450r shock issues

[08ex4]

i dont understand why they are so stiff. they are off of a 2009 special edition 450r. do they need broken in ? i took my buddies stock shocks off his 450r which is an 05 and put them on my 400 and its the same. i thought it was the angle so i made these plates that kinda resemble those lowering kits u see on ebay, bolted them on and it got worse. i guess what im gettin at is to me 450r shocks arent what they are talked up to be. id like to have a softer ride but i dont know what else to do. when i stand on the bumper it only compresses like 3/4 of an inch when i stand on my buddies 05 it compresses like 4 or 5 inches. idk? but any help would be appriciated.

[55stone]

where are the preload collars at.. and also where is the compression at?? also i take it you have standard travel a arms.. also you did make it so the shocks clear everything on the frame where they mount??? just trying to get some more info.. but they shouldnt really be that stiff.. just put them on a 400 i have and there great.. added plus 2 a arms and really good now..

[08ex4]

stock arms other than the little brackets i made but i can still bolt them to the stock shock mounts there isnt andy bindin anywhere and the shocks dont hit anything the preload collars are turned all the way u and the two settings on the shocks are set all the way soft

[sameltoe]

There way stiff from factory, jmo send em out to c&d or jet suspensions. Or look at at a works spring kit. I had the works springs on my 450r and that was to soft...but im a bigger guy too. And then went long travel...

[08ex4]

im not saying your wrong but with that being said why is my buddies so soft on his 450r im thinkin the suspension geometry of a 400 is different than a 450r? how much would i be lookin to spend on springs and which ones should i get? i weigh about 180 and i mostly ride woods trails and do some wheelies.

[bullett]

Im having the same problem as you they are too stiff for me as well. I'm considering sending them out to be completely redone but I'm undecided whether to go with GT thunder or C&D. I weigh 160 maybe were too light haha.

[08ex4]

lol yeah tell me about it i was told that gt thunder makes a spring kit that is for 450r shocks on a 400 ex but i cant find it on there site and they race so there impossible to get ahold of via phone.

[honda400ex2003]

Originally posted by 08ex4
im not saying your wrong but with that being said why is my buddies so soft on his 450r im thinkin the suspension geometry of a 400 is different than a 450r? how much would i be lookin to spend on springs and which ones should i get? i weigh about 180 and i mostly ride woods trails and do some wheelies.

The valving is different with the 400 arms than with the 450 arms. With the +2 arms on a 400 it makes the valving compared to the amount of torsion on the shock softer like they are on the 450 shock originally. The more length outside the shock eye makes it easier to push something, just like a breaker bar on something that is really tight, the extra length makes a bigger moment around any position on the arm. I hope i helped out a little bit. steve

[Colby@C&DRacing]

The valving from the factory is stiffer on the 450 shocks as is the spring rate. 400ex stock front main 120 lbs per inch. 04/05 450r front main 140 lbs per inch 06 and up 450r 160 lbs per inch. This is why it is important to have these shocks setup for you and the machine

[honda400ex2003]

Thanks for the info Colby. I was wondering about the exact specs of them. steve

[bigbad400]

i have the same 450 shocks as you and im 130 lbs and they ride better than tripple rate elkas in my opinion, i sold a set of them elkas to buy these 450 shocksand i love them without being revalved.

[tri5ron]

180 lbs, woods/trail, stock arms.
all the same as me.

I have the Works triple rates at 600/600/215, on a pair of '08's

Preload at "just snug"
Compression at full soft
Rebound at mid way

I have not had them revalved.

5th gear, wide open, whoops at 6' - 8' - 10' spacing, 18"-24" tall.
no bottoming (but close), no packing up, no bucking.

add a good stabilizer, and it holds a straight line like it's on rails.

[08ex4]

where could i buy works springs cheap already checked ebay and nothin

[tri5ron]

Originally posted by 08ex4
where could i buy works springs cheap already checked ebay and nothin Springs don't come cheap.
They are usually around $229.
unless you get lucky, and find someone here that has a set to sell.
Check the classifieds here on the forum, or post a Wanted ad.

[sc400ex_rider]

back off the pre load collars all the way. if there new they are stiff.

[ian0615]

off topic, but i am excited to try the 450r shocks i have a new set coming on Wed., from what everyone says they are night and day difference. However i have seen on a thread here that you have to grind the top and side of the eyelet down to make them fit? is this true...gonna try and find that thread again.
These stock shocks need to go! but man elkas are expensive!

[CJM]

1. Take a cold chisel and smack off the welded on nut inside the mount area

2. Relieve very little around the actual top mount itself with a dremel or similar.

3. Replace that bolt you busted off with a carriage bolt and some nuts and be done with it.

Why people grind the shock eye I will never get.

[01 400EXer]

Because it is easy and does not affect the integrity of the shock at all and if you have a grinder it is less work that what you describe.

Also if you put +2 a-arms on the ride is much better and will feel like the 450.

[CJM]

Originally posted by 01 400EXer
Because it is easy and does not affect the integrity of the shock at all and if you have a grinder it is less work that what you describe.

Also if you put +2 a-arms on the ride is much better and will feel like the 450.

Lets see, grinding the shock itself down is less work than doing what I did? Takes longer to grind down the shock imho.


Either way it took me all of 5 mins to get mine to fit fine and you STILL have to relieve the frame for them to work right.

[01 400EXer]

When you have a bench grinder it takes no time at all and I did not have to do anything to the frame when they were on my 400. What are you talking about relieving the frame. Does it have gas built up in it??? Ha Ha!

[CJM]

No, the eye of the shock fits in there but the sides of the eye (part you didnt grind down) hits the mount on the frame ever so slightly as they move with the arms.

Go look at yours and see for yourself, bet theres rub marks.

[bullett]

Knocking that nut off the frame was really easy, mine fit perfect and I didn't grind anything.

[01 400EXer]

It does not hit if the grinding is done properly. I no longer have 450R shocks on the 400EX and I still have the shocks and there are no such marks from where it was hitting. I now no what you are talking about and I had 0 issues when I had them on. I will have to look at the shocks. I may have just grinded a V into them so the shock mount on the frame would not interfere with the shocks.

I haven't had 450R shocks on the 400EX for 5 years now. Back then we grinded the shocks and that is what most people did.