Viper shocks advice.......

journeyman

journeyman

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Joined
Aug 11, 2003
Messages
1,181
Age
61
Location
Prior Lake,Mn.
Well my trusty old Viper has got almost 9,000 miles on it. I have owned it since new. It's a 2002 so the original shocks rode like all the 2002's......stiff. The second year I swapped them out for the Yamaha Viper shock upgrade. From that point it rode pretty good for a good 4-5 years. After that I had them rebuilt by a shop in St.Paul,MN which worked out fine. I continued to take them to him but after the second or third rebuild they just didn't seem to last. They just won't hold gas. After some frustrating Michigan trips I decided to try another highly recommended guy just north of the Twin Cities who used to do Nathan Titus's race machines. I had them done by him last year about this time, went to Michigan about 3-4 weeks later and it rode like a lumber wagon. It appears they have no gas in them. My question is.......why won't these things hold gas anymore??

Should I give Bruce Shrader a call? I have tried to find Ohlins and they are nearly impossible to find a whole set anymore. I guess I am looking for options at this point. Should I get some new shocks? Has anyone tried the Works shocks like Hartmann sells? I have even given thought to trying a different skid in the rear but that could get spendy too. The sled is awfully old to keep sticking $$ into.
 
I am totally happy with Bruce with Pioneer. I think you should give him a try. He may have to replace the seals if they aren't hold pressure, I found he is spot on with his revalve work. I looked into Ohlins all he way around and also found they were stupid expensive. The pioneer revalved are nearly as good and doesn't cost more then the sled is worth. Just my $.02.
 
You could give Bruce Shrader a call, he does great work, but there is someone else in Northern Minnesota to consider as another option.

I wouldn't hesitate to get in touch with Mike Carver: http://www.carverperformance.com/home.php

I've had great luck with Mike's work in the past. Shocks is all he does. He used to do all the shock work for the Yamaha Sno Cross Team a few years ago when they ran Nytro's before they switched their current efforts to Cross Country. He currently does all of the suspension work for the Arctic Cat Christian Brothers Sno Cross Team.

You could probably hook up with Mike this weekend at the Canterbury ISOC Sno Cross race in Shakopee right in your back yard. I talked to him earlier this week and he will be working out of the Christian Brothers semi in the pit area.

I know that finding some Ohlins for your Viper is going to be a challenge. Mike might be able to get you into a set of Fox shocks as a reasonable upgrade from the stock KYB's that you've got already.

Are you and your crew going to be riding the UP anytime this winter? Shoot me a PM. I'll be heading up there sometime and maybe we can cross paths?
 
journeyman said:
Anyone on here try this yet on a Viper, SX, SX-r etc.......??

http://www.benderracing.com/REAction_Suspension_Single_Spring_121_p/rss001s.htm
Click to expand...
I rode a SX-R a number of years ago with that suspension. It was a noticeable improvement over the stock Pro-Action skid. If you really want to try a different skid in your Viper you should consider finding a Monoshock skid. There always seems to be a few used ones for sale, and it's hard to find a better riding skid than a Mono for the money.
 
Thanks Boomer. I was just looking at the Carver website today. I have heard a few people reference to him.

You know I was looking into getting a mono skid off ebay last year but never pulled the trigger. I had actually talked to Jeff F. about putting one in too.

I have also contemplated just trading the Viper off with Kip in Greenland, MI. He says he'll give me decent $$ for it towards a used Apex or Attak. Kip has a really nice 2008 Anniv. model LTX but my UP riding buddy is actually dealing on it as we speak. Just not sure what to do at this point.

As for going to the UP. I guess it all comes down to my riding buddy (Mike). I have asked him a few times but one of the other guys that comes with us is too tied up so it looks like it would only be us two. Last year we rented the house behind Pat's Yamaha.
 
I called Mike at Carver today. He didn't seem to know why my shocks don't seem to hold gas pressure anymore. He mentioned seals and I said both these shops claimed to put in new ones. He was familiar with those other shops and said they normally to good work. He also said other than Ohlins there wasn't much out there for shock options for a Viper. He said he has the parts to build me a set of rear Ohlins but it would be rather spendy. He also said he has also done some retro-fitting Fox floats for Vipers (which I saw a set last year on a fellas modded Viper last season in the UP of Mich.) but that option is rather spendy too.

After that phone call I tried Bruce Schrader at Pioneer but apparently they are closed on Wednesdays.
 
My sled rides great with Pioneer revalved front shocks. They currently have 13000+ miles with a couple local shop oil/recharges since Bruce did them years back and there still holding a charge well. I have a 136" m-10 in the rear, my proaction has been gone for a long time. I heard years back that Carver has a great Fox revalve for the m-10's and I may call him someday.
 
REP Racing did a revalve / spring combo for me. I don't have many miles on them yet. Ill let you know after this week, I should have 1000 on by then.
IMG_14721.jpg

They also revalved the HPG (KYB) shocks for my Sc10-3 skid swap. (skid is feels at least 15 lbs lighter)
IMG_1753_zpsb7138f1e.jpg

Grand total for the front shock revalve with dual rate springs, and rear shock revalve was near $400.
I went that route because I couldnt find Ohlins.
;)!
 
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