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xp1000 or highlifter

4K views 21 replies 7 participants last post by  Expat 
#1 ·
looking to purchase a new rzr. Looking at both the xp1000 and highlighter edition. i will be doing mostly fast trail riding in west virginia. My questions are

1. the valving on the shocks? are the going to be too stiff?
2. is the lower gear ratio just in low range.

any feedback would be great thanks
 
G
#4 ·
Here is another secrete running fast on east coast trails: "Clearance" ... rear and front high clearance arms says it all-- just mow over it and oh, a mud puddle to creep up ??? Upper and lower doors- no brainer.

Really just comes down to money willing to spend.
 
#6 ·
I don't regret getting my HL, aside from the ride I love it. I put shock therapy tenders on the rear and it helped out a lot.
 
#8 ·
Shock therapy doesn't make them for the front. Something to do with the length of the spring is too long. I'm sure there is something out there for the front I just haven't looked that hard yet.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Not sure where you are directing that comment Jerr, but it all comes down to what you are want and what you are willing to spend to get it. A few things I have always wondered is why they made the HL suspension stiffer to begin with and even why they choose the XP chassis to make the HL over the S chassis. Before the RC edition and XPT I always thought the HL would be better suited for east TN trails. Since it came with the lower gearing and HC arms and rods all it needed was a proper skid plate, tires and the suspension softened up, like you have done. For sure new tenders have to help significantly over stock and will probably all most want or need. As you mentioned, clearance is a big deal, a full 2 stage spring package like ST offers gives you 2 to 3 more inches GC while also dramatically improving the ride. We have to travel some distance to where we ride so we always ride 4 days minimum. A great riding suspension sure makes those final days riding and the long road trip back home a heck of a lot easier on my old bones :)
 
G
#21 ·
The highlifter is designed to be a mud machine. They put the stiffer springs on them to compensate for the extra added weight of mud that accumulates..

I don't like mud at all but as you know there is no escaping it around here and it builds up tremendously on the rzr. The stock set up on the highlifter is perfect around here minus the collapsed tender springs.

People often complain about the stiffness of the highlifter ride. Well, drive it like grandmaw and the suspension is a little tight. But when you open it up a little and catch some air off the water breaks and when mowing over the rocks with a little speed you start to feel the suspension work and it really does a great job. That's when it rides plush.

I am absolutely happy with the stock set up with the added highlifter tenders.
I have bottomed out the rear shocks on the bump stops only twice - I may have to stiffen it up a bit.

I think people all too often place too much emphasis on ride quality and forget about the greater purposes of shocks. Performance and handeling is at the top of my list for when it comes to shocks .
 
#18 ·
HL are mainly designed for deep bog running. I guess the mudder riders love the stiff suspension and snorkles when they are submerging themselves in deep mud and swamps. I was told that guys load so much mud on the HL it compresses the suspension severely. Thats why the super stiff suspension. I will never submerg my HL and there is no big mud bogs in Colorado and I had f iends ask why I bought a HL. I like the look of the snorks, wanted the 33% lower gearing for climbing, it came with lower doors,front bumper with a winch that sits higher and is more accessible. Yes I had to change out the mudder tires and redo the suspension to make it more trail ready for Colorado riding. With the shock therepy stage 4 set up, im fully adjustable for cushy trail riding, dune running or mudding.
 
#20 ·
Yeah I remember the springs were for carrying mud weight now. Still, I live in the heart of mud country and a S model with a arms all around is a better machine since you can get them up higher easier. Seems nowadays most these guys are mainly just for show at the mud parks anyway. There is still no reason that a mud machine can't ride good.
 
#22 ·
I completely agree with you. I always thought the HL was the best machine offered for trail riding (with those god awful outlaws removed) as you buy them until the newer offerings came out like the RC edition with the skid plate. Speed on rough trails definitely makes the ride better in if you have high spring rates. Hitting a rock, hole or bump faster forces the heavy spring to compress where other wise it would not. Going the next step to a good dual rate spring setup is the cats meow. It rides great at slow speeds and incredible at fast speeds.
 
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