Aftermarket Shocks

[prairie-rider800]

So from everything you hear aftermarket shocks sound like the end all be all of bolt on mods but man are they expensive! haha

From those with experience in the matter what do you look for in your shocks? In what conditions/ situations/ types of riding do you see the most improvement over factory shocks? and finally what do you find makes the biggest difference: ski shocks or skid shocks? or is it something where you just have to bite the bullet and get all 4? Feel free to share what kind of shocks you run along with your likes and dislikes!

Thanks!

 

[lilduke]

I run Raptors all the way around and love them. They make the most difference in the whoops, rutted sidehills and for jumps.

The stock SkiDoo X package shocks suck, bottom lots and only last around 1000kms(for me) before they are pouched.

What shocks are on your pro? The Walker Evan piggy backs are good if you revalve them. Triple rate Raptor springs are a good upgrade for them.

 

[TDR]

I'm with Dan - Raptors are excellent. If you run them on the front of your Pro and at least have the adjustable WE's in the skid with the triple rate springs you will be very happy. I run both my Pros that way and couldn't be happier. PM me and I'd be happy to help you out.

 

[iceman5689]

Raptors front and back, on my xm. Just hoping they will fit the new Gen4 chassis. Never had good luck with fox, or friends riding with them.

 

[Bnorth]

Full Raptors on my XM as well. I rode it with just the fronts before I had installed the rears and like the all around package a lot more. I am big and had problems with the skid bottoming on big whooped trails, no more with the raptors in the rear too. You can ride rough trails fast and with more control and not worry about bottoming or shock damage on jumps and drops.

 

[Grizzly4323]

Yup, have to bite the bullet to really understand what is being said. Those that have switched over know it`s a big pill to swallow!!
Any vehicle that I have switched from factory shocks to a good quality shock makes a huge difference in ride and handling.

 

[Newmanater90]

Honestly I ran raptors front and back on my 2013 XM and had a few issues with them. First set the shafts rusted and pitted right after the first ride and all the paint chipped off the springs. Luckily Raptor is amazing to deal with. I sent them a picture and they immediately sent out a new set for me which lasted much longer. I had a problem with the piggy backs getting hot (as all do) then they would turn into a giant snowball from snow melting to them. Like I mean the size of a soccer ball. My T3 I chose to leave the stock X shocks on which are crap and you do bottom out lots but I learned to live with it. Better then spending $2000 on shocks. Skidoo engineers need a swift kick in the balls for not coming out with something better from factory!

 

[0neoldfart]

Any OEM rebuildable shock can be made to perform like high dollar aftermarket shocks. I have three sleds - 1 with Raptors, one with Exits, and one with Fox Evols, which have been revalved. The benefit of spending extra money on aftermarket components is you usually get better springs (most springs are made by Eibach) and piggyback reservoirs. The trick is getting them valved for you. Lots of shops offer Raptors / Exits / Evol R's as off the shelf upgrades, none of these will offer the same performance as a shock that is tailored for your weight and riding style, but they do have adjustable compression and rebound damping. An OEM shock with good springs that has been reworked really needs none of the clicker adjustments if it was truly set up for the rider from my experience. I send all of my shocks to RMR suspension in Surrey for overhaul / revalve / springs / rebuild, as I've had great luck with them, but I wouldn't hesitate to ship them off to Carl's, Holz, etc if they weren't available.
Just trying to point out that replacement isn't always necessary. Yes, custom aftermarket shocks perform the best, but the rebuildable stockers are pretty darn close when built correctly.

 

[slednk]

fox all the way.. you'll never get the progressive rate with coil overs as with air ...no fading.... and honestly if your gunna change the rear shock your better off getting a kmod or timber sled or a coupled skid... i have a t3 with fox evol r rc3 up front and a 163 mod in the rear and destroys stock suspension in every terrain... and while all my buddy with raptor and fox replacement have to stand riding the whoops on the way down i can ride sitting down the whole way making it easier for me to get up the next morning

 

[MoThEr TrUcKeR]

X2 on fox for me , I have a similar set up with evol rc3s and evols in the rear with nextechs torsion delete and will be doing the exact same on my gen4. 2200 miles without 1 issue and rides amazing with a 265lb rider(geared up lol)

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[davelaw1982]

On my doo I sent my stock X shocks to ENZO in high river. Best money ever spent on an upgrade. Zero fade, or bottoming. In the woops on the trail it was like riding a couch! In the trees the sled was way more stable and predictable. Bought Raptors for the axys, just haven't had em on the snow yet


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[Big nasty]

I run the front raptors on my T3 and what a huge difference they make on the trail!! My shoulders and arms aren't nearly as tired on the big whooped out trails. I'm so convince in them I going try the Raptor ace Kit in the rear next yr, cheaper then buying a 17 sled!

 

[Jake jenkins]

I run raptors on my 16 all around seem to work good but my 14 I put new raptors on the rear with my baker skid and fu$ked both of them .. I think elka is still the best shocks . I ran elka last year and is going back to them again


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[MOMMA]

A good set of aftermarket shocks are addictive. I have Elka Stage 5's. Had them for my 15 Pro.. and was freaking out worried that they wouldn't fit my Axys.. yup they do. Absolutely you will notice a difference in handling and smoothness of your ride in ruts or whooped out trails. I really suck at landing jumps.. but I land smoother, and more consistent with my Elka's. A good set of shocks seems spendy.. till you have them.. Once you've experienced the difference there's almost no going back. Many think if you're on the heavier side you need aftermarkets to support suspension integrity.. ok true.. but the other end of the spectrum is also true. Average weight in the snowmobile market is a 179.4 lb male.. so people on the lighter side of that spectrum had to simply soften their stockers up and make due. With fully adjustable shocks, people are finding better, fine tuned sleds for their specific weight and ride style.