ZX2 soft spring report

[STAIN]

After some email conversation with Jeff and Dennis at ADboivin I had them send me softer springs for the ZX2. Although pricey for coil springs--$122 each [ouch!! ] and $48 to get them accross the border [ouch!!] I got them and installed them Wendsday. I then set my revolver at 2/4 and spring preload at 5 just like the manual stated in the begining for my weight. I then put 245 miles on Friday to test. Now this is what I hoped for in the begining!!!! the ride is 10 times better for me with the skid working well in the stutters but still able to soak up the big hits. I can actually feel the skid move. I tried prelod 4-worse- then 6. 6 was good for the really rough trail that we were currently on but was a little stiff for smooth trails. On 6, rebound just barely started to become a concern and I might not have noticed it had it not been my #1 complaint with the old springs. I do have the limiter strap up one hole to keep inside ski down during corner accel. I think I will now expeiriment with revolver positions but 2/4 preload 5 seems pretty good. I wish the skid came with these springs, it would have saved me $300!!! [ ouch!!!].
I now have 2100miles on this skid and as you may or may not know the stiffness and agressive rebound have been my complaints from day 1. I had bee running revolver 1/4 and preload on 1 just to be able to trail ride. Maybe a local shock tuner can revalve shocks and get same results for less money--did I mention $300 for 2 springs and shipping?--. The new springs seem to be dual rate and the old one strait rate.
During the whole process Jeff and Dennis at ADboivin have been great, returning e-mails and actually phoning me at work to see if I got my parts. AD customer service has been good to me during the whole purchase/tuning process.
I would recommend anyone ordering this skid to ask for the softer springs while ordering--maybe saving some money in the long run.
I am suppose to be getting some fox floats for the front this weekend and will start to play with these in conjunction with my "new' skid.
Let me also say I have had no other problems with skid. Bolts have always been tight, no vibrations, no alignment issues. I think this is one tough skid with great hyfax wear, low maintenance and now a great ride!!
[ $122 for 1 coil spring?--ouch!!]

 

[Grimm]

Great to hear Stain, I've been quite satisfied with the ZX2's performance and AD Boivin's service, albeit with a few minor issues with bolts, rubber bumpers, idler wheels and a stripped axle bolt. My sliders are in great shape too and I've got close to 3500km on the skid now. With my old Pro-Active suspension, I probably would have had to change my sliders 6 or 7 times this season had I not modded it with larger wheels.

This suspension would be a great upgrade to any of the older sled models, particularly those with torque arm issues, cracked rails, etc.

For me, the stock springs are firm enough for my fat #*$&@, no way will I opt for a softer spring.

Ride on!

 

[kinger]

Glad you like it, just wondering why you kept the preload at 1 on the firmer springs, unless you are 100lbs that would make it ride like a brick.

The skid has been awesome for me. I was going to upgrade sleds in a few years to get the monoshock, no way will i leave this skid. Absoutly love it.

 

[iasledder]

Glad to hear there azre softer springs. Will be ordering a set myself.

Anyone notice a loss in top speed with the zx2? Mine is down from 109 GPS to 103 GPS this season, but have ben blaming it on snow conditions so far.

 

[STAIN]

Kinger, I set my preload at 1 because anything higher and the rebound was TERRIBLE. It would pop me right off the seat even in medium swails. I tried setting my preload at 5 and it was far too stiff. I gradually worked my way down to 1/4 preload at 1[ the softest revolver and spring setting ] Even at these settings I was dissatisfied with the ride. If it wasn't for the soft springs or some kind of revalve I would have sold this skid and stretched my mono.
Remember, springs give you your ride, shocks control the springs not the other way around

 

[06vectorgt]

After some email conversation with Jeff and Dennis at ADboivin I had them send me softer springs for the ZX2. Although pricey for coil springs--$122 each [ouch!! ] and $48 to get them accross the border [ouch!!] I got them and installed them Wendsday. I then set my revolver at 2/4 and spring preload at 5 just like the manual stated in the begining for my weight. I then put 245 miles on Friday to test. Now this is what I hoped for in the begining!!!! the ride is 10 times better for me with the skid working well in the stutters but still able to soak up the big hits. I can actually feel the skid move. I tried prelod 4-worse- then 6. 6 was good for the really rough trail that we were currently on but was a little stiff for smooth trails. On 6, rebound just barely started to become a concern and I might not have noticed it had it not been my #1 complaint with the old springs. I do have the limiter strap up one hole to keep inside ski down during corner accel. I think I will now expeiriment with revolver positions but 2/4 preload 5 seems pretty good. I wish the skid came with these springs, it would have saved me $300!!! [ ouch!!!].
I now have 2100miles on this skid and as you may or may not know the stiffness and agressive rebound have been my complaints from day 1. I had bee running revolver 1/4 and preload on 1 just to be able to trail ride. Maybe a local shock tuner can revalve shocks and get same results for less money--did I mention $300 for 2 springs and shipping?--. The new springs seem to be dual rate and the old one strait rate.
During the whole process Jeff and Dennis at ADboivin have been great, returning e-mails and actually phoning me at work to see if I got my parts. AD customer service has been good to me during the whole purchase/tuning process.
I would recommend anyone ordering this skid to ask for the softer springs while ordering--maybe saving some money in the long run.
I am suppose to be getting some fox floats for the front this weekend and will start to play with these in conjunction with my "new' skid.
Let me also say I have had no other problems with skid. Bolts have always been tight, no vibrations, no alignment issues. I think this is one tough skid with great hyfax wear, low maintenance and now a great ride!!
[ $122 for 1 coil spring?--ouch!!]

Stain,
Great to hear your getting this skid dialed, The springs still seem way to stiff for me also - What do you weigh and whats your ridding style?
Thank you in advance!
Lou

 

[STAIN]

I go 205-210 without gear. I ride groomed trails. I don't ride as hard as I used to but I don't putt along etheir. I don't stand when I ride nor do I want to. The trails I ride vary from speeds 0f 25-40 mph [ very twisty local trails] to 70-80 cruising speeds [ bigger trails in the northern part of the state] I wanted a skid that would soak up TRAIL bumps, not snowcross moguls and I think the new springs fill the bill.

 

[06vectorgt]

I go 205-210 without gear. I ride groomed trails. I don't ride as hard as I used to but I don't putt along etheir. I don't stand when I ride nor do I want to. The trails I ride vary from speeds 0f 25-40 mph [ very twisty local trails] to 70-80 cruising speeds [ bigger trails in the northern part of the state] I wanted a skid that would soak up TRAIL bumps, not snowcross moguls and I think the new springs fill the bill.

Thanks Stain!

I wonder if Hy-Gear has anything in their dual rate line-up that would work.

 

[rxrider]

I just sent an email to Jeff at ADBoivin about the lack of rebound dampening I have been experiencing in my ZX-2 136"

 

[racemad55]

You would think with so many complaining about the stiff ride we should be able to exchange them or at least get a better price than the one posted! I go275# without my riding gear, Doesn't smooth out until about 35-40 m.p.h. No other issues with it.

 

[twiz28]

soft spring

I had a chance to stop in and see Jeff at thier shop, very nice fellow and seemed eager to help. Unfortunately I didn't have my sled with me, he suggested a few things for me to try, the main one being reducing the preload on my front springs, which I haven't done yet but plan to this weekend. The reasoning being if the front is too stiff it isn't absorbing the bump but more or less "jumping' the front of the skid over the bump instead of allowing the skid to hit and absorb the bump. He also told me if it didn't work to box my shock send it to him and he would swap the springs, no mention of any charge to me other than the shipping? Maybe I shouldn't assume but for the price we paid it should come with the proper spring we shouldn't be guinea pigs.

 

[62crusr]

I agree with Stain and 06 Vector that the suspension is too stiff. I'm 200 lbs and mostly ride 'groomed trails'. If I would have known about this softer spring I would bought it instead. We need to work on a first year test rider discount.

 

[06vectorgt]

I agree with Stain and 06 Vector that the suspension is too stiff. I'm 200 lbs and mostly ride 'groomed trails'. If I would have known about this softer spring I would bought it instead. We need to work on a first year test rider discount.

Yeah Man!