can some one explain to me what dual rate shocks are and what tripple rate shocks are and which ones I shold buy for my 1998 banshee?

 

I can give you an explanation of the shocks, but I can't tell you which ones to buy.

To answer your question: Dual rate and triple rate refers to the number of springs a shock has. A dual rate shock has two springs, a triple rate shock has three springs, quad rates have four springs. The advantages to this are numerous. On every shock with more than one spring there is a main, or primary spring. This is the largest spring with the greatest spring rate. This spring absorbs the impact of the largest loads, i.e. big jumps and large, high-speed whoops.

The secondary springs are often a different color and are smaller. These springs have a lower spring rate, which means they are softer. Secondary springs are designed to absorb small bumps and hits without transfering the load to the primary, main spring. Dual rate shocks are versatile. You can set the primary spring up to handle a large load, and set the secondary springs up to absorb varying loads and hits.

For example, if you have triple rates on the front of your quad, you can set the top secondary spring (first spring) to a very soft setting to absorb small hits and braking bumps on the track. You can set the middle secondary spring (second spring) up to be a little stiffer than the first secondary spring, so it takes a harder hit before this spring will bend. The middle spring ideally would be setup for harder landings than the top spring, such as high-speed square-edged bumps. So far, none of the hits absorbed by the two secondary springs are hard enough to cause the large, bottom primary spring to do any work yet, based on this theoretical setup.

Now, if you have the two secondary springs set up right, a large load will cause these two to flex and put the load of a much larger hit (i.e. triple-jump or down-hill) onto the primary spring. Therefore, the primary spring is not working all the time, and neither is the middle secondary spring. The advantage is the adjustability afforded by the multiple springs. Typically, dual-rate shocks equal a smoother ride in the trails.

Are you talking about just front shocks, or all three? What type of riding do you do?

 

hey thanks alot for the reply, it makes sense now. To answer your question, i was talking about the front shocks but im interested in the back as well. I do mostly trail rideing with jumps, sometimes sand rideing with dunes. I like to ride pretty hard most of the time. I want a shock that wont bottom out with big jumps and a shock that is also very smooth.