Choosing Shocks
When it comes to choosing an aftermarket shock to install on your ATV, there are many factors to take into consideration. The most important is the product's reputation within the ATV community. We're not saying that just because the fastest ATV racers are running a certain brand means it is the best option, but do your research and find out what has worked well for others. Find local pros or high-ranking racers in your area and pick their brains for options that have worked well for them. We would suggest working with a reputable race shop which can not only supply you with your shocks, but assist you with setup as setup means everything in getting peak performance out of your shocks.
The next step is to decide whether you want to run aftermarket A-arms or stick with the stockers. If you choose to run a wide aftermarket configuration, discuss with your shock company which product it's worked closest with and what it recommends for your application. Every suspension company will sell you shocks with any configuration of A-arms you wish, but its database of information is going to be better with some A-arms than others. Don't work backward; by purchasing cheap eBay A-arms and then ordering shocks to go with them, you will most likely come up with a less than an optimal setup.
Reworking Stock Shocks: The Alternative
In the early stages of ATV development it was essential to purchase aftermarket arms and shocks to achieve an adequate suspension setup. These companies' revolutionary designs and high-quality components were rapidly evolving into what we know today, and the ATV manufacturers were not only taking notice, they were utilizing these very products in their race programs. In the production of today's high-performance quads it is obvious that the lessons learned on the track are now being incorporated into the design of factory suspension. For those who want to obtain a great-handling quad but are limited by budget, there are actually an abundance of options available that can be almost or as effective as purchasing the high-dollar aftermarket setup for a much lower cost. Factory shocks that feature piggyback reservoirs, compression adjustment and even rebound adjustment have become very common. The main problem with these shocks off of the showroom floor is they're not set up for your individual weight and riding style. The other problem is the manufacturers generally choose to go with cheaper internal parts and springs and very few shocks come up with the multispring setup preferred by performance enthusiast.
Companies such as GT Thunder, DeRisi Racing, Race Tech, Progressive, C&D Racing, Noleen J6 and a host of others can actually revalve, respring and practically recreate your harsh factory pogo sticks into high-performing suspension. Many of the current crop of stock shocks can have travel added to them and, with the multispring setups, are very competitive with aftermarket shocks. We have been very happy with stock shocks modified on the LT-R, KTM, DS 450 and Polaris, as these are just some of the ones we've actually tested and been impressed with. We've tested with reworked shocks on Honda's TRX450R and Yamaha's YFZ450, and even though the performance was much improved, we determined they didn't have quite the travel we'd like to see and were not as competitive with aftermarket shocks. Each of these companies have their own unique tricks and methods of accomplishing the goal, but after testing with many of the reworked shocks over the past few years, we're sold on this low-cost and effective option and have actually witnessed pro racers taking podiums with this type of setup.
A-arms: Race Or Recreation? What's The Difference?
This is where many people have their money wrongly taken in an attempt of saving a few extra dollars. We're firm believers in doing extensive research before making any kind of expensive purchase, and A-arms definitely fall under this category. Several years back, there were substantially fewer companies to choose from and it was much easier to identify which were producing quality components. Now new suspension companies seem to pop up every day, and while we're not trying to knock the product they produce, We are skeptical when they claim the same performance as the better-known brands for half the cost. Many of these arms are considered to be recreation built, made of lighter material. Often that means mild steel instead of chrome-moly, or they will have less bracing for greater weight savings, which can actually be a danger to the rider. And to top it off, some of these even have bad geometry, which actually defeats the purpose. While these parts may work for the less aggressive rider, someone who strives for superior handling, big air and aggressive riding may want to avoid them because they'll be more prone to having problems.