Doug wanted to ensure that this suspension would work at its best, so he handled my shock setup on this project as well. He made a call to Martin Lamoureux at Elka Suspension and ordered a set of its Elite front and rear shocks. These shocks are some of the best on the market and feature high- and low-speed compression, rebound and preload adjustability so you can fine-tune your machine for deep whoops, large jumps or for a lazy day out on the trail. The box for the rear shock also featured Elka's replacement shock linkage, which offers more wheel travel, improved geometry and better progression throughout the travel than the stock unit.
With the suspension being handled, I was ready to address the issue of controls. To simplify my list of components, I also went with a Roll Design +1 anti-vibe steering stem and a set of its oversize handlebar clamps. This combination with a Renthal Twinwall bar put the controls right where I needed them to be. To keep the bar from being jerked out of my hands in hostile terrains, I also opted to mount a GPR low-boy steering stabilizer. After a long day out on a rough track or trail, your arms really appreciate this feature. Finally, rounding off my list of parts that I could acquire from Roll was a complete set of wide footpegs, nerf bars and heel guards. The nerfs are a must if you ever decide to do any sort of racing, and the combination of footpeg and heel guards ensures that your feet never leave the quad.
The Fat Boy 4 HQ exhaust made...
The Fat Boy 4 HQ exhaust made great power while keeping the sound at a minimum, and the GPR Low Boy stabilizer minimized the hard impacts felt through the bar.
To round out the stability of this quad, an adjustable rear axle was added to the list. For this part, a call was put in to Team Industries for one of its Firestick axles. Not only are these axles wider and offer adjustment from +1 to +2 per side, but they're also significantly stronger and less prone to break upon harsh impacts. So far the project is right on track for being transformed into what I would consider a great trail machine.
While I did claim the engine had plenty of power for a stock machine, I'm always open to getting a little more. I opted to run a Duncan Racing Fat Boy 4 HQ exhaust system in conjunction with a Pro Design Pro Flow filter kit and Two Brothers Juice Box EFI programmer. I've always been a fan of the Fat Boy 4 because of its looks and quality, and the HQ is longer than the standard model to help decrease sound and keep our riding lands open. The Pro Design Pro Flow comes with a billet flange, K&N filter and Outerwear that allows more air in to make even more power and better air filtration.
The Two Brothers Juice Box was used for two reasons. First, at the time of this build Duncan Racing did not yet have its own model ready. Second, I wanted to show the versatility of the Juice Box. While the unit already comes preprogrammed for Two Brothers' own exhaust, I was able to adjust the fuel mapping for the Duncan exhaust system and have the Z running at peak performance with minimal effort. If you have one of these quads with an exhaust system already on it but don't have the fuel controller, make sure you get one of these. They're simple to install and increase the performance gains you will see.
Getting the power to the ground was done through a set of Renthal chain and sprockets as well as a set of new ITP Holeshot SR tires mounted on T-9 Pro Series Baja front wheels and T-9 Trac-Lock beadlock rear wheels. The SR-model series of tire offers the great performance of the tried-and-true Holeshot while including the benefits of a radial tire. The front wheels have a reinforcing ring welded on so I'll be less likely to bend a rim, which I'm definitely known to do. The beadlock on the rear keeps the wheel from coming off the bead while running lower pressures and provides more strength as well. The combination of these parts should not only perform well, but also give this machine a very unique look. A set of genuine Suzuki skid plates was added to protect the frame, link and swingarm and I was finally ready to roll.