[NvrDwn]

That said, I'm looking into new shock/spring and a seat that can help soak up some bumps. I was considering the progressive 512, thoughts? I'm at a lose for a seat. Seems all are stock. I was riding on a newly cut in trail. New as in he cuts in a few hundred yard on a 963 and we catch up. Did this for miles. My buddies 650 can am floated over this stuff. For me my back now hurts and my danglies got seat slapped a few times. It's fair to mention that 300 has 22x11x9 tires. I will like be buying 25x12x9 mud lights in the coming months which will help. But I need opinions on the shock and spring combo. Can it be softer than stock? Is there a softer foam / gel seat available that I can't seem to find?

Thanks

 

[Goober]

Yup I call my canam The Flying Carpet.
I ride the Chili Pepper with max 30 mph, manual steering, solid axles, short stroke shocks and 24 inch tires and my daughter wants to know why I ride so slow!!

 

[mac102004]

Better shocks will make a big difference, bigger rubber with a smaller rim will help. But, it's still going to ride terrible at the end of the day lol

 

[SamUK]

Yep, &mac102004 is right, it will still be a terrible ride lol. The rear end doesn't help being an axle rather than IRS, I softened the ride on my front end by adding more angle to the shocks when I made my lift kit, I looked at the rear but figured it wasn't worth the hassle due to carrying loads etc, I'll fit an adjustable shock at some point.

 

[mrbb]

I agree with the above, its NOT going tio make much of a BIG difference on replacing shocks or even the seat and tires
SMALL gains, but its design of things that will not change here when you add them,
think old school pick up trucks, can polish a turd, but its still a turd LOL

this guy does some awesome work on street bike seat foam replacement, he has many types of foam, , from dual dense like to the gel,

he did a sport bike that the OEM seat was like riding on a Brick, and after he replaces things(had him re shape a little too), it was a bike I could ride for many many hrs, and I have a screwed up back to start with,, before having him re do seat I was going to sell the bike, as just too harsh on my back as it was!

here is his link, if you care to look, I am sure he could do an ATV seat, just not a common request I bet!

Spencers Seat Mods - Home Page - Custom Motorcycle Seats, Motorcycle Seat Modifications, Motorcycle Seat Mods

honestly, a more modern IRS atv, is your best bet here to be honest, YES not cheap, but adding new tires, new shocks and a seat, is what?? 1500+ bucks?? and you still have an old ride design atv!, ?? Food for thought, I know we ain't all made of money to buy another atv , just saying, maybe saving up and replacing down the road is better
for now, let more air out of tires to help LOL

 

[Larryw]

Let more air out of tires!!! And take pills before ride lol..

 

[_Wilson_]

I'm all in for deflating rear tires, and keeping the front tight, that's helped my back pain, not so much twisting on the spine to turn, the handle bar, that's helped me , but as stated by the guys, it'll only help so much, that's my 2 bits

 

[mrbb]

wearing a good back support too, helps a TON, and might be the cheapest option, other than lowering air here in tires,WHICH might get you flats or damaged wheels LOL, will help on bounces , but other area';s has its draw backs!

 

[Menard_LaPue]

Divide your total miles by your total hours. I get 12 mph average for my riding. I am one of the older guys here, but I have an IRS suspension and I have to say it is nice. But maybe I am just slower than everyone else.

 

[mrbb]

Divide your total miles by your total hours. I get 12 mph average for my riding. I am one of the older guys here, but I have an IRS suspension and I have to say it is nice. But maybe I am just slower than everyone else.

Last time I check miles per hr, mt average speed was about 2.2 mph?
SO< NOT sure your that slow of a rider compared to me LOL
as I said, many times, My atv used to get used more as a tool than a toy, would pull a sprayer for a few hrs at a time at 3 MPH on a regular basis, and plowing snow? not sure how fast there, but in small area's , NOT fast at all, just slow pushing,
I'll have to see what it is lately, as been riding some trails more , Maybe its up to about 7-8 MPH NOW HAHA!

 

[mrbb]

OK just checked my mile per Hour average
and its a whopping 3.80 MPH, man I was more than double off on my current guess?/

 

[machinecrook]

@mrbb Hey man I do just about that as well! I don't have the speedo on mine but I'm on bullmode (first gear) most of the time climbing up hills with a load of wood.

I put it on 4th gear maybe once a weekend for 30 seconds because I'm on a paved road and that's it.

 

[mrbb]

@mrbb Hey man I do just about that as well! I don't have the speedo on mine but I'm on bullmode (first gear) most of the time climbing up hills with a load of wood.

I put it on 4th gear maybe once a weekend for 30 seconds because I'm on a paved road and that's it.

HAHA< I been worrying about wearing out first and second gear as there about all I ever use I think?

mine has maybe gone a few 5-6 months with out ever seeing past 3 third gear , for most of its life!
Hours add up, and thats why I never go by miles to do any oil changes, as would take me forever to get the miles up where most folks change oil at!

I do have to also say, I have other things I ride, so its not like I ONLY go slow riding, have and have had a LOT of very fast toys, just this atv is more a tool than a toy, its earned its keep several times over too, worth every penny I paid, and I WISH they still made them exactly teh same way as mine is , OLD school simple, ride like a dump truck, work like a tractor atv!
Honda's missing the boat NOT making them still I say! tons of loyal die hards still out here !!

 

[_Wilson_]

@mrbb Hey man I do just about that as well! I don't have the speedo on mine but I'm on bullmode (first gear) most of the time climbing up hills with a load of wood.

I put it on 4th gear maybe once a weekend for 30 seconds because I'm on a paved road and that's it.

Same here, i have the speedo, needle hardly ever moves lol, very once in a while ill lay the ears back/clean her out....

 

[SamUK]

The seating position doesn't help at all if I'm honest, I fitted bar risers and have now done a 2" body lift, totally transformed the ride. I made the 300 'fit me' and fit me it does, because I'm sat in a comfortable position the ride quality isn't as noticeable now.
It may look odd but I'd definitely suggest having your seat reupholstered 1" higher with the possibility of bar risers to suit the rider.
The only way I can see to get the rear end more softly sprung would be to have two shockers and one spring, and a relatively soft spring at that. So medium to firm damping but softly sprung. Springs and shocks cost $$$$ though for quality items.
I'll look into this one day and get a post up with details and results.

 

[NvrDwn]

Thanks everyone. I did have my tires aired down as much as possible but since they are 22x11x9's I don't have as much sidewall flex as 25 inch tires, I'll only be getting two for roughly $200 plus the shock and spring for anotger $200 or so. Idk what the seat will cost as it seems I will have to go custom.. I don't have money for another ride unfortunately.

 

[SamUK]

You could always 4 link the rear end (similar to a rock bouncer) and run the drive shaft and tube as a torque tube (like a Mercedes unimog) MAJOR mod though :biggrin: :laugh:

 

[SamUK]

Thanks everyone. I did have my tires aired down as much as possible but since they are 22x11x9's I don't have as much sidewall flex as 25 inch tires, I'll only be getting two for roughly $200 plus the shock and spring for anotger $200 or so. Idk what the seat will cost as it seems I will have to go custom.. I don't have money for another ride unfortunately.

A custom seat here in the UK I'd expect to pay £50 to £60 if I shopped around a little, judging by price comparisons I'd say the same in dollars. A comfy seat will make a difference though, it won't be money wasted.

 

[Goober]

A seat reupholstering perhaps over stuffing and with gel pad is probably the cheapest way to go. Consider buying a used seat or taking your seat--mock it up with memory foam and duct tape temporarily so you can assess height and configuration
I would like to get an old seat and configure it As a bucket seat--keep my backside from sliding into/against the rear rack
As Sam indicated you could get the seat too high and then imbalance rider geometry making you lean into the bars more

 

[mrbb]

when I did my last street bike seat, with dual dense foam, and RE used OEM cover, it cost me almost $200.00 shipped back to me?
and it was worth every penny!

add Gel, and I will bet price will go up, and the seat I did was about HALF the size of my ATV's seat.

the quality of the foam is a big part of the costs, plus if you want a custom shape to things, GOOD foam isn;t cheap!, I cannot see anyone getting it here in USA for under 60 bucks, and surely NOT cut shaped and covered for that price, sorry, just being honest!
I'd expect closer to 175 bucks for better foam and a custom sized to things!
you could MAYBE go and buy some good foam and MAKE it yourself,
but again, even GOOD foam ain't cheap in that Thick and wide of a size, and I"D buy closed cell foam here too, as closed cell foam WON"T hold water on you if ever wet!