Suspension

[BlueByYou2000]

Since I was bumped from a GT to an RTX does anyone know yet if the valving setups are firmer on the RTX compared to the GT like the f7 vs. snopro.I still would like to put a rear Ohlins on it and am wondering about shock valving compatability between the floats and the Ohlins.

I installed some Floats on my SRX this past season along with installing a Mono-shock skid with a Ohlins EC shock similar to the one on the Apex GT. I've also got a Viper with some Ohlins on it so I know first hand how the two shocks compare.

First off, Fox does not make Floats for a trailing arm Yamaha so I had to do a little research to find out how to make them work. The ones I ended up with are from an A-arm suspension sled with totally different front geometry than the trailing arm set up on the SRX. My first time out the Floats were very rough riding. I rode them, took notes of what I thought they needed and had them revalved. Bingo. I now think that they are the best riding shocks that I've ever experienced. I've always liked my Ohlins and the adjustability they offer for different conditions. My only dislike about the Ohlins is I've never found one perfect setting for every condition. Once the Floats were set up for my liking they rode great in every condition. And with the progressive air spring they do indeed seem bottomless, where every now and then you can bottom any other shock. I never had any fading with them either, and that SRX carries a lot of weight over the skis. They may not have the bling factor that Ohlins do, but from my experience with the Floats I would give them a thumbs up.

I got a chance to test drive an Apex RTX in March and thought the Floats were set up a little stiffer than my SRX. I never had a chance to really check it out over a really rough trail, but I liked what I saw. I trust that Yamaha knows how to set them up. I've read some magazine reports that say the Floats are stiff in some sleds, mostly ditch bangers, but that is the intended market those sleds are for and the suspensions are set up accordingly. I believe that since Yamaha knows who is buying these sleds and how they're going to use them, and that the Floats will be just fine on the RTX.

Nice retro fit on the SRX. Good job, and thanks for the feedback...BBY

 

[Bakemono]

Yeah, thats some cool stuff. Ive seen Floats on Firecats before but never on a sled with trailing arms.
A couple of my friends race MX with their Honda 450Rs. They ran Floats last summer but they will be running Worx shocks this year. They had a lot of problems with blowing out the air spring. However, they are almost constantly jumping their quads, so I would say if anyone is going to break a shock (or anything else) its them.
I personally think that Floats have more of a "bling" factor than even Ohlins because they dont have the external spring. They just look so very trick and different as compared to a sled with traditional shocks.
I will be very interested to see how they hold up. As BBY said, his friends have 2500 miles on their Floats with no problems.
Cap'n

 

[Tork]

Both quote are from Viper 34, the first one is from a PM he sent me and the second is from an earlier thread on shocks. Viper 34 works for Yamaha and he tests the sleds. I consider him to have more knowledge than any of us on theses subjects.

This I can tell you, if I could choose any front shock on a Apex, it would be the Fox shocks. They work perfect for me.

Have run thousands of miles on Fox floats, never had them "blow out" or leak, that is just a complete unsupported statement. Yamaha would not put them on a production unit if that was the case.

The Fox floats work great for soaking up big bumps and for aggressive riding. The Fox's anti-bottoming is better then any shock I have ever ridden with.

VX7R, You rock dude Great info. I have a lot of admiration for you, for doing a project like this

I have never seen anything get the bum rap like these fox floats have. It is usually from someone that has only sketchy second hand knowledge. The brief test rides some of us had are not the best either because they take some setup to get them the way you like them.

The Ohlins/clickers of the GT just werent my choice. The ER I think I am going to like, although part of the reason I went ER is because I think it will put me in a better position to get an 07 if that is what I decide to do.

I have the option to pay $500 and get my $800 yamabux. Planning to do that so I can get the Floats (they just went down to $699 I think)
I am very optimistic about them. Still if they dont work out, I will resell them and break even.

 

[Bakemono]

This is completely unrelated, but Ive got an air shock on my mountain bike.
Ive got a Cannondale full suspension mountain bike and the rear shock is a Fox Vanilla.
It has a spring like a traditional shock but it has an air bag inside of it that dampens the movement.
You can add of remove air with a pump much like the one you use to add air to the Fox Floats.
Ive never had a problem with this shock at all, and I used to race a few races every summer.
However, there is a big difference in the stress a 20 pound mountain bike puts on a shock as compared to a 550 pound sled.
Im optimistic too. I hope that the RTXs turn out to be awsome sleds and I hope that everyone who buys one is completely satisfied.
When you get the Floats put on your sled and get some milage put on them you will have to give us a full review, Tork. I would be very interested to see what you think about them once you get the chance to really play around with different settings and get the chance to ride with them on various trail conditions.
Cap'n

 

[kviper]

The GYTR's on the GT are actualuy Soqui (spelling?). There are Apex GT's available in some area's if you don't mind the drive to Wi. My dealer has a couple and is trying to switch my order frome an ER to a GT that they are getting on there stock order. The people i know at Yamaha say the GT will be the hot setup capable of the best of both world's, Big bump or plush, Dial in what you want. kviper

 

[Bakemono]

The people i know at Yamaha say the GT will be the hot setup capable of the best of both world's, Big bump or plush, Dial in what you want. kviper

The only downside to the GT is that if that electric shock ever goes bad it is going to cost you some serious $$$ to fix. Yamaha has the Ohlins electric shock as an accessory on their website and I think it goes for over $1000.
I think that if I were in the market for an Apex, Id go with the ER. For probably 90% of the people who buy the Apex, the standard KYB shocks would probably work just as well as the fancier shocks that the RTX and GT have.
I guess I usually end up keeping a sled for a good, long time. I have my doubts about if that electric shock would still be working right 10-15 years from now.
Id go with the ER and then make it into the sled that best fits my needs.
Cap'n

 

[BlueByYou2000]

The people i know at Yamaha say the GT will be the hot setup capable of the best of both world's, Big bump or plush, Dial in what you want. kviper

The only downside to the GT is that if that electric shock ever goes bad it is going to cost you some serious $$$ to fix. Yamaha has the Ohlins electric shock as an accessory on their website and I think it goes for over $1000.
I think that if I were in the market for an Apex, Id go with the ER. For probably 90% of the people who buy the Apex, the standard KYB shocks would probably work just as well as the fancier shocks that the RTX and GT have.
I guess I usually end up keeping a sled for a good, long time. I have my doubts about if that electric shock would still be working right 10-15 years from now.
Id go with the ER and then make it into the sled that best fits my needs.
Cap'n

I have my doubts ANY shock will be working 10-15 years from now :shock:

 

[Mighty]

Yo Capn, shut the hell up already

 

[Bakemono]

I have my doubts ANY shock will be working 10-15 years from now :shock:

True. My point is that as great as the adjustability aspect of the GT is, its going to be VERY expensive when something goes wrong on it.
I know that both Poo and Doo have used similar designs in the past but the use of electronically controlled shocks has never really caught on. I dont know if its because of the cost or because of problems that might have been encountered (electronics that get run in water and salt usually dont hold up the best).
Of course, nothing says that you absolutely have to stay with the Ohlins electric should it ever fail.
Cap'n

 

[kviper]

Cap'n i share some of the same concern's but the shock it self is rebuild able so the electric motor part would likley be the first to give trouble but is not somthing that would leave you sit not being able to ride. In the worst case a year or two there would probably be a mechanicaly adjustable shock available to replace it if need be. The front shock's on the GT are suposed to be awsome and we can hope the electric setup will hold up. For the first year it will be under warranty and if a problem comes up in short term Yamaha will have to stand behind it. Some had problem's with the cable on the standard Mono RA as well so for now i am thinking the electric may even be better as far as trouble goes. kviper

 

[Tork]

15 years ago I had a company car, A Ford Probe GT.
It had electrically adjustable shocks. When it came time to replace them the cost was over 5 times the cost of a premium non adjustable strut :shock: :shock:
Guess what I put in as a replacement

Still, the Ohlins are rebuildable and I would not be surprised if a guy like Bruce from Pioneer ends up rebuilding them for $100. We will know in a year or 2.

We should also be finding out about the new cable and boot for the RA mono before too long

 

[RSV]

Yo Capn, shut the hell up already

Grumpy??? Feel left out??? :ORC

 

[Tork]

Yo Capn, shut the hell up already

Grumpy??? Feel left out??? :ORC

There aint no cure for the sum-mer time blues!!!!!!!! LOL

 

[RSV]

Yes, it definently seems like that.... LOL