Elka Suspension Fork Cartridge - FIRST LOOK

Sep 23, 2010
by Mike Levy  
Suspension fiends rejoice, Pinkbike has got the exclusive on Elka's new Stage 4 fork cartridge! If you're looking for some high quality Canadian tuned technology to drop in your Boxxer, Fox 40, and even your Fox 36 fork, you'll want to check out the photos and info inside. We've also got Elka Suspension's Pat Tellier in audio to fill you in on all the details!

*Updated with photos of the Stage 4's internals - Check it out!*

Read on...
Elka Stage 4 Fork Cartridge


photo
Here it is, the long awaited, much anticipated, and once top secret fork cartridge from Elka Suspension. Much like their rear shocks, Elka uses proven motocross technology to control the stroke, meaning a piston and shim setup, complete with a nitrogen charge and floating piston. Elka isn't trying to reinvent suspension here, and you won't find any plastic parts hidden in there either. You'll have two external adjustments to fiddle with; the dial at the top tunes your low speed compression and the adjuster at the fork bottom tunes your rebound. Elka will be offering three different stock tunes that riders will be able to pick from depending on how fast and aggressive you think you are. A heavy valved World Cup tune that is designed to hit the rough stuff hard and fast, a middle weight tune for more average riders, and a lighter damped model as well. Expect it to be available in a few weeks with a retail price of $499. As of right now there will be a version to fit newer Boxxer forks and the Fox 40, but aggressive all-mountain rippers will be pumped to hear that there is also a model that they can drop into their Fox 36. Canadian engineering coming at you!

Audio Loading...


photo
The Stage 4 cartridge is a sealed, but serviceable, unit that completely separates damping oil from the fork's lubrication oil, thereby increasing reliability and maintenance intervals. The internal floating piston is backed with a factory set nitrogen charge at 40 psi to keep the oil from foaming under hard use while compensating for the extra volume of the damping rod entering the cartridge. Elka recommends dropping the spring rate of your fork if you are going to use the Stage 4 due to the IFP pressure. The high flow piston uses shims to control high speed compression and rebound and as you'll hear Pat tell you in the audio below, there are basically limitless combinations that can be used to finetune to the stroke to your liking. Elka does a lot of suspension for motorized vehicles and they employ the same level of seals in the Stage 4 cartridge to keep the oil in and the nasty out. Internals are hard anodized as you would expect to see on a product such as this.

Audio Loading...


photo
photo
The two photos above show the Elka Stage 4 cartridge's compression and rebound assemblies.

photo
Like to turn knobs? There are plenty of clicks on the Stage 4 to keep you occupied and let you dial in the exact ride that you desire. Interested? If so, don't dilly dally as it will be available for purchase in a few weeks. How much? $499 and it can be yours.

Audio Loading...


Visit the Elka website for more information.


Another option in the suspension department, this time from Canadian specialists, Elka. If their rear shocks are anything to judge by, expect the Stage 4 to be a solid and gimmick free unit that you'll be able to drop into your fork and not worry about. And how about the Fox 36 compatible version! Is there a Stage 4 cartridge in your future? Lets hear your thoughts below!


Stay tuned for more Interbike coverage!


Posted In:
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171 Comments
  • 4 0
 I have used both Elka and Fox equipment on my Racing ATV. And I can say with out a doubt that Fox is light years ahead of Elka in quality performance and technology. This would be like buying a Corvette and removing the motor to put in a Cooper mini motor. Just my .02.
  • 1 0
 Never mind technology, I think that having almost 4 times the metric displacement of a Mini Cooper engine is the main reason a Corvette engine performs so well. Razz
  • 5 1
 woooh hooo. let the synicism begin!!!! Gentleman.......Start your dumpers!!!!
The Elka PR people must be reading this thread and cringing.
If you notice, all the dumping is coming for non- Canadians, though.... Hmmmmmmm? Just sayin'
  • 5 2
 Canadian made elka are cheaper then the taiwanese built fox offered by america,when people get of the band wagon and realise this maybe elka will out sell every one else.
  • 4 0
 FYI Fox is made in Santa Cruz California. 100% American made. Rockshox and Marzocchi are both 100% made in Taiwan.
  • 2 0
 Kinda confused as to what you are saying Bryan. I dont support them because they are Canadian, I support them because I got my stage 5 for less money than anything else on the market and it works amazing. It being Canadian made and supported is just an extra bonus as I dont have to deal with your currency that tanked the rest of the planet when your economy crashed Wink
  • 2 0
 mpathic fox are actually only assembled in America, but the components are made in Taiwan Wink (excluding fox sponsored riders, who have custom kashima internals, 2011 40 rc2 kashima is only stanchions, with anodised internals for the public.)

oh and Taiwan's tooling and machinery are the most advanced in the world, fox cant afford to build a competing factory in America.
  • 2 2
 stuff is simply so much cheaper to manufacture over there. Its the same old GM problem... and come on stuff that is "100% made in the USA" isnt any better than anything else.
  • 1 0
 exactly, the far east, is VERY capable of producing things better that we can in the west, although the economics of it is not so great.
  • 1 1
 lol Actually your wrong as marzocchi moved all production to taiwan for 08 and look what happened there,if the money is invested then yes taiwan can role with the big boys but my gripe is that fox charge you more for a taiwan built rc4 than elka do for a canadian built stage 5,the stage 5 is also custom tuned to your bike's leverage ratios.
  • 2 0
 i said capable, not guaranteed.
  • 3 1
 EricBirk I ask you a question in regards to the fact of products made over in Taiwan are just as good as stuff that is "100% made in the USA" isn't any better than anything else. Well for one you have the ability to check on quality control when your products are manufactured here and have products made in the U.S.A or in Canada makes income for the country you live and ride in. Do you do much riding in Taiwan, and do you not see how by corporate companies trying to make more and more money ship their products over seas to pay way below stadards in wages and thus taking money and food out of the mouths and hands of Americans and Canadians. Just something to ponder on!
  • 1 0
 wade776, that is why i stated in my second post ("although the economics of it is not so great") because it does pose a ethical and economical problem, but us who cant afford the higher prices of own country built products we have to look abroad. (unless we go used, which is a whole new bundle of potential problems)
  • 1 0
 bxxer-rider, true but when were asked to get prices from abroad to get the cost of the product down they could not show a financial gain by getting the products made abroad, and the quality of the machining we were getting made here only made sense to keep all the parts made here. And I agree when it comes to the big picture eventually most companies go with the dollars and cents stratedgy to get their product to the mass at a compfortable price so that it can become an affordable product. Only in a perfect world can you make everyone happy but we still stand by the principle of engineered in America and made in America and hopefully it can get back to that with companies here and everywhere realizing that maybe cutting a little fat off the profit to keep a product made where you live and work will benefit companies, employees, and buyers! And in regards to Elka they do make a great shock and the quality of their products are great to but, I don't agree with false statements that these products are Canadian made. Some parts are but for the most it is assembled in Canada. To each it's own!
  • 1 0
 true, when i can i keep to made in great Briton (hope brakes, hubs and seat clamp, orange frame, and where possible at least European), i actually prefer handmade as its much better quality, since machine made is only as good as the guy who rote the programming, a machine does not gain experience, where an individual worker does.

but the problem is there is never a perfect world, let along an object, some times we just have to compromise.
  • 1 0
 This is true in some circumstanes about canadian built stuff,how ever the elka in the uk at least is cheaper then an rc4. I don't buy stuff purely because it's hand made i buy stuff that works without the hype that proceeds it.
  • 1 0
 its a fair point (and tbh, after trying a rc4, i was very disappointed)

i try to spend my very limited budget very carefully so not to get ripped off just because it is hand made/GB made, but since i mainly buy used, its been on the market for a while so i know the quality, reviews and if possible test before buy.
  • 1 0
 wade,
good points, none of which I disagree with. Elka is more Canadian than any other suspension company, and I gladly support them for that reason among others.
BUT my point still stands. Business is business, if WE didnt open the marked up for someone to undercut is in labour it wouldnt have happened. It is cheaper there due to the economic differences. Yet look at GM, I will never buy a GM product simply because well compared to Toyota they are crap, and it took total bankruptcy for them to open their eyes. Well they were open all along they just new they didnt need to change anything because the government would bail them out... Its a flawed system and they took advantage of it. Unions do it every day. A guy in Taiwan doesnt need his $40+/hr to work on an assembly line, when really the job is worth a hair over minimum wage.
  • 1 0
 China are even cheaper hence why a lot of companies are shipping production,do we see these savings lol .
  • 1 0
 yes marquis, but that money goes into research to improve the products. (hopefully)
  • 5 2
 Elka's long awaited super secret cartridge BULLSHIT!!! Elka you have your own engineers don't come out and act like you developed this product you know damn well that if CR1 had not met with you last year and then again this year you would not be coming out with this product! I guess the secret was that you had to wait until you could take as many components from the CR1 cartridge to develop your own. Only problem is that if Adrian made it first he can always make it better and you will just copy that as well too!!! Good Product Elka or I mean CR1!!!!
  • 1 0
 Hey Wade why does the Cr1 and Elka cartridge look just likes a 2006/2007 Manitou air backed Tpc Travis cartridge ???????
  • 2 0
 Hey Wade, instead of bashing on a forum why don't you reply to our emails? Maybe a phone call would also be great so we can return all the defective products? We haven't copied anything from CR1. We tried to help but you guys don't seem willing to help yourselves out...
  • 2 0
 ouch this is turning into quite the topic.
  • 1 0
 Too funny neither Elka,Cr1 or Fast designed the product !They just ripped off a Manitou designed cartridge and made a couple small tweaks.......
  • 1 0
 Buddylee,

Real question out of curiosity (not just trying to stir the pot), was the TPC layout not something that was already found on motocross forks? I was under the impression that that is where it was first used, but I may be wrong.
  • 2 0
 Hey Mike Almost all forks work on a twin piston design. What I am saying is the cartridge above is a Manitou Knock off .....right down to the mistakes made in early versions
  • 2 1
 wade776: Do you know the word "Slander"? Also very much not professional on your part to bring out issues that belong elsewhere then a public forum.
  • 7 4
 who's to say its such an upgrade? I'm getting sick of this bull marketing that i see on pink bike, every time a new part comes out for a fork, or a new rear shock, or some new linkage design is released its as if all of pink bike believe its "the next big advancement in cycling technology" meanwhile the product hasn't even hit the shelf's. also we place judgment off someone who did a 30minute write up on a product that they used for a weekend or so of ridding. for all we know this cartridge could be the biggest hunk of shat of all time, yet half of you idolize it, meanwhile fox and rockshox has been producing amazing and pro tested technologies for ages getting feedback from every aspect of the ride, the rider, the bikes and pretty much every spec of world cup terrain. you would have to be retarded to think that some Canadian manufactured part made by a company that produced ATV suspension is going to produce the best bicycle suspension. Specially when you have a company like fox who pretty much invented what we see as suspension today. I mean Elka havnt even been able to release a set of snowmobile shocks since they haven't even been able to produce a proper lip seal to keep snow and ice out of it. meanwhile fox have had that shit down since the 80's.


I don't know about you guys but i don't think this cartridge is going to have shit on the fit cartridge that has been in research and development by pro riders and some of the best suspension engineers of all time. fox has been doing this for 35 dam years!! and they want nothing but the best.

ps, spoiledgoods, mass produced doesn't mean anything specially when fox forks are assembled by hand.
  • 3 0
 Nice rant! Smile
  • 2 0
 The point he was trying to make about mass production was that that the internal pieces are mass produced in Taiwan and then assembled in USA. You could have the best tech at fox assembling the fork, but an issue with manufacturing tolerances could make the fork a POS. Whereas Elka is 100% made and assembled in Canada, in much smaller numbers, so there is much less chance of this.

And why can you bet this cartridge will suck compared to the FIT? Have you ridden it? You're dumping on a product with no experience with it whatsoever. You were getting mad at everyone else for doing the same thing earlier in your post...
  • 1 0
 Oh snap! Now its gonna get confrontational. I'm front row!
  • 1 4
 actually, small internal parts for fox forks are produced in factory, the only thing produced over seas are the cast lowers which are casted by suntour who also cast rockshox lowers and then are machined to spec at fox. secondly what i meant was we shouldn't expect it to be an upgrade right off the start. and that's what i was frustrated with the fact that we think its going to be the next big thing. fox has been making stuff for ages its going to be hard to compete. all im saying is our expectations are much to high for a product we have no knowledge within. also yes i do sincerely believe that the fit cartridge is ages ahead of everyone, elka is still using a shim stacked damper backed by a nitrogen cartridge. this is very old technologie that has been used from snowmobiles made in the 90s also that is used in alot of rear shocks and many forks like avalanche and pretty much every moto bike fork on the planet. it works but it is in no means a step in the direction in evolving the sport, evolving the sport would be to come out with something new know what I mean?

also precision on parts is always inspected by a huge company like fox, why would they want to toss shit in their forks? they have a huge reputation to keep to date every day.
  • 2 0
 ...and what leads you to believe that Elka does not have the same pride and standards in terms of quality control than its competitors? And do you truly believe that Elka has yet to get into the snowmobile business because of a lip seal?

I understand you may have an allegiance to Fox...they make good products afterall...but there is no reason to think that a suspension company other than Fox can produce good products in a competitive market.
  • 1 2
 first of all, did i ever state that you didn't have standards and pride in your products? i mentioned fox had standards and never once did i mention that you didnt. secondly what i did mention and state is that fox tries to evolve suspension as we see it, releasing another shim stack damper that is nitrogen backed is nothing special its old motocross technologies. I do hand it to you that you have gotten this far but if you plan to really make an impact then maybe its time to look at new technologies, evolving old ones at this rate and you wont keep up with the big names. I never said your product was crap in any way, all I said was fox has been doing this for way longer then you guys and are constantly trying new things so it will be hard to see how this damper competes to a product with such integrity and research. I NEVER SAID IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. I'm just saying i have my doubts.
Also I have an email from Elka from when I inquired about Elka suspension for snowmobiles and yes the hold back was due to the insufficient ice scraping lip seal.
  • 1 0
 YEAH JOHN! Now justice has been served. I'm itching to promote this cartridge to the NW region of the USA because Elka does care this much to get the point across! John, your my hero!
  • 3 1
 Thank you for the feedback summit.

The decision for Elka to move forward with such a product has a large part to do with demand. The vast majority of our customer base have been asking us to come up with a drop in fork solution for quite some time to complement our rear suspension product, and with this type of product, we feel that we are simply offering what the industry is requesting. Are we re-inventing the wheel with this product? no, definately not. However we are catering to industry demand, and they key ingredient to sustaining sales in an economy that we are faced with today is supply and demand.

A lip seal is a very, very small roadblock in our product development for the snowmobile industry, but it is certainly the least of our worries, let me assure you.

I truly appreciate and respect your feedback and opinion.

Regards,

John
  • 2 1
 hmm so PB cant put up an article on anything new unless
A. It has been on the market for " " said amount of time.
B. It isnt made by a smaller more personalized company.
C. The company didnt revolutionize some part of the bicycle industry in the past.

All new products should be presented regardless of market time. All companies have fair game on the internet, last time I checked Fox didnt sponsor pinkbike.
Why dont you give one a go. You cant make a legitimate comment on something without first trying it.
  • 3 1
 I was wondering when ELKA was going to hit the fork market! We are really proud of our local business, after visiting they're shop in Boucherville, I must admit they are ready to BOUNCE the competition! Thanks Yann for the quick tour!
  • 7 2
 Where are the 888 cartridges??? i would be interested but i don't got a boxxer.
  • 8 3
 I agree, 888 would be way more helpful. Fox's don't need much tuning haha Razz
  • 6 1
 yea 888 is a must. fox you can just open up and reshim to your liking. but the 888 evo's are lacking a proper midvalve. they got a good base valve though.
  • 2 0
 Avalanche has been making them for a while now and they've been getting fantastic reviews, check them out:

www.avalanchedownhillracing.com/AVA%20ADV.htm
  • 2 1
 Thanks runner, will check those out.
  • 1 0
 www.pinkbike.com/news/cr1-test-2010.html
  • 3 1
 I not to have a sealed suspension system, open shim stack cartridges work very well when properly designed. This is not new either, CR1 has one out. www.cr1engineering.com/front.php

Then a much simpler system without a sealed nitrogen cartridge that can be opened and tuned out in the pits. Shim stacks. www.avalanchedownhillracing.com/20%20mm%20Cartridge.html
  • 1 0
 Makes for an interesting read.
  • 4 0
 Good idea that they use high quality seals from the Motocross industry,atleast that will last allot longer than the seals that the bicycle industry are using.
  • 2 0
 i wish elka would make fork cartridges for the marzocchi 55's. I've had a 2008 and 2009 55R and all I can say is that it sucks big time. Changing the cartridge would the 55 an awesome, affordable fork even if it weighs a lot.
  • 1 0
 Looks great. I'd be interested in '04 888r carts. I know Avy makes them and I love me my Avy stuff. If only one of those two companies decided to make reliable flat crowns (unlike Risse ) for the 888's, that'd complete the package.
  • 1 0
 i love to read the comments. My favorite part of pb for sure, have you noticed no one can spell shit, and when they are mad they really can't spell shit. had a 06 marz 888 loved it, got an 08 hated it, then i had a 40, shit, then i got a totem, i'm in love, ridden boxxers, shit, especially the world cup, can someone say "RECALL", but with all that being said i think the fact that elka is doing this for supplie and demand reasons is lame, TAKE A CHANCE, show the world what your made of. everyone is different and we all ride in a different way. some of the people on here don't take that into play before they comment, just because it works for you doesn't mean it will for others. but it's true fox is ahead of the game by miles and miles. with that being said fox has things that are shit as well. moral of the story, ride it before you knock it, all company's are bound to make shit, but with shit you get encouraged to clean it up, otherwise it will stink of shit forever
  • 1 0
 Rock shox quality control is horrible.. I was talking to the guy that owns avy (lives about two mins down the road from me) He says that the lowers used for the teams and the races are rejects from when they assemble wc's. most of the lowers for the races and teams were machined in correctly where the rebound shaft presses in when the bottom bolt gets tighten.. causing the rebound shaft to bend slightly causing the shaft to stick and loss of of full travel.. form wat i hear they just bent the shafts enough so they would work and shipped them.
  • 1 0
 Craig at AVALANCHE is already doing this for $200 less with a cartridge that has been proven in his forks for the last ten years. Interbike is all about hype to keep the bike sales machine rolling. The rain stopped so I guess I'll have to go get more laps on garbanzo again. Enjoy the lamest place on earth, Vegas.
  • 1 0
 Why werent you riding Garbo in the rain? that makes it entertaining Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Its $299Us PLus Fit kit $89Us plus $39 Revalve kit plus $59 Adjuster knobs near $500 us dont be a fool...
  • 1 0
 Sorry if i missed something, but for the boxxer does this cartridge go on the left (air or spring side) or right (compression/rebound) leg?
Im assuming the right side. So you can have this cartridge and still keep the air spring in your WC’s? It says you drop 200g, so that would make WC’s insanely light if thats the case!!
  • 1 0
 It would be cool if for suspension you could have a test ride opportunity at a LBS. Just throw a few forks on one after the other, test em out, and figure out what you like. Reading and listening it sounds like every companies got a great idea, but until I can actually compare what these changes would be like on my bike set for my weight and riding it doesnt mean anything. Certainly doesnt mean its time to invest hundreds of dollars.
  • 2 0
 I have the CR1 cartridge and CR1 rear race internal in my socom and its awesome. I let friends ride my bike and they notice a big difference compared to there bikes.
  • 1 0
 I have a 2007 888 rc2x n I got it used off pink bike n the fork split into 2 after 3 rides. Can any body help me? I've taken it apart and found were the threading inside one of the cartregs has strip. Does elka have something for me? The cost at a bike store here is over 500$ to replace so it would be nice then to get an elka setup to try out for the same price.
  • 1 1
 Fox 40,boxxer range and 36s are for total c*nt nuggets. Bring back the monsters, super monster and al the rest of the mega burly, heavy, qaulity forks not these pussy assed "freeride downhill" shit. taking the 40s of a 20ft drop they wouldnt last for shit. What has happned to the good range of forks these days!
  • 2 0
 they were 14 lbs that's what.... lol i agree though no one makes a boat anchor free ride fork that's meant to last for 15 years anymore... i wish they came out with a more refined monster. bring the weight down a bit but concentrate on the open bath damping and built like a tank idea.
  • 3 1
 i ride for elka and let me tell you they have the best products when in comes to suspenion. in lookin foward to this for the next race season.
  • 4 1
 oh, Intrinsic for all, that's nice, now your Boxxer will work slightly similar to Travis =)
  • 2 2
 I have a similar upgrade from CR 1 engineerring. I had some trouble withit as i blew it up at Mount Sainte Anne but they shipped me a new one right away. and it has been great. i am a bigger guy and i put it in a boxxer team...they offer it for 888 and 40s as well......best 500 bucks ever spent.truely botomless and super active...........crazy good is all i can say. made my boxer junk into world cup sick
  • 1 0
 I'm surprised so few people know that Avalanche has been doing this for about a year now. I'm going to get an Avy cart for my Boxxer to match my Woodie shock but if I wasn't going to I would be very interested in this.
  • 3 0
 Somebody needs to do a comparison, CR 1 vs. Avalanche vs. Elka boxxer cartridge test.
  • 3 0
 I agree..
  • 3 1
 Well consider this a product that was taken from the ideas from CR1! We went and had a meeting with Patrick in febuary to talk about working together and them handeling the distribution of the CR1 cartridge. I guess at CR1 we should be flattered that Elka would blatanty copy our product and with the fact that they have more money to go into production to reduce the cost. The fact is that they did not come up with this design on their own and they should say thank you to Adrian Cortina for being a genious with suspension to develop a product that they could hold onto for testing reasons, then come out with theirs shortly after PINKBIKE did a review on our cartridge and if you look at the pictures of the CR1 cartridge and the Elka version, you can see the replication! Fact be told CR1 developed a product of this level first and Elka used it to come out with their own but it shows that the CR1 cartridge is the real deal and can always be modified and CR1 can't trust Elka. If your were at the meeting I was at then you would know where this hostile tone comes from. But as stated CR1 should be flattered to have Elka take their product and develop a knock off! Sorry Patrick but Adrian is a walking suspension genious and I had told him this would happen after the email you sent to us. So you really turned out to be just another corporate company with no truth to your words!
  • 1 0
 problem is suspension is too personalized for that test to actually be useful. When I bought my Boxxer I tried out a few 40's and hated them all. I tried for hours to dial one in and get it to how it felt "right" but couldnt, yet so many people ride them and love them. Its all personal preference.
  • 2 1
 EricBirk, The only way that a test could be done is by choosing one rider. A rider who knows how to deliver proper feedback and can put into words what he is feeling and to use the same fork to do the testing on. Eric I agree with you in regards to the fact that some forks suit one person's riding and or style better than another that is why there is the option to choose which fork works the best for the rider! Suspension is like tires in respect that some people swear by one tire but others like another companies better. The mountain bike world and products are evolving daily!
  • 1 0
 oh for sure that is definately how it would have to be done. 100% the only way.
  • 3 0
 TOO EXPENSIVE, cannot afford on student budget Frown
  • 1 0
 I agree!
  • 3 1
 I cant wait for this! i love my Elka shock, might as well get the fork cartridge to match!
  • 4 1
 Sames here! Absolutely LOVE my Stage 5. Patrick showed me the fork kit at Worlds and since then Ive had money ready to drop on the fork kit. Definitly a must have if you like the Quality of Elka.
  • 6 0
 Agreed, Patrick is a kick ass guy. The support is amazing, the suspension is amazing!
  • 4 0
 X 2 !!
  • 2 0
 After the elka 5 stage I am hopping to get my hands on one of this kits. Just need to change the lyrik for one 36 with one of this baby's in it. When you try a 5 stage you do not anything else.
  • 2 2
 The comment that "separates damping oil from the fork's lubrication oil" makes no difference. It isn't really anything different from the dampers it replaces, other than really old boxxers
  • 1 0
 instigator, Correct, but that wasn't the point. Just explaining that it is a cartridge, not an open bath or semi-open bath system.
  • 3 1
 Next time my stock Boxxer plastic shit goes boom I will be giving them a call.
  • 2 0
 Waiting for Cane Creek;(aka Ohlin's)version of this!
Why not go with an IsoTune for 1/2 the money.
  • 1 0
 I got an avalanche cartridge in my 06 boxxer and it rides AMAZING I'm curious how this compares to it, but these things are so damn expensive...
  • 1 0
 27 million combinations wow id really like testing every sinfle on and see if i can feel the difference
  • 3 1
 the more features there are, the more that can go wrong
  • 5 2
 dope.
  • 40 6
 Really, that's your comment? It's call an upgrade for a reason. Its not like if you buy a Fox 40 you HAVE to get this Elka cartridge. Its like when you upgrade any component on your bike, its all about increasing performance and reliability, obviously at a cost.

As well, due to the limited numbers of cartridges in production and the fact Elka specifically designs and manufactures this cartridge as an after market product I'd presume that the quality is going to be great then something that is massed produced.
  • 26 1
 You can also look at it this way: Pick up a relatively inexpensive Boxxer Race and drop in the Elka Cart. My wheels are turning...
  • 21 4
 Most 40 owners spend that much on blown bladders...
  • 4 2
 Basically, as long as your stanchions and lowers are in good shape you get a new fork for the price of the cartridge.
  • 4 1
 I wonder if they'll offer the same custom tuning when you order one like they do with their stage 5's none the less it looks pretty sick. cant wait to hear how they preform
  • 4 20
flag DH-Til-I-Die (Sep 23, 2010 at 4:27) (Below Threshold)
 Might aswell get BOS..
  • 2 1
 Yeah Pat!
  • 2 0
 " DH-Til-I-Die



Might aswell get BOS.."
or even better, avy
  • 3 0
 Is the Fox 36 version going to be for the older models...or the 2011's too ???
  • 4 1
 Buying a bos is buying a whole new fork,this is an upgrade for your existing fork Facepalm bos also started out making internal upgrades.
  • 1 0
 CR1 cartridge separates the oil as well, is all anodized as well, uses only compression and rebound adjustments as well, uses a nitrogen charge as well and was created based on motocross technology as well. The CR1 sounded amazing in the performance review on PB so I can't wait for a full review on the elka version!
  • 2 0
 bxxer-rider is dead on, best years ever for Marz was 2004-05 especially for wear on bushings. I still ride a 2004 with original bushings and no slack but then I do maintain and change the oil when it starts to get noticeably dirty. 2004 - 2007 then 2010 and on are good 888's. Theirs a reason Marz went back to open bath and in general only WC forks from Sram are much liter because of the air sprung system. My old fork is heavier but reliable, I have not ever thought of potential problems while riding.

Having said all that theirs room for improvement with the internals, I'll be trying out Avalanche's cartridge for 2011. When you've been riding, reading and trying many different MTB products since 1991 you tend to be able and read between the lines and figure out the good and bad.

I'm not knocking Elka by the way, great company and great product. I'll be replacing my shock with an Elka Stage 5 but for my use I don't need to spend $500-600 per cartridge on my fork at the moment, maybe later.
  • 1 1
 Two months here on a 2010 888 Evo Ti. I can find no fault with this thing yet, except you can't weight weenie your big bike. It's light, but not Boxxer light. Do I feel the need to change the internals yet? No. Is it smooth and consistent? Yes. Marzocchi's back. Believe it.
  • 1 0
 mmm that could be why my '08 55 sucked loved it while it worked but that was not for long. the reason i got is because my friend loved his 06 55 (which seem to be the good ones) i just got mine on a bad year... lol
  • 2 0
 wonder if a totem version will come out
  • 1 0
 that would be is sharpbrick, 08/09 marzocchi was no good. the cart was good, but the construction of the lowers and uppers was useless.
  • 1 1
 yous sir have it back ward Blank Stare in 08 they moved to cart style damping and had MAJOR quality control issues Blank Stare now that they have gone back to open bath i kidna want a marzo again, cause even tho it flexed like an olympic level gymnast my z1 felt orgasmic lol apperently no body remembers pre-sram RS Blank Stare
  • 1 0
 in 08 is was a "sealed" cartridge, not "open bath cartridge"

but some 08/09 marzocchi's were actually pretty good, ignoring the chassis.
  • 1 0
 my 09 dj2 is the same as the 08Blank Stare and the new chassis is blah, steer tubes loosening out of crowns? no thanks Blank Stare more specifically on the 09on 66 and the 2010 dj1s/dj2s/4x
  • 2 0
 Sick to see a nitrogen charged cartridge system with shim stack valving!
  • 1 2
 bos had already done it "FRED" Wink

besides, there is zero advantage of nitrogen charge over air, just most servicing centres are set up with nitrogen, that is the only reason it is used. i know for fact that if tf tuned were to replace their setup they would use compressed air Wink
  • 5 0
 Actually their is a benefit to use Nitrogen, it doesn't compress the same.
  • 5 0
 exactly, pure nitrogen does not expand or contract with temperature change Wink
  • 2 0
 @boxxer-rider
Yea they have but they use the open bath style meaning that all the oil in the fork that lubricates and cleans the stanchions and bushings also goes through the valving.

Nitrogen does have a few advantages over compressed air. Compressed air isn't much different at around 78% nitrogen. The rest is mostly oxygen, and thats the problem with compressed air. Oxygen is not flat under the environment such as a fork, varying in pressure and other variables much more progressively as temperature changes. Nitrogen is an inert gas in which its variables remain relatively steady regardless of most conditions including pressure. Also compressed air condenses, further changing its pressure characteristics. Condensed air will have less dynamic pressure as it is "lighter".

Now all of that may sound like some bullsh*t, and it really doesn't make that much difference, but the difference is there. Take it however you want.
  • 2 0
 Did I say all Marzocchi's sucked? No. I have Marzocchi right now, and although it isn't the best, it isn't the worst. All I know is that I have worked on countless Marzocchis and find it kinda funny how many use an SR Suntour cartridge. The last few years haven't been their finest, but six years ago they were the only fork worth getting. Rock Shox had its crappy years, and hopefully Manitou has come out of its bout with poor suspension. I'm just saying it would be nice if they made these cartridges for those forks that were known to be lemons.
  • 2 2
 MARZOCCHI FOR THE WIN!!
  • 1 0
 I love my stage 5, I would like to try one of these for an older 888 but I just can't afford that.
  • 1 0
 just going with what the professionals say who work on my suspension (tf tuned)
  • 2 1
 so what your saying is you don't know what your talking about? you're just repeating what you heard somebody say.
leave this to the experts please
  • 1 0
 only on the stuff where i am unable to do my own research, i don't have the facilities to test air VS nitrogen
  • 1 0
 yes but you can look up the fact that nitrogen don't expand or contract depending on how hot or cold it gets in its pure form Wink just saying a lil research saves bashingWink
  • 1 0
 Does not expand*
  • 4 6
 Holy cow, pressurized closed cartridge, nightmares come true. Elka is just trying to offer something different, so everyone who wants to be different will buy it. Than will pay $100 four times every season to get it fixed and oil replaced.
  • 2 5
 unless you have a way or the equipment to pressurize nitrogen in the cartridge, you'll be fine. they customer service is really helpfull. they don't need to make a special cartridge for my 888, because it doesn't need one, all those 40's and boxxer's need this, you all have fun with it :-)
  • 1 0
 You wont have to do it 4 times a season. Do you own a dirtbike? how often do you replace the cartridge in that? I have my KX for 4 season and only went through a few sets of seals and changed the oil...
  • 1 0
 I don't have a dirtbike. All I need is reliability. Every closed cartridge that is not user serviceable is useless. I've seen many closed cartridge failures in past few years, that I realy don't want that kind of shit. All parts inside a cartridge wear out, so you have a mix of oil, alluminium, plastic and whatever is inside fork. All these things alter damping. So if you are racing with elka equipped fork, you have to make maintenance, if you can't make it at home, you have to send it to elka and that costs a money. Not to mention time without fork internals waiting for them to arrive.
  • 1 0
 Oh wait, so you'd just throw away your old fork internals to trash can?

Given the time you can extend your service interval on the damping side of the fork I would consider this non-issue.
  • 1 0
 ok your right, the moto industry is wrong...
maybe shipping it once every 3 years is too much work for you.
Shipping rates are quite reasonable these days Big Grin
  • 1 0
 There might have been an elka cartridge in my future, if they had made one for a 2006 66 Frown
  • 3 5
 I cant believe my eyes!! Total CR1 cartridge copy cat!! get CR1 it my be a little more but you get hydraulic bottom out and USA made not Taiwan!! PLUS!! You get the best service, not happy with the valving send it back no charge.
  • 2 2
 Elka is 100% canadian made, bro...
  • 1 0
 i hated the boxxer bottom out.. if its anything like that it isnt worth having.
  • 3 0
 CR1 hydraulic bottom out is awesome.. For 100% Canadian made you maybe right. that's why there only doing limited productions.
  • 2 1
 Oh and JamesJozef! sorry to say but we met with them all their products are machined in Taiwan! Don't let them pull the wool over you eyes! I know because they had priced out the parts by the people the work with in Taiwan and could not lower the cost compared to our product that is made 100% in the United States!
  • 2 0
 You guys and your unions are the reason everything is shipped overseas...
  • 3 0
 NO onion please!! F*CK the union!!
  • 1 0
 Does anyone know if they will make them for totems? Really keen to mix my totems with some elka
  • 1 0
 why not a cartridge for a 888?
  • 2 1
 CR1 makes a cartrigde for the 888 and will have the Fox 40 available soon!
  • 2 0
 Wade, you mean the 2 units we had on order that are B.O. since early summer? BTW, we have PAID for those already. Since PB seems the easiest way to reach you, can you call me on Tuesday?
  • 1 0
 Uhhhhh....yes. haha Now I want a 36.
  • 3 2
 so sick!
  • 6 13
flag shorerider16 (Sep 23, 2010 at 0:27) (Below Threshold)
 Hope it works better than there Stage 5 rear shock....
  • 3 2
 please explain?
  • 3 14
flag shorerider16 (Sep 23, 2010 at 2:24) (Below Threshold)
 Bought my new Cove Shocker with a Stage 5, since that was about the only choice at that particular time. It's a real letdown. No low speed rebound, too much rebound on the real hard hits and with only one adjustment about all you can do is try to find a happy medium where both end of the spectrum kinda work (not very well...). I've got another Double Barrel (had one on my Norco) on the way, with it's 4way completely independent adjustments.
  • 15 4
 you dont know how to tune it correctly than
  • 7 1
 Also (shorerider16) you can send it back to elka and tell them your problems, they will then valve it differently to correct for your riding style and bike.
  • 3 1
 shorerider16, Rather than simply bashing something learn about it first. I have been running a stage 5 for 2 seasons now and it is incredible. I knocked 2 seconds off our regular course on my first ride on it. Elka doesnt have the respect and approval that they do from making garbage.
  • 2 0
 yea i have one on my shocker and its better than my friends rc4 personally speaking
  • 3 0
 Its all in setup man. My Elka replaced my Fox DHX Air 5, what a difference!
That and the support is incredible. I had one small issue with my first one, gave them a call they were honest and told me what the problem was, then told me to ship the shock back and they will have a new one sent out. I came home from work the next day with the plan to remove the shock, and a new one was already at my door. 1 day later!!!

When I first ordered it I bumped my springrate up a touch, got the shock, it was too stiff, they sent me a new coil for nothing, and it arrived in 2 days.

They back up their stuff really well, unfortunately my experience with RS has not been the same... My Boxxer WC absolutely grenaded in earlier this season, wouldnt rebound at all. Had to call 4 times, send it to my shop, send it in, and then end up paying for it in the end...
Understandably that is because RS/Sram is a much bigger company, but its just another reason to support the little guys.
  • 5 1
 This is great to see, especially from a Canadian company. I have been running elka rear shocks for 2 years and have been very impressed. Well performing no fuss product.
  • 2 2
 dont blame the shock on the fact you cant tune shit shorerider
  • 1 6
flag shorerider16 (Sep 23, 2010 at 12:44) (Below Threshold)
 Well since you don't know me that's a rather bold statement. I have never had a problem tuning a shock or fork to get it to do exactly what I need. The range of adjustment just isn't there, I've tried lot's of settings. And I think it's kinda lame that you should have to send a brand new shock in to get revalved and be without your bike when a shock like the double barrel will allow you to dial it in however you want right out of the box. Hate if you want, but I'll call it how I see it.
  • 2 0
 It has like 80 million clicks of high and low speed compression + rebound. What are you not getting out of it?
Oh right sorry your dual stage rebound... kinda BS in my opinion. Pretty sure I remember Patrick or Sebastien telling me something about how the rebound reacts differently depending on the hit, its just not adjustable. Its setup internally depending on the rider weight and bike he is going to put it on.
Again maybe there was an issue with this one... If their is you wont be without your bike, they will send you another 1 in a day or 2. Thats what happened with mine. SOOO now that we have gotten that out of the way there isnt an excuse to simply get it checked out. Call Elka, tell them its F'd and they will send you another one.
  • 2 1
 Well I dicked with the "80 million" clilcks of adjustment and got the best result I could find, it's still not good enough. Guess what, Cove is releasing the 2011 with a custom tune, obviously I'm not the only who thought that the shock could be better on the bike.

Have you tried a double barrel? If you haven't, it's awfully hard to judge one now isn't it? I rode one for the last three years on two different bikes and it was an amazing shock. New one should be here next week and my shocker will finally be at it's full potential.
  • 1 0
 I am sure if you called Elka and told them your problem they would put that stack in yours. I havent personally no, but I have a few buddies who have and I know the history of Ohlins and dont doubt how good they are. So basically to summarize, if you simply do what we have told you numerous times ie. CALL ELKA, you could, for more than likely no money at all, get a shock that will work perfectly for your bike in a few days. or buy a double barrel what evs.
  • 1 0
 Once the Double Barrel arrives I probably will send the Elka in, that way I will have a hopefully decent back up. If the Elka comes back and works like I hoped it would, and there customer service is as good as everyone says, then I will change my tune about there product. Until then I'm left very disapointed, out of the box it just doesn't perform. That being said, I chose the option that guaranteed I would have a shock that worked a hundred percent, as opposed to taking a gamble that Elka could put a tune in there shock that would work for me.
  • 1 0
 fair enough, I cant argue with that.
BTW before the Elka came out I was going to get a Double Barrel too. The price difference, and trying something "new" changed my mind.
  • 1 0
 daaaaaamn
  • 1 0
 Ps I can't spell.
  • 1 0
 where did wade go?
  • 1 0
 Rigaud, sometimes the truth can be turned into slander and to Pat, yes I should have kept this to an email but I'm no longer a part of CR1. I do however stand up and speak for someone in the company that would like to say something but is too passive to say what he feels! So Pat I apologize to you and in return hope you and Elka the best with your new cartridge and the fact is that any product that is derived from another sport and taken to a sport using similar ideals in the suspension aspect people will catch on that it's something not for everyone but for those that are truely seeking the most out of the suspension then there will always be competition and other companies will always be there to create a product to compete with your product and if it were not for competition on the course and in the industry of producing products there would be no progress or desire for improvement! Buddylee yes Manitou came out with a great product but it had mutch more potential, and that is what Adrian did, he brought it to the life of a motocross fork. EricBirk, Wade is back to work in my original business and back to testing motocross related products.
  • 1 2
 please make a cartridge for marzocchi 55's!!!!
  • 2 4
 French Product....Fast Suspension (With Elka Decals Wink )
  • 3 0
 ohh the French... its Canadian dude Big Grin
  • 6 1
 oui un autre beau produit du Québec!!!

***Bravo ELKA vous faitent une belle job...***
  • 1 0
 C'est beau de croire que c'est Canadian...bon en tout cas bien content de ma cartouche utilisée cette année...Dude Wink


www.velovert.com/photos/annonces/zooms/end-2008/cdf23ae81d8c4074b89c933e89b478391283880925.jpg
  • 1 0
 I agree, my 2004 had the seals changed in 2005 before I bought it and I still have them on with zero leaks. I drain, open up my for twice a year to clean out the internals then refill with new oil also new grease in the stancheon seals. Still feels like butter.
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