How to get more traction?

• How to get more traction?
  Posted by SuperNutt on 29 Nov, 2015 12:34
• I have a couple zillas and a few trx250r's.  Had the zilla and a 250r out this morning on the frozen flat dirt fields.  The honda hooked up and hung the front tires for as long as I wanted to.  When the zilla hit the power band, the rear tires just spun.  I could not get the zilla to hook up at all.  When I rode on some rougher soil, the zilla hooked up much better but still not as good.  I am running holeshot copycats on both quads.  The zilla has elka stage 3 shocks on it and the 250r has pep zps.  Is there anything I can do to the zilla to get more traction?  It really rips and is much faster than the honda when it hooks up but when its just spinning the rear tires, the honda eats it up easily.  I am pretty sure I have the cushion lever in correctly as the bolt was up when I assembled it and it doesn't look overly high in the back. 
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• #1 Reply
  Posted by ZillaFreak on 29 Nov, 2015 15:45
• shorter swingarm
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• #2 Reply
  Posted by SuperNutt on 29 Nov, 2015 16:15
• Makes sense. The swing arm is a stock one.  But when it hooks up that wouldn't be a good idea.  I haven't had it to the dunes yet with paddles on it but I am sure it will be fine there.  I do plan on buying some different tires one of these days.
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• #3 Reply
  Posted by Mtsnieg on 29 Nov, 2015 16:54
• Throttle control.
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• #4 Reply
  Posted by Dutch_Rutter on 01 Dec, 2015 10:11
• On my CFR 450r I have OEM shocks and springs while Mt dad's CRF 250r has titanium springs on built OEM shocks. and My CRF has more traction in mud and slick surfaces while the 250 spins and falls over. I always chalked this up to the different spring materials. I could be wrong and I'm not sure what material the springs of Elka shocks are, but Its worth a look.
  
  Could also look into the adjustment of the shock itself. Also body positioning could help as well.
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• #5 Reply
  Posted by SuperNutt on 01 Dec, 2015 16:36
• Next time its frozen here I will try loosening the rear shock preload some.  I can't sit any farther back on the quad when it is spinning..
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• #6 Reply
  Posted by 87 zilla on 01 Dec, 2015 16:52
• Dropping the air pressure to about 2.5 psi works for me.
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• #7 Reply
  Posted by SuperNutt on 01 Dec, 2015 16:55
• I thought about that. I think I had 5 in them.   One other thing is the zilla still has 10" wheels on it. The honda had 9" wheels. I assume the more sidewall you have, the more it flexes and grabs traction.  I will probably try the honda wheels on it as I have the z400 hubs laying around. 
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• #8 Reply
  Posted by ZillaFreak on 01 Dec, 2015 19:45
• spring material doesn't really matter for traction, the spring rate will though.
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• #9 Reply
  Posted by SuperNutt on 01 Dec, 2015 19:48
• I rode this quad with the stock shock on it before I put the elka on it and it spun a lot then also. 
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• #10 Reply
  Posted by Dutch_Rutter on 03 Dec, 2015 11:19
• I totally spaced it about air pressure as well. On my CRF going trail riding when its slick I have to drop the pressure just so I'm not falling all over the place. But then again ice and frozen dirt acts differently then mud.
  
  Last year when we had snow the only issue I had on our Z400 (since the LT was not done yet) was getting high centered, we run 10" wide ITP Holeshots.
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• #11 Reply
  Posted by Rogue1970 on 03 Dec, 2015 18:05
• The Zilla weighs more then the Honda.  This gives the Honda the advantage with less power and lighter weight.  Zilla just has too much mass to hook up on limited traction areas.
  
  I agree that in the sand with paddles, the Zilla will hook nicely.  Good luck.
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• #12 Reply
  Posted by SuperNutt on 03 Dec, 2015 18:09
• unfortunately, this has crossed my mind.  I had a banshee years ago that wouldn't hook up anywhere but the sand with paddles on it.  Still waiting on mudder nature to freeze up so I can ride again in the fields.  But the forecast is not looking good.
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• #13 Reply
  Posted by Zilla273 on 07 Dec, 2015 11:24
• its gonna be hard to hook up in a frozen field, maybe studed tires as it you were ice racing. my 500 in the feilds around me wont hook with anything ive tryed other then hole shot gnccs. and this is in the summer
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• #14 Reply
  Posted by Buckeye513 on 07 Dec, 2015 12:40
• Different tires hole shots and knock offs are junk from my experience on the 500. My bike turns them into oiled racing slicks no matter what surface I'm on for the first 3-4 gears. I've found for wet slippery terrain a heavy 6 ply "mud" style tire hooks up good if you have 1-2 psi in them. A great hooking tire for the rear is the ohtsu mr501's which came stock on 400ex's and can still be purchased for about $150 a set and will require a 9" rim.
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• #15 Reply
  Posted by Motoman991 on 07 Dec, 2015 12:52
• You need a higher contact surface.  Ditch the rear wheels and find some tracks lol.
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• #16 Reply
  Posted by SuperNutt on 07 Dec, 2015 13:11
• I do have some 400 EX rear tires and rims and I also have the proper hubs so I'm going to try those one of these days and I do like the tracks idea haha
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