flat track shock question

[wretched73]

I see what your saying & for the most part that is right, but when you get to digging into what is going on & understanding what happened, you'll find out the OEMs & AMA got together in each others back pockets, OEM started producing these new 4 pokers & then AMA dropped all the classes excluding the 2 strokes, so what is a rider/racer to do, if they wanted to keep on racing they had to get a 4 poke.
That being as it was, then what is a performance shop to do but stop on the 2 stroke & start with the high dollar 4 poke stuff. That big jump for a shop, put them to making 4 times as much money as they were with the 2 strokes & it really didnt mater how crappy the engine builds were because they were going to blow up anyways.
OEMs did this really, but it has & is taking its toll, because we are loosing riders every weekend, in any bike or quad racing arena from going broke trying to keep them 4 pokers running. That is not a guess either, its a fact & AMA has been realizing it in the past few years.
When you go from say like $1000.00 at the most, after every season to rebuild your 2 stroke to $3~$5000.00 maybe before the season is even over to build a new 4 poke engine, unless somebodys got some big pockets, the average AM riders not going to be there long, cause Mom & Dads going to be out of cash quick.

These shops building these 4 poke engines, are taking riders for a ride with this big money they are making.
I hate it, cause I can see what the OEMs are doing to racing & it cant keep going on like it is.
I'm trying as much as I can to get 2 strokes back, even got 2 strokes back in the EDT Pro Am class & upped the max CC limit to 306cc & still cant get any riders to give up those easy riding 4 pokers.
That easy ride has blinded a bunch of riders, but boy are they paying for it.
Neil

With that point made. A lot of atv racers could transition into big cars, such as the crate sportsman series. And run a big car, with higher payout, more venues to race at, bigger sponsors, and a bigger crowd. For the same cost. A GM crate motor will cost roughly $3200 to your door, and you can get 4+ seasons out of running it, with only valve springs being replaced every season.

[FerrinMotorsports]

I understand what you are saying Neil...There was a time that my self and my son stopped racing....My son joined the service and went to Iraq....And to tell you the truth running races without my son being there just wasn't much fun.....So after two tours of a year and a half each to Iraq...my son got leave and so we decided to build a couple of 250r's and go racing.....Boy were we in for a shock!....We went to sign in and low and behold there wasn't even a class for a 250r two stroke, the people running the event didn't even know what one was!.....This was a blow to me because after racing in the 80's where there being such a huge 250r turnout, that just starting on the front row was a win in itself,....to where they didn't even know what a 250r was??...Unbelievable!......Another factor I believe is the cost of just buying a new quad....In the fall of 88 we got the new 1989 Honda Quad models in and we sold Brand new 1989 quads for $3295.....That was a chunk of change then but still doable...What do they go for now????Almost $8000.00?..Yeah what kid at $10.00 and hour is going to get one of those? .....Also out here there are so little places to ride that who would want to spend that kind of money to have to travel three hours before you could even ride it....Gone are the days when I used to roll my quad out of the garage....Ride it down the street to the river bed and ride for hours......Now it is save the river bed....you will destroy the willow trees....(those damn trees are nothing but a mess and suck up water like its going out of style)...My City Council just passed an ordinance where if you get caught anywhere in the City Limits riding....even in your backyard it is a $500.00 fine.......Second offense $750.00....Third offense 6 months in the county jail..a $1000.00 fine and your quad/bike is confiscated and sold........No wonder kids don't ride around here!!!!...They are more interested in teaching kids to drink wine and eat foo-foo food around here.....Great family values!.....What a joke..

[FerrinMotorsports]

Wretched 73....You don't have to explain money and racing cars to me..LOL...LOL...I have a Ford powered 360 Sprint car...If I was to add up what it took to get me to the track and what it costs me for just one night of racing I think I probably wouldn't race anymore....LOL.....Buy a brand new right rear for 250.00 and watch it go up in smoke in one night.......But I tell you what ...There is nothing like the feeling of standing on the gas of a 1300 pd sprint car with 700 hp under the hood.......For some strange reason it just makes the cost not seem so bad after all......LOL

[wretched73]

My buddy drove a ss sprint car with a Chevy 358 on alcohol. It was a blast to watch them race.

[wretched73]

c-leigh this is the only pic i have that shows my front shocks as of now, my quad is at my buddy's shop so im trying to get a better one

but if you click on it you can get it to enlarge pretty well, with good detail

[andy@maultechatv]

I would recommend starting over with your shocks and buy new.  You will be money ahead in the end and come out with a better setup.  You can buy a set of HLS front for $495 + shipping.  Those works will never work good unless you install new pistons in them.  The problem with the stock 450R is that you can't get the shocks compressed length short enough for TT racing.  I'd recommend a Custom Axis rear for this.  They are only and extra $150 more than the HLS rear.  I'm not trying to sell you shocks but just giving my opinion here.  TT is VERY critical on suspension setup and you can not band aid setup for this type of racing and make the bike hook up, corner, be plush and have good bottoming resistance.  I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.  As soon as GoPro gets off their butt and makes some more cameras I'm planning on shooting a TT specific video series.

[05450r]

Yeah what Andy said!!!  After you get shocks then you can put it on scales and set the shocks and the swaybar. I thought I would do a "cheap" Pep/Lsr setup on my stock 86',yeah that was a no go. I got schooled real fast on that setup,and that was just at our practice track. My Laeger was closer,with a better setup,but I didnt have a chance to get the Axis built for TT. If you want to hang with the four strokes you really do need a complete,dialed setup. If you have buddies that TT competitively,take their quad for a spin,you will be amazed at how hard they hook and handle.

[wretched73]

Pics of the shock body.

Andy, thank you for your honesty. I know you are highly respected and I appreciate your input. If going with all new shocks is the way I need to go, then so be it. My friend races crate sportsman on a dirt oval track so I know exactly how important it is to have your setup perfect, and perfect for how you like to drive. I will keep in contact about where I should go setup wise for shocks, as of now at least I know I should look into selling my works and saving up for something better.

[FerrinMotorsports]

Wretched 73....Is this your first time out racing flattrack???...I respect what others are saying here but personally I would get your swaybar ....A good set of tires...Adjust your ride height..(Via lowering kits) and give it a try before you spend a ton of money on shocks.....You can make your shocks work.....They just won't be the best out there and your quad may not handle like it's on rails....but it will get you out there so that you can get a taste of what flattrack is all about......It's my guess that once you are out there you will be hooked and will spend more money to get everything you need......If you've already raced then ignore my above post......LOL...LOL

[wretched73]

Wretched 73....Is this your first time out racing flattrack???...I respect what others are saying here but personally I would get your swaybar ....A good set of tires...Adjust your ride height..(Via lowering kits) and give it a try before you spend a ton of money on shocks.....You can make your shocks work.....They just won't be the best out there and your quad may not handle like it's on rails....but it will get you out there so that you can get a taste of what flattrack is all about......It's my guess that once you are out there you will be hooked and will spend more money to get everything you need......If you've already raced then ignore my above post......LOL...LOL

My racing experience only includes back yard, dirt oval tracks. On a go kart (a legit flat head racing kart) and on my quad, how it sits hahah. My close friend has all the "real" racing experience. I work on his car and pit for him. I'm sure I'll get the bug and really race my quad hard, but I think as of now I'm going to agree with you on not buying the shocks... At least not right away. Racing season is still months away so I will gather all the other parts I need first... Then focus on my shock situation last.

Thank you everyone for the excellent advice, I'm sure I'll have more questions

[wretched73]

I found a set of stock blaster shocks from my old '04 blaster I used to have. When I get my sway bar and rear link I'll throw them on and run them on our woods track. Then I can compare it to my works shocks