Well its in the books and week 2 was better than 1. I now have a bit over 800 miles on the revised 03 RX-1 with the new track, suspension and pipe. I finally had a chance to play with spring pre-load, transfer and clicker dampening. This sled is now more manuverable, more nimble and verges on ballistic at launch on ice and hardpacked snow. Switching from smooth tight twisties too abused and washboard trails does require getting off the sled to reach under to the clicker knob but only requires 4-6 clicks on the 42 position shock. Once transfer is set and spring setting is found there is NO! chance of bottoming, rear stays planted and cutting the apex of a turn is spot on.
I rode everything from dirt to 16" of fresh powder, Blew WO across the flowage and this truly is now a very good all around sled (still no ditch banger). I rode Tues. with a guy on an 800 pro-x 800 and one with a Thundercat both with heavy engine, clutching and pipe mods. Could not see either after 50 feet of launch on the lake and they told me the Cat was only beginning to catch up once he got to 110 but we were running out of lake and I was 50yds ahead and left off.
For $950 the bender suspension is a deal. Installation is not complicated and hopefully the later shipments get better instructions. The original track 1" camoplast was junk, Ripsaws are good but I feel that the shotgun outperforms the ripsaw I had on the Apex.
We burried a sled in a swamp on Sunday night late and had to ride 2 up for over 40 miles back to the inn, Monday morning I found the Hyfax were more than shot. The only plastic left was the 1st 6" in the front at the rail bend. I put a new set on Sunday and re-set the tension. Even with great powder on Monday & Tuesday I can smell the new ones burning and there is plastic building up on the front of the track clips. I will see about at least replacing the bogies that the new suspension eliminates and ride again this weekend.
I rode everything from dirt to 16" of fresh powder, Blew WO across the flowage and this truly is now a very good all around sled (still no ditch banger). I rode Tues. with a guy on an 800 pro-x 800 and one with a Thundercat both with heavy engine, clutching and pipe mods. Could not see either after 50 feet of launch on the lake and they told me the Cat was only beginning to catch up once he got to 110 but we were running out of lake and I was 50yds ahead and left off.
For $950 the bender suspension is a deal. Installation is not complicated and hopefully the later shipments get better instructions. The original track 1" camoplast was junk, Ripsaws are good but I feel that the shotgun outperforms the ripsaw I had on the Apex.
We burried a sled in a swamp on Sunday night late and had to ride 2 up for over 40 miles back to the inn, Monday morning I found the Hyfax were more than shot. The only plastic left was the 1st 6" in the front at the rail bend. I put a new set on Sunday and re-set the tension. Even with great powder on Monday & Tuesday I can smell the new ones burning and there is plastic building up on the front of the track clips. I will see about at least replacing the bogies that the new suspension eliminates and ride again this weekend.
Black 1000
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Great report. I am thinking about getting the bender set up but I would like to know all the ins and outs. My 03 rides like a brick.
Hey black, loosen up the preload on both of your skid springs and set you fra to max. Your ride will improve a ton. At least until you get a new skid with some real shocks.
MOTOWN SPEEDFREEK
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Is there pics of this suspension.
Black 1000
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Mctr7 thanks I will try that.
Yeah I'll get pictures on here this week. I have been too busy riding to get to it.
Black 1000
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Try not to rub that in Dog
z28rx1
Extreme
Hey Dog, Just got back about 2 hrs ago from putting on 1087 miles this past week up in the U.P. Not as impressed with the suspension as you but i really didnt take the time to completely go crazy with the adjustments.I set everything as bender said out of the box.1st impression was if i adjusted the shock so it wouldnt bottom it was so stiff i felt every snow flake,yet if i backed off on it, it did ride better on the studders but it did bottom.I ll tell you what though, weight transfer is not a problem.This thing can lift the skis 3ft!!! however after i got it off the trailer today when i got home i did notice the spring preload did change, so after i go over it tomarrrow i will let you know what i find. Thanx "Z" 
snowbeast
TY 4 Stroke God
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How do ya like your hauck get r done pipe?? And did you do the key and fuel regulator that hauck reccomends,as woody has ordered the regulator for mine and he just installede the 3 degree yesterday,and still waiting for the 1"hacksaw to come in..Yamadog said:
Z28rx1
I really spent time the 1st week making changes. Weight may be an issue I am only 170 but I was unable to bottom the shock out. I gave up on setting the spring for sit in and went in on the adjuster till the spring would barely allow the suspension to sag at sit and then went to work on the clicker. I am at minimum on the transfer (ski lift at less than 1'). I went to the exact middle of the clicker about 22 clicks from 0. and then backed off about 5 clicks towards soft. I found that even 3 clicks makes a noticeable diff. The only time I got the skid to bottom out was when we burried another sled in the swamp and had to ride 2 up and had about 375 pounds on the seat. I think you may want to crank a bit more spring in it and reduce the transfer if your pulling the skis that far.
I really spent time the 1st week making changes. Weight may be an issue I am only 170 but I was unable to bottom the shock out. I gave up on setting the spring for sit in and went in on the adjuster till the spring would barely allow the suspension to sag at sit and then went to work on the clicker. I am at minimum on the transfer (ski lift at less than 1'). I went to the exact middle of the clicker about 22 clicks from 0. and then backed off about 5 clicks towards soft. I found that even 3 clicks makes a noticeable diff. The only time I got the skid to bottom out was when we burried another sled in the swamp and had to ride 2 up and had about 375 pounds on the seat. I think you may want to crank a bit more spring in it and reduce the transfer if your pulling the skis that far.
mnmsnowbeast,
I love the pipe the sound is awesome and everyone stares at you when you pull up to the intersections. Its hard to tell how much HP I gained with it because the new track and suspension. The sled is a different animal pulls the skis at every launch and is sooooo rideable with the Reaction suspension. The shotgun track is like velcro & hookup is incredible. I did not do the other stuff yet do to funding. I spent almost $2k on this upgrade I also bought a new Apex RTX which I totalled back in December and got stuck with the hospital bills and $2500 on the sled the insurance did'nt cover. I think I will finish the rest of the Hauck upgrade for next season but for now all I want to do is ride.
I love the pipe the sound is awesome and everyone stares at you when you pull up to the intersections. Its hard to tell how much HP I gained with it because the new track and suspension. The sled is a different animal pulls the skis at every launch and is sooooo rideable with the Reaction suspension. The shotgun track is like velcro & hookup is incredible. I did not do the other stuff yet do to funding. I spent almost $2k on this upgrade I also bought a new Apex RTX which I totalled back in December and got stuck with the hospital bills and $2500 on the sled the insurance did'nt cover. I think I will finish the rest of the Hauck upgrade for next season but for now all I want to do is ride.
z28rx1
Extreme
Hey Dog, After getting back from U.P. yesturday when i was checking it over, the ride highth changed ALOT. I cranked the adjuster down about 1 1/2 in. got it back up to where it compresses about 1in when sitting on it. I guess it broke in up there. Ill try it out this week and let you know. Thanx for your help "Z"
z28rx1
Extreme
Well, after the MAJOR adjustment made to the rear spring and preload on the bender skid all i got to say is thanx yamadog!!! Wow what a difference. Just a little more fine tuning and i think this skid is pretty impressive. Thanx again dog..."Z"
Z28
Glad to hear it worked for you. I knew what I was getting from mine couldn't be fluke. I have ridden several 05's and had an Apex I do not think either felt as good as this rear does under my 03 platform. The suspensions are close but geometry is not the same and the shock is a work of art. I could nopt get out this weekend but am planning to go back to the UP for several days next week.
By the way how are your hyfax? my 1st set was destroyed after 400 miles. conditions were bad for 200 of them and we lost a sled in a swamp and had to 2 up for 40 miles. Im not sure if that was why.
Glad to hear it worked for you. I knew what I was getting from mine couldn't be fluke. I have ridden several 05's and had an Apex I do not think either felt as good as this rear does under my 03 platform. The suspensions are close but geometry is not the same and the shock is a work of art. I could nopt get out this weekend but am planning to go back to the UP for several days next week.
By the way how are your hyfax? my 1st set was destroyed after 400 miles. conditions were bad for 200 of them and we lost a sled in a swamp and had to 2 up for 40 miles. Im not sure if that was why.
z28rx1
Extreme
no problems with that 1200 on them since the switch, an 3800 total on the orig hyfax,BUT i do like my track loose, very loose. What do you have on the skis for shocks and springs?Cant tell with the covers? "Z"
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