Apex Front Shock Spring Questions

[FlyinA]

I'm looking to switch over to GYTR shocks on the front of my 2015 Apex SE. I don't care for the air shocks - too inconsistent and too much hassle to adjust.

In looking at Yamaha's accessories for my model, the GYTR front shock is P/N 8GD-2376A-00-00. Interestingly, that's the same exact part number shown in the spare parts lookup for the 2007 Apex GT, where it also shows alternative front springs - P/N 8FR-23760-00-00 for a 2.3K spring and P/N 8FR-23760-10-00 for a 3.0K spring.

Does anyone know the stock spring weight for the GYTR front shock?

Has anyone tried the alternative spring weights of 2.3k or 3.0k? Results?

 

[maim]

wish i could help you. bought 2 sets of them used so i cannot tell you the springs that are on them. i think i have the lower rate springs on my sets and have no problems with them. one set is on 2011 apex xtx and other set is on the front of a 2013 rs venture gt.

 

[Teamblue4]

I will trade you a set of GYTR for your Fox floats.

 

[FlyinA]

Teamblue4, how old are the GYTR shocks you're looking to trade? Or maybe a better question: about how many miles on them? My fox float 2's have about 300 miles on them, and the same is true for the sled. I'm not opposed to a trade, but I also don't want to put worn shocks on a new machine.

 

[FlyinA]

I'll also kick in a little background on one of the questions above. Many will remember getting big benefits from putting heavier springs in the Ohlins mono shock used on the older GT models. I was one of those. So I was thinking if it worked for the rear mono shock, what's the possibility of getting similar benefits on the front?

 

[steiner]

Putting stiffer springs in the front will help the sled stay flatter in the corners just like a stiffer sway bar. Puts more resistance in the suspension.
Just be careful of inside ski lift. When it goes up it may not want to come down.

 

[FlyinA]

^^^ I should probably say that I'm adding the 13mm sway bar as well. But you've hit on my concern - while I get more travel resistance, will I still be able to get the A-arms close to flat and not cause excessive ski lift?

By comparison, every time I've set the front Fox Float 2's above 65 psi, the ski lift kicks in. However, in that case the A -arms are not as flat from the increase in pressure, so it's hard to tell if the problem comes from A- arm geometry change or air spring pressure. Likely some of both, but hard to guess how much each contributes and how a coil weight change would compare.

 

[steiner]

Assuming the spring length is the same from one rate to another then you should be able to get the A arms fairly level when set with 0 preload.
The higher the resistance in the spring the more it will take to compress under load. This will allow for less travel in the suspension and produce more ski lift as the load can not be sucked up by the suspension.
Like I said before, when a stiffly setup sled gets ski lift, it will go.

You can always get the front shocks shortened to help get the A arms flatter. The local shock guy has done this to his sled and almost has me talked into doing it as well.

 

[FlyinA]

"Like I said before, when a stiffly setup sled gets ski lift, it will go."

You know, having thought this through, I think you're right. I liked the stock front spring on my '07 Apex GT, so I don't think I'll chase small improvements at the risk of a nasty tumble. Maybe there's just not that much to be gained.

 

[slowride06er]

Assuming the spring length is the same from one rate to another then you should be able to get the A arms fairly level when set with 0 preload.
The higher the resistance in the spring the more it will take to compress under load. This will allow for less travel in the suspension and produce more ski lift as the load can not be sucked up by the suspension.
Like I said before, when a stiffly setup sled gets ski lift, it will go.

You can always get the front shocks shortened to help get the A arms flatter. The local shock guy has done this to his sled and almost has me talked into doing it as well.

I have been thinking about shortening my front shocks up as well. I just don't know what it will do for sled as far as trail riding keep us posted if you go short