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

[CrazyCooter]

I own a 21 RTL No I don't know the spring rate. I do have it setup for agreesive riding and I am 245lbs...

If you care to know your spring rate, you might be able to see the print on the coil through the side of the body work.

 

[AnatoleSea2Sky23]

I have M2 up front but M2 failed to deliver a rear shock as he closed his shop as noted.
I filed with my cc company, and received credit back for rear shock purchase.
I have an Elka on the back.
l am very pleased with set up, and now my Sea to Sky performs like my old open wheel go cart in the curvy twisties.

 

[Mosess01]

same here on the rear shock. I will be installing wilbers next year...

 

[dvjohns]

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?

I had the same concerns as you. I bought my 23 RTL in September 23 and on October 14 when I put it away for the winter, it had 20k miles. I also put the sway bar on right away and I got the same results as you. I consider myself to be a "spirited" rider and the chassis roll was an issue for me as well. So, I did my research and decided to put a set of JRI shocks on the front that BajaRon has developed in collaboration with JRI. I just got home from Tennessee last night.

I went out before I had the new shocks installed and rode a few roads in the area, had the shocks installed, and rode the same roads again. All I can say is WOW! The difference was amazing. There is still some chassis roll, but it seems to be controlled. The ride, the handling, the stability, the feeling of being planted in the corners, and it seemed to be easier to steer when the suspension is dialled in. You might be able to get even less chassis roll if you adjusted the shocks rebound and dampening. Mine are set at 20 out of a possible 45 clicks of adjustment.

I believe the JRI's would be worth you taking a look at.