Yamaha replaces 2017 APEX rear shock

[TrueBlue]

Have over 1000 miles on mine with no issues. Installed it at the end of the season last year put 250 miles on it and over the summer only lost 10 PSI.
I have mine at 295 psi, compression turn up almost max 5 clicks left, rebound in the middle. 280 to 290 with suit and helmet. Rides good but would like more track pressure. I like my o6 suspension much better than the single shot my personal opinion it sucks.

Is there a trick to get over 250 lbs, of air into this new shock. I have tried everything the dealer has told me & still cannot get over 250lbs, of air into the shock.

 

[Apex1958]

Is there a trick to get over 250 lbs, of air into this new shock. I have tried everything the dealer has told me & still cannot get over 250lbs, of air into the shock.

No trick takes a effort you have two compression stages only use the finial stage just the metal bar and handle. You have two fully insert the pump rod to the end of its travel. Only the last 1/2 inch gives it air. The old shock was a nightmare the new shock is easier its a work out I support the pump on the rail bump stop helps on the knuckles.

 

[20/80]

Can you get the stage 2 Elka shock for a 129 Vector also

Yes as far as I know, if its the single shot skid.

 

[Apex1958]

Yes as far as I know, if its the single shot skid.

I have been to their Website and they don't list the shock for the 129" Track. Last year I called and they didn't have the shock. So are you saying now they make it if so I will call again?

 

[20/80]

I have been to their Website and they don't list the shock for the 129" Track. Last year I called and they didn't have the shock. So are you saying now they make it if so I will call again?

The factory fox shock on the 146 and the 129 share the same shock on the single shot skid, the amount of pressure you put in the shock on the 129 is different than the 146 because of the skid length, so the Elka shock for the 146 should fit the 129 single shot skid, Elka should know this, but its best to call them and talk to a shock tech in their shop to be safe.

 

[Mr Mojorisin]

I have been to their Website and they don't list the shock for the 129" Track. Last year I called and they didn't have the shock. So are you saying now they make it if so I will call again?

There is a difference between the 129” skid and the 146” in how the shock mounts. The part number for the shock on both skids is the same. The difference is the 129” skid shares bogie wheels mounted on the same shaft that the lower bolt of the shock uses. This is a problem because the coil spring shock is wider than the factory air shock. You will need to space the factory aluminum braces on the sides of the shock wider with supplied hardware. Once that is done the new supplied bolt for the shock will rub the 2 bogie wheels.
The longer 146” suspension has a separate shaft for the boggies and it is not shared with the shock.
The double the price Hygear rear shock relocates the bogies to a forward position so the bogie wheels will no longer share the same shaft on the 129” skid.
I have found this out the hard way.
If interested I have an even longer story.

 

[TrueBlue]

No trick takes a effort you have two compression stages only use the finial stage just the metal bar and handle. You have two fully insert the pump rod to the end of its travel. Only the last 1/2 inch gives it air. The old shock was a nightmare the new shock is easier its a work out I support the pump on the rail bump stop helps on the knuckles.

I have tried this procedure many times already & still cannot get it past 250lbs. I went to the dealer & tried to pump up one of these shocks (not mounted on sled) & I was able to pump it up to 300lbs.
At this point I don't know what to do. By the way I am not a weak guy.

 

[20/80]

There is a difference between the 129” skid and the 146” in how the shock mounts. The part number for the shock on both skids is the same. The difference is the 129” skid shares bogie wheels mounted on the same shaft that the lower bolt of the shock uses. This is a problem because the coil spring shock is wider than the factory air shock. You will need to space the factory aluminum braces on the sides of the shock wider with supplied hardware. Once that is done the new supplied bolt for the shock will rub the 2 bogie wheels.
The longer 146” suspension has a separate shaft for the boggies and it is not shared with the shock.
The double the price Hygear rear shock relocates the bogies to a forward position so the bogie wheels will no longer share the same shaft on the 129” skid.
I have found this out the hard way.
If interested I have an even longer story.

Thanks for the info on the 129 single shot skid in regards to the Elka shock, I appreciate you sharing this info to help somebody out.

 

[evil eagle]

I have been to their Website and they don't list the shock for the 129" Track. Last year I called and they didn't have the shock. So are you saying now they make it if so I will call again?

I was referred to accelerated technologies from a guy that had stage 5 elkas all around on his 16 apex. I called and they know what they are talking about. I would recommend talking with these guys over the elka themselfs, acc tech guys from what I understand do the r&d for elka.

 

[super_rash]

too bad Yamaha didn't realize the fox air shock was crap before i bought a 2016 new spring order apex.... i rode it 150 miles and took it back to the dealer, lost 5 grand on it but it was not ridable.. the monoshock was way better.. anyway... hoping the 2017 guys are happy

 

[20/80]

too bad Yamaha didn't realize the fox air shock was crap before i bought a 2016 new spring order apex.... i rode it 150 miles and took it back to the dealer, lost 5 grand on it but it was not ridable.. the monoshock was way better.. anyway... hoping the 2017 guys are happy

The updated shock seems to be holding up and rides way better, way more adjustment, some reports although are losing alittle air now and then, You could of got the upgraded shock installed covered by Yamaha or went to Elka which have a shock for the single shot and fox has a coil over now for that skid, would have been better than losing 5 grand.

 

[CaptCaper]

The updated shock seems to be holding up and rides way better, way more adjustment, some reports although are losing alittle air now and then, You could of got the upgraded shock installed covered by Yamaha or went to Elka which have a shock for the single shot and fox has a coil over now for that skid, would have been better than losing 5 grand.

Your machine must be like my new machine I'm picking up this week. 2016 RS Vector XTX.. it's coming with the new shock. Air shocks all new to me. I'm 6'2" 245lbs with no gear.. 69 yrs old..don't Motocross with the sleds.Ha.
Any tips on setting it up an using the pump etc. ? easy way of checking air pressure before a ride?
Also I want to stud it with Woody's recommend 3.125 Gold Diggers of 102 total. Any extra protection needed over the rear cooler? or issues with the tunnel from them.

 

[20/80]

Your machine must be like my new machine I'm picking up this week. 2016 RS Vector XTX.. it's coming with the new shock. Air shocks all new to me. I'm 6'2" 245lbs with no gear.. 69 yrs old..don't Motocross with the sleds.Ha.
Any tips on setting it up an using the pump etc. ? easy way of checking air pressure before a ride?
Also I want to stud it with Woody's recommend 3.125 Gold Diggers of 102 total. Any extra protection needed over the rear cooler? or issues with the tunnel from them.

If you are getting your machine from a dealer get them to set your ride height while you sit on the machine, than wright down the air pressure some where to remember, if you can't do that then I always set pressure high 290 psi at first and work down to get ride height, set the shock knobs top and bottom settings in the middle 12 clicks, than adjust from there to your own riding comfort, no easy way to check psi other than screwing on the pump to the shock and check the gage as far as I know, also your pump has 2 settings high pressure and regular, you will see the setting adjuster at the top where the handle and cylinder goes in and out of the pump, set to high for pumping with rear of machine of the ground, my apex comes with tunnel protectors from the factory, not sure if you would need more, I don't use studs, the Vector xtx as a very nice machine.

 

[CaptCaper]

If you are getting your machine from a dealer get them to set your ride height while you sit on the machine, than wright down the air pressure some where to remember, if you can't do that then I always set pressure high 290 psi at first and work down to get ride height, set the shock knobs top and bottom settings in the middle 12 clicks, than adjust from there to your own riding comfort, no easy way to check psi other than screwing on the pump to the shock and check the gage as far as I know, also your pump has 2 settings high pressure and regular, you will see the setting adjuster at the top where the handle and cylinder goes in and out of the pump, set to high for pumping with rear of machine of the ground, my apex comes with tunnel protectors from the factory, not sure if you would need more, I don't use studs, the Vector xtx as a very nice machine.

Thanks.. so you can't adjust out on the trail? I mean you said I'd have to put the rear off the ground to pump up.. I would assume you can let air out on the trail with the pump hooked up.

 

[20/80]

Thanks.. so you can't adjust out on the trail? I mean you said I'd have to put the rear off the ground to pump up.. I would assume you can let air out on the trail with the pump hooked up.

I would think you can put air into the updated shock out on the trail, some do have trouble getting the pressure up to higher psi, they may not have the pump in the high psi setting, I could raise the psi on the trail with the first shock my apex came with just not as easy as home jacked up in the shop, alot easier to let air out on the trail with the pump that's why I say start out with a higher psi, the pressure drops quick when letting out air I use the bleed off valve on the pump and watch the gauge.