M-10 pro's and con's? Is it better than OEM?

[AKrider]

I'm looking into buying a used M-10 136" rear skid to install in my Vector. I've heard many mixed things about the M-10 like it doesn't transfer and it can't be set up to take both stutter bumps and big hits. I'm left wondering if the design is no longer competitive with modern rear skids? Does it have as wide of a ride quality envelope as an OEM rear skid? I'd like to hear opinions, both good and bad. Thanks

 

[MrSled]

http://www.totallyamaha.com/ExpertX_M10/M-10Review.htm

 

[sleddheadd]

I'm looking into buying a used M-10 136" rear skid to install in my Vector. I've heard many mixed things about the M-10 like it doesn't transfer and it can't be set up to take both stutter bumps and big hits. I'm left wondering if the design is no longer competitive with modern rear skids? Does it have as wide of a ride quality envelope as an OEM rear skid? I'd like to hear opinions, both good and bad. Thanks

i just read all of mr. sled's comparison and i was really impressed, first time i have ever seen that.
i have an m-10 in my '04 warrior. i bought the sled used with the suspension already in it. no manual on adjusting anything. buy the sled and ride it! it was my first 4 stroke and i loved it! i go 310 lbs. without gear and when i sat on this sled it sank. on the trail, itwas awesome! took the bumps, cornered like a dream, an occasional big bump would bottom me out but not often at all and besides that i am a big guy, i don't think anything is going to stop me from bottoming. finally i found someone on the site to e-mail me a copy of the manual and i was able to get it set up for my specs.! i love it even more now!towards the end of the year last year we were doing a lot of off trail riding there in munising , trails are never groomed and some of them get rough.by the end of the trip the suspension was shot. lol.... i mean the shock was blown. i need to get my fox zero pro rebuilt and i think i'm going to have them throw a bigger spring on it for me. but i was beating the heck out of that thing and it is really no suprise that it went. i bought the sled with 3600 miles on it and the guy put that suspension on the sled after 400 miles , so she has some use and i'm sure he beat it up pretty good too.
i think it is a great suspension and i would recomend it to anyone! just make sure you get a book with it and you can dial it in to your wieght and riding style!

 

[AKrider]

Thanks for the link to the review, that was very helpful.

Sledhead, did you install stiffer springs or revalve the shocks after you got the manual or did you just adjust it and ride it the way it came?

I'm thinking that a lot of the bad reviews and comments I've read about the M-10 are due to poor set up rather then a bad or outdated design. it would definitely be easier for me to buy the M-10 and the mounting kit then try to fit a Polaris or Ski-doo rear skid. To convert my stock 121 pro-active into a 144 (the shortest length Yamaha makes with that skid) will cost the same in parts as the M-10!

 

[DITCHBANGER]

i also loved my m-10,but i would recommend getting the jack(small gear box with crank)as you can adjust the suspension in a couple seconds

 

[AKrider]

Yes, I noticed that changing the rear shock angle looked to be a hassle. Not something you'd easily do in the field. That has me wondering, I recall they also had an electric motor that changed the shock angle via a handlebar control. Does the rear skid need to be fussed with that much to get an acceptable ride? Or, was the system more to compete with some of the OEM air adjustable skids?

 

[DITCHBANGER]

rockrider..i was adjusting according to trail conditions,if i had gas on the back,drive down the river in slush,then hit powder and rear end is 60lbs heavier..a quick couple revolutions brings the ride back..a group of us would head out with 5r's on the back i adjusted the m-10 a few cranks and sled rode like a dream and no bottoming..everyone else was bottoming and had a rough time,we would pour the gas in the sled and then id crank the m-10 back a bit and still rode perfect.

 

[sleddheadd]

Thanks for the link to the review, that was very helpful.

Sledhead, did you install stiffer springs or revalve the shocks after you got the manual or did you just adjust it and ride it the way it came?

I'm thinking that a lot of the bad reviews and comments I've read about the M-10 are due to poor set up rather then a bad or outdated design. it would definitely be easier for me to buy the M-10 and the mounting kit then try to fit a Polaris or Ski-doo rear skid. To convert my stock 121 pro-active into a 144 (the shortest length Yamaha makes with that skid) will cost the same in parts as the M-10!

i just adjusted it to what the manual suggested. this year, like, in a few weeks, i will be sending the shock up to fast to have them install the bigger spring and rebuild the shock. i blew it out on the last part of the last ride last season! lol.....

 

[Boomer]

I put an M-10 in last year after riding a couple years with the stock skid in my RX-1. I tried all the tweaking suggested here and even replaced the shock with an Ohlins clicker for one year. Although this was far and away a huge improvement, it was nothing until I put in the M-10. I picked a brand new 121" with the jack-it on ebay for under $900.00. WOW!!!! It was such a joy to ride with the M-10 and saved me a lot of time at the chiropractor and tylenol. I highly suggest it. Now if I could just find a way to get rid of about 100 pounds weight off the sled. Still my only complaint about the RX-1. TOOO HEAVY!

 

[AKrider]

Do you find you use the jack-it feature a lot? The M-10 I'm looking at does not have a quick adjustment system. I'm really leaning towards taking the plunge and buying it.

 

[Boomer]

I use it more often than I thought I would. Especially during the break in and when you are trying to fine tune it. It literally takes 10 seconds to adjust. Maybe a few more if you have a bunch of ice around the screw that you have to knock off first. You could always buy it use it and if you ound you didn't use it much after you have it dialed in, you could take it back off and ebay it.

 

[DITCHBANGER]

you can get by without it..but trust me its a pia...the jack makes life soooo much easier

 

[skippydoo]

m-10

upgrade to airwave and m-10 becomes a set it and forget it suspension. Makes a big difference

 

[AKrider]

Wow! I just checked the price and they want $500 for a jack. I think I'd rather suffer through doing things the hard way for that kind of money. Any ideas on how long it takes to set one up? I'm guessing an afternoon of riding & testing?

The Airwave is way outside of the budget I have for Vector mods this year. If I go with the M-10, I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile to sell my stock 121? I can't see going back to a short track since I'll have my Nytro. My Vector is going to become my trip/back-up sled and I figure my wife will ride it on occasion.

Is the M-10 very sensitive to different rider weights? Or is it more about trying to dial in the perfect ride and people are generally less tolerant of imprefection when they spend lots of money on an aftermarket rear skid?

 

[DITCHBANGER]

very weight sensitive, adding the jack after the 1st season i was a happy camper..sell your stock skid towards a jack?