help me understand when shock upgrades are needed

[Outlawed Genetics]

ok so i completely redone the blaster from the ground up as soon as i got it and one of the things recomended to me was to upgrade the rear shock if im a bigger guy. i upgraded to yfz450 rear shock and it takes bumps and everything ok but it sits the rear up too high and when i break even the slightest on the slightest downhill it feels like im going over the handlebars.

now for the question
is upgraded rear shock only needed for mx and big jumps? or would it still be needed for just mountain trail rides and small jumps?

if its not needed im thinking of just going back to a blaster shock to lower my blaster back down. i tried a lowering kit but the way it worked made the shock hit the drain thing on the bottom of the air box.

im about 280 btw

 

[Blasterb0y794]

Get a works shocks, or a 400ex rear shock. People upgrade there shocks all the time, and alot of them dont even race mx!

 

[mystahagy]

From the looks of it you've got stock blaster fronts. An improved rear certainly helps but upgrading the front is the other half of the equation. The greatest rear shock money can buy can't make up for a horrible front.

The rearend is high which doesn't help the feeling, but dialing in a little bit more rebound dampening might help with the sudden "over the bars" sensation on braking.

For your question- I think upgraded shocks are necessary on the blaster if you ever want to do anything more than just putt around.

 

[stinkinlincolnw/blaster]

i had the same problem with mine, but i adjusted till the spring nut were almost all the way up im very happ and i dont feel the flipping over sensation anymore.

 

[blasterfreek30]

not insulting your weight brotha, but at a massive 280 lol your blasty shocks should be pretty soft, i would not recomennd jumping unless u upgrade them tho

 

[Outlawed Genetics]

fronts are fine guess ill have to try a 400ex rear. cant afford works atm

 

[Unstock240]

I can tell you I have 400ex rear and banshee fronts and i'm just going to leave the blaster with them. On the stock suspension riding at grandparents farm my body was numb after 30 minutes. With my cheap upgrades I can ride the same place all day feels like butter compared to stock. The 400ex should work with your weight, with the gas up all the way I can barely budge mine.

 

[quadguy80]

i have a 400ex shock ill sell for 50 plus shiping. let me know in a pm

 

[Outlawed Genetics]

is there any way to get a 400ex rear in without cutting part of the air box out? maybe if i get a diamond j's widening kit with shock conversion and put yfz shocks in the front too it'll even it out so it wont lean forward.

 

[Unstock240]

I didn't cut any of my airbox out. It just rubs a little no sense in cutting anything, but you need the lid off.

 

[Outlawed Genetics]

never heard about the lid why'd that need taken off?

 

[Unstock240]

The gas reservoir barely hits the snorkel part where the clamp is. You could just cut or heat that snorkel part and make it fit.

 

[Outlawed Genetics]

is there anyway around custom fabing the spacers and drilling a new hole and all that? thanks for the help btw