I now have @500 miles on my Elka shock/spring package and have made some strides.
First, let me say that John from Accelerated Technologies knows so much more than me about suspension set up it isn't even funny. It is his profession.
BUT I have to consider my own experience with the pro-cross chassis and my 20, 000 miles of seat time on them.
I tried the set up they sent me and adjusted to the best I could, with some help from Dennytuna.
I also pulled the limiter strap up (something I do NOT like to do) so that the whole skid hit the ground at once, not letting the front hit first.
In the end, it was just too stiff. The rear skid always rode "on top' of the bumps. I could not get the skid to soak up the small bumps.
Luckily, I have 2 2020 T-Cats I ride with for comparison and a stock T-Cat was much more compliant in the small stuff than I could achieve with the set up I was sent.
SO, with knowledge from my previous Viper/Sidewinder/ZR 800 suspension tuning, I made some changes from Accelerated's set up.
I installed rear stock springs.
All springs zero preload
I let my front strap out to just tight as it sits on the floor.
All compression setting to neutral and rebound settings to 3/4 adjustment to the quick side.
This set up is MUCH better, with the small studder bumps now being filtered out. Rebound was a little quick and I made those easy adjustments on the trail. I am now in a window where I can make small changes depending on trail conditions and feel the difference. It soaks up the big stuff really well.
Would I buy this set up again? Probably not, unless I went to the seller for a complete set up and fitment with my sled and a test day.
It IS better than stock, but is it worth what I paid better? I think I could have gone with some dual rate springs and revalve on the QS3's and been into it for half of what I paid.
The Elkas are a nice shock. They just haven't blown me away yet for the price, and that's what I expected. Maybe that changes with more seat time and adjustments.
I wish the transfer collars for the dual rate spring where adjustable like Hygear's. I found they were a useful tuning tool when I had those on my Viper. I wonder if anyone sells them for Elka's?