Yamaha Bravo front end..

[SledFreak]

If you place the shock on the left of the original mounts to equal the new width, you would need a longer bolt, right? lol. I'm getting myself lost. It works, i've done it in the past.

Leaving the shock in the same position?

 

[Dano]

I installed those 2" spacer plates on my elan also. Really threw steering out of wack with off geometry, but did increase turning radius by allot. IMO, everybody should start riding on an elan and then really learn to appreciate for what we see as basic today. Bravo's were a great handling sled in its day and I never found it tippy as a young buck. Times change I guess. Crap I'm getting old.lol

Dan

 

[spike337]

Like the "Stand up riding style". I've done that in the 70s, you had to! No travel to speak of. Good point on beginning sled being a bit older. The new ones handle so good, and are so fast out of the box, about anyone can go fast.
About those 'ski spreaders', i sold mine before i even rode it with them on, so it may not handle good as mentioned?

 

[mr.pitstop]

I installed those 2" spacer plates on my elan also. Really threw steering out of wack with off geometry, but did increase turning radius by allot. IMO, everybody should start riding on an elan and then really learn to appreciate for what we see as basic today. Bravo's were a great handling sled in its day and I never found it tippy as a young buck. Times change I guess. Crap I'm getting old.lol

Dan

My first sled: 1971 Elan 250, Wish I still had it, That sled would get up ontop of 10 feet of snow and just ride along, never had a problem breaking trail with the old girl

 

[AKrider]

Yeah, I recall it did steer differently than before, but I remember being more impressed with the new found stability. I don't think we even remounted the shocks with longer bolts. Maybe that's why I bent the brackets so quick?

I think the sled we put the brackets on had a 28" inch wide ski stance. The Polaris TX we had came with a 30" wide stance and that felt so much more stabile. Then after a couple years we got Indys and WOW, what a difference!

 

[03RX1-ER-LE]

Installed a set of those on my old 74 Chapparral 440 SSX, straight line fast back in those days however very tippy! To mount them on mine I bought a pair of ski saddles without the shock mount option, then the upper shock/ski saddle plate stays with the ski/leaf spring when installing the spreader plates. Just buy or make some saddles and you are good to go.

 

[4x4]

If you are up for it the best way is to cut the front pipe that goes between the skis and widen that. This will keep the skis under the spindle and keep them from swinging in an arc when steering.

 

[SledFreak]

If you are up for it the best way is to cut the front pipe that goes between the skis and widen that. This will keep the skis under the spindle and keep them from swinging in an arc when steering.

What's that doing? How is that widening the stance, since I don't believe you can move the spindle? Got a pic?

 

[4x4]

That is how the Bender widening kit worked in the 1980's on the 540Vmax and Phazer

 

[dhkr123]

Just bought a 1986 Bravo for my daughter, but I noticed it is a little tippy. Funny, when I was 14years old, I thought that front end was wide and stable compared to my elan. My question, is does someone make a kit or something to make the ski stance wider on the Bravo. I know years ago, (were talking decades... LOL...) I bought one for my Elan and I believe it widen the front end, by a couple of inches. Any help?

When you were 14 years old, you weighed what... 80 pounds? Point is that the bigger you are, the wider and/or heavier the sled has to be in order to be stable. When I was a kid, I did 80k donuts on an ET300. Given my weight, the thing could ***NOT*** be tipped.

Unless your daughter is a really big girl, she won't need anything wider.

 

[scott32]

Let her learn how to ride the old sled. She will develop better riding skills. You too, will feel more comfortable knowing she has great riding skills for when she grows older and borrows Daddy's sled to go out riding with her boyfriend. LOL!!!

 

[SledFreak]

Just bought a 1986 Bravo for my daughter, but I noticed it is a little tippy. Funny, when I was 14years old, I thought that front end was wide and stable compared to my elan. My question, is does someone make a kit or something to make the ski stance wider on the Bravo. I know years ago, (were talking decades... LOL...) I bought one for my Elan and I believe it widen the front end, by a couple of inches. Any help?

When you were 14 years old, you weighed what... 80 pounds? Point is that the bigger you are, the wider and/or heavier the sled has to be in order to be stable. When I was a kid, I did 80k donuts on an ET300. Given my weight, the thing could ***NOT*** be tipped.

Unless your daughter is a really big girl, she won't need anything wider.

I see your point... We'll see... I'm going to tear into this summer and fix it up....

 

[Ridndirty]

Look for pictures of old('74-'75) Yamaha GPX's if you want to see how to mount the shocks. Yamaha widened out the stance on these sleds with widening plates, right from the factory.

 

[SledFreak]

Look for pictures of old('74-'75) Yamaha GPX's if you want to see how to mount the shocks. Yamaha widened out the stance on these sleds with widening plates, right from the factory.

k thanks...