Author Topic: flat track shock question (Read 10449 times)

wretched73 · « **on:** October 09, 2013, 09:47:45 AM »

I currently have a set of +2 roll design a-arms with triple rate works shock w/ remote rezzy. I believe they are 16 1/2" eye to eye (I should re-measure to be certain). I am also unsure what they are set up for.

As for my rear shock I currently have a stock 250r shock. In the garage I have a works ultra cross shock that needs to be rebuilt. Also unsure what the rear shock was built for.

I am just curious as to what my best option would be.

1) run what I have
2) run my stock 1988 front and rear shocks
3) buy trx 450r stock shocks and run them as is
4) buy trx 450r stock shocks and send them out to be built
5) get my works shocks rebuilt

Next season will be the first time I run flat track and I am trying to get into it in a cost effective manner. IE, I dont want to break the bank but Im also not trying to do it for free (if that makes sense). If i had to put a price on what I want to spend on shocks overall before next season.... I'd say I would like to keep it under $1000. (Cheaper would be better, as long as I can be competitive, so I could put some money elsewhere such as fresh wheels and tires and motor work).

I've found it hard to find any succinct information I need on this subject so I thank everyone for their input.

jamieg45 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2013, 12:40:34 PM »

I would take the shocks you have for the front and have them set up by either sfracing for flat track/tt racing and have the stock rear shock done as well by him for this and sell the works rear to fund the deal some. Properly set up shocks for tt and a swaybar and durablue rear adjusable link will make a world of differnece on the track for you bud. I use to run flat track with only tt tires a rear adj link and mess with my mx front shocks a little and piss the guys other racers off because I was riding my mx bike and spanking them all around.

C-Leigh Racing · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2013, 02:13:48 PM »

Can you put up a pic of those Works ?.
What I need to see is the shock body, to see how many clip grooves they have.
Some Works, only had a few grooves in the bodys & then a real thick spacer to the spring retainer, so not much can be done with those, but if theres a lot of grooves on the body, then your in luck.

The rear shock, you need the little thin soft spring & some spacers & a go between so you can set the ride height.
If you still have the stock rear shock linkage, you need to get an adjustable dog bone so you can change the ride height there as well.

Back many years ago, you could take a front pair of Yamaha blaster shocks, grind the mounting eye down narrowing it, so it would fit into the frame mount on the 250R & they would set the front of a 250R up for flat track. They work out to be the right length & from the mounting points being different on the R frame, it made the shocks stiffer. Was a cheap way to go about it, cause you know not everybody walks around with a pocket full of $100 dollar bills to throw away.
Neil

05450r · « **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2013, 03:52:04 PM »

If you send your shocks out call Andy at Maul Tech Atv,great guy to talk to,plus hes a 250r guy and does alot of flat track setups.

FerrinMotorsports · « **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2013, 04:39:48 PM »

Are you running a lowering kit front/rear?... Do you also have a sway-bar???......What kind of rear tires are you going to run also?

...Your rear shock can be made to work as well as the fronts....I would spend my money on the before mentioned items and make the shocks work if you are tight on funds.....Contact me if you need anything ...I will hook you up.....
Jeff

wretched73 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 09, 2013, 08:14:55 PM »

Thanks for the replies. I will get pics tomorrow. Sway bar and adjustable link are noted. Just waiting to find a nice sway bar for sale used

jamieg45 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 09, 2013, 08:38:54 PM »

I know just recently there was a few rear lowering links for sale, and a heads up when you get the link they are year spacific also. And good luck on finding a used sway bar. Far and few in between.

wretched73 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 09, 2013, 09:52:36 PM »

Quote from: jamieg45;14414

I know just recently there was a few rear lowering links for sale, and a heads up when you get the link they are year spacific also. And good luck on finding a used sway bar. Far and few in between.

Haha well I'll stay optimistic. Worse comes to worse I'll buy new

jamieg45 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 09, 2013, 10:02:29 PM »

Quote from: wretched73;14425

Haha well I'll stay optimistic. Worse comes to worse I'll buy new

Yah that wasn't ment as abad thing they just dont pop up as after as other parts do. But see if a swaybar from another quad will work off of a 450 and if so if all you will need is the mounts and so on

FerrinMotorsports · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2013, 01:11:54 AM »

I have about 10 different used swaybars...take your choice...Everything from a Rath to a Durablue to a JL style and more...Let me know what your budget is and I will let you know what I have for that price range.....I also have a few front lowering kits if you are interested.....
Jeff

05450r · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2013, 06:31:06 AM »

Yes,if they have the sliding mounts,like most good ones do,a 450r one will work.

C-Leigh Racing · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2013, 01:17:03 PM »

Sounds like Ferrins got you covered, now if we could just get him to drive east a little ways & race with us, it sure would be nice.
Neil

FerrinMotorsports · « **Reply #12 on:** October 10, 2013, 02:50:10 PM »

I sure wish I could Neil....But when you own your own business you are pretty much married to it and time becomes a precious commodity...Racing here in California as far as flattrack and TT is pretty much non existent.....I think due to the economy and the wonderful bureaucrats we have out here shutting down racing in general...Also due to the fact that none of the manufacturers or ATV shops out here seem to not want anything to do with racing....Just selling their products seems to be it......Really stupid I think because that was pretty much behind the Three wheeler craze and the quad craze in the 80's was the competition on the track....And competition on the track equals more parts sales.....These shops just do not seem to be able to figure that out...... I have a promoter at a track 50 miles from where I live..(10 miles from Pismo Beach)...Who is really interested in having Quad races whether it be flattrack or Motocross.....Problem is I cannot get any riders to commit to showing up.....Kind of crazy in my book with Pismo being 10 miles away.....And you and I know it isn't that hard to switch a dune quad over to a quad that will run on a flattrack.....

FerrinMotorsports · « **Reply #13 on:** October 10, 2013, 03:00:38 PM »

Wretched73 PM sent

C-Leigh Racing · « **Reply #14 on:** October 10, 2013, 08:26:55 PM »

Quote from: FerrinMotorsports;14523

I sure wish I could Neil....But when you own your own business you are pretty much married to it and time becomes a precious commodity...Racing here in California as far as flattrack and TT is pretty much non existent.....I think due to the economy and the wonderful bureaucrats we have out here shutting down racing in general...Also due to the fact that none of the manufacturers or ATV shops out here seem to not want anything to do with racing....Just selling their products seems to be it......Really stupid I think because that was pretty much behind the Three wheeler craze and the quad craze in the 80's was the competition on the track....And competition on the track equals more parts sales.....These shops just do not seem to be able to figure that out...... I have a promoter at a track 50 miles from where I live..(10 miles from Pismo Beach)...Who is really interested in having Quad races whether it be flattrack or Motocross.....Problem is I cannot get any riders to commit to showing up.....Kind of crazy in my book with Pismo being 10 miles away.....And you and I know it isn't that hard to switch a dune quad over to a quad that will run on a flattrack.....

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