What's a better front shock for very aggressive trail riding

[stopdropanroll]

any shock with an additional compression valve is clearly a better option for very aggressive trail riding. The IFP shock does not have the dynamic response or the maximum damping output required for snocross, for instance.

You mind describing what you mean by dynamic response and maximum damping output with respect to how it impacts the handling of a snowmobile?

The IFP shock absorber has got a slower dynamic response than a well set up additional compression valve shock absorber. This means that the damping becomes more time delayed (= more out of phase with respect to the shock absorber stroke) when the shock absorber is forced to change direction. In general, this time delay (= phase shift between damping and stroke) becomes bigger as the frequency of the shock absorber direction changes becomes higher. In real world, this translates into reduced feedback as well as reduced bump absorption. Part because of the time delay / phase shift itself, part because the time delay / phase shift will require higher levels of damping force to achieve the same energy absorption as the additional compression valve shock absorber.

Since the IFP shock absorber is creating compression damping only by pressure reduction through the main valve, the maximum compression damping output is decided by the piston surface area and the nitrogen pressure level. This means that it is possible to calculate a maximum compression damping force out of every combination of piston size and nitrogen pressure level. Assuming reasonable piston size and nitrogen pressure level (a piston that at least will fit inside the snowmobile suspension and a nitrogen pressure that at least is possible to handle...) one will see that the maximum compression damping force is not enough compared to, for instance, the high speed compression damping forces used in modern snocross replicas. In real world, this translates into poor bottoming resistance. Either because the IFP shock absorber does not produce enough compression damping to stop bottoming OR because the IFP shock absorber is forced to exceed the maximum compression damping force and thereby cavitates and collapses.

Please note that the two descriptions above assumes a "well setup" additional compression valve shock absorber. This means that the creator of the valving must understand the shock absorber design concept from a pressure point of view and thereby be able to maintain the shock absorber pressure balance at all shock absorber velocities. If this is not the case, it is actually possible to make the additional compression valve shock absorber behave worse than the IFP shock absorber...According to my experience, reputable suspension shops with access to shock absorber dynamometers and top level race teams usually have a very good understanding about this. Unfortunately, this is not always the case with lower level suspension shops and home made suspension gurus...

Please also note that I am not trying to offend anyone by slagging the IFP concept off. But the thread is about shocks for "very aggressive trail riding", and in my opinion, the IFP shock absorber is not the concept you want for snocross, cross country racing or "very aggressive trail riding"...

Good info, you seem to know your sh!t

 

[mjaremko]

IFP COMPARED TO THE FOX EVO

What is the difference between the IFP shock and the Fox EVO ? Yamaha's snocross team use's this shock if I'm not mistaken.

I too am looking for the correct direction with my front shocks, I have the stock GYTR on my XTX and it looks like revalving those with better springs is the way to go for aggressive high speed trail riding.

mj

 

[stopdropanroll]

Re: IFP COMPARED TO THE FOX EVO

What is the difference between the IFP shock and the Fox EVO ? Yamaha's snocross team use's this shock if I'm not mistaken.

I too am looking for the correct direction with my front shocks, I have the stock GYTR on my XTX and it looks like revalving those with better springs is the way to go for aggressive high speed trail riding.

mj

I was in your shoes last year, after alot of research and talking with different shock performance companys, I decieded to go with Hygear, they will be doing a Trail Pro setup on my XTX, they agree that the GYTR shock is better suited to be tuned and perform on a higher level.

 

[mjaremko]

Yea, the Hygear upgrade is what I'm leaning towards. The one thing that keeps naggging at me though is are these Fox EVO shocks that the Yamaha snocross team use's better. I'm sure they must be lighter.

mj

 

[Bigblue1]

The HyGear set up with Triple Rates worked wonders for me. I go 280 in full gear and run the @#$% out of my FX. Very adjustable ..no issues.

 

[ruffryder]

The IFP shock absorber has got a slower dynamic response than a well set up additional compression valve shock absorber.

Alatalo,

Can you brake this down to basics for me? What is the additional compression valve stack? I thought remote resi shocks only had more oil for cooling them.

Sorry if this is kind of basic.