[mass-n-trash]

As many of you know, the advertised 11.8 inches of ground clearance on the Vikings is pretty much BS. I had 10.5" of clearance (at bottom of hitch) when I got mine home. I have filed a claim with Yamaha Motors...but it's going SLOW!

One of the reasons I replaced the OEM tires was to gain some more clearance...so I went with 27's. On the other hand I know I have added some weight with the OEM bed mat, a spray on liner and the spare tire carrier. So a little settling is expected. Unfortunately it looks as though ALOT of settling should have been expected! Even with the taller tires, I now have only 10 inches of clearance at the bottom of the hitch receiver .

So my question is: What are the pros and cons of the lift kits some of you have installed? I'm looking at the 2" lift by Super ATV....and the 2 to 3 inch adjustable lift by Strong Made. Both are priced about the same.

Just a thought but...since the rear has settled much more than the front. What do you think about using the adjustable kit and setting it up with 3 inches in the rear and only 2" in the front? This would level the ride up and compensate for the added weight in the back.

SuperATV lift Yamaha Viking 2" Lift Kit : Yamaha : Viking : Lift Kits

Strong Made SMYV700 - 2"-3" Lift Kit For Yamaha Viking 700 2014

PS: I have mentioned this before...but go out and measure yours? You will be surprised.

 

[madviking]

Do you have a problem with the vehicle scraping/bottoming out a lot? I am assuming your answer is yes, or you wouldn't be looking at the lift. Both of those kits will achieve more clearance. 3" in the back might be pushing the CV joint angle a little far at full suspension droop, but I'll double check that for you.

 

[mass-n-trash]

Do you have a problem with the vehicle scraping/bottoming out a lot? I am assuming your answer is yes, or you wouldn't be looking at the lift. Both of those kits will achieve more clearance. 3" in the back might be pushing the CV joint angle a little far at full suspension droop, but I'll double check that for you.

I'm kinda thinking the CV joint angle wont be so much of an issue because I would be mostly compensating for how much it has sagged. I originally had 10 1/2 inches with the stock tires, and if I were to put those back on...I would be down to 8 inches now. With the lift, it would raise it up to 11...only 1/2 higher than it was in the first place.

Does that make sense?

 

[Quack addict]

M-n-T I measured mine before I put on the 27's and the stockers were bairley hitting 23 1/2" tall. I'm with you on the proclaimed ground clerance, BS.

Idon't think your going to gain any GC by installing a lift kit. They are made to raise the body of the Viking and not the chasis. Now, if you install bigger tires( 29.5's - 32's), which you can't do without a lift kit, you will gain GC but it's from the tires and not the lift....Is that clear as mud?

What about after market shock's & coil over springs? The ones on the Tyrex are adjustable piggybacks.....Just food for thought.

 

[mass-n-trash]

I wish they made decent after market shocks...I would be all over that!

As far as ground clearance goes. I might be missing something but doesn't both kits move the shock mounts so that it actually does add ground clearance? I was looking at them and both sort of move the mounting points closer together...which, in turn, adds more preload on the springs...which would push down on the suspension...which would raise the body and give you more ground clearance

 

[Quack addict]

A body lift raises the body of the vehicle higher above the frame of the vehicle. A body lift does not raise a vehicles frame above the ground (e.g. does not increase a vehicle's ground clearance) but it may allow for the installation of larger tires.

A lift kit raises a vehicle's frame further above the axles by using larger springs (or lift blocks placed between the springs and axles). This not only allows for larger tires but it also increases the height of a vehicles frame giving it more ground clearance and better off-road performance.

Beware, lift kits and body lifts raise a vehicles center of gravity and got this reason many states have body lift and suspension lift (lift kit) limits. Check with the laws in your state to find the laws in your state before making such modifications.

I'm using my truck as the method to my theory. I have both, body lift kit and a suspension lift.

May be apples and oranges.

PS - MadViking is spot on with checking the joint angle just to be safe.

PSX2 - I would be willing to help you out by taking the rear spare tire rack off your hand's if need be....

 

[mass-n-trash]

So what would you call the two kits I have listed? Body or lift kits? They move the shock mounting locations on the suspension, which increases the pre-load on the springs...so are they not suspension/lift kits?

As far as the tire spare tire carrier goes...I have a couple people that have indicated they could "make these easy!" and sell them. Just waiting for one of them to show me something I could think on.

 

[Quack addict]

Here is a suspension shock for the Tyrex. It's considerably different than a lift kit shock placement. By looking at the pics closer in your original post you will notice that the " Lift" of the body is gained by moving the lower adjustable shock placement up the A-arm. In addition they have added an additional 3" to the upper adjustable shock placement housing. There is where you lift is coming from. My thinking, which has been wrong, is that the original shock does not have the compression strength as the one pictured...ergo still allowing the sag that you see from the additional weight. I believe that you will have the same issue from those kits just with a higher body stance.

I know they don't have anything currently on the market concerning suspension for the Viking yet, but it may be worth the wait.

JMO

 

[tfred700]

Those are suspension lift kits and will definitely increase frame to ground clearance, I fabricated my own and put more in the rear than the front to level it out as you questioned, mine is 12.25" front and back, barely any cv angle at all because they are so strait from the factory, 500 miles with no issues at all. now running 28's for tires

 

[Camo-eps]

I agree with tfred700 they are suspension lifts and you will gain ground clearance, I haven't seen a body lift for an atv or utv.


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[leb337]

Those lift kits will give you ground clearance. HiLifter will be releasing their version soon.

"Our R&D Department is currently in the process of designing a 2” Signature Series Lift Kit as the introductory product for the Viking. An ETA has not been provided to the staff as of yet but we suspect it will be in the next few weeks. While it has not yet been added to the website we do have a part number set up as YLK700V-50 with a predicted retail of $159.95. If you like I can place the item on backorder for you and get back in touch when it is available. Just let me know."

 

[mass-n-trash]

Those lift kits will give you ground clearance. HiLifter will be releasing their version soon.

"Our R&D Department is currently in the process of designing a 2” Signature Series Lift Kit as the introductory product for the Viking. An ETA has not been provided to the staff as of yet but we suspect it will be in the next few weeks. While it has not yet been added to the website we do have a part number set up as YLK700V-50 with a predicted retail of $159.95. If you like I can place the item on backorder for you and get back in touch when it is available. Just let me know."

Leb337....will this kit be 2" only, or will it be adjustable? The reason I ask is because, with the added weight, the rear of my machine needs more than the front. I'm thinking this is going to be common with most everyone.

 

[leb337]

The guy I bought my Viking from had it on the bike at one time. They used it to build the prototype but he took if off. He said it actually raised the back a little higher than the front. I am assuming it will be the same lift but they told him it was 3".

 

[aronsrb]

I just ordered the super atv 2" lift kit, and a set of 4.5" round led lights. I really like the design of that kit and think it will work perfect for what I want. I am expecting to get it probably by Thursday, if so I will try to install it on Friday and get some before and after pics

 

[Quack addict]

I guess I stand corrected....

 

[Beaver Bank]

I have a 2" super atv lift.With the box empty it's 13 1/16" with 416 lbs it has 10 3/4" clearance.With stock tires.

 

[mass-n-trash]

I have a 2" super atv lift.With the box empty it's 13 1/16" with 416 lbs it has 10 3/4" clearance.With stock tires.

Are you still running stock tires?

 

[aronsrb]

I already have about 12" of clearance with my 27" tires, I'm excited to see it with the lift installed

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[madviking]

The suspension/wheel can drop an additional 2.85" from stock before the inner CV joint reaches it's maximum angle of travel. My recommendation is not to lift it more than 2.5" using spacer lifts. The whole issue with spacers is that they move the entire amount of travel down... what is gained in height/droop is subtracted away from your up travel. Ideally longer shocks with heavier or longer springs would be a better solution.

 

[mass-n-trash]

I already have about 12" of clearance with my 27" tires, I'm excited to see it with the lift installed

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Prime example of how the OEM specs on ground clearance are highly exaggerated! As per specs, you would have started with 11.8 inches...and then you added the larger tires, and still have only 1/4 inch more than it is supposed to anyways.