Just ordered a Wilbers 640 rear shock! :)

[troop]

105N/mm is 600lbs/in... I would think that would be right in the ballpark to replace the air assist with the aggressive progressive ramp up.

I have a 600lb spring sitting here for our RTL that I need to swap in. Hoping for really low air pressure (5-20psi) in the bag when solo and a healthy increase (less than 50-75psi) with loads as needed to level.

I feel the biggest issue with the OEM shock in regards to ride quality is lack of control. It is a weak low pressure emulsion design that probably just cavitates over the chop and allows the wheel to bounce like a basketball.

People ask me all the time "How can firmer equal a softer ride"? In short terms, like a Posi-trac rear end in a Plymouth - it just does!

When I removed my OEM shock, I disconnected the ALS arm and purged out the air bag thru the schrader valve. I did check psi prior to purging, and it was at approx. 50 psi. After the shock install, I reconnected the ALS arm and pumped in approx. 30# to prime the system. I did start it up/put in gear a few times to activate the system. I haven't checked the end result, as I am very happy with the end results. YMMV

 

[CrazyCooter]

When I removed my OEM shock, I disconnected the ALS arm and purged out the air bag thru the schrader valve. I did check psi prior to purging, and it was at approx. 50 psi. After the shock install, I reconnected the ALS arm and pumped in approx. 30# to prime the system. I did start it up/put in gear a few times to activate the system. I haven't checked the end result, as I am very happy with the end results. YMMV

Air pressure required to level is going to depend on a combination of shock length, spring rate, and preload?

I measured the RT before removing the shock with the air dumped so that I could duplicate it after reassembly with the preload collar thinking this would put us real close to OEM values. The problem for us was that the rear spring rate Elka sent was so light that I couldn't get the rider sag set without the static sag being topped out.

 

[askitee]

....... Although my Wilbers is quite a bit firmer, the ride is so much more smooth and controlled. Very happy

This was my experience too - so much better behaved in many ways. Even my Nav reported it being a big improvement (as we know happy wife happy life)

 

[troop]

Air pressure required to level is going to depend on a combination of shock length, spring rate, and preload?

I measured the RT before removing the shock with the air dumped so that I could duplicate it after reassembly with the preload collar thinking this would put us real close to OEM values. The problem for us was that the rear spring rate Elka sent was so light that I couldn't get the rider sag set without the static sag being topped out.

Did you get your Elka built to your specs directly thru Elka-Canada?

 

[bikerchris1270]

Hey Troop,
With your shock/ spring setup, did you keep the air bag suspension active?

 

[troop]

Hey Troop,
With your shock/ spring setup, did you keep the air bag suspension active?

Hey Chris... Yes, I did!

 

[CrazyCooter]

Did you get your Elka built to your specs directly thru Elka-Canada?

Yes, gave them A LOT of data points on rider profile, use, loads carried, and mods to the bike such as Ron's sway bar. The tech crew was completely unavailable (they never return VM's) to me even though I'm a dealer and everything has to go through a salesman. I think a lot is lost in the translation converting to French? The product I feel is good, but not impressed at all with the process.

I feel the average buyer is only satisfied because it is better than OEM and most people don't know what a proper setup is? From what I can gather, the Spyder crew isn't the most technical group on the planet?