Share your experiences with Performance shocks for 2023 RT's?

[CrazyCooter]

Hi guys and gals... First post here I think, but I have been lurking on and off for years until earlier this year, when my wife let me pull the trigger on a new 2023 RTL this Spring so that she can join me in my life-:long riding hobby.

Right away, I noted how poorly damped these things are, and I neither of us liked the chassis roll while cornering. We live in NorCal and frequent the twisty rougher back roads whenever possible. I first installed Baja Ron's sway bar, which made a huge difference in the roll obviously, but that increased cross spring rate has further highlighted the weak damping from the stock shocks.

I thought I had chosen the right shock builder and ordered almost 5 months ago, but it's become apparent that the delivery times are nothing but hot air, empty promises, and numerous blown delivery dates; so I pulled the plug on them and we're once again on the hunt for the best possible solution. I've never been an Elka fan because of the leak reports that I have seen, but they aren't ruled out completely. Also, I've heard great things about Wilburs. I want something that is at minimum, adjustable for rebound damping. I don't think I need remote preload adjustment for the rear with the air suspension once the spring preload is set properly?

My background... I'm an auto mechanic who runs an undercar specialty auto repair shop. I'm an avid enthusiast of anything with wheels. I also do a fair amount of suspension & shock tuning, mostly for the Jeep overlanding crowd and pickups that haul loads. I've recently been fine tuning moto suspension on our own machines, so I know a thing or two about this area. We are definitely suspension performance snobs. This is her bike, but she has sat in the truck and Jeeps with me while I developed tuning that would service people worldwide... She knows good from ****!

I know ride is subjective to opinion of the end user, but what have been your experiences with what you chose and how was the support/reliability?

[Woodaddict]

you have only 3 posts, so you are new here. You mention chassis roll, have you tried a new sway bar? Ultra bar from BajaRon, controls roll better, and the shocks control dampening. Still may need shocks for your specific feel that you want. Just for record, I have done neither to my 2015 RTL

[CloverHillCrawler]

Get some Wilbers - pricey, but they will be tuned to your weight/riding style. You will not be disappointed.

It made the ride a lot better not only for me but also for my wife. And pop the extra money for the HPA.

[CrazyCooter]

Yes, I have the Ultra Baja Ron's bar... It's in the first post. Yes, it made a huge difference, but damping is definitely lacking with the stock shocks. The proper spring rates are certainly a better experience.

I'm not scared off by the cost of the Wilburs, but having to deal with an importer and possible ease of parts availability. Most here aren't repairing or re-valving their own dampers, so this might not be a concern to them, but it is to me.

[Peter Aawen]

These might be from what is basically an Ozzie company, but you could spend a LOT of money on other shocks and still not get the same performance &/or service, so I'd suggest that you at least check out Ikon shocks - https://ikonsuspensionusa.com/

[CrazyCooter]

These might be from what is basically an Ozzie company, but you could spend a LOT of money on other shocks and still not get the same performance &/or service, so I'd suggest that you at least check out Ikon shocks - https://ikonsuspensionusa.com/

I only see a front offering from Icon? They are also a twin tube design which I'm not a big fan of. I prefer an IFP design for better control in the chop because they don't cavitate.

[Peter Aawen]

I only see a front offering from Icon? They are also a twin tube design which I'm not a big fan of. I prefer an IFP design for better control in the chop because they dont cavitate.

They do have rear's, even if not listed - I'm even pretty sure that I'm not the only one here running one of them.

As always, it's your choice what you do to/put on your Spyder, but you did ask!



Ps: It's IKON, not Icon. They were originally the local workforce who took over where/when Koni left off here in Oz (notice the re-arranged letters! ) and they've only got better over the years since!

[Mikey]

I only see a front offering from Icon? They are also a twin tube design which I'm not a big fan of. I prefer an IFP design for better control in the chop because they don't cavitate.

Cavitate! What are you doing, Motorcross?

[troop]

Yes, I have the Ultra Baja Ron's bar... It's in the first post. Yes, it made a huge difference, but damping is definitely lacking with the stock shocks. The proper spring rates are certainly a better experience.

I'm not scared off by the cost of the Wilburs, but having to deal with an importer and possible ease of parts availability. Most here aren't repairing or re-valving their own dampers, so this might not be a concern to them, but it is to me.

I would give Ted Porter a call. Excellent to deal with and very knowledgeable.
https://www.beemershop.com/category/...uspension.html

[KX5062]

In my previous Spyder (a 2014 RT) I installed Elka's (Stage 2) up front. I thought they were a major upgrade. I did have the leak problem, which was repaired by a local suspension shop. The newer internal replacement parts were clearly improved and never leaked again. So, I would suspect the leaking is a thing of the past.

Martin the Vlogger here on this site sells a slightly longer version of the Wilbers front shock. I think that with the known quality of Wilbers and the extra travel, that might be a really good way to go.

[AndysF3S]

I have Elka Stg 2 on my 22 F3S and a friend that I ride with has the Elka Stg 3 on his F3S. I have Elka Stg 2 on a 2013 Outlander 1000 and no leaks. You can send Elka an email with any questions you may have and they will respond or call you back, that may help with making your decision on what to buy. JMO

I should have mentioned that lamonstergarage.com carries the Elka shocks as well.

[BamaJohn]

On my 2020 RT, the OEM front shocks seemed to come from a go cart... they were replaced a few thousand miles ago with Stage 2 Elka's and, like the BajaRon anti-sway bar, it made a ton of difference.

[CrazyCooter]

If I did the Elka's, Stage 2 is the minimum requirement for us, but stage 3 gains low speed compression adjust which would be nice for varying loads and extreme ambient temps swings We ride 25-110°F. I can manually re-valve for the high speed should it be too soft/firm out of the box if I feel H/S setting is more of a set and forget, but it's real hard for me to ignore stage 5's adjustments. Parts are easy to come by for those. I probably already have 1000's of valve shims that fit them, so that is a plus. I have a good wholesale supplier for Elka too - sometimes it's nice being in the business!

Wilbur seems to have a great name in various moto circles, so no doubt I couldn't go wrong there, where quality is concerned.

Since this isn't a 1-hour swap in/out like on my Jeeps to re-valve a pair, it sure would be nice to get something that is perfect out of the box, but I am a bit of a perfectionist in the area.

[CrazyCooter]

Well, that escalated quickly... I wasn't going the throw Marcus at M2 under the bus just yet because I believed he would come through with shocks or at least a refund. He announced tonight that he is finished and I'm uncertain as to whether we will get a refund at this point.

His update video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzS0ffJ4OlA&t=184s

[CloverHillCrawler]

Well, that escalated quickly... I wasn't going the throw Marcus at M2 under the bus just yet because I believed he would come through with shocks or at least a refund. He announced tonight that he is finished and I'm uncertain as to whether we will get a refund at this point.

His update video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzS0ffJ4OlA&t=184s

Sorry to hear this for You, Marcus, and from what he is saying in the video all of the other can-am owners that have uncompleted orders.

Then says don't call me, call your credit card company I'm too busy filling harley orders.

I was leaning really heavily to buy M2's before I bought my Wilber's, as I wanted to support a US owned company, but then I started reading the stories about him and I guess they were true.

[CrazyCooter]

Yes, it looks/sounds like there will be quite a few of us that are going through the same thing. I too wanted to support a USA based business, sole proprietor, and fellow enthusiast. As Clover pointed out, he said he was working on the Harley shocks, but in a previous video from last week or two, he said he was getting out of Harley and focusing on Can Am? Hard to say anymore what the real deal is. I told him last week in a phone call that this is not how you treat people and gain market share - this is how you go out of business! I honestly can't remember how many times he told me/us that we would have our shocks on Saturday so we could install them on the weekend.

I couldn't find anywhere when I decided to go with Marcus in April that there was any significant sign of struggle, or I wouldn't have committed to him. In the few phone calls and emails that Marcus and I shared, I had an understanding of the supplier and labor issues as I'm in a similar business minus the actual manufacturing part. I was only out about $150K in equipment before I realized that I wasn't going to make it to the next hurdle because there just wasn't any reliable labor that was skilled to be found at any compensation level. At the same time, I never collected (and spent) funds for product that I couldn't deliver either.

I just filed for the charge back process as I pretty much knew that Marcus wasn't going to refund me the following day like he said, because he had NEVER come through on any date or promise in the 4+ months I had been dealing with him. I feel for the guy, I honestly believe that there is a health struggle, labor struggle, parts struggle, etc. I do, however, feel that there was some gross mismanagement involved here as well. I think he could possibly be "the" moto suspension mad scientist in the world, but that doesn't help those of us who have been waiting all this time and are out the $1800+ right now. He is losing his business, his life's work, and his savings too...

Overall I'd like to think this wasn't some "ponzi" type situation that he rode to the end when it finally blew up and there was no way out. I have to believe that he really thought he could recover from the downward spiral after some hard work navigating the turbulence. I hope he recovers heathwise and can live on his VA retirement....Maybe we will see him in the fold once again at a smaller more manageable scale since he is an enthusiast. In the mean time, I hope those of us getting financially screwed can recover our expense from the credit card companies.

[ricford]

I have used both rear and front Elka shocks for 9 years. No leaks and great bike control.

[CrazyCooter]

I have used both rear and front Elka shocks for 9 years. No leaks and great bike control.

Thanks for your input! Are you riding stage 2's?

Seems most go for stage 2's, and they are pretty easy to come by.