It can be difficult to keep up with all the different information regarding ATV suspension, which is why ATV-Industry magazine communicates with as many manufacturers and distributors as possible. They say knowledge of their products is the key to helping customers to the right product. After all, who wants to spend all that time and money on installing an unsatisfactory system? To help avoid this dilemma, several suspension companies were more than happy to help educate dealers, retailers and us.

Custom Axis Racing Shocks introduces the Pro-Suspension package, which includes triple-adjustable piggyback shocks with a titanium spring and a triple-adjustable remote reservoir rear shock with a progressive rate titanium spring, according to representative Bill Gartner. The high and low speed compression adjustments reportedly allow the rider to tune bottoming resistance (high speed damping) without affecting body roll, brake dive and squat (low speed adjustments). Being a racing shock manufacturer, Gartner says his company can appreciate the increased demand for the same high-end racing products that pro riders are using. He credits this trend with the company doing its best to keep up with the rising demand during the off-season. Gartner warns dealers to beware of sales gimmicks. With the increasing number of companies vying for a bigger piece of the aftermarket suspension pie, the best way to satisfy a customer is to order race proven components, he said.

DeRisi Racing proclaims their increasing quality of technology helps them put out top-notch products. They said their latest is the XC/MX Spec Long Travel A-Arms with caster/camber adjustments, which allow the rider to change the caster of the front-end while using a special roller bearing at the pivot points to minimize the necessary maintenance. DeRisi reports rising suspension sales and hopes dealer/retailers will take the time to become more familiar with their products. If the dealer is aware of the benefits and capabilities of aftermarket suspension, they said customers can avoid buying the wrong product and will be less likely to have an accident and get hurt.

With an eye on the trend of offering high end, high performance suspension products, FOX Racing Shox has come up with a complimentary product for their Podium X rear shock with the new Float X Evol front shock. Spokesperson Jeff Favorite says the Float X Evol uses a dual stage progressive air spring, rather than the heavy coil springs, and can be easily adjusted without having to remove the shocks from the ATV. Unable to give us a comparison for last year's sales, Favorite was able to tell us that both the Float X Evol and Podium C shocks are selling well. “Suspension set-up is critical to making a high performance ATV handle well. The customer (and dealer) should carefully read the product manuals and follow the set-up directions for the best performance. When in doubt, call the suspension manufacturer for technical assistance," said Favorite.

Innovation is key and being new to the industry Halo Products Innovations said they hope their first applications in the market will meet with great success. Company rep. Joe Bria reported their current suspension product is their long-travel vehicle kits, which includes welded aluminum upper a-arms, 4130 steel lower a-arms, tie rods and fully adjustable, rebuildable aluminum body front and rear shocks. The upper A-arms are lightweight and durable, while the front shocks have an aluminum body to help dissipate heat, triple rate springs, high-speed/low-speed compression adjustment and rebound adjustment, according to Bria. He notes no tools are needed for external damping adjustments and the kits include durable and accessible aluminum knobs for adjustments. Bria said he would like dealer/retailers to work in gaining technical knowledge from the manufacturers to ensure customer satisfaction in both pre-and-post-sales.

Brian Bott of HydroDynamics USA told us about the new P-51 Non-Reservoir iShocks for the Yamaha Rhino UTV. These shocks reportedly feature an anti-fade, non-reservoir design to keep installation easy as well as improve its durability. Bott said he feels his company has been a leader in creating a quick and easy distribution network, allowing the dealer to order iShocks rather than stock the suspension systems. Their quick and easy services, as well as their convenient suspension kits, have resulted in an increase in sales, he said. With suspension systems being so costly, Bott advises dealers to make sure they have great customer service to keep the tuning and rebuilding down to a minimum.

Noleen J6 Technologies announced their all-new line of ATV shocks. The J6 Quad shocks reportedly feature aluminum bodies, which can save about 3 pounds per set compared to steel body shocks. Noleen reported the front bodies are 40mm, which are larger than most to give a smoother ride and all the adjusters are anodized red for easy recognition. The J6 Quad shocks are to go with the latest move towards the piggyback shocks and away from the remote reservoir shocks, a company spokesman told us. They also said ATV suspension product sales have been increasing since last year and would like dealers to remember to get the basic information from the customer when selling suspension. Things like the make and model of the quad, what A-arms, swing arm, and linkage that the quad has, how much the rider weighs, how tall they are, what type of riding they are doing and at what skill level, are very helpful when selling suspension, Noleen tells us.

Progressive Suspension introduces two new products with the new 6th Sense 5-way adjustable racing shocks with CV/T (Control Valve Technology) and the new Shock Wedge, according to media contact Mike Johns. He tells us the 6th Sense shocks feature CV/T, which allows the rider to set up the suspension for every type of race conditions without ever having to re-valve or change suspension equipment. For those sagging snowplows, he advises to add the new Shock Wedge to each front shock to take care of the added weight. More and more people are becoming knowledgeable on tuning their own suspension and, as a result would like to have more control over the tuning and handling adjustments, he said. Johns said the 6th Sense gives a racer an amazing tuning range and he believes they will provide Progressive with an increase in ATV suspension sales. He suggests retailers get a copy of the 6th Sense DVD, which is free to retailers, and use it to show customers the high performance attributes of 6th Sense shocks and how to tune them for optimum performance.

As QuadBoss' exclusive distributor, Tucker Rocky informs us the sales of QuadBoss suspension products are up substantially. Company rep. Glen Urquhart said they hope to keep the money coming in with their latest product, the QuadBoss shock covers, linkage and swing arm bearing kits. He said the shock covers are made by Outerwears and come in a rainbow of colors for the front and rear shocks. The QuadBoss bearing kits are reportedly available for linkages, swing arms, a-arms and shocks. He tells us the shock covers are a great buy because high-end racing shocks need protection from the elements and the QuadBoss shock covers can provide protection as well as a great look. The key to selling these products, Urqhuart says, is to keep the QuadBoss shock covers on display on the floor, as well as using the rebuild kits in the service department and selling them in the parts department.

RydeFX released the new RydeFX Solo and the RydeFX MPV (Multi Port Valve) shock absorbers, reports company rep. Allan Bell. He said the RydeFX Solo is a 7-position compression adjustable aluminum mono-tube shock absorber using rod compression adjustments for a compact, lightweight package that conforms to the changing terrain. The RydeFX MPV is a twin-tube shock absorber using their patented Low Fade Orifice Carrier to provide the rider with a seamless transition from a smooth low speed ride, to firm, well-controlled performance oriented handling, Bell adds. He said sales are up, which he attributes to the increasing number of new and exciting products his company has delivered to the ATV market. "In a marketplace with ever increasing competition, the necessity of knowing the suspension product and being able to sell the features/benefits will continue to be critical in the marketplace. Knowing the consumer's riding style and terrain will help put them into the right suspension product," said Bell.

The newest suspension product from Works Performance Products (pictured in the header) is the Works Plus Suspension System, according to spokesperson Ned Owens. He said it is a complete factory-matched suspension kit including arms, brake lines, tie rods, separator tool, line clamps and a wide choice of shocks. Also included is a DVD containing specific tips for installation and set-up, he adds. Owens reports sales increased slightly this past year, but isn't surprised by this due to the ever-changing nature of the industry. With buyers becoming more knowledgeable about the adjustment features of their shocks and what those adjustments can do for them, Owens advises retailers to remember the importance of gaining as much information about the linkage, arm, shock length and other factors necessary to build the proper shock systems for their customers.

Well, that's what is new with ATV suspension. We hope this report has provided enough education for the next time a customer asks about suspension. We'd like to thank all of the companies who responded to our call, because we really couldn't have done it without you. Don't forget to read our look into ATV exhaust as well and remember to check back next month for another great look into all of the latest in ATV market news.

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