Cannondaleriders

OK so I am learning more and more about my Speed thanks to this website and the fine folks that bring the great value add....

What I want to learn more about next is front end setup's (a arm's and shocks)...I hope that this thread helps other newbie??????????????????s out there...

Shocks
1. Besides gaining the 3" extra inches of travel what are some reasons and at what point (level of riding) should you change to the 19.5" set up?

2. What are the pro's and con's between the 16" & 19.5"

3. If you??????????????????re going to get your shocks converted to double or triple rate how close does that get you to the same feel as going to 19.5????????????????

4. Do most people go with the conversion b/c adding the cost of a-arms to much for peoples pockets?

5. This is more of just asking for you personal exp. ... what are some diff you noticed when upgrading your shocks?? In the end was it worth it, how much more improved is your cdale?


A arms
1. What are the reason you would buy std, +1, +2, +3? Looking for examples of how the handling will be different?

2. With anything are you mostly paying for the name?? Or is there a real quality diff


Ok last...
Which rider will get the true value out of the following setups?

+1 A-arms with 16" converted triple rate

vs.

+1 A-arms with 19.5" triple rate


I also found this page with some info
http://www.cannondaleriders.com/vbb/showth...ght=triple+rate

In my opinion, if you are not a pro level, or ride national mx tracks, you do not need LT. Take Jeff Stoes for example, stock a-arms with good shocks. I think he's pretty fast too. Now, not saying Jeff wouldn't do better with LT, but how much better I would love to see.
If you are doing occasional woods riding, some local mx'ing, and sand/pit riding, I think a standard travel +2 arm would work great. Slip on a 4+1 wheel for tight woods, and your set. Buy a quality shock, then go riding, take the extra money you saved from the LT setup, and purchase another set of front wheels/tires, one set for mx, other for woods.

As for adjustable shock: Most people do not spend the time to set their suspension up properly, so the more adjusters, the more money wasted. One more problem with rebound adjusters, most people do not know when to adjust them, so they leave them alone, or get them so far out of whack, they hate their shocks. My suggestion is a simple compression adjustable shock.

I have one woods bike with Houser +1 LT and Elka Elites, I am putting together another with stock arms, and Ohlins conversion, so I will be able to tell you which does perform better, and should have some lap times to prove it.

I would agree with haydug on LT setups. They are expensive, but unless you want the look and arent afraid of spending the money, they are cool. In the long run, +2 arms with standard travel shocks will suit you fine.

My opinion on the shocks is this. I have a ssd setup on my stock ohlins with no adjustments, and they work good. I am using a ssd spring with a tiple rate setup for a little more action at the end of compression. The difference between 19.5" and 16" is three and half inches, you'll diffently know the difference in feel. The reason people go with the ssd conversion is to get the quad a little lower to the ground. If it was a perfect world, the quad would be as low as possible to the ground. The lower it is, the more stable it will feel in the corners. In the real world, dirt is an obsticle. With the conversion the quad should set an inch and half lower than stock or so, it will help quite a bit in cornering and small g-outs and braking bumps and the like. The top spring on the shock should be compressed, because what you are doing along with new springs is revalving the shock, so the first couple inches of travel are handled by the valving of the shock. In theory, that will give you a little plusher ride, because the shock isnt battling the spring when compressing and rebounding. You are realying on the oil in the shock to obsorb the impacts.

In the end, my quad is lower all the way around, I have ssd on both ends, and would recommend the same if you do it. Its a lot cheaper than new shocks, and the front of my quad is about an inch wider becasue it sits lower.

If price of new shocks isnt that much of an issue then I like compression and rebound both, if adjusted right, they can change the way the bike handles night and day.

As for manufacturers, name means something. I agree that ROLL is an expensive name, but they have quality. However, you dont have to have 1200 arms to be competetive, just be aware that there are people out there biulding these things in they're garage and dont have any seat time on them, so shop around. Cannondale front ends are relatively cheap in comparison, so theres plenty of shopping. You can also look at a Honda set on the front, just a thought.

Hope that helps

I ran +2 standards for awhile and am now running the Moto stock front end. The lt setup is a world above it. I race at national tracks though such as Casey, IL and the Lorretta Lynn's copy of Sturgis, KY. Both big tracks w/big jumps and tough whoops. I will never ride on the standards again for that.

The lt's seem to NEVER bottom out. I bought them used from jctmotorsports and they were already set up to an extent and seem like they're even for my weight. I lowered the compression a turn on each, raised the rebound slightly, as well as lowered the ride height slightly and it's put me right at 50" w/stock wheel offset and an incredibly smooth ride. Take time to adjust and you'll fall in love w/your shocks. If you don't know how to decide on rebound, go try a whoops section a couple times and you'll easily learn what you like. Works for me atleast.

The Moto front end is nice also because you can use 4/1 offset wheels to narrow it up for woods and quicken the steering at the same time. All that while still giving you the LT for the big bumps. It's just an awesome ride compared to a stock setup. I wouldn't suggest +3 unless you were ONLY doing MX and they are $$$$!:usa

what is the total width of a moto front end with 4/1 wheels. are all moto front ends long travel.

All the moto front ends were lt, yes. For width it depends. I've been playing w/mine's shocks and been getting different results. I can get from around just under 49" to right at 50" w/stock rims depending on hwo I adjust and set up the shocks.

thanks psychosis, what would the moto front end be with 4/1 offset wheels. also how do you like your moto axle, is it the same quality as rpm and lonestar.

Take off 2in and you'll get it w/4:1.

For the Moto axle, I only installed it for a few minutes b/c I need some new keepers for it so it's on the bench again currently. Won't get to test it out for a little while.

I have a freind of mine who has a Moto, and I've seen him break about every after market axle out there, and the stock Moto axle is still holding up. So I would say that they are as good as some of the aftermarkets.