What to do about rear skid?

[RaWarrior]

I've got about 2 seasons with my 05 Warrior now and about 2,000 miles since I bought it(4300 total now). I do a pretty mixed bag of riding. Some groomed trails, some rough trails, some off-trail, and some boondocking. Of all them, rough trails is probably the most common, just because we've had pretty poor winters the past couple years if nothing else.

Rough trails just kick my #*$&@. My buddy with a REV race sled just bangs through them all day long(granted his shocks cost a grand each) and has never, ever bottomed out the rear skid. If the trail has even moderate bumps and I try to keep up, I bottom out more times than I can count. It really ruins the riding when I'm bouncing all over the place at 20mph on a trail. I've done all the adjustments recommended here and in the manual for max stiffness in the skid but it still bottoms with ease.

Our University's SAE snowmobile team installed a ZX2 suspension in the Poolaris FST we have. It's the best part of the sled. It eats even the biggest moguls right up. It blows the stock M-10 away. However, installation for the Poo was a major p-i-t-a. The instructions were 100% worthless, the installation kit didn't fit at all, and we had to fabricate adapter plates in the machine shop.

Has anyone installed a ZX2 in their RX? I love the power of the 4 cylinder and the rest of the sled keeps me smiling all day long, just the stock pro-action skid blows. That and I'm planning on putting an Apex seat+riser on for next season. My initial concerns about durability have been quelled, I have yet to hear a report of anything breaking on them even under the worst ditch-bangers.

I figure that a new Nytro ditch-banger is around $10k or so, and a new ride-changing rear skid for this sled is around $1200, and I can't justify buying a whole new sled when there's so much I like about the Warrior.

Any tips or advice here?

 

[Honk]

the rev will alway take the warrior on all day trail bumps. Hundred pounds diff. Warrior is built for long groomed trails. keepin up with a purpose built race sled? Just dreamin, You will Never make the warrior a ditch banger, reguardless of what you do.. Buy a different sled by the sound of your needs and wants.

 

[RaWarrior]

I'm not expecting to keep up with the race sled, espically on the rough trails, but it pisses me off when he's banging through them at 50 and I'm down to 15mph and getting tossed everywhere. On groomed trails I can keep up no prob at all. I love the motor and the sled has had zero problems that were it's fault.

Yes I know a new Nytro XTX would probably fit me a lot better, but I really can't spend $9k for a new sled now.

I didn't think a rear suspension could make that much of a difference, but the Poolaris was about as bad as my Warrior in the rough stuff. With the ZX2 in it is 5000% better and honestly the rear skid feels dangerously close to the REV race sled's.

I'd like to hear any experiences with it installed on a RX, it if really makes that big of a difference.

 

[Viper_Dave]

Look here ; http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewforum.php?f=30 Should find all your questions answered

 

[Sasquatch]

I hated the pro action skid in my Warrior. SO I swapped out for the ZX2. I love it. I can pound the chop all day long at speed. It takes jumps and g outs quite well now, even with my 325 plus weight.

I have a Rox 2 inch riser, 12mm sway bar, Apex seat and ZX2 skid. Its a whole new sled. Don't expect it to be a ditch banger but trail chop just disappears under it. Night and day difference in ride and handling.

The ZX2 is not a perfect skid but you will like your sled all over again.

 

[Tom-RX1]

on my RZ1 the ZX2 was an easy install . all i needed was a stronger popriviter . and it is a huge step better than the old proaction .
Tom-RX1

 

[HRD2PLZ]

Yes I know a new Nytro XTX would probably fit me a lot better, but I really can't spend $9k for a new sled now.

.

I know this doesn't address all your issues but; I will tell you first hand that an XTX is not the solution to what you are talking about anyway. I have both an 09 XTX and a 05 Warrior and they are night and day. Last weekend I let a friend (the Sloth) ride my Warrior and I had to pick it up the next morning (about 10 miles from my house). I hadn't rode it in awhile but had those sweet memories while driving it home on a Sunday morning in Gaylord (of all places, if you've ever seen or heard of the trails here by Sunday). It is the best trail riding sled I have ever owned (talking 1-2 ft trails stutters). I'm not sure what your setup is or rider weight but please don't even think of comparing it to an XTX. I love my XTX, but it is not the same kind of sled and I look at the two as brothers from different mothers. Maybe you just need a good setup. FWIW. BTW, I'm about 230lbs with gear and have the Warrior set pretty stiff. I do bottom out occasionally, but usually only on sucker bumps.

 

[OneBadWarrior]

I changed out the rear shock to an Ohlin on my Warrior and had Hygear give the center spring a rebuild with twisted rate springs. Honestly it really was a huge improvement over the stock setup. The sled is WAY stiffer now and I have pounded the bumps pretty hard with it since, I couldnt bottom it out. I tried believe me. It doesn't ride like a Lincoln anymore and at the end of the day I felt pretty beat up because of the stiff ride. The plus side was I could hammer through the bumps at almost any speed. It seemed the harder I pushed it the better it responded. My buddies stock Attak could not hang in the bumps. Not even close. I walked away from him. As far as hanging with a rev... I don't know. You'll have more of a fighting chance but, apples to apples my friend! JMHO

 

[ahicks]

Doesn't take much to beat the stock suspension. You'll be impressed with about anything else you put under it. You might consider going with another OEM's suspension for about 1/3 - 1/2 the cost of the ZX while figuring out what your options are as well....

 

[kinger]

Zx2, apex seat and bar risor and I can hang with or beat doos in the rough ALL DAY LONG. That suspension is just unreal. You will NOT be disappointed. Some are a little critical but I swear if mine is not a ditch banger then I dont know what one is, the rev is a little easier to throw around in the deep snow ditches but on a moguled out trail I cant tell the difference between mine and that rev. I can absolutly fly on my the ole 1 ton now. I also have the apex front suspension, clicker shocks, and simmons with triple point carbides so its point and shoot.