If you've invested any time on the trails lately, you know that the properly tuned raptor 700 suspension can be the difference between a smooth ride and a weekend of aching muscles. The Raptor 700 is a beast of the machine—it's got the torque to ascend anything as well as the top-end speed to generate your own eyes water—but just about all that power doesn't mean much when the wheels aren't remaining glued to the particular dirt. Most people just hop on and ride whatever the stock or the earlier owner set upward, but honestly, you're leaving a lot of performance available if you don't have a closer look at those shock absorbers.
It's easy to get intimidated by all the particular clickers and threaded collars, but it's not nearly as complicated as it looks. Whether you're hitting the dunes, tight woods, or wide-open desert, your suspension is doing more than just padding the bumps. It's controlling your grip, your braking, plus how much "arm pump" you're going to feel after thirty minutes of hard riding.
Why the Share Setup Might Be Holding You Back again
The thing about the factory raptor 700 suspension is that it's made for a "middle of the road" riders. Yamaha builds these things for the guy who weighs maybe 180 pounds plus rides on the blend of everything. In case you're a lighter in weight rider, the quad probably feels bouncy and stiff. In case you're a bigger guy or you're carrying extra equipment, you will probably find the top end diving every time you allow off the throttle or hit the particular brakes.
The base model Raptor usually includes quite simple shocks, as the Special Edition (SE) models often function piggyback reservoirs with more adjustment choices. If you've got those piggybacks, you've got much more area to play with. But even the basic shocks have some degree of realignment. The goal isn't just to make the ride "soft. " If it's too soft, you'll bottom out on every little jump plus lose steering precision. You desire it in order to be supple enough to dip up the gossip but firm enough to handle the big hits.
Getting Your Sag Ideal First
Prior to you start switching clickers, you have got to talk about preload. This is essentially how much the spring is compressed when the quad will be just sitting right now there. Setting your "sag" is the most important step in fine-tuning your raptor 700 suspension , plus it doesn't cost a dime.
If your preload is too high, the quad will sit way up in its journey, making it feel tippy in the particular corners. If it's too low, you'll end up being dragging your skid plate over each rock and the steering can feel sluggish. Ideally, you would like the quad to settle a bit when you lay on it. A good guideline is that will the quad should drop about 30% of its overall travel when you're in your riding equipment. It takes two individuals to measure this accurately, but it's worth the 20 minutes of effort. It changes the particular whole geometry from the machine and helps it be feel way more planted.
Small adjustments the Clickers: Compression and Rebound
Once you've obtained the ride height sorted, you can start playing with the compression plus rebound settings when your shocks enable for it. Compression is exactly how fast the surprise pushes in whenever you hit a lump. If you're feeling every little pebble or the top end feels severe, try backing off the compression some clicks (turn it toward the "S" or Soft). When the quad feels "mushy" or it's bottoming out on jumps, stiffen it up.
Rebound is in fact where a lot of individuals get frustrated. This particular controls how quick the shock leg techinques back out right after being compressed. In case your rebound is simply too fast, the rear end of the Raptor will feel such as a pogo stay, often trying to "buck" you over the handlebars when you go over whoops. If it's too slow, the surprise won't have time to recover before the next push, causing it in order to "pack down" plus feel like a rock. Finding that sweet spot exactly where the wheels the actual terrain without bouncing around is the particular secret sauce to a fast path ride.
When Is It Time for you to Go Aftermarket?
Look, the share raptor 700 suspension is decent for casual path riding, but in case you're getting severe, you're eventually going to hit a wall. There's only so much that can be done with factory valving. This is whenever people begin looking at brands like Elka, Fox, or Motowoz.
Going with an aftermarket replacement setup is a game-changer because those shocks are constructed specifically for your weight, your riding style, and your specific quad. Once you order a set of stage 4 or 5 Elkas, they aren't simply off-the-shelf parts; they're shimmed and jumped for exactly just how you ride.
Is it expensive? Yeah, it will be can be. You can easily spend a couple of 1000 dollars on the full set. Yet if you ask anyone who provides made the change, they'll inform you it's the best cash they ever spent on the machine. It's much better than an wear out, much better than a tuner, and better than new tires. The high-end raptor 700 suspension setup lets you trip faster for longer periods because you aren't fighting the machine the entire time.
Lengthy Travel vs. Standard Travel
When you do choose to go aftermarket, you'll hear the phrase "long travel" thrown around. This usually requires new A-arms within the front. A long travel raptor 700 suspension uses a longer shock to get more wheel vacation without necessarily making the quad tall. It smooths away the rough things like you wouldn't think. For most trail riders, it might be overkill, however for desert racers or even dune addicts, it's almost a requirement.
Don't Forget about the Rear Linkage
Something that will often gets ignored on the Raptor may be the rear linkage. The "dog bone" or maybe the link that will connects the rear shock to the swingarm plays an enormous function in the power ratio. Some bikers swear by aftermarket "lowering links" or even "GT Thunder" style linkages. These switch the progression of the shock, frequently making the initial section of the travel much softer for better traction while keeping it stiff enough from the end to avoid bottoming out. It's a comparatively cheap method to enhance the rear-end feel without replacing the entire shock.
Keeping Every thing Maintained
It doesn't matter for those who have $3, 000 shock absorbers or the foundation factory units; if they're dirty and dry, they won't work right. The particular pivot points upon your raptor 700 suspension have grease zerks with regard to a reason. Every few rides, you ought to be hitting those along with a grease gun. If those bushing seize up, your own suspension won't move freely, and it'll feel stiff no matter how you adjust the clickers.
Also, keep an eye on your shock seals. If you observe oil leaking lower the shaft, it's time for a repair. Dirt is the enemy here. After a muddy ride, don't just blast the seals with a high-pressure washer—that just causes grit inside. Use a gentle spray and perhaps some shock addresses to keep the particular shafts clean. The little bit associated with preventative care goes a long way in producing those components final for years.
Tailoring the Trip to Your Ground
Your settings shouldn't stay the particular same if you're switching from the woods to the dunes. In the sand, you generally desire your raptor 700 suspension in order to be a little bit stiffer to deal with the high-speed changes and the way sand "sucks" the particular quad down. Upon tight, rocky trails, you want it softer so the particular quad doesn't deflect off every rock and send straight into a tree.
Don't be afraid to hold a flathead screwdriver in your pocket and create adjustments mid-ride. Turn a clicker 2 notches, ride regarding a few minutes, and discover if it feels better or worse. That's the just way you're actually going to learn what your machine likes.
At the end of the time, the Raptor 700 is one of the greatest sports activity quads ever made. It's got a popular engine along with a chassis that can manage almost anything. Simply by taking the time to dial in your raptor 700 suspension , you aren't just which makes it more comfortable—you're which makes it safer and a whole lot more fun in order to ride. Whether you're just clicking the stock dials or bolting on the set of expensive race shocks, your back and your clapboard times will certainly thank you.