[6.2Blazer]

After following around two KRX's on 34" and 35" tires a couple weeks ago at Windrock I'm researching more suspension upgrades. Not sure I want to go down the rabbit hole with dropping more money on the trusty Teryx, but also can't justify dropping $30k on a new machine! Just trying to spark some conversation on this topic so let me know what you think.

Current setup is front and rear high clearance and offset arms, Bandit shocks (extended length/travel w/ about 2" lift), 30" tires on 4+3 offset wheels and 2" spacers. Here are my thoughts:

• Still get beat up following the other machines around on the trail. These are the "easier" sections in between the really technical obstacles....not difficult to get through but just littered with bowling ball size rocks and roots that shake you up. Yes, the Bandits made a big difference but the machines with double the wheel travel just float right through this stuff like nothing.
• A little more clearance would be nice. Currently I can get through all the ruts and over the rocks but do a lot of bottoming out/hitting the skids. Thinking an additional inch of lift and going up to 32" tires, which would net about 2" extra clearance.
• More width would be nice. A lot of trails on this side of the country (Windrock, Brimstone, etc...) are off camber or rutted and puts the side of the machine up against the rocks or banks of earth, plus a little added stability. If you look at the KRX, RZR, and most other sport machines the tires stick out from the body quite a bit and even the cages angle in. On the Teryx I rub the rollcage and body even with the offset wheels, spacers, and customer rock sliders/tree kickers.
• More articulation.....spent a lot of time rocking sideways and lifting tires where the other machines keep them planted.

Looking at options:
- HCR or LT long travel kits - add 5" to each side and cost $5k+.......
These would be great but price is up there and not sure I really want 5" extra width on both sides

- SuperATV 6" lift kit minus brackets and longer shocks
Probably the most interesting to me right now. Big question is if I could get just the 6" lift kit and install minus the lift brackets with my existing Bandit shocks. Currently trying to find out the length and stroke of the shocks they make specific for this kit (Bandit, 814, Hester Elka all make specifc shocks for this). I'm sure they are longer but don't have any issues maybe modifying brackets to deal with an intermediate length shocks to save money. This would give me at least 3" width on each side and could dial in a little more ground clearance (thinking 3" of lift). Might take a little work but could dial in some custom shock mounting brackets.

- SuperATV +3" long travel kit
Initially this looks really interesting because it's designed to use stock shocks and provides not lift (only offset to allow larger tires), so thinking you could bolt in my current Bandits for some lift and even better travel. Interested in how much extra travel the kit actually provides. However they don't offer a kit that kits the 2015-older models, and at least part of that has to be because of the different rear axle shafts. I did verify with SuperATV that the rear axleshafts between this kit and the 6" lift are different lengths. Even though both advertise +3" width the lift kit axles are almost 2" longer, presumably because if you have it lifted they actually have to be longer to keep the width because of how they angle down. This kit is also a lot more expensive than the 6" lift kit.

- Custom modify existing arms and buy parts
Seriously thought about cutting and extending my current offset arms and building brackets for the shocks, etc.... To be honest that part of it doesn't sound too bad as I have fabricated a lot of stuff in the past. The issues are needing longer axles, tierods, brakelines, etc.... that would have to be sourced. You could get over $1k in those parts alone.

 

[VirginiaHawk]

Current setup is front and rear high clearance and offset arms, Bandit shocks (extended length/travel w/ about 2" lift), 30" tires on 4+3 offset wheels and 2" spacers. Here are my thoughts:

• Still get beat up following the other machines around on the trail. These are the "easier" sections in between the really technical obstacles....not difficult to get through but just littered with bowling ball size rocks and roots that shake you up.

Wow Blazer, I must say, your current setup is already sounding pretty good. I'm not sure spending more money on it would be worth it? I mean, it sounds like you may be at the point of diminishing returns.

My point is, no matter what you do to your bike, you are never going to keep up with a $30K machine. Its just a whole other class of bike. If you are not careful, you will wake up one day and realize that you have in fact spent $30k in your current bike and still cant keep up.

I wouldn't change a thing.

 

[huntertim214]

I'm with VirginiaHawk, go ahead and treat yourself to a new KRX... Haha... just kidding, although he has a fine point in the fact that you will likely never keep up with those sport machines in many situations. I have been very interested in the Hester's mid-travel set-up myself. I do like the boxed a-arms on the SATV +3 LT set-up, but from what I have seen it looks like the mid-travel set up actually performs a little better overall, although if you add a set of Elka's to the LT kit they may be close. Either way you would certainly get a lot more wheel travel and articulation so it would smooth out those low speed boulder sections, and more importantly, the wide stance would help on the off camber trails down there. I think that is the best a Teryx can get. I recently watched this video of a mid-travel set-up on trail 15, and it does perform well if you watch the wheel travel (with a softer tire I think he would have crawled right up it).
Will it ever be a KRX on 35" tires? No. But if you're machine is paid off and you are trying to decide whether to spend $5-$6k on a mid-travel set up vs. selling the T4 for $13k and then spending an additional 12 or 15 grand on a KRX with 35's... I know what my cheap ass would choose, lol.

 

[brokennosescotty]

I thought I had seen somewhere that HCR was doing a "budget",(3K?) long travel kit fir the Teryx that used the stock shocks? That kit with your Bandit shocks could be an option.
A Teryx with an HCR L.T. kit/King Shocks is a wonderfully capable, comfortable trail machine, although as you said, a bit wide in some situations.

Mike

 

[6.2Blazer]

I agree with all the posts above. Not sure I want to start down that rabbit hole. Really doesn't end at the suspension because then I would want 32's which then leads to a full clutch build. It does fine with the 30's but it's right at the limits. Just as said above there are 2 ways to look at it........spend a bunch of money and still not be able to keep up with an KRX on 35's but the other option is to spend way more money on a new machine (and modifications). Really can't justify dropping the money on a new machine at the moment....

The HCR kit that uses the stock shocks is going to be about $4k where as just the SuperATV 6" lift kit is under $2k. I definitely think the HCR kit is "better" but not twice as good.

I have thought about going to 32's with a full clutch kit, but that doesn't really address the suspension and ride quality that is the main issue.

 

[SuperATV]

That Hester setup is pretty awesome. Somebody posted a video of it here...and they showed that their setup has more wheel travel than a stock KRX. I personally reached out to them after seeing that video to tell them how impressed I was.

 

[21ctd2500]

I’m in the same position, I’ve been researching it a lot, I came really close to pulling the trigger on the Hcr with stock shock setup when it was marked down to 2k a few months ago but I couldn’t decide if the 4 extra inches of width was worth it over the “mid travel” setup.

I really wish there there was actual travel numbers posted some where for each kit. I know the Hcr king combo is ~15” travel front and rear which is impressive, I’d assume the mid travel setups are somewhere between 12-13”.

I don’t need a crazy machine with 20” of travel thats the size of a small sedan, one of the biggest draws of the teryx4 was the smaller size and comfortably seat my whole family. But I also want to be able to cruise around the dunes and choppy trails without rattling my teeth out.

 

[huntertim214]

I’m in the same position, I’ve been researching it a lot, I came really close to pulling the trigger on the Hcr with stock shock setup when it was marked down to 2k a few months ago but I couldn’t decide if the 4 extra inches of width was worth it over the “mid travel” setup.

I really wish there there was actual travel numbers posted some where for each kit. I know the Hcr king combo is ~15” travel front and rear which is impressive, I’d assume the mid travel setups are somewhere between 12-13”.

I don’t need a crazy machine with 20” of travel thats the size of a small sedan, one of the biggest draws of the teryx4 was the smaller size and comfortably seat my whole family. But I also want to be able to cruise around the dunes and choppy trails without rattling my teeth out.

Hester was getting 16" of wheel travel on their full mid travel set-up with stage 3 Elka's and 32" tires (no sway bars). He runs through a lot of the numbers in this video.

 

[6.2Blazer]

Does anybody know the length and stroke of the "mid travel" shocks that Hester's, 814, or Bandit market for use with the 6" kit? I've sent several messages but haven't heard back from them. One option I would also consider is doing the SuperATV 6" lift with no brackets and using my existing Bandit shocks for now. I would expect to have to modify the existing brackets, or make my own to optimize the existing shocks......would expect the mid travel shocks to be longer and have more stroke, and probably a higher spring rate.


https://www.banditutvsuspension.com/product-page/teryx-mid-travel-shocks-used-with-super-atv-6-lift

Kawasaki Teryx Trail Series

 

[21ctd2500]

Does anybody know the length and stroke of the "mid travel" shocks that Hester's, 814, or Bandit market for use with the 6" kit? I've sent several messages but haven't heard back from them. One option I would also consider is doing the SuperATV 6" lift with no brackets and using my existing Bandit shocks for now. I would expect to have to modify the existing brackets, or make my own to optimize the existing shocks......would expect the mid travel shocks to be longer and have more stroke, and probably a higher spring rate.


https://www.banditutvsuspension.com/product-page/teryx-mid-travel-shocks-used-with-super-atv-6-lift

Kawasaki Teryx Trail Series

I’m currently looking into if stock length shocks and the superatv 6” kit will work if you replace the 6” lift brackets with their 2”lift brackets.

My last piece I need to figure out is a solution for tie rods. I don’t want to use the “Z bar” tie rods and while I can just cut and sleeve the stock rods I’d rather replace them with longer solid rods.

 

[huntertim214]

Does anybody know the length and stroke of the "mid travel" shocks that Hester's, 814, or Bandit market for use with the 6" kit? I've sent several messages but haven't heard back from them. One option I would also consider is doing the SuperATV 6" lift with no brackets and using my existing Bandit shocks for now. I would expect to have to modify the existing brackets, or make my own to optimize the existing shocks......would expect the mid travel shocks to be longer and have more stroke, and probably a higher spring rate.


https://www.banditutvsuspension.com/product-page/teryx-mid-travel-shocks-used-with-super-atv-6-lift

Kawasaki Teryx Trail Series

@6.2Blazer were you able to get anywhere on this?

 

[6.2Blazer]

I’m currently looking into if stock length shocks and the superatv 6” kit will work if you replace the 6” lift brackets with their 2”lift brackets.

My last piece I need to figure out is a solution for tie rods. I don’t want to use the “Z bar” tie rods and while I can just cut and sleeve the stock rods I’d rather replace them with longer solid rods.

Using the stock shocks or even the typical extended length shocks (which allow about a 2" lift over stock) along with the SuperATV 2" kit is something I have thought about. Also the reason for trying to figure out the length of the mid-travels shocks. I sent e-mails to Bandit, 814, and Hesters and none of them would every give me any measurements. They would only reply with something like "they are much longer than the stock shocks". It was quite obvious they only wanted to sell you a new set of $2,000 shocks. Can't blame them that much, and would love to just buy a set, but just don't have $2k burning a hole in my pocket. I did a post on Facebook of a person installing the mid-travel kit who had pictures of the stock versus longer shocks. I sent them a reply asking if they could get measurements and never heard back.

 

[21ctd2500]

I’m in the same boat as you with a pre 15 and happy with my shocks but still want the mid travel setup.

If you look at the super atv long travel kits for the 15 and up the bracket for the stock shock looks similar to the 2” lift brackets just pushed out a bit farther and maybe a 1/4-1/2” higher. So with stock length shock with the 2” brackets will work you will just lose a little down travel you would gain with the longer shocks.

The only question I have is when bottoming out, if the stock shocks have a overall shorter collapsed length (which I’m not sure they do, I think the extended travel shocks have are the same collapsed length just a little longer extended length.) will it have to much up travel and cause binding or put a wheel into the fender. If that’s the case I’ll just put in a rubber bump stop before that happens.

I’ve already Ive already ordered the the 2” lift kit. I’m going to pull every measurement I can to verify I’m right before I order the 6” lift kit.

unfortunately work is going to keep me away from this project for a few months but I’ll post updates as I make progress.

If this works you can have a mid travel kit for around 2k total and then always upgrade to longer shocks later.

 

[Red Dawg]

Hey guys Im getting ready to order a set of Hester mid travel elkas for my 13 t-4. As soon as they come in I'll get some measurements for ya.

 

[21ctd2500]

I got the 2” lift brackets installed this morning. Everything looks good to go with the 6” arms and axles so I’ll be ordering those soon. I found a local machine shop that will make me the tie rods if I bring them the rod ends. Now I just got to get work to let me be home for more than a day a week.

 

[6.2Blazer]

I got the 2” lift brackets installed this morning. Everything looks good to go with the 6” arms and axles so I’ll be ordering those soon. I found a local machine shop that will make me the tie rods if I bring them the rod ends. Now I just got to get work to let me be home for more than a day a week.

I'm really interested to see how this turns out.

 

[21ctd2500]

I'm really interested to see how this turns out.

Some interesting things to note for people who are running extended length shocks and the bracket lift, you are about 1/2 away from axle bind at full extension, so running the steering stops is important.

 

[6.2Blazer]

Some interesting things to note for people who are running extended length shocks and the bracket lift, you are about 1/2 away from axle bind at full extension, so running the steering stops is important.

I have the extended length Bandits (the ones meant to bolt on with otherwise stock suspension, but longer and more stroke than stock). With no lift brackets I'm maybe 1/2" away from binding. Meaning if I remove the shocks and let the wheel hubs/arm droop as far as they can, I have to hold them up about 1/2" to bolt on the Bandits. I previously had the Highlifter lift brackets on and just out of curiosity tried mocking it up like that. I could not get the Bandit shocks installed with the lift brackets still on it, would of had to compress the Bandit's a good bit to get them to fit and obviously would have let the suspension bound up during full droop.

 

[21ctd2500]

So extended length shocks and lift bracket put you right at the same spot at full droop. I wanted to pull my springs and check full bump but I ran out of time. It would be interesting the difference in travel between extended length shocks vs lift brackets

 

[6.2Blazer]

So extended length shocks and lift bracket put you right at the same spot at full droop. I wanted to pull my springs and check full bump but I ran out of time. It would be interesting the difference in travel between extended length shocks vs lift brackets

To be honest I never really verified that stock shocks with Highlifter lift brackets (that bolt onto the a-arms) drooped out as far. I would expect it to be similar. With that said the extended length shocks have more total travel, so if they drooped out the same and had the same ride height, you would have more uptravel.

I have one of the front Bandits off right now putting new seals in it so will try to remember to get some measurements compared to the stock Fox shocks in regards to overall length and stroke.
A couple of comments because some terms and parts get mixed up on the forums and Facebook:

When I say I have the "extended length" Bandits I mean the ones that are just slightly longer overall (1" or so) and more stroke than the stock shocks and meant to be used on the otherwise stock suspension. 814 and Hester also make comparable length shocks to these. These are capable of about 2" of lift with no lift brackets....keep in mind that a 1" or so longer shock translates to about 2" of lift at the wheel because of geometry. Thought I had a picture of a stock versus extended length one for comparison, but there is not a huge difference. These are not the "mid travel" length shocks that are used in conjunction with the SuperATV 6" kit minus the shock brackets. Those shocks are way longer than stock or the extended length versions. Never been able to have anyone get me measurements but somebody posted a picture of a Hesters midtravel shock compared to stock and it had to be 5"-6" longer than stock See picture below I pulled off Facebook of stock vs. a mid-travel shock. The only number I ever got was 814 saying they use 22" limit straps. With 1" of stretch per foot of limit strap that means the mid travel shocks are going on 24" long. My front extended length bandits are about 17 1/2" long (and run a 16" limit strap that stretches to just over 17"). The rear extended length Bandits are around 19" long.