Rear Axis shock settings

[slosh13]

A question I have had recently was focusing on the rear suspension of the TRX450R. With the rear geometry being the way it was designed, a few selected shock manufacturers have designed a shock to help with that problem. If you are running a standard link swingarm, which would be the better option a single rate compression only or a dual rate dual adjust shock? :confused: I recently heard Joe Byrd from a credible source ran a standard link swingarm, STOCK linkage, and a single rate spring compression only rear shock at Loretta's and raved about how well it performed.:eek2: I have also heard that Axis is developing a single rate spring shock with compression AND rebound. Can some one fill me in on whats goin on with these two setups. Does anyone have either of these shock settings where they will be able to enlighten me on this? Thanks a lot

[R3Concepts]

As far as the single rate Axis goes..The GTT link was designed in corrolation with it, but its compression only..The rebound setting on a 450R will lose about 1/2-3/4 of an inch of travel, cause the shock is already too short..Some say its worth it, but others say its not because the rebound can be adjusted internally and then with your spring rates as well..Ive run a stock link with a PEP dual rate ZPS, dual adj. and am now on a single rate Axis, comp. only with the GTT MX link...the PEP is 10 times better..on square edge the Axis and GTT bottoms hard, and packs up..Baldwin is also making a link now that he and Wayne designed to work with there rear shocks, and Ive heard nothing but good things about it. As far as settings, the lowest amount of compression you can possibly run, bottoming out 1 time on the track, and for rebound: faster the rider, faster the rebound.

[atvscene]

Joe Byrd ran a Custom Axis shock with a GTT link at both Unadilla and LL.


Originally posted by slosh13
A question I have had recently was focusing on the rear suspension of the TRX450R. With the rear geometry being the way it was designed, a few selected shock manufacturers have designed a shock to help with that problem. If you are running a standard link swingarm, which would be the better option a single rate compression only or a dual rate dual adjust shock? :confused: I recently heard Joe Byrd from a credible source ran a standard link swingarm, STOCK linkage, and a single rate spring compression only rear shock at Loretta's and raved about how well it performed.:eek2: I have also heard that Axis is developing a single rate spring shock with compression AND rebound. Can some one fill me in on whats goin on with these two setups. Does anyone have either of these shock settings where they will be able to enlighten me on this? Thanks a lot

[atvscene]

The PEP link is an exact copy of the Elka link as geometry of hole location goes.

They simply reshaped the outside of the link to fit the shorter fork that PEP uses.


Originally posted by R3Concepts426ex
As far as the single rate Axis goes..The GTT link was designed in corrolation with it, but its compression only..The rebound setting on a 450R will lose about 1/2-3/4 of an inch of travel, cause the shock is already too short..Some say its worth it, but others say its not because the rebound can be adjusted internally and then with your spring rates as well..Ive run a stock link with a PEP dual rate ZPS, dual adj. and am now on a single rate Axis, comp. only with the GTT MX link...the PEP is 10 times better..on square edge the Axis and GTT bottoms hard, and packs up..Baldwin is also making a link now that he and Wayne designed to work with there rear shocks, and Ive heard nothing but good things about it. As far as settings, the lowest amount of compression you can possibly run, bottoming out 1 time on the track, and for rebound: faster the rider, faster the rebound.

[ESrider]

I'm running the Axis single rate comp. only rear shock for the same reason mentioned above it is supposed to allow a little more travel, with a DeRisi link and +1.25 swingarm. I've tried it with the stock link and with a DeRisi link and the DeRisi link is by far the biggest improvement I've made to the rear suspension. I've never tried it with a dual adjust shock, when I ordered it the dealer mentioned they had better luck with the single adjust because of the extra travel as long as the rebound was set-up correctly. The downside is you can't adjust for different tracks as easily, but so far that hasn't bothererd me, as I don't usually change settings on the bike once I get it set-up the way I like it. Being able to power through the braking bumps and launching smoother off of the jumps are the biggest improvements I've seen over the stock set-up.

[R3Concepts]

Axis wont build a dual rate or a rebound adjustable shock if you say you are running the GTT link..Point blank.

[Airik79mx]

When I had the stock linkage my PEP rear shock was a dual rate. When I got the Baldwin or PEP or who ever's link it is the rear shock has a single rate spring now.

[ESrider]

R3,

Do you know why Axis will only build a single rate single adjust shock for a LT link? Is it any reason other than the issues we've been discussing here?

Mike

[R3Concepts]

All has to do with travel issues..Giving up the rebound gives you more shaft travel, which is idealy what you want..but my Axis rear was WAYYY off with the internal rebound.

[Jersey450R]

Today i rode my buddies R with a JRD + 1 1/4 swingarm and a dual rate comp/reb adjust axis shock. The jrd link is nothing like i've ever seen. I dont know if it was because the shock was brand new today or what but we couldnt get the action right. it just seemed too stiff on the compression and too fast on the rebound. i mean, it was pretty good, but at the time it was performing to MY liking, the rebound adj. on the bottom was i click away from full hard! If anyone can give any imput on this it would be extremely helpfull.

[ESrider]

I was lucky, I guess, my rebound was perfect right from Axis. Although, I did change my rear spring it was 50# too heavy when I got it. I do need to have my rear revalved this winter, I need to run my compression a little high and it seems to be hard on the oil.

Jersey, it sounds like the valving might be a little off on your buddies shock. Try calling one of the shock specialists like Santo DeRisi and see what he says about it.

[R3Concepts]

ESrider what spring rate do you have? Is it off a single rate? We went from a 400# to a 425# and seem to need more, just to speed the rebound up..Any extra springs layin around?

[ESrider]

It's a single rate spring, I'm running a 400# right now and I would like to try a 425#. I originally had a 450# and it was too stiff. The 400# works well, but it is on the soft side. I don't have any extra springs though, I've been lucky enough to swap springs each time I've changed rates.

[Airik79mx]

I think my PEP rear is a 425 spring and it seems to work good.

[R3Concepts]

Selling my PEPs was the dumbest thing Ive ever done..Even though I got hooked up huge from Axis, they still dont out do PEP..Damn!!!