2 reviews here for a Banshee (if I may).
Name or brand of shocks: Works
price: used {275}
triple rate dual rate or single spring? Triple
rezzies or no rezzies? External reservoir
would you reccommend them? Budget dependant
overall performance? 6/10
Best time on my track with stock shocks: 1:19. This dropped to 1:07 with the Works installed. Comfort was much better, but a bit stiff for my taste. Bottom out resistance was great, however. The rebound was a bit high which I like, and compression was a bit stiff. All in all, they were well worth what I paid for them. They are awaiting a re-valve to go on my brother's Blaster because I upgraded to these:
Name or brand of shocks: Elka
price new $1699 (all 3 w/ added rebound to fronts)
*$2285 shipped for all 3 shocks, added rebound to front, LT LSR arms, tie rods, and streamline brake lines.
triple rate dual rate or single spring? Triple
rezzies or no rezzies? Piggyback reservoirs
would you recommend them? Yes
overall performance? 10/10
The new best lap time was 0:59 after 4 laps. I didn't time myself after I broke the 1:00 mark. I upgraded these with Lonestar DC-Pro long travel arms. Total travel is supposed to be 10.75", I got 11.125". I am able to ride much harder and much faster with less effort. I can focus more on carving a good line and passing instead of trying to manage rolling and kicking sideways and actually staying on the bike and out of the trees. Anything under 3-4" is largely unnoticed once up to 15-20mph. 6-8" bumps are manageable, anything larger is hard to manage due to tire size and frame geometry.
Jumps are effortless. I can eat at a YFZ on a motocross track until I get tired. The shocks responded very well to only 2-3 clicks of adjustment.
These have saved my ass more than once. I bottomed the rear out after a hillclimb in which I carried way too much speed. I gained a good 15' of air or more and just barely bottomed out. Another time is while riding a dirt road that I've ridden since I was 8 or so. I flew over a hill expecting to land on a smooth surface, instead flying towards a foot deep, 2 foot wide wash out. My front tires hit jsut hard enough to jar me pretty bad and the rear caught the full effect, kicking the rear up and sideways. I managed to stay planted and out of the woods. I stopped about 6-7 feet from a very large pine. Had I been on anything else, I'm convinced that I wouldn't be here. That also convinced me to invest in a top notch helmet and other gear.
All in all and not considering the last paragraph, I'd buy them again in a heartbeat. They make riding so much more pleasurable. I've always said that anything that's good goes unnoticed, and these are definitely the case.
