front shocks

[wiredgeorge]

Just got home from Mother's Day lunch with missus and #3 kiddo (she is the only one that lives closeby); am on my way up to shop to put my new anti-sway bar and Heim links on . Was wondering about shocks. All I have heard so far are about Elka (hope I got that right). I have never heard of them in the two-wheel or trike worlds. On eBay, I see that Progressive also makes shocks for the Spyder models. I have always had good luck with Progressive shocks and was wondering why there is no buzz about them especially when they seem to be less costly than the Elka shocks. Any wisdom on this subject out there?

 

[trikermutha]

Try the sway bar first before the shocks and then if you want after put shocks on..

Isnt your shocks adjustable?? I am sure someone out there will chime in..

 

[Roadster Renovations]

I just put 2 of my Spring Stabilizers on a 2015 RTS about 10 days ago. We put one on each side and 2 in the back spring. No sway bar, no new shocks. He was new to riding Spyders (less than 500 miles) and just that was enough to make him very comfortable riding. Cost him $80.

 

[Marker]

I think because ELKA is a site sponsor and gets a lot of hype. They are at Spyderfest and some dealers are also ELKA shock dealers.
ELKA is a great shock though. I am not bashing ELKA Shocks but just trying to answer your question,.

The 2010 RT stock shocks are adjustable, Try the bar and then play with adjusting your front shock spring preload.
Toi do that jack up your spyder so that tires are off the ground to take weight off of front shocks. You will also need a spanner wrench to turn the spring collars.
Make sure the collars on the left and right side of the spyder are adjusted the same.

The collars might break if you try to adjust them with all the weight still on the front wheels.

 

[Mazo EMS2]

I have a 2010 RT and I adjusted my front shocks from the #3 spot to the #4 spot and noticed a bit better cornering, but then followed up with the sway bar about 200 miles later. I left the shocks in the #4 spot. The new swaybar does indeed help with handling. Why BRP didn't upgrade the swaybar sooner is beyond me.

 

[Bob Denman]

This is just a wild guess on my part... pps:
When BRP's design folks were still tinkering with how they wanted things to work; I'm sure that how the bikes "felt" when going down the road, was an interesting barroom brawl...
You probably had some engineers talking about ride quality...
"Pillowy soft", may have been a descriptive term used.
Then; you had folks on the other side of the table screaming for...
"Handling!!!" :lecturef_smilie: It HAS to corner on a dime, and give you nine cents change!

Realizing that a trade-off between the two camps was inevitable; BRP just leaned too far toward the soft ride side of the equation... :banghead:

 

[wiredgeorge]

I have already taken the time to experiment with the 2010 stock front shock preload and am on #5 position (most preload). Still some wallow riding two-up and am in the middle of installing the BajaRon anti-sway bar and Heim links. I am interested in feedback on Progressives as I have a parts deal with a retailer (they advertise on one of my forums) and get a nice discount on stuff they sell and they are a volume seller of Progressive shocks. The vintage bike world tends to use Progressive stuff as OEM replacements. I suspect I can get a set for much less than the Elka shocks. I am also going to check to see if Progressive sells different springs as the spring rate on the 2010 shocks is kind of limp (I am fairly heavy fella).

 

[spacetiger]

Most of the riders swap out the shocks to aftermarket, fewer buy other alternatives to help get the weak spring some help - or, you can change the springs.

Not to many people post their riding weight; you need that info to get the springs right. I used 550 lb/in Eibach springs but Hyperco also makes a quality spring depending on your weight, you might only need 450 lb/in springs.

Post back what path you go down.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

SHOCK TRADE-OFF

This is just a wild guess on my part... pps:
When BRP's design folks were still tinkering with how they wanted things to work; I'm sure that how the bikes "felt" when going down the road, was an interesting barroom brawl...
You probably had some engineers talking about ride quality...
"Pillowy soft", may have been a descriptive term used.
Then; you had folks on the other side of the table screaming for...
"Handling!!!" :lecturef_smilie: It HAS to corner on a dime, and give you nine cents change!

Realizing that a trade-off between the two camps was inevitable; BRP just leaned too far toward the soft ride side of the equation... :banghead:

:lecturef_smilie:......You are not correct about the trade-off......I changed the angle of the front shocks on My 2014 RT to + 16 degree's.......the shocks and springs are still OEM.......I would accept a challenge from anyone with an RT with any other shock set-up in the twisties ----wet or dry ........Mike :thumbup:

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[Chupaca]

Here's what I think...

progressive dropped the ball about 2011/2012 and only maintained shocks for the earlier models. Elkas weaseled in and ate up the market now progressive sees Fox, Race Tech getting in on the deal and decided to get back in. They still don't cover all models, mine being one of them...great product...:thumbup:

 

[wiredgeorge]

Most of the riders swap out the shocks to aftermarket, fewer buy other alternatives to help get the weak spring some help - or, you can change the springs.

Not to many people post their riding weight; you need that info to get the springs right. I used 550 lb/in Eibach springs but Hyperco also makes a quality spring depending on your weight, you might only need 450 lb/in springs.

Post back what path you go down.

I weigh about 265. With Progressive 412s or 12s I use 150/170 springs which are VERY stout springs. Heavy duty springs are generally about 100/130.

 

[spacetiger]

I weigh about 265. With Progressive 412s or 12s I use 150/170 springs which are VERY stout springs. Heavy duty springs are generally about 100/130.

If you have stock springs, they are around 310-315 lbs/in. The 412's you are citing are for the rear suspension. A thread for your reading pleasure: http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?60792-2012-RT-S-SE5-Front-Suspension
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?76070-Dialing-in-your-front-shocks-lots-of-pics

 

[Bob Denman]

:lecturef_smilie:......You are not correct about the trade-off......I changed the angle of the front shocks on My 2014 RT to + 16 degree's.......the shocks and springs are still OEM.......I would accept a challenge from anyone with an RT with any other shock set-up in the twisties ----wet or dry ........Mike :thumbup:

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It wasn't my decision to make...
I was just describing how a hypothetical design session, in which they MAY have chosen some wrong parameters... :roflblack: