From the picture, it looks like the shock travel isn't much different from stock. Can you measure any difference between stock and elka?
That was my first thought too, and I used calipers to measure the exposed ram/rod at full extension.
The old back shocks have a 2.5" ram and the Elkas have 3", which seeing as they appear to be located 2/3 out on the A arms would equal an increase in shock travel of 1/2" and increased wheel travel of a whopping 3/4".
The old front shock rams are 2" (yes 2") of ram showing while the Elkas measure 3.5" of ram showing. Given an approximate same proportionate location on the A arm, there is a more impressive inch and a half increase in shock travel and thus 2.25" increased wheel travel there.
Elka included a spec page of figures that I haven't yet been able to make sense of, and I'm certainly not using the exactly proper figures with my crude measuring, but I am measuring the stock shocks the same way so I'm at least comparing apples with apples.
The back shocks in direct comparison.
Installation.
Baja buggy comparisons notwithstanding, the CF 800 Trail really cannot afford any more sag than it has in stock condition, and the preload the new shocks came adjusted to from Elka, given the occupant and cargo weights I provided, seemed to follow this thought.
Shocks installed as set by Elka, the ride height is the same as it was. (for some reason the rear Elka shocks are @ 3/16 shorter, and the ride height reflected this so I added preload to compensate)
Taking the old shocks out with a floor jack holding tires just off the ground I was impressed that the bolts on all four corners were completely neutral and once the nuts were removed the first bolts could be slid back and forth with fingertips. No load at all either up or down. 'Impressive engineering by CF Moto' was my thought. The suspension stops are reached just as the shock reaches full extension.
... Wait a minute... What 'stops'? Doesn't the internal stop on the shock provide the suspension extension limit?
I tried just by feel to figure out what was stopping the A arms and knuckle from dropping any further than the point at which the shocks also act to stop it, but just on a quick examination I could not tell.
What I took away from it though, is the certainty that there will be no 'lift kit' on a Trail. You ain't pushing those A arms any further down than the stock suspension parameters allow for, without busting something.
Unless I'm missing something significant. (and that's not impossible)
But already it seems more like a vehicle on a suspension than the old hardtail Harley with springer front end business that it felt like, stock.
With no greater sag than stock this means that the increases in travel are all at the compression end, and if Elka has calculated the spring rates right then the vehicle will be using the added range, and maybe some added compression that the old springs were too hard (even with their paltry operating range) to use. Remember, jumping on the back end appeared to not compress the suspension at all, and that's not the case now. I jump and it responds!
I have no adjustments to worry about on these stage 1's except preload/ride height. Ya trust Elka to have set the valving perfectly.
We're going to find out.