How do I get in touch with him? Can't find a Web site that is specific to TCS. Tell me what is great about them over stock. The price is high, so I want to know that it makes a noticable difference.

I'ld like to get a response from Gabe too. I know Gabe is high on them and I always enjoy reading his knowledgable and tactful opinions. Thanks!

 

TCS is located in the same building as CT Racing in California. As far as I know they don't have a site of their own, but they are on the ctracing.com website. You can contact Todd by calling CT Racing and asking for him.

I will probably be attending the Durham Crossroads Harscramble near Fayetteville on Aug 6th. If you would like to get a ride on the TCS's, e-mail me and meet me there. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any other questions as well....

The TCS's use about 1/3 of their travel in sag. This equals just over 3" on the front (I haven't gotten my rear yet). They do this by using 2 springs and some shims. The top, being very light weight, is limited on how much it can compress by the shims. This sets the ride height. Sitting at ride height, you are then on the heavier, larger spring.

This has many advantages, probably too many to fully explain in this post. First being, it lowers your ride height - better cornering. It also allows your suspension to "drop out" into low spots, which keeps your steering tires doing their jobs. It provides a much better ride than stock. Going thru the normal rough, you're riding on the upper 1/3 of your suspension travel which is on very light weight springs, especially noticeable when crossing something like a 45 deg (to the front tires) bump, where each front tire will hit the bump at a different time. I don't even feel some stuff that really used to jostle me around.

You're riding on stiffer springs when sitting at ride height, so that allows less body roll in the corners. They take the jumps much, much, better than the stockers (far superior valving).

They also have the effect of making the 400 not wheelie as bad. Keeping the front tires on the ground during acceleration, cornering, and hill climbing. I have done side by side drag races on my 400 and friend's 400's, mine keeps the fronts on the ground, when I ride theirs, I have to work to keep the front down (mine's not down on power either, because it almost always wins, with me on it or a friend ). This effect is also caused by the sag, the suspension absorbs the torque instead of instantly transferring it to thru the chassis, popping the tires off the ground, also the lower front bias's more weight to the front (this may change somewhat when I put the rear on).

If you don't already know the details of the TCS, here they are:

They are Works bodies, that use shim stack valving (like the stock rear shock and the current crop of MX bikes) instead of the piston type found in the works. The bodies have been hard anodized to help prevent fluid contamination. They have the dual rate, zero preload setup. They have improved bushings over Works. They come standard with reservoirs. The compression damping and ride height are adjustible. They are all custom built to the purchaser's bike setup, weight, ability, and intended use.

These are not subtle differences, only felt by pro level racers that are at one with their machines. They are quite pronounced. You know how on a stock 400EX the rear shock feels much, much better than the fronts on the 400EX? After the TCS fronts, the rear feels like a POS.

The only thing is, if you really want the ultimate in shocks, since the price hike of TCS ($750/pr fronts), the Custom Axis are looking pretty attractive, although still more expensive. From the info that I have, the steup and theories of Custom Axis are very similar to TCS except they use their own hardware that has larger shafts and bodies, very high quality.

Also, expect to wait at least 5 weeks at this point. Since this spring they have been very busy and are backlogged. If you order them from Todd, he can give you a very close estimate, since they are built right there in his shop.

 

Is it actually worth the extra 250 for the TCS shocks?

Worths Triple Rates with Res are 500..are they that much better..

I'm ordering my works Ultra cross rear as soon as i get the kinks worked out of my bike...

Then i'm looking at fronts..

 

From the Works that I have had dealings with, in a word..... Yes.

 

You can't go wrong with the TCS shocks. I bought mine last year for my 99 Banshee, and it made a HUGE improvement over the stockers. Before I had to be careful what bumps I hit at speed, but now I can just fly through the rough stuff.

Stock suspension is an absolute joke compared to TCS shocks.

 

HAHAH all I can say....I order my TCS shocks,A-arms. After a long 8 week wait . My order was ready to ship to me. I paid for next day air even paid extra for it to come on Sat. After waiting 8 WEEKS U.P.S lost my stuff on the way to me. It some where in CA. I can`t win when it comes to getting my shocks GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. I just hope they are worth the wait when I get them.

 

ok, it sounds like these shocks are great with whoops and small bumps, but how do they do off of HUGE jumps? are they going to bottom every time, or not? Also, how do they compare to PEP? because now they are only 100$ more now, rears the same.

 

Although I don't have any experience with PEP (also Works bodies), I would think they (TCS) would do better, TCS has a more modern valving system. From what I understand, the PEPs are popular in the GNC because the guy (Wayne) attends all the races and can rebuild broken or damaged shocks, or revalve on the spot.

Yes, they do handle the big air just fine. It's one of those rare "no lose" situations (I guess your wallet does lose )... You gain better ride thru the rough as well as better control of the big air jumps.... Like I said before, When stock, the 400EX's rear shock feels good, after the TCS fronts, the rear feels like a POS. I may have bottomed the fronts, but have not had a harsh bottom out on the front since installing mine, although mine are setup for +2 control arms (stiffer valving) while my front is currently stock).... I bottom the rear consistantly.

If you look at my webpage (below), you will see what mine is put thru on a daily basis.

Really, though, any of the high end shocks (PEP, TCS, AXIS) are going to be a vast improvement over stock, you are bound to be happy with any of the above 3 for sure.

 

I really appreciate the great responses. Gabe, I plan on emailing you about your upcoming race. gabe, on this topic for everyone: two questions - would you get the TCS shocks again? and What are the differences between them and the Custom Axis? These are the two I am leaning towards (harder toward the TCS). Thanks!

 

Yes, I would buy them again in an instant. My only reservation being if I wanted to shell out the extra money for the Axis.

The Axis have larger shaft diameters and larger bodies, their quality is apparent just by looking at them. The larger shafts and bodies make the shock more rugged, gives the tuner more valving options, gives it more adjustibility, and helps keep the shock cooler which keeps it from fading under heavy use (my stock rear has been hot enough that it has melted the rubber bumper at the bottom). I would imagine they would work very well. I will probably buy a set for my next quad if I get more serious into this racing.

Bang for the buck though, TCS is probably the way to go. I have heard from people that have ridden both, that they are close in performance.

At the harescrambles that I have been attending, from what I have seen, they seem keep the suspension under much better control than the Works units used by most of the other riders that have upgraded their shocks.