M10 AIR 2019 SRX

[ISLANDRACING]

My approach to "fixing" the sagging rear end issue.

 

[DooZ]

Looks good, have you had a chance to try it out?

 

[ISLANDRACING]

Looks good, have you had a chance to try it out?

Not yet. Going to ride and dial it in next weekend.

 

[allyammies]

Sure is purty!!

 

[dfroster]

Not yet. Going to ride and dial it in next weekend.

Looking forward to any ride and handling impressions you may report! Have fun with the “testing”.

 

[ISLANDRACING]

Got some seat time on the M10. Ill start my feedback with a few statements first. Ive always ran the M10s over the years., 1st reason being they DO NOT break and can take the punishment I dish out. 2nd I do not run them for that "cushy" ride. I set them firm and they do what i want it to do on the trail.
Every single stock suspension I "tried" to run over the years had issues and the sidewinder was no exception. I really really wanted the stock to work for me and bought everything for it to make it reliable as possible, 4 th wheel, BOP upper shaft, oversize idlers etcetc. Although I'm not a fan of that initial sag even when new, I gave it a shot. first two trips, I dialed it in to my riding, least transfer, LOT of ski pressure ended up with the limiters pulled to 4 ( tried 5 front end stuck like glue but absolutely killed any "suspension" you had ) I'll admit it worked pretty good THEN it happened, the SAG happened 20-25 miles into the second day of the trip. I was PISSED! NO F'en way should this happen at 600 miles. I knew what had to be done. enter the M10.
Over the years you get to know where your air pressures tend to be, but on this sled i wanted to go light and see if i liked that "plushness" of low air. First couple of miles I had to make some immediate adjustments, to the track tension and pull up on the limiters ( which were already set VERY aggressive ) The ride was very cushy BUT the aggressiveness wasn't there and you cannot rail like you could with the firmer settings. I pulled the limiters in little more, added little more air to rear shock and BINGO. front end stuck like GLUE, although a little firmer ( but what im used to ) rear would just pitter patter over any rough stuff while keeping the front PLANTED.

 

[northern srx]

Thank you for the update. Keep us posted with more reviews!

 

[dfroster]

I appreciate the review as well. I see you have Fox air shocks on the front end. Is having air shocks on the front end necessary to get the best performance out of the rear suspension? Or, would a set of coil over front shocks work just as well with the rear? I suppose Fast recommends it’s air front shocks to go with the rear suspension but I wonder is it’s a “must”. What do you think?

 

[ISLANDRACING]

The front air is not a necessity over a coil just because you run a rear air, its just my preference to run full air all the way around. Im sure you will get the haters here that will say to run a coil vs the air. As I deleted the complete IQS out of the sled I had to run a different front shocks regardless. I can't comment on the FAST front airs as I have never run them, but I dont think they would do what I want them to do. There is MUCH more adjustability with the Fox. I originally wanted the RC2 but there was none to be found and no time to have them built, so I went with the QS3Rs but next year I will convert the QS3 to the RC valve to get even more adjustability but the front did perform flawlessly and PERFECT the way I set it so I may just leave it. I want my skis in contact with the snow at all times. No contact no steering, bottom line,,,,, and the sled did just that.

 

[kinger]

The front air is not a necessity over a coil just because you run a rear air, its just my preference to run full air all the way around. Im sure you will get the haters here that will say to run a coil vs the air. As I deleted the complete IQS out of the sled I had to run a different front shocks regardless. I can't comment on the FAST front airs as I have never run them, but I dont think they would do what I want them to do. There is MUCH more adjustability with the Fox. I originally wanted the RC2 but there was none to be found and no time to have them built, so I went with the QS3Rs but next year I will convert the QS3 to the RC valve to get even more adjustability but the front did perform flawlessly and PERFECT the way I set it so I may just leave it. I want my skis in contact with the snow at all times. No contact no steering, bottom line,,,,, and the sled did just that.

Do you wear your shoulders out? I went from your method to now skis so light I need to brake to turn, its different for sure. I like how playful the sled is with lighter skis. I just can't corner like a maniac like I used too but after my crash I was reminded we are not invincible LOL.

 

[ISLANDRACING]

Do you wear your shoulders out? I went from your method to now skis so light I need to brake to turn, its different for sure. I like how playful the sled is with lighter skis. I just can't corner like a maniac like I used too but after my crash I was reminded we are not invincible LOL.

.
When I first rode the sidewinder, and reading here about all the "hard steering" , people trying to "lighten" the setup even more, etcetc.,I got a little worried so I set it up with the C&A XCS ( second most aggressive ski in the lineup ) and limiters pulled to 3, center shock with almost 0 preload. ( this is going back to the stock suspension ). This setup to some would seem to be an aggressive setup. First couple of turns the sled had SO MUCH PUSH in the corners I literally HATED the sled, and on top of that, I got my a$$ smoked by my buddy that bought my old Apex that was set up for extreme handling then rubbing it in saying "this thing handles like a go-cart". I said how the CAPITAL "F" are people even riding this thing with limiters on 1, and with non-aggressive skis. I went back to the trailer and set the limiter to 5. Ski did stick like glue, but at the sacrifice of suspension, so I set the limiter to 4 and went with it. The XCS does have a ( what I concider to be a short ) 1' keel. any sort of transfer and the keel would lift and lose traction in the corner. I had to adapt and slightly let off in the corner. By the following trip I put on the XT's. NOW the sled was performing SWEET. but then i did feel something starting to go on in the rear. I chalked it up to shock fade. This was 1/2 through the first day of 2 day trip. 2nd day after 20 mi the rear was SHOT! Severe sag, stock suspension almost couldnt hold its own weight, and can push the back of sled down to the blocks with your pinky finger. ( enter another CAPITAL "F" ) talk about being pissed-off. ....FF 3 weeks and here we are on this post.
Kind of strayed from the response. The XT's are aggressive and I do feel the grab sometimes. But i attribute to my not being sore after a long ride to the way I ride. Long straighaways are a non issue. Hammering through tight and twisties is literally 80-90% rear-steer and body "english", of the remaining 10-20% that you actually do use the handlebar to steer you maybe turn it back and forth 3" at most.

 

[rtx moose]

Putting in an m10 kind of defeats the purpose of the SRX setup dont ya think,low to the ground etc?

 

[ISLANDRACING]

Putting in an m10 kind of defeats the purpose of the SRX setup dont ya think,low to the ground etc?

I originally wanted the 19 LTX-LE, but there was none to be found locally around but an SRX was and actually prefered the SRX blue & white scheme. The first thing that was done was to get rid of that 1" lowered stance of the SRX and convert it to the LTX ( which I initially wanted) specs except for the track, which ill probably do before next season.

 

[Fast]

.
When I first rode the sidewinder, and reading here about all the "hard steering" , people trying to "lighten" the setup even more, etcetc.,I got a little worried so I set it up with the C&A XCS ( second most aggressive ski in the lineup ) and limiters pulled to 3, center shock with almost 0 preload. ( this is going back to the stock suspension ). This setup to some would seem to be an aggressive setup. First couple of turns the sled had SO MUCH PUSH in the corners I literally HATED the sled, and on top of that, I got my a$$ smoked by my buddy that bought my old Apex that was set up for extreme handling then rubbing it in saying "this thing handles like a go-cart". I said how the CAPITAL "F" are people even riding this thing with limiters on 1, and with non-aggressive skis. I went back to the trailer and set the limiter to 5. Ski did stick like glue, but at the sacrifice of suspension, so I set the limiter to 4 and went with it. The XCS does have a ( what I concider to be a short ) 1' keel. any sort of transfer and the keel would lift and lose traction in the corner. I had to adapt and slightly let off in the corner. By the following trip I put on the XT's. NOW the sled was performing SWEET. but then i did feel something starting to go on in the rear. I chalked it up to shock fade. This was 1/2 through the first day of 2 day trip. 2nd day after 20 mi the rear was SHOT! Severe sag, stock suspension almost couldnt hold its own weight, and can push the back of sled down to the blocks with your pinky finger. ( enter another CAPITAL "F" ) talk about being pissed-off. ....FF 3 weeks and here we are on this post.
Kind of strayed from the response. The XT's are aggressive and I do feel the grab sometimes. But i attribute to my not being sore after a long ride to the way I ride. Long straighaways are a non issue. Hammering through tight and twisties is literally 80-90% rear-steer and body "english", of the remaining 10-20% that you actually do use the handlebar to steer you maybe turn it back and forth 3" at most.

That's weird i never touched a thing on my srx and it handles like its on rails, love the tuner 3 skis when the trails are bad i put the suspension on firm and its good to go, absolutely love the 2" sag and the way that makes it corner, couldn't imagine changing the suspension, when i want to get beat up i drive the old ape and give the wife the srx and have to work to keep up with her.

 

[rtx moose]

I originally wanted the 19 LTX-LE, but there was none to be found locally around but an SRX was and actually prefered the SRX blue & white scheme. The first thing that was done was to get rid of that 1" lowered stance of the SRX and convert it to the LTX ( which I initially wanted) specs except for the track, which ill probably do before next season.

cool