Walker Evans vs Elka Stage1

I am thinking about getting some new shocks for my rhino and I have been looking at two different options and wanted some opinions. I am looking at the Walker Evans resi shocks with adjustable compression and with 325lb front springs and 400lbs rear springs for $1500 or a $900 set of custom valved and built Elka stage1 non resi shocks with triple rate springs and only preload adjustment. I ride hard pack, paved roads, and trails which are dirt,gravel, and rock, and I crawl around in the creek. Currently my stock shocks are non resi and the fronts are two click out from max and the rears are 1 click from max preload and I like the way it rides on the trails and how it handles just maybe looking for a little more. My rhino is 1,600lbs with me in it and all the crap I have on it.

400 lb won't be heavy enough. Mine weighs 1600 + as well. I ended up callin Elka , he told me I needed 525lb...order a set of springs from summit.  With the lighter spring , you'll have to crank the preload way down , in order to get your ride height where it needs to be. You'll have the spring compressed to where it affects the travel , and the ride quality. Believe it or not , the heavier spring actually rides better the the softer one.

scottwv wrote:

400 lb won't be heavy enough. Mine weighs 1600 + as well. I ended up callin Elka , he told me I needed 525lb...order a set of springs from summit.  With the lighter spring , you'll have to crank the preload way down , in order to get your ride height where it needs to be. You'll have the spring compressed to where it affects the travel , and the ride quality. Believe it or not , the heavier spring actually rides better the the softer one.

 Thanks Scott for the information I will keep that in mind. Is yours a 4 seater and cage? Mine is just a 2 seater and I sometimes throw my jump seat in the rear for kids to ride in but most of the time its just me and another person and I am a "fat guy in a little coat".

Just a 2 seater...yamaha bed box full of goodies , gas can , steel top , steel framed glass windshield ,  chainsaw ,  ammo can full of tools , and , of course a cooler full of snacks and drinks.  I weighed 1650 with an empty cooler.  I did take off the rear bumper I made (weighed 30lb) ; but added the heater...not quite even trade in weight , but close.

The walkers are a decent shock ; but , if you can swing a few more c-notes...just buy a new set of elkas.  I dunno if those #'s you quoted was for new , or used ; but , The bad thing about buying used shocks verses new is , more than likely they will not be valved or have the correct spring rate for your ride.  I found this out by trying to save some coin...bought a used set of elkas off the "bay"...few months later , I had to have them redone ($600)...then had to buy new rear springs , cuz 'ole boy didn't put the right ones on ...so , if you can swing the new ones ,  you'll be better off in the long run.

scottwv wrote:

 The walkers are a decent shock ; but , if you can swing a few more c-notes...just buy a new set of elkas.  I dunno if those #'s you quoted was for new , or used ; but , The bad thing about buying used shocks verses new is , more than likely they will not be valved or have the correct spring rate for your ride.  I found this out by trying to save some coin...bought a used set of elkas off the "bay"...few months later , I had to have them redone ($600)...then had to buy new rear springs , cuz 'ole boy didn't put the right ones on ...so , if you can swing the new ones ,  you'll be better off in the long run.

 The Elkas are brand new shock from Elka with same bodies and springs as the Stage2 and Stage4 shocks just without the resi. They will be custom valved and springs for my rhino weight and riding style for right at $1k.

Do you know what the springs are on the front and rear stock on my rhino? I am just curious what poundage they are.

Elka stage 1,DFR by Fox OEM replacements.

I don't have a clue on the oe rates...James may know.  My fronts are resis ,  with only preload adjustment...they do well.  Rears have compression and rebound adj w/remote resis...mine rides better at 30mph on a rough road , than 15 or 20 mph , on the same road.

I think these are close ratings of about,200 fr 400 rear.

hey man I my be interested also who has the best prices

Well Elka rep called my dealer back today to see if I had made my mind up on shocks and my dealer informed him it was between his Elka and the Walker Evans and he said basically in a nut shell that I would like the Elka's better and that if I didnt like the custom springs and valving from Elka they would swap me out springs till they are the way I want them. They told me same thing they told you Scott that the 525lb springs for rears is the only way to go for my weight it would be just a matter of getting the fronts right I think since I have a front rack,winch, and skids and guards. The Walker Evans heavy duty is a 400lb spring rear so that wouldnt be enough and I would have to crank up preload and would lose travel.

That dude at Elka knows his shit !!  I don't remember what my fronts are ; but , I don't run a rack on the front , just a winch. I think you'll be very happy w/them , even if they aren't resis.  I was gonna go with the bilstien's until I foud the ones I bought. You can change out the springs ,  if you are dead-set on buyin the walkers.

scottwv wrote:

That dude at Elka knows his shit !!  I don't remember what my fronts are ; but , I don't run a rack on the front , just a winch. I think you'll be very happy w/them , even if they aren't resis.  I was gonna go with the bilstien's until I foud the ones I bought. You can change out the springs ,  if you are dead-set on buyin the walkers.

hey scott where did you get yours from dealer or online

Bought mine of eBay -used ....had the Elka service shop here in wv rebuild them. The dude up there isn't very good with spring rates...I ended up takin the springs he put on off, and putting the original ones on. I called Canada and talked to someone there-told him how much the bike weighed, riding style , etc...in less than a minute , he told me what rate I needed. James has talked to him several times as well...very knowledgable dude!!

Scott what lbs springs are you running on the front of yours and do you like them or would you go heavier?
I am fixing to order the Elkas in 525lb rear springs to keep ride height and travel without cranking preload up and they said they could do the fronts in whatever lbs I wanted but thought the 275lb would be enough and I wondered what you thought since I have winch, front rack, skids and guards and probably will had to bumper soon with stinger and supports. I was thinking 300lbs front or more what you think?

scottwv wrote:

Bought mine of eBay -used ....had the Elka service shop here in wv rebuild them. The dude up there isn't very good with spring rates...I ended up takin the springs he put on off, and putting the original ones on. I called Canada and talked to someone there-told him how much the bike weighed, riding style , etc...in less than a minute , he told me what rate I needed. James has talked to him several times as well...very knowledgable dude!!

I didn't know we had a guy around here that worked on Elka where is located that might be good to know in the future.

i'v been trying to get a hold of someone at elka seems no one answers the phone, I didn't know you could get the stage 1 for utv I thought they where for atvs only, called the 800 number anyone know of a different one

I don't know a different one I'm going through my dealer and they used to be for atv only but now after the show they had in July they are offering to custom setup some for dealers is all the information I know right now should hopefully have my set next week I hope sometime.

Ok...I'll try and answer all y'all's questions. Rodney ,  mine are 300 fronts...they could stand to be a little stiffer ; but , they seem to work well for me ( I don't run a hood rack like you do ; but , I do have a winch)...if they have a 325...that may be closer to your needs. Teddy , there are two "authorized" Elka repair shops in the us...ones in Parkersburg (wv) ; and , the other is somewhere in Cali-land...at least that's what I was told by the Elka dude.  I wouldn't recommend using them for anything other than oe Elka parts...I told the guy how much my ride weighed ; and , at what speed I wanted it to handle best...long story short,  I change all of the springs he put on , back to what was on them when I took the to him...thankfully , he didn't change the valving !! A quick call to Canada ...got me the correct rate I needed for the rear.  Ask Pit-dog what he thinks about them up there ...lol.  He had some shop I ky fix his up , not too far from you...I don't remember the name of the place,  you'd havta ask him.  Max , Elka has a complete line of different shocks for utvs...check out their website.

checked the site and it didn't say anything about the stage 1 shocks for utvs, that my be the route I take being that it is 500 cheaper depending on how things go with   the paynes 

Thanks. I'm just asking in case I need some work done to mine.

I don't know if it is an apples to apples, but my front WER shocks are 250lb springs, and I like them a lot. But all I have is a winch and SSV stereo. My rear springs are 400lb springs. For my two seater, they work OK. I have about 3/4" of preload dialed into them.

Ok Elka called my dealer back yesterday and after a discussion of my rhino and accessories and riding style they went with 300lb front springs and 550lb rear springs and he said I shouldnt have to load up the preload and would keep most travel I could and ride height should be more than stock I am pumped if this works right. Also said I have a month where I can swap springs out FREE if I dont like them.

thePayne wrote:

Ok Elka called my dealer back yesterday and after a discussion of my rhino and accessories and riding style they went with 300lb front springs and 550lb rear springs and he said I shouldnt have to load up the preload and would keep most travel I could and ride height should be more than stock I am pumped if this works right. Also said I have a month where I can swap springs out FREE if I dont like them.

let me know how they work for ya  I may try the same setup, what is the price if you don't mind me asking pm me if you want thanks mick

talked to erik at elka and he told me of the stage 1 special for 995.00 wich includes the big body shocks for the rear small body fronts and the spring wts. 0f your choice sounds like a real good deal sounds like he knows his shit