Raptor triple rate springs on Walker shocks

[jasoncaville]

I called Jake Anderson at Raptor Performance Shocks last Thursday and had a conversation about retro-fitting Raptor triple rate springs on the Pro-RMK Walker Evans shocks. I'm an aggressive rider and have to ride bombed-out trails into our riding areas near Elkford BC. Typically I just set the preload on the front springs to nearly full-soft and the track shocks much softer for the rough trails and crank the springs back up once I get to the back country where I take jumps and drops big enough to bottom the shocks if the springs are set too soft. I find the front track spring difficult to set perfectly for the rough trails. It's either bottoming or too stiff. I looked into purchasing new shocks from Exit and Raptor but I can't afford it this year. Both companies offer the springs off their high-end shocks for separate purchase and will sell you the shocks spring-less if you decide to do the full upgrade.

I find the Walkers too stiff and too soft all the time because of this constant adjusting. I ordered all 4 triple rate springs last Thurs and received them today, LESS than a week later, that's Minnesota to Elkford BC. (Note: the rear track spring wasn't on Raptor's website when I ordered them, Jake told me about it when I called). The total cost was $290 USD (including shipping, duty, etc.). Here's some pics of the install. I'll make another post soon with a ride report.

 

[jasoncaville]

Here's another pic

 

[800poodragon]

will be interesting to see how it works...

 

[AkLogan]

Sounds like a good deal.
Whats the pound rate on them vs the stockers?

 

[jasoncaville]

Sounds like a good deal.
Whats the pound rate on them vs the stockers?

I don't know the exact specs but I was told the initial spring rate is lighter and the final rate is much higher to resist bottoming.

 

[milo303]

Sounds like how progressive shocks used to work when I was into atv's years ago.

Super interested in how this works as I have the same problem with my stock ride either being to stiff or to soft

 

[milehighassassin]

Re-valve on the stock shocks and these springs could be a major winner!

 

[Skeld]

Does he have different rates for different rider weights?

 

[jasoncaville]

Does he have different rates for different rider weights?

I could be wrong but I don't believe so. Maybe ask RPS (Jake)

I found this vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5NURTvbO9s

 

[ruffryder]

Cool stuff!! Let us know how it works out and how the ride is!

 

[B C]

Does he have different rates for different rider weights?

I got a "fat boy" spring for my rear skid shock from Jake, but it's a Raptor.

 

[4Z]

FTX has been putting Zbroz triple springs and revalving the Walkers with great success. Raptor or Zbroz, can't go wrong.

 

[Rally2]

Minor correction but those springs look to be progressive-wound coils not triple rate. Dual or triple rate spring packs are made up by using 2 or 3 individual straight rate coil springs separated by crossovers. Progressive wound and dual/triple rate achieve the same end effect, ie: soft initial rate changing to higher spring rate as the spring is compressed. Let us know how they work I'm interested to hear the feedback as well.

 

[Scott]

I'm hearing this is a GREAT alternative to total shock replacement. Might be a really smart way to do it.

The Walker shocks are great shocks...and I'm hearing with the valve tweeking, they can be totally cadillac shocks that will take the pounding that the vast majority of MOST all mountain riders need.

 

[Matte Murder]

I had the Piggy back reservoirs and revalve done to my shocks. I have been fiddling with the springs quite a bit. They are better than stock and the clickers do stiffen them up but this is not a GREAT setup. Still bottoms way to easy and a little harsh even when set up soft. As picky as I am I should have just replaced them. Really like the idea of the triple rate springs but they should have more than one weight. You can't tell me there is one set up that works for all rider weights and styles of riding. Very interested to see how you like the springs.

 

[milehighassassin]

Minor correction but those springs look to be progressive-wound coils not triple rate. Dual or triple rate spring packs are made up by using 2 or 3 individual straight rate coil springs separated by crossovers. Progressive wound and dual/triple rate achieve the same end effect, ie: soft initial rate changing to higher spring rate as the spring is compressed. Let us know how they work I'm interested to hear the feedback as well.

Maybe Kevin with KMOD will reply but there is a reason that using individual springs x 3 is bad. Has to do with the amount of usable spring. Kevin has been saying this is a 3 stage spring.

 

[jasoncaville]

I went out for a couple rides in the last two days and I've been dialing in the preload on all four springs. I was only riding the access trails around town and they are rough. The front suspension is MUCH better. It's plush over small bumps on the trail and soaks up large bumps when riding fast without bottoming. The sled felt very stable. Currently I have the front springs set to full soft. The rear suspension is also much plusher in its initial travel. I tried setting the front track spring soft enough to bottom on hard impacts down the trail. It's tough to tell for sure without doing a side-by-side comparison but it feels like it bottoms less abruptly than the stock spring. This is exactly what I wanted. So far I'm very happy with the results. On Saturday I'll be doing by-side comparison with a 600 Pro RMK that's completely stock. I have never said this before but I hope the main trail into our riding area isn't groomed! I'll compare riding down rough trails at different speeds and (hopefully) how they handle in deep powder.

I might also consider having the shocks revalved. I weigh 210 lbs and like to ride pretty hard. Should I go for stiffer valving to slow down the compression and rebound? Correct me if I'm mistaken but if the preload on the springs is set too high to prevent bottoming, they will rebound too quickly with the light valving. This will cause a 'springy' or bouncy feel.

 

[Matte Murder]

thanks crf for the report. You are on the right track. One thing you will run into with a revalve is that you can compound your results a little. Like if you go with a stiffer spring and more compression damping you sometimes get more than you want and it could be harsh. I REALLY like being able to adjust with clickers. Remember, making it better on the trail might make it worse in the steep and deep. With the Walker Resi shocks I have when the snow gets heavy I usually need to add 2-3 clicks of compression to get my Pro to acutally carve downhill turns. If the front is too soft it just lays over and goes straight. Also, I can stiffen it up a bunch in the front and disconnect the sway bar and it still runs good down the trail. I don't want to give up trail performance at the expense of boondocking but it sure is fun to smash over a rutted out trail and double and triple the whoops and to look for stuff to jump off on the way in and out. Makes the worst part of the day a lot more fun. I REALLY wish I would have bought the Raptors rather than work with my shocks like I did. I would do it right now but I am going to trade in my 12 for the 13 and I heard that the ski shocks are a different length. RPS have you guys done anything with titanium springs? And why don't you have a heavier set of triples for us bigger dudes(and really big dudes)?

 

[RPS]

Raptor TRS Package

Matte,
No worries big shooter we have you covered. I have multiple options for bigger dudes and we currently have guys over three hundo running these that have been happier than they have been in years. For 2013 we will have a new piston and valving change for the Walker shock that will breathe some hope back in it. I can’t go into all the details at this point but cool new billet parts to go with a really nice spring package for a fraction of the cost. Not a slam dunk like a full blown Raptor package but still pretty killer none the less. Thanks

 

[Rally2]

Hey guys apologies for my earlier post, I was just on Raptors site and now that I had a better look at the way these springs are wound I see they do have distinct transitions to different rates instead of pure progressive. Sorry to mislead with my comments above.