I bought some of those Bay city supply gas struts for my 96 sportsman 500 from Dennis kirk and when I went for the first ride I noticed that the suspension had hardly any down travel at all. With stock '96 springs at ride height I can pick up the front of the machine and the strut is fully extended within a 1/2 or so. I Called Dennis Kirk and they gave me these specs on their strut: Extended length - 18-7/8", Compressed length - 13-1/4", Diameter 1-5/8". Does anyone know the stock strut specs? It seems like the Dennis Kirk one needs a few more inches of down travel

 

come on no one knows? I've even called dealers and they have no idea

 

The struts you got might just be stiffer than the OEM ones. As far as the stock specs, good luck, I'm sure someone knows somewhere.

 

i had the scram apart for the spacers and the 1-5/8" struts i have are smooth bounce+jounce........no air gaps in between...when you installed them did you move them up and down? you might have high pressure nitrogen,stiff ride for sure!

 

Well I can't find anything on the stock struts. I just think this is very odd. The springs are stock ('96) so I know they are sagging some AND I have a winch on the front. There should be no way with extra weight on the front and worn springs that the strut should not extend more.

I've ridden on them for about 200 miles and they should have all "broken" in by now if they needed to.

I'm going to ask Dennis Kirk for a refund on both the struts and see what they say.

Any more opinions?