I don't want to tip over!

[ejcamaro]

My boyfriend ejcamaro is trying to kill me. He bought me an '05 RX-1 yesterday and I am scared. I was riding in our field and it was very tippy. He wants to put a wide front end kit on it. However, the deal was he is not allowed to modify it in any way! What should I allow him to do to it to keep the skis on the ground as I am used to my '96 V-Max. I am trying to tell him he can have the RX-1 and I will have his SRX. He is not okay with this. Any suggestions would be great.

 

[nhrxrider]

That is Yamaha's crappy suspension design. Many claim its due to the front suspension settings, and will try to sell you tons of parts like new (expensive) shocks, sway bar, links, and more. Others try to say its the skis. I fixed ALL of my tippy feeling, and the other problems like pushing in the corners, twitchy feeling at high speeds, etc. with one move- replacing the rear suspension. I am surprised your '05 feels tippy, because it has a redesigned rear suspension, but I guess they missed the target on correcting the handling with it.

My wife had tried riding my sled when it was all stock, and she had similar feelings as you...it was very tippy (which scared her), and it rode terrible (your '05 suspension should have fixed that). After I installed an Artic Cat rear suspension, she tried it and I couldn't get my sled back until we got home! It corners very flat, doesn't push in the corners, and it rides very soft and plush, but doesn't bottom out.

The Cat suspension isn't for everyone, and it probably isn't for you since you want to keep your sled stock, but it just shows that the problems are with the way the rear suspension is designed. Otherwise, my handling wouldn't have been improved so much just by replacing the rear suspension.

Jim

 

[tcona-AGT]

Try taking all the preload off the front springs--Lowers the front end.
My personal preference.

 

[JDKRXW]

Try taking all the preload off the front springs--Lowers the front end.
My personal preference.

This is the FIRST thing to do, for sure.
Then, make sure the entire rear suspension is set for your weight. It seems to me that more complaints about RX ride and handling come from lighter riders. I would soften everything up as a starting point.
Lastly, sit forward on the seat, and get use to leaning into the corners. This makes a big difference in how the sled feels.

 

[Grassfirebob]

ejcamaro

I used to have a '95 Vmax (they were basically the same '94-'96) and traded this year for an '05 RX. No matter what changes I made, it can't corner like the Vmax. The Vmax had a VERY low center of gravity and I could power slide through any corner w/out tipping. Can't say the same for the RX. However, everything else about the RX rocks!!!

 

[Yama-Crazy]

Try taking all the preload off the front springs--Lowers the front end.
My personal preference.

YES I agree and it makes it so the skis dont bite so hard like its on rails and allows for some give so it steers easier in hard pack snow.

 

[Yama-Crazy]

lift up the sled so the skis are hanging down and not touching the ground then back off the springs so they are ...almost loose. Theres lots of pressure in the gas filled shocks and not much spring pressure is needed untill you hit the bigger bumps. You will still have plenty of bite in the corners and a better ride, also lowers front end closer to the trail.

 

[nhrxrider]

I tried reducing the front spring pressure by several turns, and my sled wouldn't steer, it just pushed. I put the spring back where they were and it corners great and I have no problems with the Cat skid. I didn't have any problems before I loosened the springs, I just wanted to try it as an experiment, and I was sorry I did.

Jim

 

[LazyBastard]

When you loosen the front springs, you have to tighten the straps at the front of the back suspension in order to maintain ski pressure. If you don't, it will actually make the tippiness WORSE.


In a field it is understandable that it will feel tippy. It has NOTHING to do with ANY suspension, it has to do with flotation. The front of RX1 is HEAVY, so if you try to turn with the skis, it will fall to the outside of the turn. The ONLY solution to this is to put on better skis.

For tippiness on the trails, thick swaybar and harder front springs help, also tightening the limiter straps at the front of the rear suspension and setting the transfer rods to LOWER transfer.

 

[lippy]

tippeness

when I got my 03 it was very tippy. almost to the point that if I sat on it I might tip. well 1000 miles latter I got it dialed in. whith the help of the 12 mm bar and sucking up the limiter straps to about 1/4 inch of thred left on the eyelet bolt. that thing now coners like it is on rails. Im a very happy camper. it really made the ride better

thats my two cents

 

[ReX]

With the 05's I found the biggest reduction in tippyness was to tighten the limiter strap by 2 holes (one hole tighter than middle).

The next biggest improvement was to reduce the weight transfer setting to close or at minimum (I have mine set 1 mark away from minimum now - with the limiter tightened by two holes there's just a hint of ski lift on good traction surfaces).

You can reduce the ski preload, but I tried it and didn't like it. They are back at stock.

I believe you will be surprized and impressed at the improvement with the limiter strap and weight transfer adjustments.

LB is correct about tippyness in a field. The stock skis don't float very well and you really have to lean or go slow when turning.

 

[Yama-Crazy]

When you loosen the front springs, you have to tighten the straps at the front of the back suspension in order to maintain ski pressure. If you don't, it will actually make the tippiness WORSE.


In a field it is understandable that it will feel tippy. It has NOTHING to do with ANY suspension, it has to do with flotation. The front of RX1 is HEAVY, so if you try to turn with the skis, it will fall to the outside of the turn. The ONLY solution to this is to put on better skis.

For tippiness on the trails, thick swaybar and harder front springs help, also tightening the limiter straps at the front of the rear suspension and setting the transfer rods to LOWER transfer.

LB that might b true with the warrior but on my rage with the springs back all the way off I still have all kinds of bite it grabs too hard...feels like I have to muscle it around some corners ...is that because of the different front end on the Rage? I have no studs and it doesn't plow either but sometimes it still feels like its way too much bite in front like I'm gonna bend something trying to steer it around hardpack corners or cause excessive wear eventually? Maybe my rear skid is too stiff? Its set at the 5th hardest setting and I wiegh like 185 without leathers on? Whatcha think?? Overall I am happy with the way it handles tho but wonder if there is much more I can do.

 

[race24x]

I think all of the replies herre make one point clear. You can not just take it off the floor and ride it. You need to adjust it for what you like as far as pushing on the front end ski pressure etc. It helps to have someone with a good knowledge of suspensions there to help but alot of there suggestions helped me with setting mine up. I would do some tuning and if you still cant get it dialed in to what you like, then try some more drastic measures. I did notice on mine though it will never corner like and old sled with antiquated suspension no matter that you do. My old 74 POlaris TX 440 never lifter a ski in the corners but it sure didnt have the ride of my Yamaha.

 

[Yama-Crazy]

I think all of the replies herre make one point clear. You can not just take it off the floor and ride it. You need to adjust it for what you like as far as pushing on the front end ski pressure etc. It helps to have someone with a good knowledge of suspensions there to help but alot of there suggestions helped me with setting mine up. I would do some tuning and if you still cant get it dialed in to what you like, then try some more drastic measures. I did notice on mine though it will never corner like and old sled with antiquated suspension no matter that you do. My old 74 POlaris TX 440 never lifter a ski in the corners but it sure didnt have the ride of my Yamaha.

True all the new sleds sit higher and that will make more lift and tippyness...but the ride in the bumps cant be matched by older sleds

 

[QCRider]

When you loosen the front springs, you have to tighten the straps at the front of the back suspension in order to maintain ski pressure. If you don't, it will actually make the tippiness WORSE.


In a field it is understandable that it will feel tippy. It has NOTHING to do with ANY suspension, it has to do with flotation. The front of RX1 is HEAVY, so if you try to turn with the skis, it will fall to the outside of the turn. The ONLY solution to this is to put on better skis.

For tippiness on the trails, thick swaybar and harder front springs help, also tightening the limiter straps at the front of the rear suspension and setting the transfer rods to LOWER transfer.

Tippiness goes away if you both tighten the limiter straps AND loosen the front springs as LB says. Corners awesome like this. This is not a poorly designed suspension, it is simply a poorly setup suspension from the dealer. Both of my sleds had the limiter straps all the way loose from the dealer. That is ridiculous to me, now they are both as tight as they can go, and I love how they both handle.