I was riding on a track near my house today and the front right strut bent in about a 45 degree angle. It looks like the nut on the inside of the strut housing that holds the shaft in there came off and the shaft came out of the housing. When I came down off the jump the shaft did not go back in the housing and bent. Any one ever heard of this happening, I haven't. My DS is only three months old, this better be covered under waranty.

00 DS 650
Graydon exhaust, rev box, and steering dampner
holeshot XCT's front and rear
K&N filter with dyno jet kit

AND ONE BUSTED FRONT SHOCK!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If you have the Ryde FX Arvin shocks, get rid of them and get some Works steelers or better get them with piggybacks or "rezzies". I am using the stock yellow DS springs on Works steelers($325/pair) with one of the short works springs. The Works shocks soak up the bumps great, But the springs they gave me were a little stiff, swapping back to the DS stock springs worked and looked a lot better. I am going to call Sandy at Works and tell him what I came up with, as it should cost less for DS shocks if they don't need the main springs. Most of the guys on here like their front shocks. Mine sucked bad. Mine now rides like everyone else says theirs have all along, go figure.

 

The same exact thing happened to me about 6 months ago. Like you said the nut that holds the shaft to the inside of the cylender came loose and the shaft came out and bent.

What was more ironic was the fact that when it happened to me I quickly got my receipt from purchase to check the date of purchase and it was six months to the vary day. Ihad no trouble with warranty at the dealer I went to. You should not have any trouble for this happening.

 

I brought my DS to the dealer today, They said it was under waranty and would order the new shock today. They said they have never seen one do that before.

Hey fourlix, did you order your steelers direct from works?, what is the number?


00 DS650
Graydon exhaust, rev box, and steering dampner
holeshot XCT's front and rear
K&N filter with dyno jet kit

ordered Graydon nerfs, billet gas cap, dip stick, and brake reservior cap. full set of red shockwears

 

Fourlix,

I have a feeling as nice as anyone's stock DS650 shocks are, your aftermarket ones have got to be better still. Someday I'd love to get some of those, but I think I've got a house to buy first, otherwise my future wife may kill me.

 

Moto Joe Racer sells them for a good price I've heard, they have a banner ad here on ATVConnection.com and they are in the powersports mall last I checked.

 

Forlix, I am curious if a heavier rider might want to stay with the supplied works springs vs. the stock springs. I believe that you stated that they were a bit stiff. Would this compensate for a heavier rider say 240lbs + or are they sprung for a more agressive riding style like jumping or big drop-offs? Are you lighter than 200 or heavier?
BOMBOWNER

 

Well, I got the right side fixed about a week ago, and went riding sunday and the left side did the same thing. I caught it as soon as it happened and did not bend the strut. It got stuck fully extended, so I stopped and pushed it back in. My dealer is ordering me another one but I do not feel safe riding on them so I ordered a set of works steelers. If the shock would come apart in the air, the landing could be disasterous. This is a major defect and I think Bombardier should do something about it.

 

I bought them from Shoc Connection $335/pair, but I would buy direct or through Rocky Mountain(I don't know if they sell them, I just think Rocky Mountain ATV is fast and easy) No complaints with Shoc Connection, but since these are "custom made to your specifications" you might as well deal directly with the guys who are building them.

Sandy at works helped me soften up the ride after I'd installed the shocks. I ordered recreational "steelers" for a 210 lb rider, looking for a "plush" ride. They were plusher with the stock springs. I think they oversprung it for me a little. Lie about your weight if you want a "plush" ride. Tell them you want to use your stock springs with the works spacer spring and you want the price adjusted. The same shock in a two stage is $299. With only the spacer spring, the "DS works steeler" should only be about $279/pair.
I've already told Sandy at Works they should sell them this way, so go ahead and see if they'll go for it. The DS springs look so much better too, they have that big diameter wind, and they're already yellow (the works springs were blue and white, tight wind, yuk) The DS is a masterpiece of styling, don't fugk it up.

Remember that the stock Ryde FX shocks have no nitrogen charge, so stock springs on the gas charged Works shocks is actually a higher "spring" rate than stock. I have a great ride and have never approached bottoming out.

It's the rebound dampening that is totally overdoneon the RydeFX shocks. Multiple bumps compress the shock faster than it can rebound, "packing up" the shock, putting it in a higher spring load. If you don't believe, take them off, take off the springs, compress(reasonable compression dampening) then try to extend the shock with no spring, ouch! enough rebound dampening for a Mack truck.

Remember, compression dampening is directly related to sprung weight i.e. the weight of the machine and rider, rebound dampening is directly related to unsprung weight,i.e. the weight (actually mass, reciprocating) of the hubs, tires, wheels, etc. The lighter the unsprung weight (lower the reciprocating mass) the less need for dampening. Now those front hubs and A-arms are about as light as anything that rolls, very little rebound dampening is needed, and too much is supplied. Works knows this, I know this, lots of people know this. Arvin Ryde FX and Bombardier need to know this. If you didn't know this before, you know it now. Get some shocks.