Those with ANY kind of aftermarket suspension PLEASE chime in! I need your help!

[r00st]

Alright... All this suspension stuff is boggling my mind! I am finding it a little hard and confusing to gather data on all the different options out there. I cant seem to find that many reviews of the different shock/arm combo's so its really making it hard to get a feel for what I should spend this huge chunk of change on.

Some of you have given me info many times, and its much appreciated! Any sponsors who see this please PM me with ALL of your available combo's! Some prices change a lot and options seem to appear that were not there a month ago (making this impossible to get straight in my head!)

ANY information is helpful right now!

I have a 2007 Raptor 700 SE and am selling the stock front shocks and arms. I should have about 600-700 out of my whole front suspension. I would like to only drop 1,000 out of pocket (which seems doable for even the nicer suspension setups). If I can save some money that is even better! I dont want to cut corners, but I am also not a PRO riding MX daily so if you have a more affordable shock setup (I- shock guys, this is where I need YOU!) please chime in with exactly how you feel about your setups.

Right now I know I want Long travel. Seems pointless not to spend the extra 100-250 to get it with what I am already spending.

My options I can forsee right now are:
Motowoz shocks (I got one price for 1080 on these...still have not found out if this is FULLY ADJUSTABLE or not! I woudl want the comp and rebound adjustable, in a LT shock...)
+ LT Arms... What are my options here? I Know JD arms (675 for group buy...kinda pricey)
ASR's are about 500
Houser seems WAY out of my range (like 750?)
What else is there?  Alba? (I Dont see ones listed as long travel)

With the above options (if the 1080 I was quoted is for Fully adjustable and long travel) puts me at about 1600 with the cheapest option arms (1700+ with other arms).

The flip side of the coin (and the one that leaves me with more coin in my pocket) is ISHOCK

It looks like (according to hydroD site) the I5500 LT is their only LT option? It comes with the M1A6 shocks (are these the newest shocks?) I know their other kit (non LT) comes with the F8's (thats the original shocks they came out with, right?)
I am waiting to hear back from V2 on the cost and exactly what my options are. The LT kit also comes with SS lines and clamps which is a bonus (would wait to add those to the motowoz combo later when I have money again lol).

For those who have the Ishock (or Ishock LT) how is it compared to stock? How about those who came from Stock with SE shocks??? I want a noticable difference or else I am not dropping this much cash!

The two things that appeal to me about the Ishock kits are that they are all black (purely cosmetic obviously)...and will save me 200-500+?? Still waiting on confirmation!

I am looking for Anything you guys can give me!

What you own
What you have ridden
What it cost you
How happy you are with it

I hear motowoz are about the best thing out there (very attractive!) Sounds like it will be a noticable difference over Ishock (juding by what I have heard...any confirmation on this would be helpful!) without being that pro-mx racer that I am definitely NOT!

Sorry for the long thread...and the continual posting of new threads! Hopefully this will be the LAST! I want to nail this down ASAP so I can get the ball rolling!

I also just nabbed this shock off ebay which I think will work out quite well.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=018&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=280250713686&rd=1

I got it for 250...and one season on it. The current owner had it valved for 200 (im currently 228 butt neked! Working on making that 200-210 again!). I think I will throw this shock on the way it is and if I am satisfied with it (over my SE rear) I will roll with it and sell the SE. If it needs revalved and the SE seems like a better option I will just resell it (should be able to recoup my costs seeing as how that shock cost easily 2.5 - 3.5 times that new!)

I had full elka dune editions on my DS730 and really liked them, but I know technology (valving, etc) has improved.

Anyway... ANYTHING you can throw my way is helpful!!!

Sorry to be a bother constantly, but I am putting myself through college and my money for "toys" only spreads so thin, so I have to be VERY careful with where it goes!

- Mike

[r00st]

Just a little update.. TQS special for July was Motowz and +2 LT SMC arms with brake lines and clamps for 1750.... 1775 for high ground clearance.

I dont know if that pricing is still available, but it kind of helps me realize the pricing situation. Seems like the 1080 must be for the LT/Comp/rebound adjustables...?

That price is not too bad (I assume like 75-100 off that without the brakes/clamps?) I might just have to make due with stock for now till I can scrounge up the extra cash.

If I could do 1675 for LT SMC +2 LT arms and fully adjustable Motowoz I would be interested. Will be interesting to see what the Ishock 5500 LT kit comes in at compared to that!

[socalrappy700]

Just a little update.. TQS special for July was Motowz and +2 LT SMC arms with brake lines and clamps for 1750.... 1775 for high ground clearance.

I dont know if that pricing is still available, but it kind of helps me realize the pricing situation. Seems like the 1080 must be for the LT/Comp/rebound adjustables...?

That price is not too bad (I assume like 75-100 off that without the brakes/clamps?) I might just have to make due with stock for now till I can scrounge up the extra cash.

If I could do 1675 for LT SMC +2 LT arms and fully adjustable Motowoz I would be interested. Will be interesting to see what the Ishock 5500 LT kit comes in at compared to that!

I'll try to get a hold of steve to see if we can still get you that deal.  And the ishock will be less then that.  I'm still glad I went the way I did.

[preddy08]

Socal, would you make a trip down here so we can compair these shock already!! :grin_nod:

[socalrappy700]

Socal, would you make a trip down here so we can compair these shock already!! :grin_nod:

I know you want to see if you are close.  We just need a third party to test them.  The question here is not if Josh is a good....its if he's motowoz good.  And yes valving is the most important thing, but you do need a great shock to start with.  That is why I went with motowoz.

[preddy08]

I have had alot of suspension setups over the year, and honestly (not trying to brag, AT ALL) I dont see how it could get any better!

[socalrappy700]

I have a shock built by josh.  And don't get me wrong, its a great shock.  But I just don't think that he can turn a mid grade elka into a motowoz level shock.  He's great at what he does, but not the best thing since swiss cheese.  In the world of atv suspension there will always be someone better.

[preddy08]

No better place to test them than at bussey/bluffs creek Iowa. Since when is Elka shocks not on the same level at Motowoz?

[socalrappy700]

I beg to differ.  I would say the best place to test would be baja california.  But ocotillo wells will be close. 

[preddy08]

I beg to differ.  I would say the best place to test would be baja california.  But ocotillo wells will be close. 

Well thats a bit out of the question now is'nt it?

[socalrappy700]

No better place to test them than at bussey/bluffs creek Iowa. Since when is Elka shocks not on the same level at Motowoz?

And the elka elite is at the same level.  IMO elka has really dropped in their quality over the last few years.

[socalrappy700]

I beg to differ.  I would say the best place to test would be baja california.  But ocotillo wells will be close. 

Well thats a bit out of the question now is'nt it?

If my wife still feels the way she does now next year then it wont be out of the question for me.

[Peelz]

Hey roost, I am somewhat unbiased on this subject, other than the only aftermarket susp. I have ridden is Elka. I can't tell you which is better, all I can say is that the Elka fully adjustable with rezzies made the banshee I rode feel like a Cadillac from when it was stock. Either way you are going to notice a difference.

the way I see it:

Not as many people have the motowoz, but those who do will die defending it.
Alot more people have the Elka's and are almost equally satisfied.

thus, the socal vs. preddy battle you see here. :grin_nod:

I am getting close to pulling the trigger as well, but still find it hard to do knowing that I only get to ride twice a month at best, but...I will get there. Can't just get the "best", I have to go for the best value for that much cash.

[socalrappy700]

My only reason to go with the motowoz over the elka elites was I couldn't find anyone saying anything bad about motowoz (and still waiting).  But if you do not ride that much that does play a part in the way you want to go.  I haven't been able to ride as much this year but I'm sure glad that when I do I have the set up I went with.

[Peelz]

My only reason to go with the motowoz over the elka elites was I couldn't find anyone saying anything bad about motowoz (and still waiting).  But if you do not ride that much that does play a part in the way you want to go.  I haven't been able to ride as much this year but I'm sure glad that when I do I have the set up I went with.

good point...

Are there alot of bad experiences with Elka's? I haven't really heard any, other than one or two that got their valving wrong. But, Elka resolved their problems. I never heard anything bad about motowoz, either, haven't heard anything at all, really.  Other than from you, and one other guy over at RF. Just a matter of research, I guess.  Maybe it is just a matter of marketing. Every quad you see in ads, and magazines has Elkas or Fox.