First off, I am new to the forums and want to say hello. I am 32 years young, and just yesterday traded in my Z250 on the 400. My brother bought the 400 Artic Cat (he wanted the green color scheme) and upon riding them for the first time, we both came away feeling like the ride was just way to stiff. Now I am only 175lbs at 5'10" tall, but has anyone else noticed this?

Maybe I just need to some time to get used to riding it, but I am just curious if a set of new Elka's or Fox shocks might improve things. I rode the snot out of my 250, and just felt completely in control of that quad, but the 400 is controling me as of now. I ride in the Arizona desert, in a mix of sand, dirt, rocks, you name it. I get bounced around the trail, and the whoops are just no fun.

So do I just need to "re-learn" how to ride, or are shocks in my near future?

Thanks

87

 

When I first got my Z400 I also noticed that the ride was too stiff (and I'm 230 lbs). I adjusted the front shocks softer and no more problem. The Z is now about two years old and the shocks seemed to soften up some. I plan re-adjust to to factory settings.

 

dfox- Thanks for the reply. I went out and adjusted the fronts down. I am going to ride it this afternoon, and see how it responds.

87

 

Aftermarket shocks would probably make a huge difference in ride quality. Mine rides pretty stiff when you're going slow but it's acceptable when things speed up. I have the pre-load on the factory settings.

 

mine was the same too.

 

Well, it's a bit better, but I wouldn't mind improving the ride even further. Elka sent me a quote for an "economy" shock of theirs for 465.00. It would be valved and everything for my riding style and weight.

Works sells shocks for about a 100 bucks cheaper, but they are just Elka clones, so what do you guys think?

87

 

elka shocks make a world of difference on how it rides but you do have to adjust them for the way you ride

 

WOW!!! I am impressed, I have never heard or read of anybody saying the shocks are to stiff. I mean NEVER!!! Well, I ride my friends Z, and I think they are the softest shox for a stock quad. Way better than the Raptor's and the YFZ. Elka's are great, Doug Gust has his setup on his Z450.