I am thinking about lowering my raptor because like a lot of people I think it feels to tippy in curves. The problem is is that I live in the mountains and ride a lot of rough trails and dirt roads. A lot of people tell me that my ride hieght is not going to be affected but I am worried because I already go out of my way to miss big rocks on the trail. I also wanted to know how dependable aftermarket suspensions are because I will just deal with top heavyness if I am going to constantly be tweaking on the suspension before I ride. Thanks for the help.
Lowering
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If you looking for ground clearance get taller tires, it's the only way to truly get more clearance.
Get a set of good skid plates for the motor and rear swingarm. So you don't have to worry as much.
Aftermarket suspension will only help the tippyness if you get longer a-arms and axle, it's the width that makes it stable. The aftermarket shocks that are avaiable will help with jumping, landing actually, and a smooth ride that doesn't beat you to death.
The most popular upgrade is to get a set of YFZ450 front shock's, add to that a set of longer, say +2 a-arms and a longer rear axle or wheel spacers and the tippyness will be gone.
Do a lot of research when buying suspension is the best advice I can give. You get what you pay for, don't include the YFZ shock in this though. If you can find a pair for say $150 to $250? Not sure what the price is now, get them.
I tweek on my suspension a lot, but only because I like to, it's really not necessary.
Get a set of good skid plates for the motor and rear swingarm. So you don't have to worry as much.
Aftermarket suspension will only help the tippyness if you get longer a-arms and axle, it's the width that makes it stable. The aftermarket shocks that are avaiable will help with jumping, landing actually, and a smooth ride that doesn't beat you to death.
The most popular upgrade is to get a set of YFZ450 front shock's, add to that a set of longer, say +2 a-arms and a longer rear axle or wheel spacers and the tippyness will be gone.
Do a lot of research when buying suspension is the best advice I can give. You get what you pay for, don't include the YFZ shock in this though. If you can find a pair for say $150 to $250? Not sure what the price is now, get them.
I tweek on my suspension a lot, but only because I like to, it's really not necessary.
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48 Posts
Go wider if you go wider in the front and back you wont have the common tippy feeling. i went wider and its insane how fast i can go through corners now
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348 Posts
How tight are the trails? make sure you dont go so wide that you cant fit through the trees and rocks. A couple inches should be fine but they make up to a +6" axle now and that might be to much, Keep in mind it will change where your rear tracks behind the front, you will have to go wider around stuff. :thumbsup:
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13 Posts
i lowered the front of mine and it helped it allot. but it isnt the best thing for you to do on the trails you ride, because you get stuck in ruts front bumper is to far down and you loose susp. travel,and now i need a lower a-arm for the last rock i hit!!! 
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176 Posts
I cranked my preload on the fronts all the way...and it made a HUGE difference in the tip factor... I went trail riding last weekend and it was rough as shit, but the bike still rode much better than my buddies yfz's. I also noticed with 6psi in the rears and 7 up front on mx it is much easier to pitch the bike sideways without tip...it likes to slide now.
I am going to the track this weekend I will put more air and the tires and crank my preloads up and tell you how they work. I definetly am not going to get a kit though just because I do ride a lot of trails and would be worried to death about screwing something up if I got any lower.
NICE quad by the way bro, but yea I have to say that I wouldn't lower your quad... I like yourself had problems with the tippyness of my rap04.. wide'nd it 2 up front, and 3 in the back...all spacers...NIGHT and DAY difference bro...although I am seriously re considering the spacers in the front....new a arms are in my future.. GOOD luck bro...........keep rippin it up,
T.J.
T.J.
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56 Posts
i bought a banshee durablue( becasue banshees are 2" wider than raptors, now i get +4 to +6 instead of the standard +2 to +4) off eBay for 225 and it is prolly the best investment i made for my bike yet. i also just bought a set of fullflight extended a-arms with works tripple rate shocks. it was like riding a go-cart, it was so stable i could wrench on the bars as quick as i want and have no feat at all of tipping.
+3+1 (per side) in the front, +4 overall in the back. I have less neg camber now, but not much less. Corners at speed for sure. No matter how hard I try, I cant get it to bicycle. It will slide instead. Ive done doughnuts on pavement without fear of catching....have wheelie'd off a doughnut a few times....catches ya off gaurd (pucker factor) but looks really cool
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176 Posts
lowering will help more for stability than wheelies, but extended swingarm is the key for cutting down on the wheelies.
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1,726 Posts
Klein Racing
406-628-6359
Custom swingarms and other stuff, ask for Lenny
You still running the stock arm, if so does the metaltech include the honda style carrier? If you need to get a carrier also you may want to get the 40mm with an aluminum axle.
406-628-6359
Custom swingarms and other stuff, ask for Lenny
You still running the stock arm, if so does the metaltech include the honda style carrier? If you need to get a carrier also you may want to get the 40mm with an aluminum axle.
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