Eh Pex
Veteran
I had an '05 Vector er (basically same susp. as '07 rtx) and had it riding real comfortable in stutter bumps. Wanted more power,so next came the rtx. Thought if I set the suspension to soft, I could get it similar to the vector but is still very firm. I know...it's the ditch banging suspension so what did I expect, but someone on this site stated that their 07 rtx was very comfortable. I weigh 200 lbs., so they must be significantly heavier or I'm set up wrong. Seems to be lacking rebound...push the rear down and it's slowish to return. I'm thinking faster rebound would be better for stutters. 200 miles on it and the seat is still pretty firm too. Also have my clicker full open(20 clicks). Need some advice or I'll have to sell it and get a mono susp. Rather keep the rtx if it's just a matter of revalving a shock.





Oak Hill
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How do you have your rear suspension set up?
1. Limiter Straps
2. Rear Suspension Front Shock
3. Torsion spring cam
4. Transfer Rods
1. Limiter Straps
2. Rear Suspension Front Shock
3. Torsion spring cam
4. Transfer Rods
Eh Pex
Veteran
My straps are stock setting...front skid shock spring loosened till ALMOST too loose (spring doesn't flop around)...transfer rods @maximum transfer...torsion springs @medium(I prefer soft for sag but I figured better use those springs to help pull that rear shock back to the upper position). My ski shocks have 50 lbs. of air(rolls in the corners abit but easy to correct later) and have 5.7 pilot skis. I would like to get this suspension as close as possible to the ride of a mono. An '06 rtx might have been better but I like the looks a wee bit better in '07 and figure I can get it to ride at least as soft as my '05 vector er. BTW, does this sled FLY and it's barely begun to be broken in! 17 mpg. cdn. the first tank and I started driving fairly quick after the first 100 miles(but still no WOT for more than afew seconds).
ReX
TY 4 Stroke God
These are rising rate suspensions and they are set up for moderately aggressive riding (although most aggressive riders I've spoken to and some of the magazine reviews find the suspension still too soft and easy to bottom out). For cruising non-aggressively on good trails I doubt it will ever ride as smoothly as a well set up monoshock skid.
Because it is a rising rate skid, the higher it sits, the softer the effective spring rate and the lower it sits the firmer the effective spring rate. Changing the torsion spring from L, M to H doesn't change the actual torsion spring's rate, but it changes the ride height - which will change the effective spring rate for the skid (how firm it rides).
If you set the sled up so the rear is sitting fairly high it should ride a lot softer than if it is low.
Try cranking the torsion springs to H. I also suspect you'll find the ride more comfortable with the front skid shock turned up closer to stock. This will reduce the steering effort and will also help to raise the rear up, softening the effective spring rates further.
The same goes for the front shocks on these sleds. Again they are a very aggressive rising rate air spring. With the shock extended a lot they are effectively very softly sprung, but when they get compressed a lot they are effectively very firmly sprung. Last season with a friends 06 RTX we found a much softer ride with 75 psi (ish) compared to 50 psi in the shocks. If you go too high the front tries to unload the front of the skid and this will start to firm it up again. You need to find the right balance (and in our experience and what I've read here, this is around 70-75 psi).
Unfortunately these adjustments are going to increase the ride height which will make it more tippy. Also putting more pre-load into the front track shock will make it tippier in general (more inside ski lift). You can counter this a little by tightening the front limiter by one hole. This should not make the ride noticeably firmer (as long as the strap is still quite loose when sitting on the sled on flat ground).
Keeping the weight transfer setting fairly high will make the ride softer (you already have it set this way) but it will lift the skis more when accelerating (including accelerating out of corners) and will tend to increase the "tippyness".
You'll probably find the most compliant ride with somewhere around 3" (or slightly less) of sit in as measured from the rear bumper (raise the sled and let it slowly lower without the main springs compressing - compare the rear bumper height of this to when you have bounced up and down on it and are now sitting on it).
Your current setup would be low and firm. It should provide good handling, but a fairly firm ride.
If you need to I'm sure you could find someone with a Vector willing to trade springs and shocks (assuming you were happy with the ride of the Vector).
Alternatively if you want a monoshock skid I can offer you a virtually brand new, complete 06 skid out of on 06 Apex ER for trade. It has not been ridden since everything was changed (pivot arms, slide rails, idler wheels, bumper stops, bushings, etc.) and a buddy of mine would love to swap it for an RTX's ProActive CK. He has both the soft, original spring (4.5 kg/mm rate) and the "big boy" 6.5 kg/mm spring for it. I'm sure he would also be willing to swap his constant rate Apex ER front coil over shocks for a pair of rising rate Fox Floats. PM me for more details on the skid if you are interested.
Good luck and let us know if raising the sled up gets you what you are looking for.
Because it is a rising rate skid, the higher it sits, the softer the effective spring rate and the lower it sits the firmer the effective spring rate. Changing the torsion spring from L, M to H doesn't change the actual torsion spring's rate, but it changes the ride height - which will change the effective spring rate for the skid (how firm it rides).
If you set the sled up so the rear is sitting fairly high it should ride a lot softer than if it is low.
Try cranking the torsion springs to H. I also suspect you'll find the ride more comfortable with the front skid shock turned up closer to stock. This will reduce the steering effort and will also help to raise the rear up, softening the effective spring rates further.
The same goes for the front shocks on these sleds. Again they are a very aggressive rising rate air spring. With the shock extended a lot they are effectively very softly sprung, but when they get compressed a lot they are effectively very firmly sprung. Last season with a friends 06 RTX we found a much softer ride with 75 psi (ish) compared to 50 psi in the shocks. If you go too high the front tries to unload the front of the skid and this will start to firm it up again. You need to find the right balance (and in our experience and what I've read here, this is around 70-75 psi).
Unfortunately these adjustments are going to increase the ride height which will make it more tippy. Also putting more pre-load into the front track shock will make it tippier in general (more inside ski lift). You can counter this a little by tightening the front limiter by one hole. This should not make the ride noticeably firmer (as long as the strap is still quite loose when sitting on the sled on flat ground).
Keeping the weight transfer setting fairly high will make the ride softer (you already have it set this way) but it will lift the skis more when accelerating (including accelerating out of corners) and will tend to increase the "tippyness".
You'll probably find the most compliant ride with somewhere around 3" (or slightly less) of sit in as measured from the rear bumper (raise the sled and let it slowly lower without the main springs compressing - compare the rear bumper height of this to when you have bounced up and down on it and are now sitting on it).
Your current setup would be low and firm. It should provide good handling, but a fairly firm ride.
If you need to I'm sure you could find someone with a Vector willing to trade springs and shocks (assuming you were happy with the ride of the Vector).
Alternatively if you want a monoshock skid I can offer you a virtually brand new, complete 06 skid out of on 06 Apex ER for trade. It has not been ridden since everything was changed (pivot arms, slide rails, idler wheels, bumper stops, bushings, etc.) and a buddy of mine would love to swap it for an RTX's ProActive CK. He has both the soft, original spring (4.5 kg/mm rate) and the "big boy" 6.5 kg/mm spring for it. I'm sure he would also be willing to swap his constant rate Apex ER front coil over shocks for a pair of rising rate Fox Floats. PM me for more details on the skid if you are interested.
Good luck and let us know if raising the sled up gets you what you are looking for.