better than having an improperly valved shock and alot of adjustment. So far they are great but I only have stock to compare with and need to dial them in more over thanksgiving. I do run a TCS rear and having it re-done made a huge difference. Unless your getting long travel go with a dual rate shock. Edited November 18, 2005 by Justintoxicated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tats4life Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 i've had just about every shock on the market....granted it's all been mx applications...but hands down..if i build another bike for anything it's gonna have tcs or peps on it. yeah everybody runs elka...hell they advertise enough, and the pros run them...but noleen does all the valving work, i got elka's on my honda..i hate'em...peps are on order...custom axis are killer but i'm not waiting 3 months. TCS shocks are great...i think he has comp and rebound now...but hell i never used my rebound on the fronts...i just always use compression and set the bike up through ride height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Duece Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 ...but hell i never used my rebound on the fronts...i just always use compression and set the bike up through ride height. 438839[/snapback] that rebound is your friend though, thats what keeps your tires planted and helps you not get pogoed off the bike.........and id get dual rates...the shocks to short to make a tripple practical..the pro's get elkas for a reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUSH THE THROTTLE Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 the pro's get elkas for a reason 438841[/snapback] Cause I have them? cause they get them for free cause they look cool cause they work Get the dual rates they provide more travel and that's what Elka recommends. I didn't spend the extra for rebound adjustment on the fronts nor do I feel like I am missing much. On the rear though it's got to be rebound adjustable if not you will have the pogo stick effect which is really hard to ride and can get you hurt, it put me in an ambulance once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawarriorman Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 the pro's get elkas for a reason 438841[/snapback] Cuz their free? Which makes me think, I wonder how many pros are running the valving that elka sent their shocks with, and I wonder how many had someone else valve the shocks for them. My vote is TCS, they impressed me more than the elka setups Ive ridden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tats4life Posted November 20, 2005 Report Share Posted November 20, 2005 look at any pro rider...there's a noleen sticker....they don't run elka's valving....it fuckin sucks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tats4life Posted November 20, 2005 Report Share Posted November 20, 2005 bd....i don't have your money.....i ride what i can afford, and i will never make the money u do...but i enjoy going to work every morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icecold_shee Posted November 20, 2005 Report Share Posted November 20, 2005 I have a TCS zps dual rate rear shock, let me know if ud be interested in it, its set up for mx 180lb rider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justintoxicated Posted November 20, 2005 Report Share Posted November 20, 2005 (edited) elkas don't suck, you can't go buy their budget shocks then compare them to TCS or any other high end shock thinking they will magicaly be better because they are elkas. Sure all the lkas shocks look familair but there is a pretty big difference between their different lines. Hell they only make like 15 different shock setups for the banshee or some shit. Hell you don't even have a rebound adjustment on your TCS! I have 4 adjustments on mine! And yes it makes a difference. Especialy the rebound adjustment and high speed compression! Best of all on mine after I get them dialed in, I can change the settings by turning a knob for shooting the hill when I get there, and change them back before I leave in about 30 seconds. I decided not to get TCS when their setups seemed to revolve around MX now, they were convinced that I needed Self Sagging fronts for MX and dunes. Mt TCS bebuilt rear is ok, but i would not hesitate to toss an elka rear on it either. Edited November 20, 2005 by Justintoxicated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawarriorman Posted November 20, 2005 Report Share Posted November 20, 2005 elkas don't suck, you can't go buy their budget shocks then compare them to TCS or any other high end shock thinking they will magicaly be better because they are elkas. Sure all the lkas shocks look familair but there is a pretty big difference between their different lines. Hell they only make like 15 different shock setups for the banshee or some shit. Hell you don't even have a rebound adjustment on your TCS! I have 4 adjustments on mine! And yes it makes a difference. Especialy the rebound adjustment and high speed compression! Best of all on mine after I get them dialed in, I can change the settings by turning a knob for shooting the hill when I get there, and change them back before I leave in about 30 seconds. I decided not to get TCS when their setups seemed to revolve around MX now, they were convinced that I needed Self Sagging fronts for MX and dunes. Mt TCS bebuilt rear is ok, but i would not hesitate to toss an elka rear on it either. 439262[/snapback] Well first off, having all the adjustments in the world is not a replacement for a properly valved shock. With a well valved and sprung shock, you really shouldn't have to adjust anything. The adjustments should be a fine tuning tool, to help extract that last little bit of performance. Elka has decided that they need to have the most adjustable shocks on the planet, so that it can help mask their valving problems. Elka is starting to become exactly what Works has been for a long time. You can still get some "custom" shocks directly from Elka, but mainly all they do is build a couple different types of shocks for the retailer, and thats what you get. 2 different MX shocks, one for heavy people, and one for light weight people. They've gotten too big for their own good. So they make the shocks super adjustable, market that as a huge benefit, when in reality it is just making up for their shortcomings. Now Im not saying they aren't any better than works, they are WAY better, in both performance and quality. But I would take Axis, PEP, or TCS over Elka any day of the week. Elka marketed themselves to where they are now. Give out tons of sponsorships, get everyone to use your shocks, and the masses will follow, cuz everyone just says Elkas the best. Go and look at exriders.com suspension forum. Elka is the only reply you get over there any more, theres even some trying to say Elka is the best bar none. I've ridden different setups, for riders close to my own weight, and the while the Elka setups performed well, they didn't feel near as refined. I've talked to several shock builders on the net, and they all feel that Elkas valving program is not as good as others. TCS has their shit together, but since they don't give their stuff out to everyone, people don't think their as good. Oh, and Elka has the exact same internals in all their shocks. And you can get TCS without rezzies for just a little more cash than the bargain Elkas. Ok, thats my rant, my view of everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justintoxicated Posted November 20, 2005 Report Share Posted November 20, 2005 (edited) Well first off, having all the adjustments in the world is not a replacement for a properly valved shock. Edited November 20, 2005 by Justintoxicated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawarriorman Posted November 20, 2005 Report Share Posted November 20, 2005 When I mean internals, I mean the valving. All the compression adjustments are in the resevoir. Yes that changes, but the valving itself is the same. As far as Elkas valved by someone else, I agree with you there, thats what I'd do If i had the money (funny how its always "if I had the money"), but I was talking about from the company. I wonder if you can just buy the raw shock body from elka, and not even have them do anything in the first place? I've seen a guy with the fox shocks, but I didn't get to talk to him. Id like to see some diagrams of them, see exactly how they work. Natalie won the championship on them, so they can't be awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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