shocks

[chris642]

I was just wondering, if i buy a set of elka dual rates right now with my stock a-arms, would i be able to use the same shocks if i were to buy some +2 arms? im not doing any MX or racing. just sand pits and trails, do i even need the wider arms? with the grand i put into my engine, i could have gotten a pretty sweet suspension now that i think about it, but oh well. not that i regret it or anything, it hauls ass. you think there are better brands for the $450 i see them selling the elkas on ebay for? any opinions or suggestions are appreciated!

[locogato11283]

when i bought my elka dual rates i had stock a arms. now that i have quicksand +1's it lowered it down quite a bit. if you go +2 you will def notice a decrese in ride height and i doubt your shocks will work as well. i would really try and wait to get the shocks to match the a arms.

[Tim C]

I bought a set of Elka front shocks last week and I asked them about putting wider a-arms on later and they said all I would need to do is put stiffer main springs on the shocks (takes 5 minutes)

[KRMit]

I bought a set of Elka front shocks last week and I asked them about putting wider a-arms on later and they said all I would need to do is put  stiffer main springs on the shocks (takes 5 minutes)

298378[/snapback]

Same response I got when I asked. I wouldn't worry about the arms if you aren't racing. Definately get a wider axle though.

[Banchetta]

Sometimes I wonder about Elka, how can you change leverage and make it up by just putting a stiffer spring on??? Personally I think they are overrated. I know this will start up a HUGE discussion, but thats what this site is for. They are a very nice looking shock, but haven't been in the ATV industry that long and every shee that I've ridden w/ them don't impress me. I don't even notice a difference from my Works front steelers w/ stock rear shock...But when I ride a shee w/ Ohlins or Axis, its like night and day compared to my shee. I just want to go home and pull out the old credit card... Maybe I'm wrong, but valving is the suspension, it should be setup for arms, rider weight, and riding style. If you change the arms, your changing the leverage which will affect the valving dramatically. Anyone w/ a -2 swingarm knows that you have to have the rear shock revalved, not resprung....Furthermore, Works wouldn't bother changing my shocks over. They said they had to regut the shocks w/ different valving for the extra leverage. So they just gave me a really good price on a new set since I bought the origainal from them...The cost was almost the same....So why would one company have to change everything internally, where the other company doesn't have to.... . I've done a lot of research and tried a lot of shee w/ other suspension setups, I just can't find a shee w/ elkas to make me a believer..Am I the only one that feels this?

[banshee370]

Sometimes I wonder about Elka, how can you change leverage and make it up by just putting a stiffer spring on??? Personally I think they are overrated. I know this will start up a HUGE discussion, but  thats what this site is for. They are a very nice looking shock, but haven't been in the ATV industry that long and every shee that I've ridden w/ them don't impress me. I don't even notice a difference from my Works front steelers w/ stock rear shock...But when I ride a shee w/ Ohlins or Axis, its like night and day compared to my shee. I just want to go home and pull out the old credit card...   Maybe I'm wrong, but valving is the suspension, it should be setup for arms, rider weight, and riding style. If you change the arms, your changing the leverage which will affect the valving dramatically. Anyone w/ a -2 swingarm knows that you have to have the rear shock revalved, not resprung....Furthermore, Works wouldn't bother changing my shocks over. They said they had to regut the shocks w/ different valving for the extra leverage. So they just gave me a really good price on a new set since I bought the origainal from them...The cost was almost the same....So why would one company have to change everything internally, where the other company doesn't have to.... . I've done a lot of research and tried a lot of shee w/ other suspension setups, I just can't find  a shee w/ elkas to make me a believer..Am I the only one that feels this?

298622[/snapback]

 

Jason:

I am behind you 100% here.... What most people dont know is that Works only has a few different sets of valving for their dual/triple rate shocks. For example.... A set of shocks built for a 200# rider on stock a-arms is say.. the same shock as one built for a 150# rider on +2+1 a-arms. I dont know the exact setups since its been a while. (last tim I checked into it for a friend) Now... Elka's are almost the same way....

If you have ever seen any of the most common shocks apart, then you could understand why Axis and Ohlins are much better than most.

 

Let the flaming begin

 

 

As for buying shocks built for stock width and adding a-arms later... You WILL need to have them revalved. Elka may just say re-spring it.... but I'd say get it done right. If you buy them now already valved for +2's they will be a little stiff but u can back off on the preload and compression to soften them up for the time. You would be better off going that way then having to redo them at a later date. (my opinion)

[chris642]

if im spending 450 or so dollars, i will deffinally go an extra 100 or so bucks for the better shocks. im deffanily getting a new axel soon, +4 g-force. what brand arms have the best quality for the dollar. im on a pretty tight budget now becasue of the cash i dumped in the engine. i know quicksand has good items, so i might buy from them. the price is good too. im gonna need new brake lines and the clamps for them on the arms, right? what about if i bought the arms first, would the stock shock be useable at all with them?

Edited December 27, 2004 by chris642

[Banchetta]

I have Quicksand arms and give them 2 thumbs up!!! I rolled my shee down a 90' hill from the top in the first week I owned them. NO problem...The powdercoating is still holding up nicely after 2.5 years...You can't go wrong for the money..As far as running stock shocks w/ +2 arms......don't hit anything steep and you'll be aright..the suspension will be very loose and will bottom the front frame or bumper coming into hills in 3rd gear or coming into 3' whoops..... If you stay on flat ground or mild trails then you'll be fine for time being...

[sredish]

I'm keeping my LSR a-arms and Elka shocks out of this one......

 

[locogato11283]

ive got elkas and like them alot, but i also dont do alot of pounding on them so i dont really know how they would work while racing. i have quicksand a arms that are sweet and strong as hell. gary is a hell of a guy and id recommend him to anyone.

[Banchetta]

Don't get me wrong, the Elkas perform just as well as the Works, but a lot of people make them look better than I would. They are a definate improvement over stock, but knowing what I do now. Its time for an upgrade.....