I'm a new rider and I've found my new love. There is nothing like pure speed, adrenaline, and fear to relieve stress. My question is, how do you know when the suspension is right? I have a big asse and go for around 235 and the stock Raptor shocks hit bottom on big jumps. Is there a rule of thumb on adjusting shocks to be perfect? How do you know when it's right? I hit alot of whoops and jumps and all I know is that if the suspension is wrong, and I believe it is right now, I lose alot of control. The Raptor + out of control + beginner rider = scary shizit. I have a bruse on my butt that looks like Jesse Jackson to prove that the suspension is wrong. Any help here?

 

You could try changing you instead of the suspension. I was weighing in at 229 three months ago and I weigh 182 now. Another 15 pounds or so and I'll be where I want to be. I'm 53 years old and have never felt better.

Arlan

 

Jesse Jackson....now thats funny!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Here's my theory on working out. If I'm going to work that hard, I need to get paid for it. So, instead I bought a quad and now that is my exercise machine. And believe me it works, as you should know, old man with the good advice on suspension. Anybody else have any idea on how to adjust these shocks?

 

Go to the website listed below. It's an article on adjusting atv suspension. I followed this guide and I ended up with my rear spring preload set at maximum (and I only weigh 180 lbs). I figure you'll probably need a stiffer set of springs if you follow the guide. Your rear suspension sag must be around 50% or more? I'm also assuming your springs are the same as mine (same spring rate).

Like I said I have my rear spring set to full stiff with my compression damping set 2 or 3 clicks away from maximum. My front shocks are set at the fourth stiffest preload setting. With these settings I just bottom the suspension on the biggest jumps I typically will take. I still wish I had more travel so I could try even bigger jumps, but I would probably just end up killing myself so maybe it's good their isn't more travel available.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]


[L=]http://off-road.com/atv/suspension/shockadj.htm[/L]

 

Check the compression setting on your shock. Turn it all the way out and bounce on your quad. Turn it all the way in and bounce on your quad. Any difference? If not, you are one of the lucky people riding a Raptor with a bad rear shock. Yamaha corrected this for the 2002 model.

For your weight, you definitely need to increase your preload quite a bit. This will not help you from bottoming on large jumps but it will help you keep from loosing control. Too low a preload coupled with too soft a rebound setting is a bad combination. Your spring compresses when you go up the face of a jump and the soft rebound setting lets the spring force the backend of the quad into the air as you leave the jump. Do you land on your front wheels often or feel like you are trying to fight to keep the front-end up? In any case, try increasing your rebound. Count the number of clicks to turn it all the way in. Now back off two-three clicks. If it doesn't feel any better, try backing off until you get back to your original setting.

Do not do the shock linkage flip you've probably read about. You will loose much need ground clearance for your frame. That THUD may not be your shocks bottoming as much as your frame/skidplate hitting the ground.

Replace your front shocks. You will have a lot more confidence about landing on all four wheels at once. This helps take some of the load off the rear shock.

Good luck!