mikerx
New member
I have an 03 Viper that I'm looking to upgrade the suspension. I'm looking for some feedback on the Ad Bovin suspensions if anyone has used them. I'm looking to stretch it to 136" as well. I was also considering the SC10-3 but I plan on keeping the sled for a few years and was wondering if the Bovin suspension would be the way to go. Any comments would be great! Also, I'm 6'4" 250lbs and don't drive like an animal so I'm looking mainly for reliability and comfort. 
Millinocket Rocket
New member
mikerx said:I have an 03 Viper that I'm looking to upgrade the suspension. I'm looking for some feedback on the Ad Bovin suspensions if anyone has used them. I'm looking to stretch it to 136" as well. I was also considering the SC10-3 but I plan on keeping the sled for a few years and was wondering if the Bovin suspension would be the way to go. Any comments would be great! Also, I'm 6'4" 250lbs and don't drive like an animal so I'm looking mainly for reliability and comfort.
I have A.D. Boivins' composite ZX-2 skid. I've finally got it dialed in and I love it. Rides great and transfers unreal depending on your settings. It has quite a few settings and is pretty easy to adjust, and it's all composite weighing 20 lbs. less than the no-action. You can set it for plush ride or a little firmer for more ski pressure and better handling. I've got mine set up for higher speed groomed trail, and it still takes the bumps 10 times better than the stock skid.
PM ExpertXViper He has an A.D. Boivins 136 skid and tunnel kit for sale or the whole sled minus the engine
Get a new, fairly new, or freshly rebuilt skid. The cost of rebuilding the skids can easily outweigh any savings you might get on a well used one.
mikerx
New member
I will definitly do what needs to be done to bring it up to new standards. With my size, I've been very hard on rear suspensions so I will look into fat guy springs and good shocks to get something reliable. Just wondering the difference between the expert X and the ZX2.
mdbauer62
Member
Ding is right !!!
I bought a not so gently used M-10 for a "great price" of $300 and had to put almost $320 and alot of work into it to bring it back up to snuff. Here is what it needed:
Repair/rebuild rear shock and spring assy: $175
Rebuild front shock: $25
(2) aluminum swing-arm pivot bars: $48
Paint + material to refinish: $15
New bolts, nylok nuts, and washers: $15
Slides: $42.00
Total Investment= $420
($620 - $200 I sold old skid for)
Luckily I got the correct proaction installation kit with it or it would have been an additional $225 !
Not bad, but a brand new one with installation kit was quoted to me by Fast @ ~$1200, minus $200 (old skid) = $1,000 (This was the base model M10, not the Air). For $580.00 extra I could have had a new skid !!!!
Call Fast and dicker, they are in the mood to deal right now...
www.teamfast.com
I bought a not so gently used M-10 for a "great price" of $300 and had to put almost $320 and alot of work into it to bring it back up to snuff. Here is what it needed:
Repair/rebuild rear shock and spring assy: $175
Rebuild front shock: $25
(2) aluminum swing-arm pivot bars: $48
Paint + material to refinish: $15
New bolts, nylok nuts, and washers: $15
Slides: $42.00
Total Investment= $420
($620 - $200 I sold old skid for)
Luckily I got the correct proaction installation kit with it or it would have been an additional $225 !
Not bad, but a brand new one with installation kit was quoted to me by Fast @ ~$1200, minus $200 (old skid) = $1,000 (This was the base model M10, not the Air). For $580.00 extra I could have had a new skid !!!!
Call Fast and dicker, they are in the mood to deal right now...
www.teamfast.com
mikerx
New member
They look good as well. How do they compare to the Expert X and ZX2? If I'm going to spend some money I want to have the best suspension for my height, weight and riding style which is semi- aggresive trail riding. So as much info and feedback possible would be great!!
Viper-Rules!
New member
Zx2!
The zx2 will handle up to a 300 Ib rider without bottoming out. All you have to do is increase the preload on the shocks, with the suplied wrench. This skid is easy to adjust and has alot of settings to suit your riding style. I would say it is the best skid for the money. The shocks are variable progressive rate. They are soft for the first part of the stroke, which gives you a great ride in stutter bumps and then when they sense a big bump they firm up, to keep the sled from bottoming. The ride is incredible. The composite also absorbs alot of the vibration from bumps by creating a suction effect. The diffrence between this skid and an expert x, is about 1000 dollars and about 20 parts. It is basically an improved version of the expert x. Ad bovin did there home-work on this one. I have 6000km on the skid and haven't had a single issue. Dealer told me I can get about 10,000km before the shocks need serving. My stock viper shocks failed after 5000km.
The zx2 will handle up to a 300 Ib rider without bottoming out. All you have to do is increase the preload on the shocks, with the suplied wrench. This skid is easy to adjust and has alot of settings to suit your riding style. I would say it is the best skid for the money. The shocks are variable progressive rate. They are soft for the first part of the stroke, which gives you a great ride in stutter bumps and then when they sense a big bump they firm up, to keep the sled from bottoming. The ride is incredible. The composite also absorbs alot of the vibration from bumps by creating a suction effect. The diffrence between this skid and an expert x, is about 1000 dollars and about 20 parts. It is basically an improved version of the expert x. Ad bovin did there home-work on this one. I have 6000km on the skid and haven't had a single issue. Dealer told me I can get about 10,000km before the shocks need serving. My stock viper shocks failed after 5000km.
mikerx
New member
Did you buy yours new?? I've hear from others that the ZX2 may be the way to go. How tough is the instal and what kind of dough am I looking at?
Millinocket Rocket
New member
Install is not bad at all.... I think they're getting @$1650 for new ones for new ones with the mounting kit. I got lucky and got mine when they had a promotion for $1050(blue). Black was $50 cheaper.