Honda quad rear suspension

[Dirty Neil]

What kind of rear suspension are you all running on your 04-05 TRX 450. I have TCS re-builds right now and it stills bucks in the rear.

[Vtr_Racing]

You can run Teixiera Techs new link for the 450r to take care of that problem. Elka also makes a link to take care of the problem as well as GT Thunder. Better check to make sure the shock is long enough to run the link. You may be able to get away with the shock not having to be re-valved.

[dr shaw6]

I wouldnt waste any time with a single link, buy the elka dual link and and a longer shock. Precision Concepts is making some amazing shocks for this link. I had a chance to ride a bike with one and words can not even explain! Im not sure if I should say anything else about this shock because the one I got to ride was a one-off shock in the delveloping stages. Call Bob at the temecula store and ask him about it.

[Vtr_Racing]

Yes, the dual link is the way to go with the longer shock.

[loboboy]

Have you adjusted your rebound to full soft (fast) yet? if you have not adjusted to rebound then you may still have some adjustment left in the shock. only if you cannot adjust the rebound fast enough do you need to look elsewhere. I personally don't like the TCS stuff but they do build some nice shocks but try and adjust them first before spending more money on a new shock. The factory body shock is an nice unit it just needs to be setup properly for your weight and riding style.

I use PEP ZPS's on my Lonestar Outlaw Banshee and I have different settings for the dunes and MX. Also I change the rebound if I am doing the long whoop sections in Glamis, the rebound needs to be really fast or it will pack up and buck you around pretty bad.
Like I said earlier try speeding up the rebound and try that before you go buying new shocks.

[Kritter]

Have you adjusted your rebound to full soft (fast) yet? if you have not adjusted to rebound then you may still have some adjustment left in the shock. only if you cannot adjust the rebound fast enough do you need to look elsewhere. I personally don't like the TCS stuff but they do build some nice shocks but try and adjust them first before spending more money on a new shock. The factory body shock is an nice unit it just needs to be setup properly for your weight and riding style.




If it bucks in the rear their isnt enough rebound or there is too much spring or there isnt enough compression...

If it bucks from packing up and running out of travel then the rebound is too slow, spring too soft or compression too soft.

[RacerX1]

Ohlin's long travel is the shiznit! Just purchased it about 3 months ago to match the fronts. Thanks Bob/Precision! :)

Actually Neil, I used my stock rear shock for over a year and had it re-valved a couple times and had a lighter spring put on it (for little ole me). It worked pretty good but not good enough (after my husband raced it, he realized this)!

I had TCS's on my 250R and I never ever got them soft enough for me. They are way too stiff.

[Dirty Neil]

I was just told of this combination. Use the 06 swingarm, since its 3/4 longer, an LSR dual link and the long travel shocks such as Motowoz, Elka, Axis etc.. Anyone hear of that combo.

My front TCS shocks work awesome, they are triple rate ZPL, since I race GP and Desert. If I only ran desert I might have gone with pre-load.

The rear is where my bike suffers. I took such a hard hit on the rear shock at Ridgecrest last weekend, I think I chipped my teeth. I will try the rebound adjustment to the soft side (faster) and see where it goes.

Patty, we missed you at the mud hole last weekend.

[dr shaw6]

Ya the 06 swing arm on a 04,05 honda is a good set up. Your not alone...the rear is where almost all of our bikes suffer.

[baja1000]

I use custom axis suspension factory made for the 1000. I also use lonestars swing arm with outlaw linkage. The leverage ratio is not consistent through the full range of motion and this corrects that buck affect. You can also put a long length shock which gives you more options. Good luck

[Dirty Neil]

So I took off the rear PRM skid plate. It needed some TLC its getting pretty banged up. I then noticed that the interior well where my linkage sits, it is rubbing. Mater of fact its denting the inside of the skid plate.

I wonder if the extra inch I got in travel from the TCS re-build is causing the linkage to bottom out on the plate and causing it to buck real bad.

Looks like I've got some fabbing to do and cut that well back a little and test it.

In the longer races have any of you found that the stock re-build shocks fade and give out from overheating faster than an aftermraket shock with

[TeixeiraRacing]

A couple of things when considering a rear set-up for the Honda TRX 450R:
Where are you going to use it?
Is ground clearance a factor?
The longer the shock, the more oil it holds for less fade.
Of course getting rid of the buck is very important. To do this, you need a gradual progression curve that does not spike at the end. You will have to do some research to know if the linkage you are buying does this or not or talk to various riders that have run different linkages.
The lower the leverage ratio, the lighter you can run your springs and dampening. This leads to less fade. With a lower leverage ratio, you do not need as much dampening inside the shock. This produces less heat than a shock that needs lots of dampening.

[Dirty Neil]

Teixeira, I race mainly D-37 desert and the D-37 Big 6 GP's. The GP's do not require quite as much clearance as the Desert racing. Some guys are even running MX tires in the GP's. I'l take the extra clearance as I run 20" rears and 22" fronts. I want my bike set up somwhere in the middle, leaning more toward the desert. I know that makes it tough.

I cut out that section of my skid plate and will test it at Ocotillo on Friday.

[PCP as 123]

D.N., you should just come over and race on Sunday since you will be in the area.
D-38 at the Sups.....sound good?:D

[RacerX1]

Patty, we missed you at the mud hole last weekend.Thanks! From the looks of those pix, I think they're keeping up good tradition with that dang mud hole.

Still not sure when I'll be racing again. I haven't ridden at all since my husband's accident. He wants me to but I'm not ready at all. Best of Luck at AVI! I promise you will have a blast. If it wasn't so close to the 1000, I'd come help you guys pit.

[Dirty Neil]

Patty, after the accident I dont blame your for taking some time to reflect. When your ready to come back, well still be there.

PCP 123, I would love to run a D-38 race, but you guys dont have enough rock piles for us D-37 guys...LOL.....

[PCP as 123]

You're thinking trials....and I don't think they have a quad class.
I have no idea how those guys ride up the face of a 10 foot rock wall.

....Oh, I get it, you don't like dirt. That's cool:D

[TeixeiraRacing]

Here's the ground clearance we are getting with ours and some technical information:
This is the same linkage that Ed and Todd recently won the Vegas to Reno race on. There are no spikes in the progression curve to cause the bucking feel that you get on most Hondas.

Will accept an 18” shock
Exceptional ground clearance
Bolts into the stock 2006 swing-arm and newer
Lowest average leverage ratio of all bolt in linkages (2.05:1)
Up to 12” of travel if needed for desert racing without sacrificing leverage quality
Pricing is still to be determined.
Available November of 2007.

[Dirty Neil]

Here's the ground clearance we are getting with ours and some technical information:
This is the same linkage that Ed and Todd recently won the Vegas to Reno race on. There are no spikes in the progression curve to cause the bucking feel that you get on most Hondas.

Will accept an 18” shock
Exceptional ground clearance
Bolts into the stock 2006 swing-arm and newer
Lowest average leverage ratio of all bolt in linkages (2.05:1)
Up to 12” of travel if needed for desert racing without sacrificing leverage quality
Pricing is still to be determined.
Available November of 2007.


That looks like nice work. I am in the process of purchasing an 06 swinger. Do you do both the shock and the link. If not what shock are you guys using ?

[TeixeiraRacing]

We can get you both the linkage and the shock together. If you call in and buy the whole package, we give a pretty good discount. We have been doing extensive tesing with Fox Shox and have it dialed in pretty good. We can also get you just about any other manufacturer that you might want. You do have the option of buy just the linkage if you want.

[Dirty Neil]

We can get you both the linkage and the shock together. If you call in and buy the whole package, we give a pretty good discount. We have been doing extensive tesing with Fox Shox and have it dialed in pretty good. We can also get you just about any other manufacturer that you might want. You do have the option of buy just the linkage if you want.


Thanks, I will give you a call when the swinger comes in.

[Vtr_Racing]

You wont be disappointed with Ed`s stuff. Im working on the 06 setup for my 05 right now.

[Dirty Neil]

Ed Teixeira, do you mind if I come by and check out your setup at the AVI race ? we will be there racing as well.

[TeixeiraRacing]

Not at all! I should be getting into AVI early afternoon on Friday.

[TeixeiraRacing]

Here's a picture of the finished linkage.

[rob-u]

Looks good, kinda of like a Lonestar linkage.

[trentk]

Hey guys I was just doing some research on the Teixeira setup and came across this thread.

neil and marc what did you guys end up getting and how do you like it?

I currently have a gt thunder rear linkage on my 06 honda along with their revalve stock shock and I am pleased with it. But this week I switched to 23" front and 22" rear tires and now my rear is way too high and I can't lower it. I really don't want to crank the preload on the front shocks anymore in order to get the front up higher so Jim at Motowoz suggested the teixeira linkage and an 18" shock from Motowoz.

I was at 9" at the peg and 9.25" at the a-arm and now I am at 9.75" at the peg and 9.5" at the a-arm (with me on the quad of course) I gained .75" of ground clearance at the skidplate which is what I wanted.

some pics:
http://www.kendallrace.com/new%20susp/12-20-08%20001.jpg

http://www.kendallrace.com/new%20susp/12-20-08%20002.jpg

http://www.kendallrace.com/new%20susp/12-20-08%20003.jpg

[Dirty Neil]

I went with the Ed Tex link and Fox Podium shock. Set up runs great. Back end handles real well.

[D Bergstrom]

I am using the Teixeira Linkage and Fox Podium on my practice quad as well. Am pretty happy with it. Still running my Houser linkage and revalved/resprung Elka on my race quad as I feel it is dialed in just a little better, but I think with a little more work, the Teixeira/Fox combo should work just as well, just need to get around to messing with the combo some more. Can not say enough about Ed's customer service, great to work with and has always helped me when I need it. I think you would be happy with the link if you buy it.

I have wanted to try the Motowoz shocks for a while now, am thinking about buying another Teixeira linkage for my race quad and trying a Motowoz shock for it. Depending on when funds are available, I am hoping for the first couple of months of 2009 to make the switch, need to pay for the blown transmission in the race quad from the last BITD race first.:mad:

Doug