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Are all RZR's front heavy?

8K views 18 replies 15 participants last post by  M4Wheeler 
#1 ·
Hi guys............... just joined up on the forum and thinking about getting a RZR or RZRS. I watched the videos on the "lawn dart" thread (really funny) and was wondering how bad the balance is front to back? Are these guys letting off the throttle at the top of the jump, or are they front heavy? I just sold my DS650 quad and know that you need a little timing to keep the nose from going down (the DS is not easy to throw around in the air) obviously cant do anything about adjustments on a UTV, but some of the video looked decent as far as approach and throttle and still nosed over heavy.......

Renting a RZRS for next weekend and want to know a little info up front!

Thanks
 
#3 ·
I think the RZR is about neutral balanced. Most of the guys that do big jumps usually wind up at the shop. Although they are tough as nails, jumping big whoops will take it's toll on everything up front. If you are into jumping as a primary objective, I would definately look into the RZR S, as it comes from the factory with Fox Shocks. Remember, they weigh in right at 1000 pounds empty, and 1350 raedy for the trails. The stock springs can only take so much abuse before they go Tango Uniform!
 
#5 ·
I was just weighing mine to compute the center of gravity. It a 50 inch LE, weight was 440 on front axle, 620 in the rear, gas gauge reading half a tank. Only mods weight wise would be uhmw skids and a arm guards.

I did some weighing with driver on board and the weight distrubution stays about the same
 
#7 ·
the issue with the lawn dart complex isn't so much ballance, as it is suspension.
When you take a jump that has a ramp thats shorter than the rzr is long, the rear shocks kick the back up hard. Better suspension, and picking your jumps helps too.
Also, with the rzr you can't blip the throttle like with a quad...you gotta keep it floored till you're in the air, then back off the gas.
 
#10 ·
Was talking to Randy Anderson @ Walker Evans about this anomaly with the RZR. The RZR carries the engine farther back then say the Rhino so the weight is less centralized along with the shorter wheel base. This will bring out the nose landing syndrome a little more when the rear unloads off a jump. Keeping more spring and compression damping in the front and less on the rear will help. Maintaining the throttle all the way up the jump also helps.

I took my RZR with S suspension and WER shocks over to their shop last week and they replaced my springs and made some damping changes. Randy ran it before and after on their test track ( burned up my belt, LOL).

I let them know that a common complaint with their shocks was they would not allow much adjustment from zero clicks on the compression so they re-valved so I would be more into the 16 click adjustment range.

We shall see. Since they race a RZR in the LOOR series I trust their judgment on how to set up suspension. Great people too.
 
#14 ·
I have to wonder if you are trolling here??? LOL

You really think that the adding 200 lbs to the rear is the way to correct nose diving? With their rear engine design, RZRs already have a rear weight bias. The problems stems from the stock shock setup. The front is too soft and dives/blows through the stroke. That is compounded by the rear being too soft as well and not having enough rebound damping. The front blowing through the stroke coupled with the bottoming out and and then bucking is where the problem lies. Having your shocks tuned is the way to go, not adding 200 lbs of useless weight.

The other half of the problem seems to be guys trying to jump when the jump face is shorter than their wheelbase. The front tires are already off the ground prior to the back tires even being on the face of the jump. Obviously the you are going to nose dive.....
 
#15 ·
Thanks for your reply. I have spent many hours tweaking my suspension and have it dialed in a good as it's going to get. Watch any video of "pro" riders and professionally set up machines, they all nose dive. Just trying to generate ideas to resolve this issue. It seems simple. Add weight to the rear and machine is balanced. Yes, I understand that ramp length and angle is key.
 
#17 ·
What did you "tweak" on your shocks? Are you running aftermarket springs and have you properly adjusted the valving?

No offense but shock turning is a science and I highly doubt they are as good as they are going to get. Adjusting the compression clickers is not enough to fix the poor factory suspension settings and the garbage Chinese springs that Polaris uses. I think you would be really surprised at how much of a difference professional tuning makes. With the correct jump, my 4 seater flies true and there is no nose diving.

This is a 4 seat Turbo with stock valving and Eibach springs.

 
#16 ·
If the suspension is right then it comes to the speed for the angle of the jump you can't hit every jump wot especially short extreme angle jumps adding 200lbs to a decently balanced machine is not the answer , I know you say your suspension is adjusted true but is it a stock suspension if so take some weight out of your wallet and see what a difference it makes
 
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