Ok so in general does raising the pre load (fully unscrewed shock at its highest position) mean you are LESS prone to bottoming out and a WORSE Ride?
Meaning compressing the preload (say half an inch) lower then fully extended would mean possibly bottoming out but a more comfortable stable ride?
I want to be MOST STABLE. The highest i will ever jump is 4 feet if that.
Any and all help appreciated
FYI i got YFZ Shocks ALREADY for a good price just to try (if i don't feel they helped i will get some 07 or 08SE). And some plus 2 arms. All to make my ride more stable handle & Handle better.
PS. Im riding stock 06 pogo sticks. Might as well put struts in their place!
Preload is the spring tension you put on the shock when not under load. More preload (more compression of the the spring) is used as weight or leverage increases. More gives you a stiffer ride but leaves you with less travel to work with. Less will give you a softer ride and more travel left.
Many shock companies will sell you a set of zero-preload shocks or set yours up for it, leaving you with a lower ride height and a more plush ride.
I have a lot of preload in mine because they are still OEM valved for the yfz but I'm using them with wider a-arms, a larger rider, and a heavier machine. Without this preload I'd be bottoming out more often.
Quote from: Mad Dog on November 08, 2008, 03:42:35 PM
Preload is the spring tension you put on the shock when not under load. More preload (more compression of the the spring) is used as weight or leverage increases. More gives you a stiffer ride but leaves you with less travel to work with. Less will give you a softer ride and more travel left.
Many shock companies will sell you a set of zero-preload shocks or set yours up for it, leaving you with a lower ride height and a more plush ride.
I have a lot of preload in mine because they are still OEM valved for the yfz but I'm using them with wider a-arms, a larger rider, and a heavier machine. Without this preload I'd be bottoming out more often.
So to clearify you have lots of preload (shock compressed more than normal) to compensate for extra weight/long a-arms, making your ride more stiff but not bottoming out. If you didn't jump, would you change your preload to less making for a more comfortable ride?
Don't jump, just need the preload to overcome those factors. Ideally if you can reduce preload just enough so you don't bottom out you'll have the softest ride. The lower the better in your situation (less spring compression)
thanks for the help. can't wait to get everything installed and feel the difference. going to measure how much it dropped by adding yfz shocks and +2 a arms and post it up
So How much was the drop? I have a good line on a great deal on some YFZ shocks.. but I dont want to be lowered too much. I need SOME ground clearance for where I ride.. Did the shocks drop you more than an inch from the stock pogo sticks?
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd21/wastednuts/DSCF0049.jpg)
They look all the same length.. So I assume there was no drop in ride height by just changing the shocks from pogos to YFZ's?
about 1/2 inch
Quote from: Oilfield_Mafia on January 29, 2009, 08:12:26 PM
They look all the same length.. So I assume there was no drop in ride height by just changing the shocks from pogos to YFZ's?
pre weight they are the same length. where the YFZ ones fail, is notice the top of their spring, tightly coiled vs the pogo's pretty spaced coils all they way up.. that means the pogo's have more spring force to keep the weight up vs sagging.
when i put YFZ's on mine, I lost about 1-1.5 inches of travel.
depends on your weight too and yes to the travel but still a lot better than the pogos are
Quote from: wastednuts on January 31, 2009, 11:29:14 AM
depends on your weight too and yes to the travel but still a lot better than the pogos are
Mine sat 1-1.5 inches lower w/ no weight on it...... ???
ok mine does not its the preload of the shocks
there is a bunch of ways to measure your front end i have both shocks here ill take pics if needed and as of travel sounds about right i weigh about 205 lb do you get what I'm saying
Quote from: wastednuts on January 31, 2009, 03:31:58 PM
ok mine does not its the preload of the shocks
Changing the preload on the shocks can make the ride sit higher yes. but then your' changing the dynamics of the shocks... I'd rather run correct settings on the shocks for my riding vs. making it sit like it should. just my opinion.
I might need to just stick with stock shocks then.. I really like the ground clearance I have now, with me on the bike.. ME + riding gear is a lil over 250lbs.. But I would also like a better suspension. do the 09 Raptor shocks lower it any?
u can get 07SEs or any year 08,09 will not lower the quad. i have not mounted mine yfzs but like randy said about 1-1.5 inchs lower. i will measure mine when there on.
were is the thread on how to set up your shocks?
mine sits alot lower in the front also with yfz shocks
Quote from: FoundArealQuad on March 03, 2009, 03:53:46 PM
were is the thread on how to set up your shocks?
no theres not, i would download the yfz manual and go based off there settings. Or read a general shock setup guide and it should get you going. i read my raptor 700 manual for the rear shock and basically went from there.
:confused: :confused:
http://www.raptorsource.com/forum/index.php?topic=39.0
There's also A downloadable file in Krandalls PCiii site that I put together that you can print for your shop manual
I had put some 08 yfz's with a GT Thunder dual rate setup valved for xc 200lb on mine too and I easily lost 1" - 1.5" on the front. Handling was greatly improved. I sent them off to Wiigstyle racing for an overhaul. Price is very reasonable and downright cheap compared to buying new shocks. The result is awesome. Stock ride height now, improved ride, improved handling, and it's like landing on pillows now. If you're on a budget, check into getting those yfz's redone by someone.
I got a quote from wiigstyle before and their numbers were pretty close to what I could buy a new set of Motowoz shocks for...
Quote from: Ranger on May 24, 2009, 08:05:22 AM
I got a quote from wiigstyle before and their numbers were pretty close to what I could buy a new set of Motowoz shocks for...
WOW, where you find those motowoz at & what model were they? I had a dual rate setup done on my yfz's with high/low speed compression & rebound adjustments.
Any of the site sponsors here (KB Motosports, Tech Quad Shop, etc) should have them and will give you a better quote over PMs or Email/Phone...I got a quote for some shocks a couple days ago and it was close enough to Wiigstyle's quote for a total rebuild...Only difference is the shocks are just the two fronts and I was quoted for all 3 so it all depends on what you're running now...The stock shocks can be adjusted enough to where they're good enough.