Stinger Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 I've been looking for a how to article or solid info on how to dial in your suspension on quads. I've found motorcycle articles that explain it in easy to understand terms like "if the rear is bouncing over woops, soften this setting" and "if the front is bottoming out on triples, increase compression". Does anybody know of a site that explains this type of info for quads or want to take the time to type it out? I know it will be similar for bikes and quads but I know quads also have to deal with tuning the suspension for good cornering as well. A specific question: If you are bottoming out on large jumps with flat landings, is it better to increase preload or compression? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brilei5 Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 If you have the option stiffen up the compression. Changeing preload also changes ride height on most shocks, unless they are ZPS then it only changes ride height. If you cannot dial it in with the compression adjustment, you may need a heavier spring set. BTW bottoming out in extreme situations is pretty normal, what I mean is if you NEVER bottom out you never use ALL your travel. Which is what you pay for. you should only be bottoming in EXTREME situations and even then it should not cause a loss of control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUSH THE THROTTLE Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 I heard at one time that a good rule of thumb for a racer is to set up so that you barely bottom out once each lap and then you're taking full advantage of your suspension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruko Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 The Elka site has a good read on setting up your suspension. Kinda like what you were saying about setting up for bikes. It describes all the adjustments, what they do and a little bit about how to make it work for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger Posted February 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 (edited) BTW bottoming out in extreme situations is pretty normal, what I mean is if you NEVER bottom out you never use ALL your travel. Which is what you pay for. you should only be bottoming in EXTREME situations and even then it should not cause a loss of control. 474055[/snapback] Here is a case of me bottoming out...doesn't seem all that extreme to me...top of second gear, ~35-40ft in the air...~4ft off the ground... Edited February 16, 2006 by Stinger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger Posted February 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 The Elka site has a good read on setting up your suspension. Kinda like what you were saying about setting up for bikes. It describes all the adjustments, what they do and a little bit about how to make it work for you. 474118[/snapback] I looked all over their site and couldn't find that...I thought it might be in the owners manual page but it was a dead link... Here are the Bike tuning links I was referring to earlier: http://www.mx-tech.com/tuning.asp http://www.mx-tech.com/tuning_offroad.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knight_ripper Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Could it be that your running +2 arms with 450 shocks. I just put +2's on my shee...with works fronts set up for stock arms. I am bottoming out on everything...in fact I just landed on a rock and took out my brake pedal and water pump cover. Id hate to think about what would have happened had I been 6 inches to the left. Anyway, if you have +2's, you need suspension for them. Im not sure what the 450's are set for....you would have to measure the arms on a 450 and find out what banshee's are. I had to order up new suspension. hopefully it will rock. no pun intended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruko Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 I looked all over their site and couldn't find that...I thought it might be in the owners manual page but it was a dead link... Here are the Bike tuning links I was referring to earlier: http://www.mx-tech.com/tuning.asp http://www.mx-tech.com/tuning_offroad.asp 474436[/snapback] It is in the downloads section in ATV Owners Manual. There is parts and install sections, then a section on set up. It's not as detailed as the ones you have for bikes, but it's a start. I just checked their site and it worked for me... you need Adobe though to be able to read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger Posted February 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 Could it be that your running +2 arms with 450 shocks. I just put +2's on my shee...with works fronts set up for stock arms. I am bottoming out on everything...in fact I just landed on a rock and took out my brake pedal and water pump cover. Id hate to think about what would have happened had I been 6 inches to the left. Anyway, if you have +2's, you need suspension for them. Im not sure what the 450's are set for....you would have to measure the arms on a 450 and find out what banshee's are. 474708[/snapback] Well, I would imagine that does make it where I have to adjust the springs a little harder to compensate. I'm only 135lbs though so it helps. I'm only adjusted about in the middle for compression right now and don't have much preload so I don't think I'm "maxing out" the 450 shocks yet... Thanks Ruko, I found it...that is exactly what I was looking for... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonkeyBoy Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 The 450 shocks were never designed to be on a banshee, and certainly never designed to be on a banshee with aftermerket a arms. You may never get these right, but you need to increase your compression at least. Flat ground landings like that are the worst. You will bottom those out first. Grab another gear and downside it. PS if I read that pic correctly, and those are work boots, you are in for a broken ankle too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RATBIKE0130 Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Preload is exactly what it says it is... how much load the shock has on it before any suspension movement. You need to add in compression dampening to slow down the shock so it doesn't bottom out as hard. Like mentioned above you are not using your full suspension travel unless you do lightly bottom out on the biggest jumps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1.6i Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 OMG i almost shit my pants from laughing so hard at your avatar!!!! LOL funny shit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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