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Are there any 'Not so expensive shock' alternatives to OEM?

TheCajun1957

New member
I have stock shocks on my 2018 F3L, we ride 2-up, but I don't have a couple of grand to buy the expensive shocks. Is there a good alternative upgrade that is in a lower price range? Thanks for your help!
 
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Howdy,

If you haven't already upgraded your swaybar to a larger diameter one & replaced the OEM Kenda front tyres with car tyres, I'd suggest trying that first.
 
For a lower cost Ikon shocks has been mentioned as a favorite, I didn't go with them as their site was not maintained with up to date info with the latest model years when I was shopping their site.

This is a red flag for me when it comes to any website that sells any type of merch.

But those that have bought them on this forum seem to be happy with them.
 
Front Shocks: add spring adjuster https://www.ebay.com/itm/383435306016

Rear Shock: add Elka Stage 2 https://www.lamonstergarage.com/stage-2-elka-shock-rear-can-am-spyder-rt-rts-rt-ltd-2014-present/

PS BajaRon and Lamonster are forum sponsors.

I don't believe the forum has any external sponsors anymore. Lamonster owns and runs and supplies the forum out of his own pocket nowadays. At least all advertising from external vendors has quit. If BajaRon is helping, with it behind the scenes, I am not aware of that.
 
There are 2 obstacles to providing lower cost, high quality shocks for the Spyder.

1- Low volume. While BRP purchases shocks in large volumes, an aftermarket producer does not have this luxury. The relatively low volume pushes pricing up.
2- A quality shock has a good number of custom components which require a great deal of R&D and skilled assembly. Each application has its own set of parameters. A product that makes a good deal of difference is intricate and requires very close tolerances comprised of exacting components made from long lasting materials. It's definitely not a 'One Size Fits All' proposition. Even at higher volumes, price increases quickly with quality and performance gains.

Manufacturers save a ton of money by installing adequate instead of excellent suspension components. This is a long standing, industry wide practice. The majority of owners are either satisfied or decide to live with stock suspension. Some because they don't know what they are missing. Others, though they understand the benefits, do not want to part with the cash.
 
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For a lower cost Ikon shocks has been mentioned as a favorite, I didn't go with them as their site was not maintained with up to date info with the latest model years when I was shopping their site.
This is a red flag for me when it comes to any website that sells any type of merch.
But those that have bought them on this forum seem to be happy with them.

I can completely understand that CloverHill. I usually operate the same way.
It threw me at first too. But one of the things that has enabled Ikon to keep their pricing low is that they have effectively disbanded their front office operation to allow them to concentrate on the engineering side.

I spoke to them on the phone when I was first looking at aftermarkets for my ‘21 RT-L (easier for me than for you in the US), and I got all the info I needed to make the call. I ended up being their Guinea pig to test if the shocks they had been producing for the RT since 2014 would work on the ‘20+ RT model - they did, and I’m a happy camper. They work every bit as well for me as the much more expensive Wilbers did on my F3-L.

Pete
 
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When riding two up, I noticed that I am bottoming out more often than we used to (NO, we haven't gained that much weight) like the shock is wearing out. In turns, it seems like the tires are more easily coming off the ground. I looked at the Ikon site and they don't list the F3L. Looked at Wilber site, very high priced. I noticed my front OEM shocks have preload adjustment.
 
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When riding two up, I noticed that I am bottoming out more often than we used to (NO, we haven't gained that much weight) like the shock is wearing out. In turns, it seems like the tires are more easily coming off the ground. I looked at the Ikon site and they don't list the F3L. Looked at Wilber site, very high priced. I noticed my front OEM shocks have preload adjustment.

As Pete suggested in post #9 above, it's a good idea to talk to them rather than relying on the detail on their site - as he mentioned, they don't have a traditional 'front office' anymore, so there's no-one there to spend the time listing & upgrading all the possible permutations of shocks that they can and do make. But on their website they do say "Call or email us if you cannot find your application..." on their published listing; and they do make a some pretty good 'Not so expensive shock' alternatives that will suit AND which juuuust might work as well or maybe even better than many of the more expensive alternatives for you too, just like they have for a growing number of other Spyder Ryders around the World! :ohyea:

All you hafta do is ask... :thumbup:



Ps: There's even an IKON outlet in the USA - https://ikonsuspensionusa.com/ And on their site, there's a CONTACT link in the top line of the Home page; there's also a fairly large, green, CONTACT US button just about a third of the way down the page on the right; or there's a phone number down the bottom of most pages on the left.

Or you could use any of the methods listed at the bottom of the Australian website to contact their Head Office over here in Oz - https://ikonsuspension.com.au/



Just give 'em a call, or send an email if you prefer - after all, you might gain a helluva lot of ride & handling improvement for your Spyder with less $$ outlay than you'd need for most of the alternatives, so really, what've you got to lose? :dontknow: The cost of a phone call or email & maybe a little bit of your time?? :rolleyes:
 
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BRP offers an Occasional 2-up Rear Shock for Spyder F3, F3-S 219400739 $235

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166973387346

https://www.ebay.com/itm/156205687799

It appears to be a standard shock with stronger springs. Therefore you can disassemble it to add a preload spacer to the spring. Alternatively you can peruse the Eibach catalog to find a spring which meets your needs.

I didn't realize your front shocks were adjustable. Nifty. I hope that works for you.

PS I just noticed the Elka rear shock for the F3 uses two springs, one of which is made by Eibach so there you have a starting point.
 
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You have a F3L, You should have an air bag. Is you compressor working? Check your air pressure. The air bag if at proper air pressure for riding 2 people, should not bottom out in unless a BIG bump is hit. Just my 2 cents. Bruce
 
:agree:X2 If that bag or the compressor isn't working it will do just what you're saying. If it's work great and all of a sudden it isn't that's where I would start. If the compressors fine and working like it should, then dump the weak shock.
 
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Well this is embarrassing there is an air spring (Ref# 100h air damper) 2018 Can-AM F3 LTD SE6 Rear Suspension https://www.canamseadooskidooparts.com/oemparts/a/cam/60228bbd87a8661ba4c79227/rear-suspension :opps:

And the symptom was perfectly described
When riding two up, I noticed that I am bottoming out more often than we used to

So yeah this points to a failure in the air spring system. I'm a bit confused on what is included in the Ref# 100 price but labor will be expensive if the compressor has to be replaced.
 
Cajun1957, hit your F3L rear shock with a few more psi when going 2up. As for the front shocks try spring spacers. Before I found the SLs site, I installed Mr. Gasket's rubber donut spring spacers, and they worked out well for me. Along with adding Ron's sway bar after that, I'm sitting right where I want to be. I've yet to have nanny spank me in the corners.
 
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I hear the compressors can fail by the piston connecting rod becoming loose from the motor crankshaft. If your compressor is turning but no air is coming out, pop the cover plate off the compressor & check for this before buying a new compressor.
 
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