So I'm sure this has been covered so I apologize in advance. Just got a 2020 zforce 800 trail. I'm looking at elka and bandit for upgrades. I know elka is the popular choice but the prices are nuts. What can I expect from the bandits?  More travel? better ride over rough terrain like rocks and stuff? More ground clearance ect... 

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

So I'm sure this has been covered so I apologize in advance. Just got a 2020 zforce 800 trail. I'm looking at elka and bandit for upgrades. I know elka is the popular choice but the prices are nuts. What can I expect from the bandits?  More travel? better ride over rough terrain like rocks and stuff? More ground clearance ect... 

The trails are a bit different then the EXs as the short, stubby a-arms don't give the same total range of movement but I have the Bandits on the front and they do give a little more overall movement with much improved control and ride. When (not if) i blow one on the rear I won't waste a second getting another set of Bandits for the rear. I also have has Elkas on all previous machines and am 100% a firm believer.. but get at least stage 3s to compare with the Bandits. Either one will be a night/day improvement.   

Awesome thanks!!!  The Elkas say they fit up to 2018. Mines a 2020. I assume there's no huge difference there but is there any reason they wouldn't fit that I'm missing?  I am leaning toward the bandit set just based on price I'll admit but still want to know my options

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

Awesome thanks!!!  The Elkas say they fit up to 2018. Mines a 2020. I assume there's no huge difference there but is there any reason they wouldn't fit that I'm missing?  I am leaning toward the bandit set just based on price I'll admit but still want to know my options

One of the things that sent me to Bandit was they still have the rebound adjustment where Elka doesn't anymore on anything less then stage-4s. I like a little harder rebound then others...like that cat-like or trophy-truck landing feel. No bouncy or springy stuff. Elkas are fine but I just like controlling that myself. And the fact that Bandit uses a larger shaft size then Elka on their rams. Still, both are premium-grade shocks and both are a major improvement over the stocks.

I noticed the rebound thing as well. Both options look as I'll gain a good deal of wheel travel as well, anyone know how much? Also any chance I get more ground clearance as a biproduct? The trails around my place get really rough and rocky in places.

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

I noticed the rebound thing as well. Both options look as I'll gain a good deal of wheel travel as well, anyone know how much? Also any chance I get more ground clearance as a biproduct? The trails around my place get really rough and rocky in places.

You will gain a little of each with either however the proper setting and/or positioning can be..and should be maintained with any. Regardless of the amount of travel you have, considering with the shock installed, from its fully extended position to it's fully compressed position and being 100% of it's travel, the preload with all the normal load you carry should position the a-arm and shock between center or half way between both points (50/50) and 60% compression with 40% extension (60/40). More then this is tough on the suspension and axle CV parts. I know for myself with my Bandits, I did have to back off the factory preload a turn and add a turn to my rear shocks to maintain the correct ride height and angle of attack...which I like at level to 1/2" lower in front. Overall I did allow a slight bit more ground clearance but only about 1/2".. but I am still in the correct arc range of 55/45. Sorry for the ramble..it's early

 

No worries, good info. I did know about setting them up in the middle of their range. Now heres the dumb question. I actually looked a lot at the Bandit springs too,(I get cheap sometimes lol). For that price how much do those really help? I just want  to pony up and replace the whole setup right? I'm not racing the thing here just looking for a good ride so the wife doesn't complain about being sore after a ride in the rocky trails we have up here in Maine. Shes not a big fan of those trails.

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

No worries, good info. I did know about setting them up in the middle of their range. Now heres the dumb question. I actually looked a lot at the Bandit springs too,(I get cheap sometimes lol). For that price how much do those really help? I just want  to pony up and replace the whole setup right? I'm not racing the thing here just looking for a good ride so the wife doesn't complain about being sore after a ride in the rocky trails we have up here in Maine. Shes not a big fan of those trails.

Well, I helped Bandit develop the springs for their spring kit. They are an incredible improvement over the stock springs. So much so that my wife actually noticed and started riding with me again. In fact I was running the final versions when one of the cheap CFM front shocks lost it's rebound valve seal. I then bought a set of the new front shocks. Still have the springs on the rear and still rides..almost like Elkas... I still do have the front set of springs I would sell for..say..50 bucks plus shipping. Still like new with probably 100 miles or less on them. 

Tempting. Maybe I'll go that route for now just out of curiosity. I'm still researching though. I'm not in much hurry as the trails up here close on Nov. 1 for whatever reason.

Where mines a 2020 would I still see that big difference with the stings you saw?  Are they the same as yours?

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

Where mines a 2020 would I still see that big difference with the stings you saw?  Are they the same as yours?

If they went back to a single rate spring or stopped incorporating a dual-rate spring into one spring, then the difference will be less but still noticeable. The old dual-rate springs collapsed on the lighter rated areas coil-binding them and made them impact the heavier section so it felt like they were bottoming-out and jarring the occupants with every bump. The new Bandits are a smooth, progressive single rate spring that gives a plush, compliant rate of compression and extension all the time. Literally from a milk crate on a buck-board to a Lexis in ride just by changing the spring on the old ones. 

Pretty sure it's still a dual rate spring. As a matter of fact the top and bottom coils are just about completely closed just sitting at rest leaving the center coils to do all the work. Must be what your talking about. Thanks for the help. It's given me a lot to think about and work with.

So I looked into it and it looks like bandit only sells the springs in a set of 4. So I went ahead and ordered them. At $170 how could I go wrong right. I figure $185 with shipping vs. $1300 for shocks I'd better try just the springs first and see if that's enough. I'll do like you NMK and wait for the oem to fail I think. Besides there's a lot of other things I want to do first. Skid plates, bigger tires, door lowers ect...

I do have to wonder though so Ill ask. How big a difference is there from just doing the springs to the whole set for the $1100 difference?
I even started considering trading my trail in for a bigger machine. Maybe the 950 sport but that doesn%u2019t seem to make a ton of sense financially.

[2015 Z Force 800 53/Trail EPS]

I do have to wonder though so Ill ask. How big a difference is there from just doing the springs to the whole set for the $1100 difference?

Some difference but the OEs still have compression and rebound adjustment on the front but only rebound on the rear so the new Bandits will have it all all the way around. Besides, when those cheap Chinese shocks fail, like me, you have to ask yourself...are you going to pay 436 bucks for EACH Chinese shock (that's $872.00 for a set of 2), or around 650 bucks for a set of 2, American-Made, Comp-quality shocks? It was an easy decision.