Apex XTX Star Suspension - revisited

[trailhed1]

Star is the way to go. Close to 10,000 miles of smiles on mine so far. Works for me.

Robert is Super and will take good care of you.

 

[thor452]

Thanks guys.

 

[icebreaker]

any new input on this subject? I am spending money right now on my xtx and this maybe one area. has anyone not done the star and got good results I am considering a shock revalve/rebuild and maybe pulling the strap one hole for more cornering still get inside ski lift with 13mm sway bar and front shocks as low as possible without rattle and snowtrackers. also get a little lumber wagon in studders when shocks were fresh

Buy it you will like it!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ranger1]

After reading all the posts on this thread I am confused as almost everyone recommends a heavier front spring and on a different thread riders say that if your not going to get the stiffer spring to at least crank up the pre-load on the stock spring. Well after re-valving my center shock then cranking up the spring it rode a bit rough up front, ( front ski shock springs are as soft as they can go). I softened it up by loosening the spring from 175mm to 190mm in length & it now rides waaaaay smoother. Now I am extremely happy with the ride & handling of the Star linkage kit, highly recommend it!!!!

 

[Sasquatch]

After reading all the posts on this thread I am confused as almost everyone recommends a heavier front spring and on a different thread riders say that if your not going to get the stiffer spring to at least crank up the pre-load on the stock spring. Well after re-valving my center shock then cranking up the spring it rode a bit rough up front, ( front ski shock springs are as soft as they can go). I softened it up by loosening the spring from 175mm to 190mm in length & it now rides waaaaay smoother. Now I am extremely happy with the ride & handling of the Star linkage kit, highly recommend it!!!!

I went with the stiffer spring as per Star recommendations. I don't find it to stiff but I'm a big boy!

 

[ranger1]

I went with the stiffer spring as per Star recommendations. I don't find it to stiff but I'm a big boy!

Ya I am only 170lbs soakin wet, so in conjunction with the stiffer valving set up & the spring maxed out, the bigger bumps were damn near bouncing me off the sled, lol!! There is no one perfect suspension set up that suits everyone, weight & different riding styles are a huge factor so generally fine tuning your suspension is always a must

 

[snowbeast]

Just my 2 cents, i installed the kit on my 14 Apex XTX and had both rear shocks re-Valved and changed to heavier center spring. I believe to get the most bang for the bucks it is the only way to go. To me just doing the kit and no shock work would be like buying one new carbide and just dealing with the old worn out one. You need both.

They are great people there at Star and I will be having my front shocks done this summer to complete the package.

Just do it.

Than why dont star tell everyone that there kit needs the two shocks revaled along with there kit,so your total will be near $500.00 instead of $300.00 they claim! Why does this kit need the shocks revalved,if there kit works so great,it should be just as good w/out the revalve. just my 2 cents

 

[snowbeast]

So from what I can see, to do this properly it is more of a $550 mod when you combine the shocks and kit. Anyone just do the $300 kit without doing the shocks? If so, what was your impression of that versus stock?

Yes,thats what i am saying,and myself,i weigh 195lb dry,so maybe 210lbs dressed maybe,and it ride like crap stock,no matter where you put the transfer rods,or torsion springs,mine is a 2015 with 2900 miles on,all stock no studs either,and i even left the crapy dule skis from yamaha and installed shaper carbides on them,and it still pushes,so my concern with this star kit,is it completely uncouples the skid,so that means more transfer,and less bite up front,i need to be able to rail corners under exstreem speed,can anyone who weights similar to me,and drives very hard still like the star kit all stock?

 

[snowbeast]

Ya I am only 170lbs soakin wet, so in conjunction with the stiffer valving set up & the spring maxed out, the bigger bumps were damn near bouncing me off the sled, lol!! There is no one perfect suspension set up that suits everyone, weight & different riding styles are a huge factor so generally fine tuning your suspension is always a must

Did star recommend to you,at your light weight to add stiffer valving and shim to there kit?? Wow if i got my sled back like that i would be pissed,that to me is unaceptable.

 

[sgauthier]

i have the same concern as you do mnmsnowbest, i weigh pretty well the same as you do . that's exactly what i'm worried about, i want to still be able to rail around the corners at sped without slowing down and letting the front settle to be able to turn.

 

[ranger1]

Did star recommend to you,at your light weight to add stiffer valving and shim to there kit?? Wow if i got my sled back like that i would be pissed,that to me is unaceptable.

Robert at Star recommended to add a 10mm shim to my shock when I revalved it as added insurance if in case the limiter straps break. The valving I used is similar to his valving, stiffer than stock as the stock valving is crap, too soft. Once I dialed it in to my weight it is one awesome ride!

 

[Mileage Quest]

Subscribed

 

[Viper_Dave]

Just got my skid with revalved, shortened and resprung shocks installed. Headed for Iron River tomorrow. 2 seasons without his recommended shock changes and lots of fiddling. Never could get it to my liking with factory shock valving. I'll post up my results .

 

[ranger1]

Than why dont star tell everyone that there kit needs the two shocks revaled along with there kit,so your total will be near $500.00 instead of $300.00 they claim! Why does this kit need the shocks revalved,if there kit works so great,it should be just as good w/out the revalve. just my 2 cents

There isn't much advantage to re-valving the rear shock & star only recommends re-valving the front shock, it isn't mandatory for the kit. Many have run this kit without re-valving any shocks & have said it is still a major improvement over the stock set up.

 

[sx7001]

I'm on season 3 with the star kit. I've gone from just the complete linkage kit to center shock and spring done to star's spec and this year rear shock done to their spec. Every step was an improvement over stock and now it just rides awesome. I was bottoming on big hits and the rear shock re-valve got rid of that so far. It rides super smooth now. I'm 190 suited up, torsion springs set on soft, center shock spring at 2/3, limiter straps set at stock hole and compression dampening on rear shock is 6 clicks out.