Just got the Elkas

[kabd69667]

My shocks came finally. They look like they are pretty good quality. I can't wait to put them on and test them out. I got the compression adjust triple rate fronts and they rebuilt my rear shock. Here's a pic of them

[kabd69667]

One more

[Mity Mo]

What did you give for the fronts?

[kabd69667]

750

[Dave400ex]

Those look very nice. They are very colorful. Let us know how you like them. Do you have your A-Arms yet?

[kabd69667]

Yea, i have the arms on too. Hopefully i will be able to go and put them on tomorrow

[oynot400]

One of the guys I ride with got them also. He really likes them.
What is the extra red spring for?:confused:

[Dave400ex]

I think it`s the Stock Spring from the Rear Shock.

[kabd69667]

Yea that is the stock rear spring

please tell us what you think of them. I might get the long travel ones if there nice

[kabd69667]

I'll be finishing up tomorrow night. When i get home, i'll post what i think of them.

[PhilMoore]

kabd69667

If the front cans are the same size as the Elka rear cans, you can use 350X nitro can mounts to stick them to your frame. I think looks hella better than the radiator hoze clamps they send with the shocks.

[400exRacerX]

How much did that Rear shock conversion cost you?

[kabd69667]

Originally posted by 400exRacerX
How much did that Rear shock conversion cost you?
It cost me 275, then 15 for shipping. So a total of 290. They re spring, revalve, set for ssd, and i don't know what else

[400exRacerX]

So is your rear shock a zero-preload shock now? (EDITED) thats a good deal, let me know how it preforms compared to stock I am considering in sending mine out.

[kabd69667]

Yea, tonight i sat on the seat and got the feel of how it sits. Seems pretty good. They don't have the clicking sound like the pep zps do. I got it from Mark at HSD Racing. www.hsdracing.com

[optikid123]

y dose that last pic have them on a shee??

[Dave400ex]

That is a very good deal for the Rear Conversion.

What Clicking sound do the PEP ZPS make? Is it a bad sound?

[kabd69667]

My riding buddy has them. When he sits on the bike, you can hear the shocks compress. They make a fast clicking sound. I don't htink it's a bad sound though

[Dave400ex]

Ok, I just wanted to make sure it wasn`t bad. How does he like the PEP ZPS Shocks? Have you ever ridden it? If so, what do you think of the PEPs?

[kabd69667]

No, i haven't ridden either of his bikes. He has a race ready 250r that he races in 250a class or 250 pro am. I don't think he'd trust me on that one but i'll see if i can ride the other tomorrow

[PhilMoore]

optikid123,

I got the fancy shocks on the 'Shee cuz it needs all the help it can get in the suspension department! :)

It handles ALMOST as well as my 400EX with Works front, and stock rear shock...

[Dave400ex]

That would be cool if you would ride it. I want to know what you think of them. Then you could compare the Elkas to the PEP ZPS Shocks too.

[breaks-alot]

I have rode a few r's with zps. Not just r's but those little 80's u see that are like $20 grand. My neighbor has 2 Pro race ready r's and 2 of those 80's (tt-mx) Mark Baldwin(5 min ride away) is who there dealer is. These things work so well when i got back on my 400 i wish i never had riden a stock bike before. There a little stiff but if your gettin big air it feels like a 1 foot single for your landing. Untill i got on the web i never even heard of a shock comparing to the pep. So if u guys wanted to know those silver spings(the zero preload springs) they need to be wd-40 after every ride, out of there 4 machines not one of them makes a weird sound when sitting on them.

Kabd69667, best wishes on your new purchase!!! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!! I got mine on last week, did a ride last Saturday, and one yesturday.:D The differences between your setup and mine is that I got the piggybacks, and the rear Elka shock. I think the remote rezzys look cool too. The only reason I went with the rear Elka shock, is so when I send my shocks out to get serviced, I have my stockers if need be. I'm surprised on how much adjustment there is on the compression setting. I thought the shocks were a little too soft/sloppy up front, until I played with the compression. They sent me the shocks with the setting all the way to the "S" soft side. Needless to say, I think I'm getting better dialing in these bad boys:D Let us know after your ride.

WarriorMan, I love these shocks. My friend with his Custom Axis equipped Raptor still beat me pretty bad. I think it is the rider that sucks.............I hope to improve very quickly. :macho

[Dave400ex]

Kabd69667, you should tell your friend about the WD-40 thing and see if it works.

EX`rMarlin, That`s good to hear you like your Shocks. I think I`m going to get PEP ZPS Shocks if Gabe likes his. If not, I don`t know what I will get. I think you and your friend`s Suspension setup is about the same. You have to remember, he has a lot more power than you do. I`m sure if you did a 416 you would have a better chance. You will get better every ride. I know I do. Good Luck beating that Yamaha.

[kabd69667]

Well, i have them on but i need to go back later tonight and adjust the chamber on the a arms. I might be able to ride it if it's not too late.

[kabd69667]

Well, i got them on fine. But it was too dark to really see so i didn't hit any jumps with them, i did get to ride it though. It seems a lot smoother, turns a lot better and i like how you sit lower to the ground. I'll have a better detailed report tomorrow after i get to ride in daylight

[Dave400ex]

Ok, give us the Report tomorrow. Do you have any Pictures of the Front End? I would like to see how Wide and Low it sits now.

[kabd69667]

I'll get one tomorrow

[kabd69667]

Here's a pic without anyone on it. We have about 4 inches here at my(parents) farm. So it's a little hard to go over the jumps. It sits a lot lower and turns a lot smoother. The jump i did felt so easy and smooth on the landing. Almost like you can't even tell your off the ground. As soon as some snow melts, i'll hit most all of my jumps here.

[kabd69667]

Here's one from the side

[NJ300ex]

Is that carpet in your garage?

[kabd69667]

no, it's gravel

it really dosen't look lower in the pic. How much would you say it droped the frame

[kabd69667]

I really couldn't tell ya, it's been a month and a half since i sat on the old one w/ stock shocks and arms. But i do know thta when i sit on it, it sits lower

[Dave400ex]

That looks sweet. I like how the Front End looks. The chrome a-arms look good too. I`m sure it sits lower than stock. I can`t wait to hear your Report.

[400exRacerX]

Wow, that looks nice! I just got one question I am curious about. Were did you come up with all the cash to get all those expensive parts at the age of 14? Darn I wish my mommy and daddy treated me like that!

[Dave400ex]

Guess he has really cool parents. Can`t complain when the parents buy you something.

My findings on "how much lower it sits":
Front Middle Rear
24 1/4" 12 1/2" 31 3/8" Stock shocks, no rider
23 5/8" 10 5/8" 28 1/4" Stock shocks w/ 215 lb. rider

23 1/2" 12" 30 5/16" Front Elkas w/ SSD
22 3/4" 10 1/4" 27 7/8" Fronts w/ 215 lb. rider

23" 12 1/4" 32 1/8" Front & Rear Elkas w/ SSD
22 7/8" 10 1/2" 29" Front & Rear w/ 215 lb. rider

In a nut shell, for Elkas with "SSD" set up for a 215 pound rider and for Cross Country (XC)/Hare Scramples, the shocks lowered my 400ex about 3/4" up front, and 1 1/16" in the rear with no rider and about 7/8" up front, and 3/8" in the rear with rider.......make sense?:confused:

Note: Front = a point used on my front bumper....Middle = a point used close to the foot peg....Rear = a point used on the grab bar (sub-frame)

[kabd69667]

No, my parents didn't buy any of these parts. I bought the shocks and a arms and the axle w/ money i have earned working in the summer and in the winter. I make $6 an hour and usually work about 30 hours a week. They don't even like me riding so they say if i want to get a part, i have to buy it myself

[Dave400ex]

You are lucky to have a good job like that. There is no where to get a job if you are 14 around here. Only on farms. Not many of the farmers need help right now. I hope to find a job this summer though. That would be cool making $6 an hour. PEP Shocks would just be calling my name.

[Guy400]

kab, one question for ya. Aren't you worried about cracking one of your front rezzies? You've got them mounted on the front of the frame rail and look like they'd be very susceptible to rocks being thrown up by a rider in front of you. You might want to twist them around so they're on the back side of that frame rail. Just a suggestion.

Guy

[kabd69667]

I never thought of that before guy. I should probably twist them around

[Dave400ex]

Do you have a Front Bumper?

[Guy400]

Originally posted by WarriorMan
Do you have a Front Bumper? Even with a bumper I'd still be worried about a rock being thrown up, even a small one. Just think how hard a golf ball sized rock comes out from behind a quad under power and then multiply that force because of you travelling at 35 mph or so.

[kabd69667]

No, I don't have a bumper on now. I do plan on getting an AC mud screen though. But untill then, i'll turn the rezzie's around

[Dave400ex]

Yeah, you need to turn the Rezzie`s around. I would leave them turned around after you get a Bumper too. I have the AC and like it a lot. It will look good on yours.

[kabd69667]

I'm putting in 416 piston and cam first though

[Dave400ex]

Who are you getting the Piston and Cam from?

[kabd69667]

GT Thunder piston(wiseco) and a GT Thunder cam. $300 for parts, then an extra $30 to bore the cylinder

i got a call this morning from the owner of elka suspension. I emailed him to get a price for long travel shocks. He quoted me at 995 dollars and told me that the elite series shocks really aren't nessacary and that there more for snow-X. I can't belive he called me at home. I have deffinantly decide to use their products.

[400exRacerX]

The rezzies won't crack from rocks, those resevoirs are made out of a thick metal and it takes alot to crack them. I have mine mounted on the side of the frame rails, not on the back. If you put them on the back they won't keep the fluids as cool.

get one of those DG front frame protectors and mont them behind it. It had slots to allow air thru

[Dave400ex]

Kabd69667, I have heard a lot about GT Thunder. I was going to tell you to check out TC Racing, but it sounds like you already have it all planned out. I want to know what you think of the Piston and Cam once you have them.

[kabd69667]

So, since it's not nessesscary to turn them to the back. I guess i'll turn them to the side

[400exRacerX]

Yeah if you have them in the front or side they will be fine. A rock isn't going to crack the rezzie. It is very hard to crack the rezzies.

Originally posted by Guy660R
Just think how hard a golf ball sized rock comes out from behind a quad under power and then multiply that force because of you travelling at 35 mph or so.

I had that happen but it didn't hit the rezzy it hit my friggin knee cap.:eek: Talk about some pain..Oh and It was a pissed off banshee that threw the rock at me..

[Tommy 17]

Originally posted by Rico


I had that happen but it didn't hit the rezzy it hit my friggin knee cap.:eek: Talk about some pain..Oh and It was a pissed off banshee that threw the rock at me..

buy a set of knee guards u won't feel the pain not more:D... i have fox ones and love them...

[Dave400ex]

Kabd69667, I think the Rezzies will be fine where ever you put them. I like how they look up Front.

Rico, that would really hurt. I would get some Knee Guards like 400EX21 said to do.

[JustRace]

I was racing two banshees through some trails and when we hit this long straight away one of the banshees, with a 370motor, flew past me and kicked up a hole bunch of rocks at about 70mph and I look back just in time to see the other banshee rider get hit in the chest by one of the rocks. It about nocked him off his quad. I stopped and he was fine. I think it hurt even worse because it was during last winter and I remember it being around 10 degrees out.

[kabd69667]

Okay. Anyway, if a rock would hit them maybe i could get to see how Elka's customer service is. Maybe they'd give me a new set. But i would rather not go through that