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Very Active Member
Shock upgrade....is it really worth it?
When we went from our 2010 RT to our 2016 RT I noticed a big difference in the suspension. So, is it really worth it to go from stock shocks on the 2016 RT, to after market shocks? Fox, Elka...? What say you?
2021 RT Limited
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Member
Fox Upgrade
Originally Posted by Mazo EMS2
When we went from our 2010 RT to our 2016 RT I noticed a big difference in the suspension. So, is it really worth it to go from stock shocks on the 2016 RT, to after market shocks? Fox, Elka...? What say you?
I had my dealer install the Fox adjustable shocks on my 2016 RT limited and it was like night and day, what a difference in reduced body roll and handling especially riding 2up.
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Very Active Member
on both mt 13 and 14 rt's i couldn't believe the difference with the elka shocks when i put them on
NO BIKE AT THIS TIME
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Very Active Member
Depends....
Mostly on your ryding style and how well it performs for you. Casual/normal ryding they are set up pretty well but for the more intense ryders they will lack/limit your handling in the backroad twisties. Get a good amount of ryding and miles and then see by changing parts progressively. Start with a good laser alignment, then the BajaRon sway bar and hiem joints and finally deal with the shocks be it stiffeners or replacement...
Gene and Ilana De Laney
Mt. Helix, California
2012 RS sm5
2012 RS sm5 , 998cc V-Twin 106hp DIY brake and park brake Classic Black
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Very Active Member
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Elka for me
I rode the hills of Arkansas and decided there was too much front end dive in the curves, so went with the Elka shocks. I even adjusted them to a fairly hard level and see a great difference. I did not feel my bike needed laser alignment as it tracks true and straight. I also did not get the sway-bar and am very happy with the performance of my 2014 RT Limited.
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Very Active Member
On my 2008 GS the Baja bar was a dramatic improvement, but I never switched shocks. Then on my 2014 RT I got a Baja bar and felt it was a minor improvement. Then after long consultations with the guys at PitBull power I bought the Elka stage 2 shocks and that was a dramatic improvement in every way and under all riding conditions. Straights, sweepers, tight corners, everything. Huge difference and well worth the money.
2020 RTL SE6
Previously 2008 GS SM5 and 2014 RT SE6
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Definitely get a BajaRon bar then if you still feel you need more try his shock adjusters. You can save a ton of money that way.
2017 F3T-SM6 Squared Away Mirror Wedgies & Alignment
2014 RTS-SM6 123,600 miles Sold 11/2017
2014 RTL-SE6 8,600 miles
2011 RTS-SM5 5,000 miles
2013 RTS-SM5 burned up with 13,200 miles in 13 weeks
2010 RTS-SM5 59,148 miles
2010 RT- 622
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guess it depends what you are looking for in your ride.
I found the baja rons sway bar and the shock adjusters worked pretty well ,without spending 700 bucks on front shocks
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by trikermutha
guess it depends what you are looking for in your ride.
I found the baja rons sway bar and the shock adjusters worked pretty well ,without spending 700 bucks on front shocks
I agree.
I already had BajaRon's swaybar installed, but before we made our recent big trip, I installed BajaRon's spring adjusters.
Put them to the test over 6,000 miles and they made all the difference we needed in improved handling.
Well worth the money IMHO
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Very Active Member
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Very Active Member
You have to upgrade the shocks. There is a major improvement in quality. Even the metal and manufacturing is better. Stock shocks look like they came off a go-cart. PLUS.... you can adjust the spring as you see fit.
I took some picture of my install here.
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...ocks-Installed
I think they make a much bigger improvement than the anti sway bar, but it is necessary too!
2015 RT Limited: Fox Shocks - RonJon swaybar and links - BRP Comfort Seat - BRP Triaxis handlebars - Yokohama tires (26psi fronts 28psi back) - Centramatic wheel balancers - BRP belt tensioner - BRP Short windshield - CATdelete/Spyder1 attitude exhaust - Lamonster footpegs - sintered brake pads - LED TRYCLED lights - BumpSkid
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Installed Ron's sway bar first and noticed a great improvement in handling. Added Elka shocks later and did not notice much improvement.
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Active Member
Absolutely worth it Elka all the way
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Active Member
Originally Posted by lewisalice
Absolutely worth it Elka all the way
What he said!
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Active Member
I agree that the stock shock should have been a bit more but I have a slightly different question.
Which shock Fox Podium OR Elka? I think I am leaning towards the Elka since they build the shock to your weight and riding style. However, There seems to be several who went with the Fox option and I am curious what swayed you to go this route? I believe the Fox shock is about $100 more. I am no shock expert but have had after market shocks on most all my bikes and cars. The best shock I had on a bike was a Penske Shock.
Thanks in advance
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Active Member
Originally Posted by LisaLimited
I rode the hills of Arkansas and decided there was too much front end dive in the curves, so went with the Elka shocks. I even adjusted them to a fairly hard level and see a great difference. I did not feel my bike needed laser alignment as it tracks true and straight. I also did not get the sway-bar and am very happy with the performance of my 2014 RT Limited.
I also upgraded to Elka Stage 2 front shocks. Made the front end more stable and did not dip as described above. Now the bike tracks through the curve instead of a dive, correct, dive, correct through the curve. May be my riding style, but I would recommend the upgrade if you are experiencing what Lisa and I are describing.
Regards,
BitSlayer
2015 Spyder RT Limited - Perl White
- Having fun with my knees in the breeze
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Active Member
I decided to get the Elkas, should have them soon and looking to see how they change the ride. Thanks
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Very Active Member
i'll bet youre now as confused as i am. our '15 leans quite a bit 2 up.
my wife would rather i slow down than spend more money. i would like to try
rons spring adjusters but if the front end is raised , ive been told you need
to realign. for now, we slow down.
ps. i put on rons bar right after i got it.
2015 rts-white pearl- mods- '16 F3 fat 6 chrome wheels,
and some little stuff. setback utopia backrest, baja ron
sway bar, oem adj. air deflectors, marlin gps compass,
lamonster fbb foot pegs[modified brackets], lamonts
vibration damper, rock guard, and side case stiffener kit,
. brp comfort seat. , fomozas and
altimax, magic mirror mts, and wide mirrors.
[joyce & irvin toms]
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Originally Posted by irvin48
i'll bet youre now as confused as i am. our '15 leans quite a bit 2 up.
my wife would rather i slow down than spend more money. i would like to try
rons spring adjusters but if the front end is raised , ive been told you need
to realign. for now, we slow down.
ps. i put on rons bar right after i got it.
You will not need to realign unless you raise the front end way up. Normally 2 turns is all you need and it keeps it around stock height
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Very Active Member
Ron's anti-sway bar and Doc's spring stiffeners worked wonders. Thanks to the both of you
Kaos----- Gone but not forgotten.
2014 RTS in Circuit Yellow, farkle-ing addiction down to once every few months. ECU FLASH IS GREAT.
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Very Active Member
do the fox shocks have spring adjusters on the bottom or just the usual
4 or 5 step preload? if anyone as some good used ones i might be interested.
does the bottom preload keep the stock height?just trying to get some more
info. between the foglamps laying here and some shocks it would be a good
time to try frunk removal.
2015 rts-white pearl- mods- '16 F3 fat 6 chrome wheels,
and some little stuff. setback utopia backrest, baja ron
sway bar, oem adj. air deflectors, marlin gps compass,
lamonster fbb foot pegs[modified brackets], lamonts
vibration damper, rock guard, and side case stiffener kit,
. brp comfort seat. , fomozas and
altimax, magic mirror mts, and wide mirrors.
[joyce & irvin toms]
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SpyderLovers Sponsor
Originally Posted by irvin48
i'll bet youre now as confused as i am. our '15 leans quite a bit 2 up.
my wife would rather i slow down than spend more money. i would like to try
rons spring adjusters but if the front end is raised , ive been told you need
to realign. for now, we slow down.
ps. i put on rons bar right after i got it.
The adjusters are not so much to raise the front of your Spyder as to maintain the factory height. Your Spyder is aligned at a particular front end ride height. Let's say 6" from nose to ground for sake of illustration. So 6" is always going to be the ideal position for your front suspension. There is a relatively small window of suspension travel where this perfect alignment is maintained. As you move outside of this 'Ideal' ride height. Not only will your alignment be compromised. But handling is also negatively affected.
Let's say that when you load your Spyder (luggage, rider(s), etc) you lose 2" of ride height and your ideal 6" is now down to 4". Not only are you more susceptible to pavement strikes (entering steep driveway approaches, speed bumps, etc.) But your alignment and handling are compromised. What the shock adjusters do is give you the ability to return your Spyder to the original ride height of 6". They accomplish this by increasing the spring support which give the added advantages of reducing sway and dive, essentially giving you additional ground clearance when you need it most.
Slowing down is fine and everyone should ride in a manner that suits them best. But adding something to control the additional weight and loading makes the Spyder safer, easier to handle and increases your confidence in the machine and the ride more enjoyable. Especially in those rare emergency situations.
Last edited by BajaRon; 08-21-2017 at 09:15 AM.
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