to sway or not to sway

[blueironranger]

Yes, the sway bar is the main reason it wants to dive in the ditch, you need more throttle to compensate. I hate trying to side hill on packed ditches as I need to use alot of throttle to get the downhill side ski to come off the ground so you can get it to climb the sidehill. With lots of powder it isn't an issue though as its pretty easy to lay the sled over and carve to get it climbing. I'm running the GT sway bar in the softest setting. I tried it without a swaybar and you definitely need a roll over valve OR HIGHER sprung shocks. Seems guys running no swaybar on other sleds are running at least 90 psi in there floats or 175#+ springs. My Ohlins only have 2.3 kg/130# springs so I have issues with no swaybar.

 

[PhazerMeBro]

MikeWalters, not sure what type of ski you are running but I just put on some slp powder pros and it made a huge difference. The narrow stock skiis would always dive right through the soft snow and get really annoying, the wider skiis really help. I highly recommend the slp powder pros.

 

[Leno]

The usi X2 triple threats are also great skis for both trail and powder riding.

 

[goby]

No sway bar but Fox Float on my Multi Purpose, works really well. The sled is by nature not the best for cornering, it's too long, 159" Challenger on this sled, and the centre of gravity is far too high with a passenger onboard. Will narrow it with a MTX front end for the next season.
/G

 

[ATV PRO #11]

Cannondale I finally experienced this a bunch first hand last weekend. It was really strange once I paid attention to it. Hitting jumps a little crooked and then landing tilted to one side is downright dangerous on the Phazer. Its like it just wanted to stay leaned over to one side after you land.

I have made up my mind and am going to try removing the swaybar for next season. It will be a long time waiting though

Also due to snow conditions we had to do a lot of riding just on the edge of the road, as in 1 ski on road and 1 ski off in the ditch. Is the swaybar also the reason the Phazer wants to DIVE into the ditch? It got really irritating really fast. Leaning hard to the roadside the thing still wanted to just dive into the ditch.

Any thoughts?

Did you retest this Mike?
Yesterday I did a few big jumps. One was off killter and sled landed hard to left. I didn't like that lack of control.
My race quad doesn't have sway bar and that never happens. Huge difference I know as I have a 48"wide stance in teh rear.
Plus I almost got sucked into a situation of large water carved 3'deep cracks not being able to steer back onto the road.
So i'm def going to be looking at this sway bar removal.

 

[Snowmixer]

In my opinion (and experience), the sway bar on the Phazers makes the front suspension WAY too stiff for most riding. I rarely do any trail riding, but even when I have, it seemed as if the sled had a tendency to just lift the inside ski when railing through a corner (with the sway bar installed), whereas the front suspension would actually flex and just allow the 'body' to roll more (but kept both skis planted) with the sway bar removed. Off trail, I have noticed that the front suspension is able to articulate more, making the sled more 'rollable' and slightly more maneuverable but not as 'tippy' as with the sway bar attached. By 'rollable,' I mean that the 'body' of the machine leans more to one side or the other when cornering or going over very uneven terrain, but does not actually tip over as easily because the front suspension is not so rigidly tied together.

Obviously everyone likely has a different opinion of what their machine should feel like when riding, as well as how it should be set up. Most of my riding is on uneven terrain, and I would say that removing the sway bar has made the single largest improvement in overall handling, and I would also say that the sled is less likely to tip over now (under 'normal' circumstances) as the front suspension can adjust to and absorb differences in the terrain, rather than transferring them to the entire chassis and significantly upsetting the overall balance of the machine. As easy as it is to disconnect the sway bar end links, I think anyone curious about removing it should give it a try. A lot of people say "it rolls like a canoe" with no swaybar, and they're right. I personally like this feeling, as it seems to make the sled feel more like a somewhat soft, forgiving link between myself and the snow I'm riding on, rather than feeling like I'm trying to balance on one ski and one corner of the track everywhere I go.

 

[3-UP]

I removed mine at the end of last year and it's never going back on Too bad we don't have one speck of snow or ice here yet..

 

[ATV PRO #11]

In my opinion (and experience), the sway bar on the Phazers makes the front suspension WAY too stiff for most riding. I rarely do any trail riding, but even when I have, it seemed as if the sled had a tendency to just lift the inside ski when railing through a corner (with the sway bar installed), whereas the front suspension would actually flex and just allow the 'body' to roll more (but kept both skis planted) with the sway bar removed. Off trail, I have noticed that the front suspension is able to articulate more, making the sled more 'rollable' and slightly more maneuverable but not as 'tippy' as with the sway bar attached. By 'rollable,' I mean that the 'body' of the machine leans more to one side or the other when cornering or going over very uneven terrain, but does not actually tip over as easily because the front suspension is not so rigidly tied together.

Obviously everyone likely has a different opinion of what their machine should feel like when riding, as well as how it should be set up. Most of my riding is on uneven terrain, and I would say that removing the sway bar has made the single largest improvement in overall handling, and I would also say that the sled is less likely to tip over now (under 'normal' circumstances) as the front suspension can adjust to and absorb differences in the terrain, rather than transferring them to the entire chassis and significantly upsetting the overall balance of the machine. As easy as it is to disconnect the sway bar end links, I think anyone curious about removing it should give it a try. A lot of people say "it rolls like a canoe" with no swaybar, and they're right. I personally like this feeling, as it seems to make the sled feel more like a somewhat soft, forgiving link between myself and the snow I'm riding on, rather than feeling like I'm trying to balance on one ski and one corner of the track everywhere I go.

Thanks for the feedback. Last line says it best. I may give it a try. See how it feels. Waiting on snow!!

 

[MikeWalters]

As far as Phazer goes I'm never putting that piece of crap back on. So much more stable and controlled in all conditions for me (no trail riding, like zero). Sidehilling, low-speed maneuvering, etc, etc all feels SAFE now compared to before. Just added more preload to front springs on FX and I am absolutely happy with the control AND ride quality. But, just my opinion. Just take it off and try, its not a big deal to get it on or off.

 

[Ruggybuggy]

I'm thinking of removing my sway bar after the experience I had today. I had to climb a snow bank at an angle to get off the road and almost flipped the sled. The bank side ski hit the bank and as the suspension went up on that side the opposite side ski goes up and almost flipped the sled back onto the road. My only hesitation is how will it hand on the flat groomed trails in the corners at high speed. I do have the FX so I can adjust damping to compensate.

 

[MikeWalters]

Dude take it off and go ride the EXACT same spot and you will be amazed. I was. Don't forget to tighten up your front springs.

 

[Ruggybuggy]

Will do, just need for it to warm up a bit. -25C for a high.

 

[TOMBOB]

Would you get the same results on 2006 vector. Would ride height make this a no no in a vector

 

[Ruggybuggy]

Would you get the same results on 2006 vector. Would ride height make this a no no in a vector

Post on the Vector forum to see their results.

 

[Ruggybuggy]

Well my sway bar is not going back on. Adjusted my shocks damping rates and it's just as stable without the bar but now have the benefit of full independent suspension.