2015 trax on 2016 KTM!?

Tedor
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6/7/2016 9:23am Edited Date/Time 9/22/2017 8:25pm
Hi, I know it wont fit right away but before the 2016 trax arrived alla the factory and support guys and some others was running what appears to be a reworked 2015 trax to fit the 2016 ktm, check out this photo of oldenburgs bike. I know the factory guys have some special stuff but I have some fabricator skills too, and the 2015 trax is lot cheaper than the 2016. Inputs guys? Thanks



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langhammx
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6/7/2016 6:21pm
It's been done. Maybe he will chime in and give some input on this.
CarlinoJoeVideo
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6/7/2016 10:03pm
I'd love to see this work. I'm not sure if the travel is the same though. Someone will need to measure a new shock and go from there...
tek14
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6/8/2016 2:17am
My suspension tuner said wont work properly.
Digger29
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6/8/2016 6:28am
I was going to try the same thing and was told by Kyle at WPFS and Billy at Powerband that the older chassis trax shock wouldn't work and if you tried that you'd need to change like 95% of the parts to do it.

The Shop

Tedor
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6/8/2016 9:42am
the stock shock on the 2016 is 13mm shorter than the stock one on the 2015, yet the 2016 shock have 5mm more travel.

langhammx: who have done it? Only reason Im asking is beacuse the 2015 shock is alot cheaper than the 2016 one. Regards
Tedor
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6/15/2016 1:08pm
Update, I have found out that stock 2015 and 2016 have the same travel on my EU bikes when messuring the shock. I also saw that both 2015 and 2016 have the same travel on dirtbike rider

The only difference is that the 2016 shock is 13mm shorter than the 2015, just drill a new hole, also the 2015 trax shock on a 2016 will hit the frame where the subframe fits, just round a corner off. I have talked to one guy that have done this. Anymore that have done this? Also change to a softer spring since the linkage is more progressive on the 2016. Dont know if a 44nm on stock shock is equal to a 44nm on a trax?

Digger29: why change 95% of the parts? Maybe they just want to sell you a new shock for 2500 dollars? Wink

Regards
Tedor
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8/3/2016 2:33am
Update, I brought a 2015 trax and the reservoir hits the mount for the subframe so I have modified that so It fits. The 2015 Trax is 485mm length and stock one is 480mm so the bike will be a little bit higher. I do however have a suspension guy that have changed a part inside the shock so it gets to the right length. I have seen that the factory teams running this shock have a different reservoir.

So once again Digger29 Im courious why those guys said that you need to change 95% of the parts for it to work. Do anyboy know the CC length of the 2016 trax?

For my weight at 78kg + equipment I will run a 48nm spring or possibly a 45nm. It will pair up good with my 2015 cone valve forks I belive.

Regards
Digger29
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8/4/2016 6:10am
Tedor wrote:
Update, I brought a 2015 trax and the reservoir hits the mount for the subframe so I have modified that so It fits. The 2015 Trax...
Update, I brought a 2015 trax and the reservoir hits the mount for the subframe so I have modified that so It fits. The 2015 Trax is 485mm length and stock one is 480mm so the bike will be a little bit higher. I do however have a suspension guy that have changed a part inside the shock so it gets to the right length. I have seen that the factory teams running this shock have a different reservoir.

So once again Digger29 Im courious why those guys said that you need to change 95% of the parts for it to work. Do anyboy know the CC length of the 2016 trax?

For my weight at 78kg + equipment I will run a 48nm spring or possibly a 45nm. It will pair up good with my 2015 cone valve forks I belive.

Regards
I honestly don't know why Kyle at WPFS told me that. I called him Feb of 15 before I got my 15 FE450 to see if I could use the Ohlins stuff from 15 300SX on the new FE and he said the forks and SXS clamps would bolt right on and then said that the new FE's shock was completely new and that older shock whatever it was would need drastic mods in order to fit so I took him at his word.
CarlinoJoeVideo
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8/4/2016 6:13am
Tedor wrote:
Update, I brought a 2015 trax and the reservoir hits the mount for the subframe so I have modified that so It fits. The 2015 Trax...
Update, I brought a 2015 trax and the reservoir hits the mount for the subframe so I have modified that so It fits. The 2015 Trax is 485mm length and stock one is 480mm so the bike will be a little bit higher. I do however have a suspension guy that have changed a part inside the shock so it gets to the right length. I have seen that the factory teams running this shock have a different reservoir.

So once again Digger29 Im courious why those guys said that you need to change 95% of the parts for it to work. Do anyboy know the CC length of the 2016 trax?

For my weight at 78kg + equipment I will run a 48nm spring or possibly a 45nm. It will pair up good with my 2015 cone valve forks I belive.

Regards
Digger29 wrote:
I honestly don't know why Kyle at WPFS told me that. I called him Feb of 15 before I got my 15 FE450 to see if...
I honestly don't know why Kyle at WPFS told me that. I called him Feb of 15 before I got my 15 FE450 to see if I could use the Ohlins stuff from 15 300SX on the new FE and he said the forks and SXS clamps would bolt right on and then said that the new FE's shock was completely new and that older shock whatever it was would need drastic mods in order to fit so I took him at his word.
I was told the same thing.

Are there any success story's? How does it feel riding the bike?
Tedor
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8/4/2016 4:08pm
Maybe he wanted to sell you ha 2016 shock?

The 2015 Trax is fitted on my SXF250 2016, this is the shock the factory guys etc run but they appears to have a resovoir with smaller diameter where the normal one will hit the subframe mounts if you dont modify it like I did.

I have not ridden with it yet beacuse I dont know if my xtrig preload adjuster is working like it should. Se the thread I just started if you think you can help me on that one. Regards
KHenry901
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8/5/2016 6:09am
Make sure to give an update after you ride. What did you modify for it to fit? you said you rounded a corner. can you take a few photos? Would be nice to keep my shock and do some small modications to get it to work with the new bikes.
Motovet45
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11/4/2016 7:53pm
Any updates on this?
Tedor
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11/8/2016 9:32am
I have to bend and round of the right lower subframe mount for it to clear, shock is about 7mm longer than stock 2016 shock so a suspension specialist will change a spacer inside the shock. I have only ridden with it when its too long so its a little harsch in the begining of the strock beacuse of linkage ratio, but its better than stock. Unfortunaly I broke my foot so didnt have much seat time to modify it. =)
Motovet45
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11/8/2016 6:02pm
Tedor wrote:
I have to bend and round of the right lower subframe mount for it to clear, shock is about 7mm longer than stock 2016 shock so...
I have to bend and round of the right lower subframe mount for it to clear, shock is about 7mm longer than stock 2016 shock so a suspension specialist will change a spacer inside the shock. I have only ridden with it when its too long so its a little harsch in the begining of the strock beacuse of linkage ratio, but its better than stock. Unfortunaly I broke my foot so didnt have much seat time to modify it. =)
Thanks for the update, I just picked up a 16 350 and want to put the Trax on from my 15 450.
Motovet45
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11/8/2016 6:15pm
Tedor, can you post up pics of the frame mods you did?
JMX82
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11/11/2016 2:36am
I would be also interested how the older version of the Trax work on newer models. I have currently 2013 150SX with Trax shock and it's amazing shock
CarlinoJoeVideo
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11/11/2016 6:30am
I'm just not sure how the old version will work being longer. Not sure if it will feel better than stock with the correct leverage ratio.
Digger29
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11/11/2016 7:12am
You'd definitely need a suspension guy to put a spacer in it to make it the same length as our current new chassis shock.
11/11/2016 1:21pm
Hey Tedor, the shocks more than likely can be changed to fit. I sure there is someone out there that can make a Showa or KYB shock fit too. As a service center I'm required to provide you with a finished product that performs to its best ability. I can't sell you a shock and proceed to tell you to cut or grind material to fit correctly. Billy
Motovet45
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11/16/2016 5:11pm
Just being curious I tried my 15 Trax Shock on my 16 350, I was surprised that it fit without any problems. I realize it's longer than the stock 16 shock but I didn't have to do any frame bending, etc.......Looks like a call to my tuner to see if he can shorten the Trax.
Motofinne
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11/17/2016 3:00am Edited Date/Time 11/17/2016 1:25pm
Could you guys post pictures of an old Trax on the new bike?

I would actually like to see this with my own eyes instead of reading about it being possible to do.
CLT809
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11/17/2016 9:08am Edited Date/Time 11/17/2016 9:15am
Wouldn't you be limiting the travel by installing an internal lowering piece to get to the correct length?

Would the shock clevice from the 2016+ not mount up to the 15 and be a much simpler conversion? (Obviously you'd still have to figure out how to make the reservoir fit)

Edit:
Another thought: the earlier linkage trax shocks (pre 2015) were a bit shorter than the 15. I don't know the exact amount, but it may be worth a phone call. That clevis or entire shock if you are searching eBay might be closer in length to the 16-17
Motovet45
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11/18/2016 4:54pm
Motofinne wrote:
Could you guys post pictures of an old Trax on the new bike? I would actually like to see this with my own eyes instead of...
Could you guys post pictures of an old Trax on the new bike?

I would actually like to see this with my own eyes instead of reading about it being possible to do.


Here's an older Trax on my '16 350, no frame mods necessary.
Motovet45
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11/18/2016 5:03pm
CLT809 wrote:
Wouldn't you be limiting the travel by installing an internal lowering piece to get to the correct length? Would the shock clevice from the 2016+ not...
Wouldn't you be limiting the travel by installing an internal lowering piece to get to the correct length?

Would the shock clevice from the 2016+ not mount up to the 15 and be a much simpler conversion? (Obviously you'd still have to figure out how to make the reservoir fit)

Edit:
Another thought: the earlier linkage trax shocks (pre 2015) were a bit shorter than the 15. I don't know the exact amount, but it may be worth a phone call. That clevis or entire shock if you are searching eBay might be closer in length to the 16-17
I talked to my tuner, he said he could match the stock shock length. I guess I should ask him if he's using an internal washer or modifying the clevis but I trust in those much smarter on the subject than I am. As far as the reservoir goes, my old shock bolted right up with zero interference. Will that work on a 250 or 450?, I'm not sure but will be trying it on a buddy's '17 450 this weekend.
Motofinne
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11/19/2016 12:05am
Thanks!

I'm actually starting to think about finding an old Trax shock now. I should be able to find one for only 500-600€ here in Finland!
mx317
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12/3/2016 3:46am
I read where the way to make it work properly was to unscrew the body from the head and shorten the shock body the required amount. This keeps the travel the same or close to the same. This was from an Euorepean tuner
bowser
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12/3/2016 5:04pm
i'm not sure how much you could take from the top of the tube given it steps down after the thread.

what are the specs for

15 model eye to eye = 490mm
16 model eye to eye = 477mm (13mm shorter than previous years)

15 model shock stroke =
16 model shock stroke =

If I think it is achievable I might mod my second trax as it will sell easier if it suits the new models







mx317
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12/4/2016 8:07am
Default Re: 15 Trax Shock on a 16 350
Quote Originally Posted by Motovet45 View Post
I know a lot of people say it won't fit but I have one and it bolted right up, no clearance issues at all. My question is the Trax is longer than the stock 16 shock so will shortening it to match the 16 shock work? What effect will it have on handling, etc... if I leave it as is and get the correct spring rate for it?
I finally got some spare time to look into that project with some more detail. The link Trax shocks for the 2011-2015 KTMs are pretty similar and have a shorter stroke and longer overall length than the Trax for the 2016/2017 bikes. As Motovet wrote I couldn't see any clearance issues with a 2011 Trax on a 2017 Husky (=KTM) either, so a conversion seems realistic. What you want to avoid in any case though, is shortening the shock with reducing the stroke (spacer for example) any further - this is a big NoNo as you are looking at a reduction in shock travel of 10% on the 2016/2017 bikes doing it this way. That is a major change and not desirable at all. The easiest and most effective way is to cut the shock tube as there is plenty of space inside the 2011-2015 link shocks without top-out spring, but in any case you need to do the check yourself to be sure as there are quite a few versions of the Trax shocks out there. Removing the shock tube takes a lot (and I mean a lot) of heat and the easiest is to cut 10mm (or whatever your desired length is) off the threads on the upper end of the shock tube. Recut the seat for the o-ring and you're done. If you decide to stay with the 2016/2017 linkage which I strongly recommend as this is what this chassis was developed for, use a shock length of 477mm (+/- 1mm). It really makes no sense converting a Trax (or any other shock) without remaining within the stock dimensions and thus screwing up the chassis balance completely. Don't forget to convert to the 2016/2017 stock bump rubber as the different linkage ratio demands a shorter one (especially with the slightly reduced stroke anyway).

As noted before, the 2016/2017 linkage trades suspension travel (less) for shaft speed (increased) and this will most likely demand a lighter valving than the 2013-2015 bikes needed. 2011-2012 is even more different with yet another linkage ratio that has a very different low/high speed bias.

Michael

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