I have just found out the struts on the front of the 700 Prairie are different than the 650's! My dealer is trying to get me more info on it to see what the differences actually are besides the parts numbers! ALSO,,, they offer 2 different springs for the 700 struts, one is classified optional and is stiffer! I looked it up at buykawasaki.com and then called my dealer and like I said,, he is trying to find out exactly how much stiffer the optional springs are and what the difference is in the struts!

 

Interesting. The hub or "knuckle" has a different number too.

That optional spring is $89.60 at Ronayers.

Although, for what you do PW, why don't you have Progressives on? The Elka's are even available now for a close enough price.

 

I have the progressive springs on it now and I had them on the last time we ran it when we blew the struts! I had them adjusted about 3/4 of the way up to help keep it from bottoming out off the jumps and also to help the dive in the corners! We have a set of the Elkas springs on order and they should be here this week hopefully for OldmanWheelers new 700 P so we will be able to do a side by side comparison after I get my new struts. The simple fact is that I need to tone down our 3 riders that we have for the 12 Hours Of ATV America race. I need to get them to take it easy off the jumps and I've already told them NO more 8ft high 30ft long jumps,,, these things just won't take it and at $500.00 a pop for the 2 struts,,,,,I just can't afford it! It's one thing to win these 90 minute hare scrambles but we have to keep this thing together for 12 hours! The first hare scramble we ran we won but finished with 2 bent strut towers and one broken strut on the old 650P! Penlands did it last year with no problems so I have told the guys they should just run with Penlands this year and pace themselves! If they pit,,, we pit,,, if they run faster, we run faster, if they slow up,,, well we may have to pass! LOL!!! Just No big jumps, were not out there to show how high we can fly,,, were gonna be there to WIN!!!!!!!!!

Hey DWB,,, ask newbeatle,, these guys don't know any speed but wide open and that has to change or I may have to rethink the team!

 

Another thing you may want to avoid jumping for is if the rear end slpines bind durring a landing you may find a drive shaft punched inside your engine case. I would be regreasing the splines if I were you.

 

PW,

Did you get a shipping confirmation on your Elka's yet? I am still waiting on mine, but, Yann said they should be at my door by the end of the month. My dealer runs the progressives too. We are going to put mine against his to evaluate the two as well.

Let me know if you find out the difference in the struts. I am curious to know.

 

P.W.... thats the hard part of racing...you don't want some "fat old man like me", but at the same time, it's difficult to train these "no fear, young guns", just how much hammer to apply... if they had to pay to fix them, they'd still probably ride them the same, just less often...LOL... If you read through riding tips from the pros, on jumping, most reccommend long low jump hights, rather than long high jumps... you are faster when you're spinning your wheels on the ground, rather than spinning them in the air... unfortunately, I haven't gotten close enough to you guys, to match wits with them ...LOL... but the 12 hour race will take a more mature riding style... & as you know, age & trechery will always win over youth & talent...LOL...WAM