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Alpha with Attitude

niner

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Lacombe Alberta
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Took some measurements from a stock Alpha and compared them to my Sled with BDX front end and dropped skid. 1” taller in the belly pan and about 1 1/4” at the footwell.
 

boondocker97

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I could be wrong, but isn't the point of the dimple in the top of the rail to reduce the interference when it does bottom out? Adding more rubber may cushion a lighter bottom out event, but ultimately could cause more damage on a major hit. Can you see if there is a bottom out bumper inside the shock if you slide the air sleeve down?
 

niner

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I could be wrong, but isn't the point of the dimple in the top of the rail to reduce the interference when it does bottom out? Adding more rubber may cushion a lighter bottom out event, but ultimately could cause more damage on a major hit. Can you see if there is a bottom out bumper inside the shock if you slide the air sleeve down?

I was of the understanding that the limiter strap hitting the front rail is the bump stop. If I’m wrong,I would to love to know.
 

Wheel House Motorsports

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I was of the understanding that the limiter strap hitting the front rail is the bump stop. If I’m wrong,I would to love to know.
You are correct, this is how the skid bottoms out. There is nothing else besides the limiter strap between the upper arm and the rail.

I would wager this is a big part of why they have so many issues with breakage. Both the front and rear bump stop on the Alpha are limiter strap. Super thin high density rubber/fiber straps resulting in minimal dampening affect. This coupled with super soft shock setups make for very harsh bottom outs and high risk of damage to the rail

Adding the additional material should help provide less "shock" to the rail when bottoming out and reduce risk of damage.
 

boondocker97

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Wow, someone dropped the ball there on the engineering side. I agree then if they are basically designed to hit then the added cushion is probably a good idea.
 

niner

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niner

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Lined up my Alpha with my buddies 174 850 belt drive. It’s a 163 belt drive with a 174 X3. With the longer limiter strap and BDX front end makes for some interesting comparisons to the 2 chasis.
 

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madmax

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Interesting in the photos the alpha looks to be pretty close to the same height off the ground
 

ndfb35

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Looks like the break cover is about an inch lower than the chain case guard of the Axys. The high-clearance lowers are also deceiving.
 

F_ast

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So you lowered the gearing?


As for thee ssi/bdx chaincase cover, that IMO is how cats setup should be. I absolutely hate the magnesius oil tank
 
N
Nov 14, 2012
43
22
8


Alpha rips. SSI head and 19/52 gearing are a few changes for this winter.

The 19/52 gearing was just the king cat gear and chain? Or aftermarket?

I have the same Mods mostly; SSI y pipe, altitude Powersports clutch kit, SSI can.... primary won’t get to full shift out in the deep. Still leaving 1” of jiffy marker untouched at the top of the primary. In my reading on here in a gearing thread, seems like gearing down will help use more of the clutches range....
 
J

Jviper

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Sep 20, 2015
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Edmonton AB
Looks like you made the shock more up and down to make it taller? Couple potential issue that could come from this. First is the shock will act stiffer because it will be going through its stroke faster. And second the shock could bottom out before the rail bumpers causing mount breaking. Just couple things to watch

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

what were the stock measurements ?
 

Coldfinger

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Yes, nice sled. I think if the exposed end of the ski bolts were on the inside there would less chance of someone scraping it with a boot, bibs or worse. :)
 
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