I know this has been discussed before and I`ve done the searching but I`m still undecided on what to do because I don`t want to spend money (and theres not much the wife will give me these days for some reason) and be disappointed.

This is the riding I do. Mostly wooded trails with mud, water, logs, rocks and hill climbs. The occasional playing on MX track, hare scramble and ice race.

My complaints are the suspension bottoms to easily and the front struts fade quickly.

What I want is pretty simple to improve the suspension performance for better all around riding.

Options I`m concidering in my price range.
1) Hot Seat dual rate springs front and rear. This was my choice until I read about the long travel Polaris/Fox struts from 3TV for $139 each.

2) Polaris/Fox long travel struts front with stock springs and the dual rate spring in the rear.

As you can see I ride it hard I`m not looking to make a racer or perform miracles with 500+ lb machine just improve with the funds available.

Thanks in advance guy`s !!!

98 Scrambler 500
00 Trailblazer 250

 

Rochester NY isn't that far from here...you should pop up and try mine out. It would give you a fair comparison. If not you know what suspension upgrades I have done...and I love em!

Brian

 

Xplor
PLEASE refresh my memory on what you did to your suspension. I just now called my dealer and can get the Fox struts in 3 to 5 days for $129 sounds like a good price. He does`nt know what the travel is. He thought they were the ones that are standard on the 99 and newer. But they made an improvement on 3TV`s 2001 so I don`t know.

I know you`re about a 5 hr drive. I even did a trip planner on Rand McNally. It is on my list of places to ride in 2001. That place in your pictures that shows you climbing that hill looks like a cool place to ride. Is it an old quarry? How is the riding there now? Too much snow like here we got about 12 to 15 inches on the ground. This month or next is probably not good or is it?

98 Scrambler 500
00 Trailblazer 250

 

EasterEgg...Here's what I did: I purchased the dual-rate HotSeat springs from "Scramblered"...yea, the guy making trouble on the forums a while back. They were almost brand new and I installed them with the stock struts. Up front the improvement was astounding. Just skipped over the little bumps and absorbed the whoops much better.

Had a little problem in the back though. It was a kit for the 1999 model thus was about 2 inches too short. I fixed that by using both springs plus the short one off the stock set-up! Custom triple rate. Very nice in the whoops and studder bumps. Much better than stock. Was too chicken that day to jump...

As with every purchase for my quads, I researched for months and asked hundreds of questions. Mike Chero has had both Fox and Works on his Sport and said the Works were far superior. I called Works and ordered the front "steelers" from them: $239/pair. They built them to my specs and riding style. Got them within two weeks. Snow hit soon after so I could not really test the difference. I did however feel a greater difference with the springs compared to stock.

Talking with Pierre over at Works he told me they had built some struts to match another companies dual rate springs...not HotSeat. They must be even better because they were built for racing purposes. Works informed me that they are even coming out with a whole new rear set-up. Between 500$ and 750$ depending on what options you choose. The overall consensus was that the stock rear shock "sucks", has no damping I think. Pep rebuilds them (about 300$) and are supposed to be far superior. Something about valving, damping and rebound...

Last but not least...the dual-rate springs from HotSeat were made to match the Fox struts. The Works are a bit longer than stock struts thus I had to add a few spacers under the springs. The guy at Works told me there struts were made to go with the stock springs. From what I hear the HotSeat and Fox set-up are great. As for me I just have to adjust the spacers after winter and shazaam!

Final note: Getting rid of the Titan 489's was one of the best moves too. No more sagging in corners or feeling "ploppy" in the whoops. These Razrs go where I point them. Front traction in mud sucks though.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

EasterEgg,

We usually ride under and around the powerlines, the pictures with the huge mudholes and jumps. We can also pack up our quads and head 1 hour away where there is a small town full of quarries. That day we went through about 5 different quarries. they are all interconnected by woods trails or sandy trails. That was one of our best rides yet. Nice flat hardpacked road with no bumps so we could test our top speeds for about 1 mile...obviously I was leaft behind. (after getting the hole-shot I must add!)

On that sand hill I am climbing (pic)I learned one good lesson: Do not put your head too close to the bars. Upon starting my ascent I was scared that the front end would come up and over so I leaned way over the bars...unfortunately they bounced and whopped me in the chin!

Riding could be very nice this time of year because all the trails are groomed. Plus we enjoy going "off-trail" into the powder. I say "could" because since Zorro taked me into getting a snowmobile I am hooked on that too. I can jump the sled higher than the Scram!

Let us know if you ever want to come up. We could swap my springs and struts on and off and check the results. Only takes about 30 minutes per side. Would be less if I had a spring compressor.

Later

Brian

 

Xplor
Thanks for all the great info. I`m still a little confused on a couple of things. I don`t understand how your rear dual rate spring was 2 inches to short since 99 & up have 10.5 inches of travel vs 98 & under has 8.5 in the rear also the front travel on 99 & up is 8.3 inches and on 98 & under it is 7.9 inches (verified by DirtWheels tests of 98 & 99 models). Is it possible that Scramblered sold you springs for a 98 instead of a 99.

I`m starting to get a little concerned on the ability to use my (98) springs with either the Fox or the Works because of the add length of the strut.

If I`m going to do this I may need to bite the bullet and buy a pair of struts and dual rate springs for the front and the dual rate spring only for the rear but still stuck with only 8.5 inches of travel.

I have $600 to spend I wanted to put $300 into the suspesion and $300 toward a roller clutch but it looks like all $600 is going toward suspension and the roller will have to come later.

Or I could take the money and my 98 to the dealer and buy a yellow 01 scram they look goooooood. The wife won`t notice will she? I could tell her it matches her trailblazer now.

98 Scrambler 500
00 Trailblazer 250

 

Tough call... The roller is definately worth it but suspension is too. Do you already have a pipe? In cases like this I usually find many good, down-to-earth, logical excuses to give my wife so she ends up saying: "Shut-up, quit pestering me and get both"!! LOL Always works...

I have always been the type to listen to sales-pitches on performance and luxury items and usually cave in. I am not influenceable but when it comes to ATV goodies...that's another story!

I read an article yesterday in a mag and I thought it was in 2000 that the rear suspension got an upgrade??

If it were me I would most likely go for the Dual rates before the struts... or maybe...but don't want to influence your decision.

Brian

 

Xplor
No pipe the engine is stock with a K&N. I don`t want a loud pipe I had one for 5 yrs on the Warrior sick of it. I`m gonna stay away from the engine for now. I`ll hold onto what I got and wait for a sportier more powerful Scram from Polaris in a few years. I won`t however hold my breath.

Most likely what I will do is the dual rate springs and the roller since thats what I had my heart set on. These will give me some improvements in both area`s vs a great improvement in one.

Those long travel struts sure got me thinking though or was it side tracked from my original plan. Like you say so many parts so little time and money.

There may have been another improvement on the 2000 models. A friend I ride with has a 99 500 Scram and his suspension is better. Riding on trails where there is a lot of whoops and small jumps his does`nt bottom like mine and he is heavier plus the specs given in DirtWheels support this. I don`t take most things they say as gospel but I would think they could get standard specs right and unbiased.

I will definately let everyone know about the results when finished. It was very helpful to discuss this directly with someone on the forum. This is what the forum is for.
Thanks Brian
See Ya Rich

98 Scrambler 500
00 Trailblazer 250