Getting the proper balance with the ZX2

[Shane]

Shane,

I think you are going to have to lower the front shocks until your arms are parallel like we talked about. When you do this, you give up travel and it bottoms out easily because your preload is way low.

Just for kicks, maybe you could try to set your preload on your front shocks/springs where you like it and strap down the front shocks until your arms are parallel. Strap 'em down like some of the drag racing guys do That way, you would eliminate the bottoming out problem. You would just lose travel. I know this is stupid but I'll bet it would ride pretty nice.

...or, you could just lean a little

LEAN?! LEAN?! THAT REQUIRES EFFORT!lollololol Wanna go to canada next weekend Wayne?

 

[rxrider]

rxrider,

How did it work out with the adjustment? It says in the manual to NOT move the limiter on the 121 and 136 versions and I confirmed thid with Dennis Boivin himself. However, I found that I too would like to tighten the limiter up one hole. Does this sacrifice performance of the suspension? How is the handling?

Thanks,
Shane

Hi I've been riding some lately, got 144 miles so far. I read the manual and it says you can suck in the limiter strap to holes 1 and 4, the middle setting, for off trail riding. I do a lot of that so nothing could be better, the track approach angle got much better too. I rode 72 miles in all kinds of terrain and trail condition last wednesday.
Setup was:
Limiter in middle position, holes 1 and 4
Preload 3
Revolver 2/4

Skis stay on the ground enough for me to be able to steer properly, good thing. When sucking in the limiter strap I feel that I did not give away much if any on the transfer, it still lifts the skis when giving it throttle. The skid got stiffer on the small bumps and stutters even on the preload 3 setting.

What I learnt on that ride was:
Middle position on the limiter straps works well for me, I'll leave it there, I gotta be able to steer. Preload at 3 is not enough, got track rubbing the tunnel protectors a few times. Bottomed out the suspension once both front and rear hitting a rise in the ice on the lake, did not bottom out on landing from 2 meters or 6 ft on the lake ice. Fox Floats still a little too soft at 70 lbs.

Adjustments done after the last ride.
Preload at 4
Fox Floats at 75 lbs

I feel I'm close on my suspension setup. I'm going out tomorrow to ride it some more.

 

[rxrider]

I have the suspension broken in. I have tried a bunch of things, but I found that when I let the front down even to just above having the A-Arms parallel with the ground that 2 things occur. First when letting off the gas into a turn although it does help to plant the fron end, there is a lot of pitch or diving of the front end. The second being that I have sacrificed travel. I tightened up on the dampening of the Ohlins shocks but it still hits a bit hard on the big bumps. I think that I may tighten the limiter and go back to stock settings on the revolver, set the pre-load at 3 or 4 and tighten up on the pre-load up front. Tomorrow will be a test and tune day for sure. Probably won't be spending much time with my buddies, OR they are going to be VERY unhappy with me when I keep stopping and trying different things.

That was what I said would happen in a earlier post Too soft front end without sucking in the front of the skid will produce body roll and diving when letting off throttle going into a corner. I went the other way pumping up pressure from 50 lbs to 70 lbs to stiffen up the front end and raise the front some, then I sucked in the limiter strap one hole to the middle position. The sled is in pretty good balance now. When lifting the sled in the back and lower it slowly to the garage floor, the track hits at the front end of the skid first then the rest of the track touches the floor when lowering it a little more. There's no more "rocking horse" effect when riding it with my current settings.

 

[rxrider]

I can't see why we should not suck in the limiter strap, only bad thing happening is giving up some softness over the small bumps and stutters. I can't tell if sucing in the limiter strap gave away on the big bump capability, but I don't think so. I'm happy with it having the limiter sucked in to the middle position.

A review from my last ride, some info on the ZX-2 as well

http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php? ... c&start=45

 

[rxrider]

After todays ride I feel we need another hole in the limiter strap, like hole 3.5 LOL. Going to hole 4 was just a little too much, I have too much ski pressure. I won't back off on the shocks up front to reduce ski pressure, I need the shocks to withstand the ugly nasty trails we ride. Yeah hole 3.5 would definitively be something to test.

 

[Shane]

rxrider,

Thanks for the feedback. Can you tell me what the angle of your A-Arms looks like? I have not been able to ride on groomed trails to do any real world testing. Also, how high is your front bumper off the floor?

Thanks,
Shane

 

[rxrider]

My A-Arms are all the way up because of the preload I run in my Fox Floats. Here's what it looks like.

75 lbs of pressure in the FFs extends the front end fully, as if you lift the front off the A-Arms extends fully. I know my setup may not apply to the groomed trail rider, I can't help in adjusting for such conditions cause we don't have that kind of trails here in Norway, riding on a plowed forest road would be the closest I will ever get to a groomed trail.

Anyway my setup makes the balance between front and rear very good. I have hit some very nasty holes in the trail thinking OH-NO this is gonna hurt, and it didn't even bottom, rxrider rides on with a smile.

I still think hole 3.5 would have been an improvement. I have actually sent ADBoivin an email where I suggest that as an improvment for the ZX-2.

 

[Shane]

rxrider,

THANK YOU! That is what I expected it to be like. I ride mostly groomed trails and have had a hard time getting the balance. I cranked down on the pre-load on my Ohlins shocks so my A-Arms look the same. I am anxious to try it out hopefully this Friday. I am running the rear set like you pre-load on 3, revolver on 2 & 4 and limiter tightened up one hole. Now my front is like yours as well.

I will let you know how I make out.

Thanks!

Shane

 

[rxrider]

It will be difficult to get a big bump suspension to rail without lowering it, reducing it's big bump capabilities. For cornering abilities the monoshock suspension shines cause of its lower ride height compared to the ZX-2.

On my '05 RX-1 I have the front A-Arms slightly higher than level and the limiter strap sucked up one notch on the mono. It rails in the twisties, I'm running 144 studs and 8" 60 degree carbides up front.

My '03 RX-1 turbo does not rail as my '05 RX-1, but it is pretty good, actually I have a little too much ski pressure at the moment. Like I said, I may make the hole 3.5 in the limiter strap and try it. I will do this when I get the time. I'll report back when testing is done.

 

[Shane]

Well said rxrider. I will try mine this weekend and report back as well.

 

[stoutner]

Shane,

Can't do Canada this weekend. I will probably day trip to O.F. or Tug Hill. Next trip to Canada is Feb 19th to the 24th.

I'm surprised you aren't going to the hill climb in Toggenburg outside of Syracuse.

 

[Shane]

Shane,

Can't do Canada this weekend. I will probably day trip to O.F. or Tug Hill. Next trip to Canada is Feb 19th to the 24th.

I'm surprised you aren't going to the hill climb in Toggenburg outside of Syracuse.

Was thinking about that one and Turin this weekend, but would rather go riding. Hope to see you and ride together again soon. Will definitely be hitting the hillcross circuit once the trail riding is done.