This is great information. With it dropped down, how much easier is it to bottom out the shocks? How about doing another video on what the rebound adjustment does and advice on how to properly set it for various riding conditions. Thanks again! :)
If you want an XP900 setup really sweet for the average rider on 95% of the trails either leave the front end alone or drop it only a very small amount such as 1/4" or 1/2" and then lower the rear by a slightly larger amount, such as 1/2" to 3/4" of an inch. Set your front spring compression resistance (the little blue knob) up one or two clicks above the center (zero'ed) position and turn the rears down 1 or 2 clicks. All this together will handle great and reduce the rear end bucking on jumps.
Like I said, through trial and error we already have tried every possible setting and it doesn't work near as well and people bottom out a lot and the XP's start to get really squirrly when cornering when you lower them and actually want to roll over more. In fact it's the one time when one of my friends did roll his over when cornering was when his suspension was lowerd down about 1.5" to 2" and it just handled awful and was consantly dragging the skid plates on rocks when going fast on trails.
What your changing is "preload" and the XP900 doesn't need to be lowerd near that far unless you only ride on smooth trails and are trying to make it ride more like a luxury car instead of an offroad machine. Most people I know who ride real world trails would never dream of dropping the height by 2" inches, that is an insane amount to lower an already well setup machine. Most changes are done in 1/4" inch increments and XP's rarely need over 1/2" to 1" maximum total adjustment for most trails.
Actually we do ride fast, very fast. We own Sandtown ATV Ranch and with the exception of sand dunes we have all kinds of terrain, you name it we have it. Including an Oval Track for side-by-sides and we run full boar in the corners, thru trial/error we found only lower the rear just a little bit so it will squat a little better when drifing the corners and not buck as bad on the big jumps. I agree a small amount of lowering can sometimes be useful but 2" full inches is usually overkill for most.
Well, I obviously beg to differ. As I said in the video, ATVs and UTVs (even sport models) have their suspensions set up to provide the ultimate ground clearance not ultimate handling. Off road racers needs about as much sag or droop as they need upward travel. Of course if you don't really plan on going fast or need handling over ground clearance then perhaps you could just leave it alone.
Would you recommend this just on the front or both front and back? Also how would this work with a larger tire/wheel? Say for example a 14" rim and a 27" tire? Thanks so much for your video after watching and thinking about it I now know why pro buggies have huge a arms/shocks that always look unadjusted.
@nascar111820 Yeap. All the way around. I think those STI Black Diamonds might work very well. Also the typical Terra Cross as they have proven to be good.
@1980zz4 Well, you've got less travel upwards but if you don't bottom out once in a while you aren't using all your travel. A lot of people talk lots of travel but little of it is used.... Will do - or at least try ;-)
I apologize but without the machine here any longer I don't know for sure. I would just start screwing the spring down and then check. Remember it's easiest to do jacked up anyway so you can just loosen the spring a bit and then lower the machine and check your progress. And remember too that although side to side will be the same, the front and rears will be different.
snake1700grizz I measured. Once I got one side about how I wanted I measured the threads left. Then just to double-check when completed I measured the height side to side at the fenders. Remember to get a true measurement you'll have to roll the vehicle just a bit.
Most of the video's on TH-cam where a person crashes is probably cause they had the suspension set for how they want the machine to look which was up high rather set for how they drive.
Well if you get rid or relocate the ridiculously big/dumb sign that says "project-tech" we might be able to appreciate the pictures and compare the two suspension setups...
I thinking that if I get rid of that ridiculously big/dumb sign nobody would know what the video's about ;-) And of course if you've paid any attention to our newer videos you'd find the big/dumb sign is now smaller and smarter....
ATVTVCOM Well, if Im wrong then why did you changed that "big/dumb" sign?... And If you are right, then now that youve relocated the sign nobody will be able to know what the video is about! Your answer is oxymoronic, the sign is big and dumb, period.
You need to lighten up. My answer was supposed to be humorous. Actually it 'was' humorous, but I guess I should have put a big dumb sign there saying it was humorous ;-)
I might need to lighten up, but you need to stop thinking about using big dumb signs all the time haha.. Man I just thought the video was interesting, I wanted to see the difference you where talking about and it was frustrating not being able to because of the sign, thats all
You are very welcome Doug. I look forward to getting together and doing a shoot sometime.
This is great information. With it dropped down, how much easier is it to bottom out the shocks? How about doing another video on what the rebound adjustment does and advice on how to properly set it for various riding conditions. Thanks again! :)
If you want an XP900 setup really sweet for the average rider on 95% of the trails either leave the front end alone or drop it only a very small amount such as 1/4" or 1/2" and then lower the rear by a slightly larger amount, such as 1/2" to 3/4" of an inch. Set your front spring compression resistance (the little blue knob) up one or two clicks above the center (zero'ed) position and turn the rears down 1 or 2 clicks. All this together will handle great and reduce the rear end bucking on jumps.
@FISHBREATHH My pleasure! It is indeed a rough track - and narrow. More like a rally track than a real race track - I love it!
Doug, thanks for the info, I learned somthing today......XLNT
Boy looks like your test track has some rocks and sage brush, perfect place to test
Like I said, through trial and error we already have tried every possible setting and it doesn't work near as well and people bottom out a lot and the XP's start to get really squirrly when cornering when you lower them and actually want to roll over more. In fact it's the one time when one of my friends did roll his over when cornering was when his suspension was lowerd down about 1.5" to 2" and it just handled awful and was consantly dragging the skid plates on rocks when going fast on trails.
What your changing is "preload" and the XP900 doesn't need to be lowerd near that far unless you only ride on smooth trails and are trying to make it ride more like a luxury car instead of an offroad machine. Most people I know who ride real world trails would never dream of dropping the height by 2" inches, that is an insane amount to lower an already well setup machine. Most changes are done in 1/4" inch increments and XP's rarely need over 1/2" to 1" maximum total adjustment for most trails.
Actually we do ride fast, very fast. We own Sandtown ATV Ranch and with the exception of sand dunes we have all kinds of terrain, you name it we have it. Including an Oval Track for side-by-sides and we run full boar in the corners, thru trial/error we found only lower the rear just a little bit so it will squat a little better when drifing the corners and not buck as bad on the big jumps. I agree a small amount of lowering can sometimes be useful but 2" full inches is usually overkill for most.
And as you probably found out, when the arms are parallel with the ground the suspension travel works better - less camber change and less bump steer.
@atvpt Thanks Patrick! As always that goes a long ways coming from you......
Good job Doug.
@Epicman249 We have stayed away from head-to-head tests for quite a few years for a number of reasons. Sorry.
Well, I obviously beg to differ. As I said in the video, ATVs and UTVs (even sport models) have their suspensions set up to provide the ultimate ground clearance not ultimate handling. Off road racers needs about as much sag or droop as they need upward travel. Of course if you don't really plan on going fast or need handling over ground clearance then perhaps you could just leave it alone.
Great video! Did you lower the back also? What tires would you recommend?
This was done on both the front and rear and would work just the same with the 14" wheels and 27" tires.
Would you recommend this just on the front or both front and back? Also how would this work with a larger tire/wheel? Say for example a 14" rim and a 27" tire? Thanks so much for your video after watching and thinking about it I now know why pro buggies have huge a arms/shocks that always look unadjusted.
@nascar111820 Yeap. All the way around. I think those STI Black Diamonds might work very well. Also the typical Terra Cross as they have proven to be good.
@1980zz4 Well, you've got less travel upwards but if you don't bottom out once in a while you aren't using all your travel. A lot of people talk lots of travel but little of it is used....
Will do - or at least try ;-)
That is camber. I thought I discussed some about that in the video.....
After re-reading (and paying 'attention!") to your 'the average rider on 95% of the trails, you are right.
Doug, how far down the threads do u go to get the 30% droop? Sounds like a good overall adjustment for general trail riding.
I apologize but without the machine here any longer I don't know for sure. I would just start screwing the spring down and then check. Remember it's easiest to do jacked up anyway so you can just loosen the spring a bit and then lower the machine and check your progress. And remember too that although side to side will be the same, the front and rears will be different.
ATVTVCOM
No problem I understand that. How did u keep the adjustments even? Just count the number of turns?
snake1700grizz I measured. Once I got one side about how I wanted I measured the threads left. Then just to double-check when completed I measured the height side to side at the fenders. Remember to get a true measurement you'll have to roll the vehicle just a bit.
Gotcha sir! Thanks for the help!
snake1700grizz Glad to be able too. You will be amazed at how much better this makes the XP!
you guys dont do alot of mudding, it would go through alot more mud at stock hight vs lowering it, its pretty wet around the area i ride
Doug, could a similar thing be done to the 1000?
Yes indeed. It would be the same method.
ATVTVCOM thank you sir!
Most of the video's on TH-cam where a person crashes is probably cause they had the suspension set for how they want the machine to look which was up high rather set for how they drive.
Perhaps you should try it ;-)
This setup would be perfect for Glamis.....
@olsm2011yeah We have a video segment on the new XP 900 4
Well if you get rid or relocate the ridiculously big/dumb sign that says "project-tech" we might be able to appreciate the pictures and compare the two suspension setups...
I thinking that if I get rid of that ridiculously big/dumb sign nobody would know what the video's about ;-)
And of course if you've paid any attention to our newer videos you'd find the big/dumb sign is now smaller and smarter....
ATVTVCOM Haha True story
ATVTVCOM Well, if Im wrong then why did you changed that "big/dumb" sign?... And If you are right, then now that youve relocated the sign nobody will be able to know what the video is about!
Your answer is oxymoronic, the sign is big and dumb, period.
You need to lighten up. My answer was supposed to be humorous. Actually it 'was' humorous, but I guess I should have put a big dumb sign there saying it was humorous ;-)
I might need to lighten up, but you need to stop thinking about using big dumb signs all the time haha.. Man I just thought the video was interesting, I wanted to see the difference you where talking about and it was frustrating not being able to because of the sign, thats all
How much was the overall height reduced?
Sorry - don't remember. I didn't say in the video?
he says about 2 inches
@Morpheen999 Agree.