I just had my Raptor motor worked and, it is unbelievable. No bike in my area can touch it (outside some monster Banshees). Problem is that is great for the dunes and, the drags but, now i have a new issue. The suspension.

This weekend i went to a local riding area and, they have a nice little track. It has a few nice table tops and, a couple doubles. Nothing great but, it is fun. I shot around it and, thought the Raptor did pretty well. The problem is I'm 240lbs and, 6 ft. I bottom it out on anything bigger than a big whoop. Any air over 4-5 feet and, i'm drilling the frame into the ground (I have a totally reworked knee and, that is a big problem!!!)!!! I've messed withe the shocks a bit and ending up tightening the rear spring about a 1/2 inch and, tried adjusting the settings on the preload and, rebound (I must not know what i'm doing). I've also put the front shocks one notch stiffer than the middle. Still bottomed out on anything decent in size.

Here is the part that Kills me = My buddy has an 04 YFZ 450 and, i rode it a bunch (he loved the power of mine so that bought me a lot of seat time on his). I felt like a rockstar on that thing. I was whaling on the table tops and, doubles and, even over shooting them and, landing on flat ground. It never once bottomed and, he has the stock setup that it came with from the dealer!!!

So what gives?? Are the YFZ shocks just better? Are mine crap? Or, is the whole settup just different? Could i get this same suspension action Somehow???? I love my Raptor (especially w/ the new found power) but, I'd give up having the fastest bike around to have that kind of fun jumping! Hopefully i can make mine jump like that and, keep my Raptors power and, feel! HELP?

 

Some One? Anyone?

New Shocks are and, Awefully big investment... I better be able to hit the Triples in Huevos for that kind of Dough!

Is it worth it?

 

New shocks are worth it, but you wont get the raptor to handle like the yfz. If you want to go airborne, you are on the wrong machine. A wider setup with a arms, axle, and new shocks will however make the raptor an entirely new machine.

 

Will it help it from bottoming out on the big air? I've seen the guys in Huevos sky the raptor and, not break ankles. I didn't say handle like the 450 just be able the handle jumps like it.

 

call up albaaction and ask for Matt...he has a lot of knowledge on these shocks

1-800-487-3236

 

Yeah i will but,,,, the only problem with it is a salesman is going to say yeah you need this! I wanted to ask here because you guys are real world riders and, have more knowledge than some salesman at a parts place.

I need to know if getting new shocks and, Or, A-Arms will help me take the big jumps w/ no problem like i was able to on the YFZ450 or, if it is a waste. $1000 for the front and, 500 for the back is a big dip in the wallet to not get what i want or, need!

 

i think the better question would be to ask....

is the stock rear shock on the raptor good enough?

I know my fronts are 10x better than stock....hard for me to tell about the rear shock tho

 

It wouldnt be a waste. That said, the weight of the raptor makes the suspension work harder than even the stock raptor suspension would on the yfz. You would be able to take big air, and you wouldnt be bottoming out if you had the right setup and adjustments. But the raptor still wont land like the yfz.

Alba deals mostly with works shocks, and those are a waste of money if you plan to air it out. They do offer elkas, which are a very good setup. They arent the best, but they are still in the upper tier.

 

Again, I didn't say will new Shocks turn my Raptor into a YFZ - Rather will new shocks keep me from bottoming out my Raptor on over 3 feet of air like it does now! The Yfz with stock shocks and, the setup it came with from the dealer was not bottoming and, the Raptor was... I like air but, i need whatever i have left of my "robo" Knees.

Any other opinions? Can I get new shocks that will help me from bottoming without spending and, arm and, a leg? I see there are Works, PEP, Elka, and, a few others i can think of.

What is the order best to worst and, what can i get by with for the best price????? I'm no hard core racer, just a Duner/Trailer that likes to get as much air as possible when a good jump is around!

I could spend all day going over one good jump! lol

 

If you have to have air, then get the elkas, pep, ohlins, or axis shocks. The elkas might cost you a bit less than the others but you will be out about $900 for the front and maybe $700-800 for the rear with piggybacks. There is no cheap solution here. Suspension will cost you less than selling your Rappy for the 450.

By the by, there are no 6 ft tall 240 rockstars except for Meatloaf. He will bottom out your Raptor too. JK[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]