comparing the 129-137-146

[STAIN]

It will be interesting as Hygear told me Elka did not have a rear track shock build for the 146. This will be their first Elka rear track shock for the 146. Fitment is good. I hope to ride tomorrow and start to dial the suspension changes in.

 

[STAIN]

Got @ 300 miles on the stock shocks then switched to the Elka's and rode @210 miles.
These Elka's are PLUSH. Way more comfortable than the stock shocks IMHO
I crudely scaled the sled before and after just the front shock installation and it seems I gained @15 lbs. of ski pressure from just the front shocks. Unfortunately, I also gained @1 inch if ride height
I like the Hygear valving in the rear shocks so far. It seems to be on the softer side than what I got from Accelerated Technologies, which I like.
I have been dialing everything in bit by bit, playing with spring settings also.
I DO need to make this sled turn better. I have to play with the FTS spring and maybe some more adjusting of the limiter strap. New carbides are on order.
Strangely, I am getting some body roll in higher speed corners. I have never experienced this with any other Pro-cross chassis.
The sled IS fun, it has soooo much traction.
My fears about the 1.6 Cobra track are coming true though. After only 500 miles on a poorly clutched stock tune, the track lugs are beginning to bend over. I am not sure what my options are going to be if this track fails. I wish they made a 146 inch rip2 1.25.
Overall, the sled is a fun ride. With the new shocks it now a comfortable ride too. Now to make it turn better.....

 

[Pstn head]

Report back on how you like the Elka's on your Riot. I still have my Elka Stage 5's sitting on my 2019 LTX that is getting zero use, however, I am really liking the Kashima QS3R's w/IQS on the front shocks with Elka Dual Rate Springs, the Kashima QS3R w/IQS for Rear that I had Hygear do, and then the Kashima QS3 w/dual rate Center. I am really liking changing on the fly and being able to cycle through 5 different settings now that you can custom set up Rider 1 and Rider 2. I always loved my Elka's so looking forward to your report.

How can you beat Qs3r’s/IQS set up? That must be an incredible ride you have there.

 

[putz21]

How can you beat Qs3r’s/IQS set up? That must be an incredible ride you have there.

Absolutely love my setup! It's so nice have 5 pre-set options to choose from and switch so easily from the handlebars as conditions change.

 

[putz21]

Got @ 300 miles on the stock shocks then switched to the Elka's and rode @210 miles.
These Elka's are PLUSH. Way more comfortable than the stock shocks IMHO
I crudely scaled the sled before and after just the front shock installation and it seems I gained @15 lbs. of ski pressure from just the front shocks. Unfortunately, I also gained @1 inch if ride height
I like the Hygear valving in the rear shocks so far. It seems to be on the softer side than what I got from Accelerated Technologies, which I like.
I have been dialing everything in bit by bit, playing with spring settings also.
I DO need to make this sled turn better. I have to play with the FTS spring and maybe some more adjusting of the limiter strap. New carbides are on order.
Strangely, I am getting some body roll in higher speed corners. I have never experienced this with any other Pro-cross chassis.
The sled IS fun, it has soooo much traction.
My fears about the 1.6 Cobra track are coming true though. After only 500 miles on a poorly clutched stock tune, the track lugs are beginning to bend over. I am not sure what my options are going to be if this track fails. I wish they made a 146 inch rip2 1.25.
Overall, the sled is a fun ride. With the new shocks it now a comfortable ride too. Now to make it turn better.....

On my XTX LE, with my FOX Kashima QS3R's w/Elka Dual Rate Springs on the Fronts and FOX Kashima QS3 w/Dual Rate springs on the Center shock, here is how mine is set up.

Fronts: Preload is just 1 full turn from loose
Center: Limiter Strap all the way out. Spring Preload is 2 turns from loose

Do you have separate Low Speed Compression on your Elka's? If so, you could adjust that a bit to help with the body roll.

Also, I have the Ice Arrow 130 on this year. I have about 600 miles on it so far. Absolutely love the track. Can't believe how much traction it has for an pre-studded track. IMHO, so much better than the Cobra that ripped apart after 1,000 miles.

 

[Fords4life]

Got @ 300 miles on the stock shocks then switched to the Elka's and rode @210 miles.
These Elka's are PLUSH. Way more comfortable than the stock shocks IMHO
I crudely scaled the sled before and after just the front shock installation and it seems I gained @15 lbs. of ski pressure from just the front shocks. Unfortunately, I also gained @1 inch if ride height
I like the Hygear valving in the rear shocks so far. It seems to be on the softer side than what I got from Accelerated Technologies, which I like.
I have been dialing everything in bit by bit, playing with spring settings also.
I DO need to make this sled turn better. I have to play with the FTS spring and maybe some more adjusting of the limiter strap. New carbides are on order.
Strangely, I am getting some body roll in higher speed corners. I have never experienced this with any other Pro-cross chassis.
The sled IS fun, it has soooo much traction.
My fears about the 1.6 Cobra track are coming true though. After only 500 miles on a poorly clutched stock tune, the track lugs are beginning to bend over. I am not sure what my options are going to be if this track fails. I wish they made a 146 inch rip2 1.25.
Overall, the sled is a fun ride. With the new shocks it now a comfortable ride too. Now to make it turn better.....

Raise a end or corner of a vehicle and you "jack" wieght onto that end or corner hence the 15lbs of front end wieght gain plus this added to your corner roll higher center of gravity.

 

[STAIN]

I had these same shocks on an LTX GT and had no body roll. Not sure what is going on there yet.
I do not have a low speed compression.
Limiter ALL the way out? Must be a wheelie monster. Mine lifts the front with ease and my limiter is just one hole right from stock.
I let my FTS spring all the way out and will try again this week.
I also need new carbides BUT Quliepieces are not currently shipping to the US. I need to get something.

 

[putz21]

I had these same shocks on an LTX GT and had no body roll. Not sure what is going on there yet.
I do not have a low speed compression.
Limiter ALL the way out? Must be a wheelie monster. Mine lifts the front with ease and my limiter is just one hole right from stock.
I let my FTS spring all the way out and will try again this week.
I also need new carbides BUT Quliepieces are not currently shipping to the US. I need to get something.

Sorry, my limiter strap is stock position, which I believe is 1 hole from all the way out.

 

[maim]

Got @ 300 miles on the stock shocks then switched to the Elka's and rode @210 miles.
These Elka's are PLUSH. Way more comfortable than the stock shocks IMHO
I crudely scaled the sled before and after just the front shock installation and it seems I gained @15 lbs. of ski pressure from just the front shocks. Unfortunately, I also gained @1 inch if ride height
I like the Hygear valving in the rear shocks so far. It seems to be on the softer side than what I got from Accelerated Technologies, which I like.
I have been dialing everything in bit by bit, playing with spring settings also.
I DO need to make this sled turn better. I have to play with the FTS spring and maybe some more adjusting of the limiter strap. New carbides are on order.
Strangely, I am getting some body roll in higher speed corners. I have never experienced this with any other Pro-cross chassis.
The sled IS fun, it has soooo much traction.
My fears about the 1.6 Cobra track are coming true though. After only 500 miles on a poorly clutched stock tune, the track lugs are beginning to bend over. I am not sure what my options are going to be if this track fails. I wish they made a 146 inch rip2 1.25.
Overall, the sled is a fun ride. With the new shocks it now a comfortable ride too. Now to make it turn better.....

the 16-17 apex/vector xtx came factory with 2.86 pitch 1.25 ripsaw II in 146". waiting until the one on my 16 is junk to up grade it.

 

[STAIN]

I believe the new STX comes with one also. Dealer order only.

 

[STAIN]

I just checked prices on those tracks
Apex/Vector XTX track @$2000
Sidewinder S-TX @$930

How does this make sense???? Are these the same 1.25 Rip2?

 

[number1kyster]

If I were ordering a new track for my 146, I would probably choose a 1.5 storm with studs, or the Rip 2 from Yamaha. I was faced with this decision last fall, when my 1.6 Ice Cobra was missing 10 lugs at 3,800 miles. I chose the Ice Arrowhead based on the rave reviews online. It hooks up hard on groomed trails, but it has noticeably less traction than the Cobra on trails with fresh snow and it doesn’t stop worth a damn in fresh snow. It is great on ice.

Pony up for the track you want, IMO.

 

[STAIN]

it doesn’t stop worth a damn in fresh snow

You are not the only one to notice this on the Arrowhead track.
I had a 1.5 storm on my tuned 129 and it began to fold the lugs over and stretched to the point of almost running out of adjustment. That was the first year of that track, maybe they are better now???

 

[number1kyster]

Another option is a takeoff track from a Polaris assault. I believe the boost models get the R rated track.

 

[STAIN]

I believe the boost models get the R rated track

I am not familiar with an "R" rating on tracks, what does that mean?