What Next?

[KRMit]

I just got a bonus check at work so I have enough money to get 1 of the following:

 

1. Elka shocks without rezzies (still have stock now)

2. +2+1 a-arms (still stock now)

3. Black fenders (my stock purple are looking pretty bad)

 

My main question is which show a more drastic improvement, shocks or arms. I'm going to try to start racing next year so the fenders may have to wait. However, if I got the fenders I'd probably have enough left over for a shaved head.

 

Thanks for the opinions!

[txblueshee]

I just got a bonus check at work so I have enough money to get 1 of the following:

 

1. Elka shocks without rezzies (still have stock now)

2. +2+1 a-arms (still stock now)

3. Black fenders (my stock purple are looking pretty bad)

 

My main question is which show a more drastic improvement, shocks or arms.  I'm going to try to start racing next year so the fenders may have to wait.  However, if I got the fenders I'd probably have enough left over for a shaved head.

 

Thanks for the opinions!

283546[/snapback]

 

 

Well If you only have money for one of them.... go with the shocks... and get them speced for +2 arms. They'll be a wee bit stiffer witth the stock arms but once you get your +2's you won't have to get them revalved.

 

 

Mike

[racer]

mikes got you sent in the right direction.

[dynabanshee]

Get a set of YFZ shocks for $150 - $200, a milled a head and find a set of beat of fenders for cheap that can be shaved and look fine. Elkas are nice, but on a budget you can do all of it, except the arms. Those YFZ shocks have been holding their value quite nicely. In several months you can probably get almost the same amount out of those YFZs if you want to upgrade. If you aren't up for options, then I agree going with the Elkas. I'm in the same boat of starting over again on another bike. =)

[KRMit]

Get a set of YFZ shocks for $150 - $200, a milled a head and find a set of beat of fenders for cheap that can be shaved and look fine. Elkas are nice, but on a budget you can do all of it, except the arms. Those YFZ shocks have been holding their value quite nicely. In several months you can probably get almost the same amount out of those YFZs if you want to upgrade. If you aren't up for options, then I agree going with the Elkas. I'm in the same boat of starting over again on another bike. =)

283626[/snapback]

I really thought about those YFZ shocks but Elkas are $450 and supposed to be a lot better.

 

How much does revalving generally cost? If I get the shocks, I won't be able to get some arms for a while.

[dynabanshee]

Honestly I think you could get used arms and YFZ shocks for $400 if you watch ebay. Then you'll have the arms, a nice set of shocks, and when you get some more dough to spend on shocks, sell your YFZs and and buy the Elkas. I don't think you'll get the full potential of your elkas valved at +2 if you are going to run stock arms for a while. I picked up YFZ fronts and rear shock for $120. Just search around. Also check out the cycle trader for YFZ450s for sale with aftermarket shocks. Give em a call and see if they still have the stockers. Might get a great deal.

[Leadfoot350]

I ran works tripples with rezzies valved for +2 on my stock arms because I could only afford one thing. It road fine and I liked it better than stock. I ended up getting +3 and then the whole package worked really good. So get the elkas valved for +2 and save.

[frocashmoney24]

paint your plastics, and how much do u weigh? you might be able to get away with +2 arms and stock shocks for now if your light enough

[KRMit]

paint your plastics, and how much do u weigh? you might be able to get away with +2 arms and stock shocks for now if your light enough

284123[/snapback]

195

[sredish]

Well If you only have money for one of them.... go with the shocks... and get them speced  for +2 arms.  They'll be a wee bit stiffer witth the stock arms but once you get your +2's you won't have to get them revalved.

283556[/snapback]

 

When I ordered my shocks, I had them "speced" for my stock a-arms cause thats what i had. Later, I went to +2 and talked to Eric @ Elka about what I needed to do, and he said the valving won't change much, but the spring rate is what gets you. He sent out new main springs for $40 and they took 10 seconds to put on, no tools required and they're perfect now, seem better now then before. So, I'd just order the shocks for what you have, then later, when you go wider, just order a little stiffer main springs, and your fine. Just talk to Eric and he'll get you all the info you need.

 

Oh, and that's what I'd do is get shocks. Plastic doesn't help performance, and right now your weak link is the shocks. Wider a arms with stock shocks wouldn't even be raceable I wouldn't think, I wouldn't try it.

[nater006]

Plastics don't help performance? Damn. Wasting my money!

 

Agreed on the shocks. My last shee was a '91 and the stock shocks were horrible. Current one with just basic Works triple rates (nowhere near as nice as the Elkas) is 10X better with the stock A-arms. And like sredish said... you won't be able to use extended arms with the stock shocks. Shocks first, then arms.

[KRMit]

Well that settles it. I didn't really think about the increased leverage with wider arms killing stock shocks. I've never bottomed them out but I guess it would happen if I went wider.

 

Thanks Sredish for the info on the springs. I didn't really want to get them setup for +2 on stock arms. Seems like that would make it a rough ride.

 

Thanks for help everyone!

[KRMit]

He sent out new main springs for $40 and they took 10 seconds to put on

They were $40? I talked to Yann and he said they were $70.

[PUSH THE THROTTLE]

Just another thought, I'd definately do the Elka's first. You can always flip your front rims around for the added width. I had mine flipped when I got it and never had a problem them when I decided it was time and unloaded on the new frame, shocks, and arms had a little hole in my wallet for awhile but it's so nice now it was worth it.