OK, I'm ready,---------- almost. Elkas, or what?

[Dick Wells]

Got over 9000 miles on my 08 RS, now, and I'm thoroughly tired of bottoming out the rear suspension. With me and the little woman on board, it's up near the allowed limit and I'd like to make the thing ride better, solo, and two-up. So, the questions.
Is ELKA the only way to go?
Is there a better-for-the-money option?

I know that I'm going to be over the 420 lb, or whatever, from time to time, what with the frunk full of groceries, etc., so I'm not looking for a miracle, just want to get rid of the rear bottoming, and hoping for some ride improvement. Gotta take care of the rear, first, and then, maybe I'll consider up-grading the fronts. The front does so much better than the rear, stock, in soaking up the bumps that it's not an issue at this point.

I'd like to hear your thoughts, guys and gals.

Thanks, DW.

 

[Arr MiHardies]

Got over 9000 miles on my 08 RS, now, and I'm thoroughly tired of bottoming out the rear suspension. With me and the little woman on board, it's up near the allowed limit and I'd like to make the thing ride better, solo, and two-up. So, the questions.
Is ELKA the only way to go?
Is there a better-for-the-money option?

I know that I'm going to be over the 420 lb, or whatever, from time to time, what with the frunk full of groceries, etc., so I'm not looking for a miracle, just want to get rid of the rear bottoming, and hoping for some ride improvement. Gotta take care of the rear, first, and then, maybe I'll consider up-grading the fronts. The front does so much better than the rear, stock, in soaking up the bumps that it's not an issue at this point.

I'd like to hear your thoughts, guys and gals.

Thanks, DW.

Have you checked the air suspension pressure? They are known to leak, and raising it will help a lot with bottoming out mid frame. I know my mid/rear bottoming out stopped once i increased air pressure in the air bag. I tend to run it at about 70psi. Front Elkas will raise most of the Spyder about 2 inches and can help as well.

 

[SteveMac]

.... Front Elkas will raise most of the Spyder about 2 inches and can help as well.

:agree: and the rear Elka will help. Len and John installed a couple on GS/RS in New York and I think the new owners were pretty happy with the improvement.

 

[NancysToy]

Have you checked the air suspension pressure? They are known to leak, and raising it will help a lot with bottoming out mid frame. I know my mid/rear bottoming out stopped once i increased air pressure in the air bag. I tend to run it at about 70psi. Front Elkas will raise most of the Spyder about 2 inches and can help as well.

Read his post carefully. The RS doesn't have an airbag system.

 

[arntufun]

Read his post carefully. The RS doesn't have an airbag system.

Scotty you could be wrong on this one. It all depends what he thinks of his wife !!!! :roflblack:
:roflblack:

 

[CyncySpyder]

OH NO YOU DIDN'T !!!!!

Scotty you could be wrong on this one. It all depends what he thinks of his wife !!!! :roflblack:
:roflblack:

:yikes::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::yikes:

 

[rnet]

:agree: and the rear Elka will help. Len and John installed a couple on GS/RS in New York and I think the new owners were pretty happy with the improvement.

I'm one that got the 1+r for the rear to stop with the rear bottoming out. Len needed to put in 6 more turns into the spring preload and a valve adjustment. It is working very well and I am quite happy. I still am using the stock front shocks with evos sway bar. I did try one with the Elkas in the front as well, but I liked my setup better. Having said that, the Elka's 1+r are completely adjustable and I'm sure I could have adjusted it to get the feel I wanted, but I choose to wait. You will love the Elka rear shock and there is allot more adjustment to the spring if needed for your weight, but I think I have you beat there.

 

[Dick Wells]

Nope, no air shock on my RS.
And, yup, you could be right about the air bag, and that's OK, cuzz the wife generally doesn't get to see what's here in the SL's.
I think I've just about made up my mind, right here, right now. -------- Aw, go-head and order up an Elka for that thang, De-uck. That's how they'd say it down in Brownsville, where we'll be in another couple of months.
Thing is, you see, I sat down here a while ago, intending to order up a couple of tickets to the F1, in Austin, but now that I've seen what I could spend on those, I've decided that the Elkas don't look so dear, after all. What's with these smilies? This is the second time tonight, that I've lost control of one, and can't get the cursor beyond the dang thing!

Thanks for the input, guys.

DWhyea:

 

[DocRags]

We put the rear Elka on at Spyderfest this year and it has been WONDERFUL...no more bottoming out when we hit bumps in the road. :yes::yes::yes::yes::yes:Absolutely worth the $$$.

 

[Sny]

Not trying to change your mind, Elka makes a fine product with lots of adjustment...

But for those looking for a cheap way to strengthen the rear spring on an RS, order the rear spring (spring only) from a RSS that came with fox shocks.

You'll have to disassemble the strut assembly with a spring compressor or have a shop do it. (it can be dangerous)

I believe the rear spring from the RSS is $45? Anyhow, it's cheap and fairly easy. You don't get the adjustment of the Elka's, and this only changes the spring rate. The RSS spring is a higher spring rate, meaning it holds more weight. It has a more progressive look to it, so it shouldn't be too harsh, but I won't know til I try it. The Elkas, depending on which one you order, have adjustable dampening and rebound which will let you tune your ride comfort a lot more, and help prevent hopping if you do it right. Again I'm not sure what's going to happen with the fox rear spring, but I'm betting BRP didn't do anything too aggressive.

I'm ordering mine today. I guess I'll let you all know how it turns out.

 

[Bob Denman]

With a welder, some knowledge, and some parts you could perhaps get an RT shock up under there; right Ron?

 

[NancysToy]

With a welder, some knowledge, and some parts you could perhaps get an RT shock up under there; right Ron?

Bad idea! The RT shock is not adjustable, and the weight rating may actually be less. The airbag on an RT carries part of the load.

 

[rnet]

Bad idea! The RT shock is not adjustable, and the weight rating may actually be less. The airbag on an RT carries part of the load.

Sorry Scotty, but you misunderstood bob and I sometimes keep my knowledge to myself and bob don't be telling my secrets.:roflblack:

 

[Crisis]

So that's the bang I hear (bottoming out??) in the rear when I hit a bump...... will raising the adjustment to 5 help, I have the rear shock adjusted at 4.

 

[rnet]

If you truely are bottoming out ,yes going to 5 will help.

 

[Jesse]

Elka rear shock on 08 or 09 rs, NOT THE WAY TO GO!

I have recently purchased an full set of Elka shocks for an 08 rs and I am not happy with the rear shock. If you adjust the preload for a cushy ride the shock bottoms out if you crank up the preload then the ride becomes harsh. I was told by John from Elka that this is a problem with to short of suspension travel on the 08 and 09 rs. I emailed John at Elka about the possibility of a progressive spring and he has not gotten back to me. I would not waist the money on a Elka rear for an 08 or 09 rs. I am waiting for John to get back to me and help resolve this issue.

I was also told by John the the 2010 and up rs shock mount have been changed to accommodate a shock with longer travel, which has resolved the issue with the 08 and 09 rs.

If any one that is happy with their rear setup on an 08 or 09 rs with an Elka shock would like to send me a pm to compare shock setting please do. I am considering going back to the stock shock on setting 5 and deal with the occasional bottoming out, the overall ride is better.

I do like the front Elka shocks.

 

[Bob Denman]

Sorry Scotty, but you misunderstood bob and I sometimes keep my knowledge to myself and bob don't be telling my secrets.:roflblack:

pps:
pps:pps:
pps:pps:pps: Sorry...

 

[Dragonrider]

I vote for Works Shocks…

 

[Dick Wells]

I got too carried away with anticipation to take the last few posts into account, and ordered up an ELKA a couple of nights ago. So, I guess if I have any issues, I'll have to take them up with ELKA. Time will tell, as they say. Who are "they", anyway?:dontknow: