Shock re-locators

[StillKickin]

Upgrades

Hello All, I am still new to the site and have done a lot of reading and received a lot of GREAT info. I have seen post on here about shock re-locators. What is the added benefit for this upgrade. Thanks for the info.

I have the same bike as you,:thumbup:. I added the swaybar to help with wind buffeting, blowing around on the road behind semi's.... It helped, but not near enough. At Spyderfest, Len suggested that I add both the relocators and Elkas for a supreme ride. I did and it did. The bike is steady/stable as it should've been from the factory. I've recently added a trailer hitch and it appears to set low to me. The relocators raise the front, lowering the back and I'm concerned about how that will play out towing. Admittedly, I haven't been on a trip with the matching trailer yet so I can't speak to that. If there's a problem towing, I will remove the relocators and see how it handles.
Right now, I'm a happy camper! Expensive upgrade but worth it. Let us know what you decide and how it works for ya.
opcorn:

 

[coz]

interesting

Anything that changes your ride height will affect your alignment. A little change will not make much difference. But the more the ride height is changed the more your alignment will be affected. If you're not going to have your Spyder realigned it is best to stick with the factory ride height.

Another point that many do not consider is that stiffening up the front suspension and lifting the ride height also raises the center of gravity making the Spyder want to lean more in turns and cross winds, etc.

What you really want is better suspension/control/handling without changing the ride height significantly or making the ride harsh.

The purpose of the shock relocators is to give your shocks more leverage against the suspension without altering the ride height. They will effectively raise your spring rate and you can usually back off on the pre-load a bit. Experimenting will give you a better idea of what works for you.[/QUOTEdid i raise the ride height of my gs by adding r t shocks, without even knowing it?]

 

[Shewhoprays]

Shock ReLocators

Let me throw my 2cents in here, and yes that's all it's worth. I had the relocators put on my 2010RT just prior to Spyderfest. I noticed when we went on a trip to Texas at the end of May that the roadster seemed to want to veer to the left but thought oh it is just me because I had a passenger. Then we went on a 5,000 mile vacation trip to 9 states in late June early July and I could hardly keep the thing on the mountain roads. My hubby was on his Harley and at first I don't think he thought it was as bad as I was trying to explain. Although he later confessed he had noticed it on the trip to Texas(we both drove my spyder). I live in Missouri. When we were in upstate Nebraska a man saw me at a gas station and he was the one that noticed the left tire. It was BALD on the outer edge. He of course scared the #$%@&* out of me and said if the tire blew, the fender would blow. Anyway, we got it back to Missouri ok, and found the alignment was WAY off. My suggestion is, if you are going to get the relocators get an alignment. I was having them put relocators on a 2010 Spyder that probably needed an alignment. However now in our eyes its the relocators that took the spyder out of alignment. So word to the wise. It's a good product and glad I have it but be smart.

 

[Blue Star]

did i raise the ride height of my gs by adding r t shocks, without even knowing it?]

From what I understand. The RS and RT shocks are the same length for 2012 and before. The 2013 shock is longer to make up for the higher mounting point. So the height for the RS should not change when the RT shocks are installed, and I do not recall there being a difference when I installed the RT shocks on my (prior) RS. Not that there might have been a change, but I did not notice it at that time.

I do know that the 2013 is a bit longer than the 2011 shock that I was able to view next to each other, but I do not know if these shocks were from a RS/ST/RT. I was told by my mechanic the 2013 shock is longer to adjust for the higher mounting point, and if the relocator was installed the shock would then be that distance too short. That is why he said the relocator is a bad idea unless you also install the longer 2013 shock.

 

[Blue Star]

RonBar

Anything that changes your ride height will affect your alignment.

Does the RonBar effect the Spyders height?

 

[MrLooney]

RON BAR

Does the RonBar effect the Spyders height?

NO! The Ron Bar does NOT effect the height of your Spyder!

 

[coz]

thanks

From what I understand. The RS and RT shocks are the same length for 2012 and before. The 2013 shock is longer to make up for the higher mounting point. So the height for the RS should not change when the RT shocks are installed, and I do not recall there being a difference when I installed the RT shocks on my (prior) RS. Not that there might have been a change, but I did not notice it at that time.

I do know that the 2013 is a bit longer than the 2011 shock that I was able to view next to each other, but I do not know if these shocks were from a RS/ST/RT. I was told by my mechanic the 2013 shock is longer to adjust for the higher mounting point, and if the relocator was installed the shock would then be that distance too short. That is why he said the relocator is a bad idea unless you also install the longer 2013 shock.

that's good to know:thumbup:

 

[Chupaca]

Here's what I did..!!

I have an RS 2012 and installed the BajaRon sway bar which made a big difference. I later added the Pitbull relocation blocks adding a lot to the handling. The combination of the two is impressive. I have the stock shock and if needed will go to the RT shocks next. (a lot of those around cheap) this has been my experience and I love the improvement...:thumbup:

 

[Sarge707]

I have an RS 2012 and installed the BajaRon sway bar which made a big difference. I later added the Pitbull relocation blocks adding a lot to the handling. The combination of the two is impressive. I have the stock shock and if needed will go to the RT shocks next. (a lot of those around cheap) this has been my experience and I love the improvement...:thumbup:

After Trying the RT shocks on my 09 GS from #5 thru #1 Stiffness with the RonBar I actually went back to the Stock 09GS shocks on #4-5 with the RonBar and for a 200 Pound single rider I Like the ride better because I feel the movement of the Spyder as opposed to it being so Much on rails? I thought the Elka,s were terrible on the GS. Too stiff. nojoke

 

[NancysToy]

From what I understand. The RS and RT shocks are the same length for 2012 and before. The 2013 shock is longer to make up for the higher mounting point. So the height for the RS should not change when the RT shocks are installed, and I do not recall there being a difference when I installed the RT shocks on my (prior) RS. Not that there might have been a change, but I did not notice it at that time.

I do know that the 2013 is a bit longer than the 2011 shock that I was able to view next to each other, but I do not know if these shocks were from a RS/ST/RT. I was told by my mechanic the 2013 shock is longer to adjust for the higher mounting point, and if the relocator was installed the shock would then be that distance too short. That is why he said the relocator is a bad idea unless you also install the longer 2013 shock.

Although the shocks are the same length, changing to a shock with a higher spring rate (or increasing the spring preload) will raise the front slightly. More importantly, it will reduce the amount the ride height drops when the Spyder is loaded or mounted.

 

[Chupaca]

Thanks..!!

After Trying the RT shocks on my 09 GS from #5 thru #1 Stiffness with the RonBar I actually went back to the Stock 09GS shocks on #4-5 with the RonBar and for a 200 Pound single rider I Like the ride better because I feel the movement of the Spyder as opposed to it being so Much on rails? I thought the Elka,s were terrible on the GS. Too stiff. nojoke

We are actually quite happy where we are at in the handling department. Also thought the RT shocks would be to stiff and with the relocation blocks raise the front end even more..:thumbup:

 

[NancysToy]

The biggest advantage to the RT shocks is that they have significantly increased damping. The preload can be adjusted to a low enough level to approximate the RS shocks set up at 4-5.

 

[Bob Denman]

So they just about get started, where the RS shock leave off... :thumbup:

 

[blambert]

I have the Ron bar, shock relocators and Elka shocks. Putting the relocators rasiend the nose of the bike. I backed off three turns on both sides. Does anyone know what is the correct height distance for standard RS nose to ground? I can then set the Elka springs so i can get back to standard nose to ground height.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

MEASUREMENTS ??????

I have the Ron bar, shock relocators and Elka shocks. Putting the relocators rasiend the nose of the bike. I backed off three turns on both sides. Does anyone know what is the correct height distance for standard RS nose to ground? I can then set the Elka springs so i can get back to standard nose to ground height.

What really really matters is how the Spyder handles ....No matter what height it's at............There's not much you can do to bring down the center of GRAVITY of the Spyder .....I have tried ...........You can use a Shock with a shorter over-all length or you can Drill a New Hole for the Top of the OEM shock in the frame at a much higher position and weld Supporting metal around the new hole and be prepared to trim some of the "TUPPERWARE" ( THIS IS FOR THE 08 TO 2012 FRAME)....and this might get you 1/2 to 3/4 inches lower at the front of the frame.......Exactly how BRP arrives at the number 4 1/2 inches of ground clearance is a mystery .......where is the Pre-load set at ....front and rear.....is someone on the spyder .....and if so what is the weight of the person/object.....Just food for thought....Mike :thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

The best way to bring down the center of gravity; bolt some lead weights to the SST farme... :shocked: :joke:

 

[Sarge707]

I have the Ron bar, shock relocators and Elka shocks. Putting the relocators rasiend the nose of the bike. I backed off three turns on both sides. Does anyone know what is the correct height distance for standard RS nose to ground? I can then set the Elka springs so i can get back to standard nose to ground height.

I did a lot of measuring from the top lip of the GS/RS nose to the ground and here is what I found-

RS Stock shocks at #4= 7"
RS Stock shocks at #5= 7.25"

RT shocks on RS
RT Shocks at #1= 5.75 "
RT Shocks at #5= 7.25"

Elka shocks with 9" Preload= 7.25"
If you Elka,s are at 8.5 or 8.75 preload the front end will be respectfully Higher.

Time to get out your ruler!:roflblack:

 

[Sarge707]

So they just about get started, where the RS shock leave off... :thumbup:

Its not as easy as that -I just changed shocks 2 times between Stock and rt shocks on my GS and I ran the RT shocks at every level # and did the same Bumpy coarse around a reservoir and I really don,t care if they have more dampning because the stock GS/RS Shock on #4 outperformed the RT shock every time for ride comfort and the turns were similar because of the Ron Bar!:yikes:

 

[BajaRon]

Its not as easy as that -I just changed shocks 2 times between Stock and rt shocks on my GS and I ran the RT shocks at every level # and did the same Bumpy coarse around a reservoir and I really don,t care if they have more dampning because the stock GS/RS Shock on #4 outperformed the RT shock every time for ride comfort and the turns were similar because of the Ron Bar!:yikes:

I think they call this 'Personal Preference'.... Or, 'Better is in the eye of the beholder'...hyea:

 

[blambert]

I know that when I put the relocators on with the Elka's from the RT front shocks ( I have a 2011 RS) I noticed the nose / body was higher than before and I also noticed that when going around some twisties with my wife on the back I could raise the inside (going into the turn) front tire off the ground which spooked me - I dropped down three turns on the elka's and went out with her again and could not raise the inside front tire off the ground, but also didn't push it as hard. So definately a difference with raising the center of gravity from before and after with Relocators.

Thank you for providing the noise heigt, I can go play again with the suspension

Regards,

Lambo