Finished the new lift for the Outlander 650 MAX XT today!

[Rubberdown]

And heres what I have come up with after installing it, and working on it and researching that I have done.

First of all, for the rear, it would be impossible to put an actual bracket lift on this thing back in the rear. When you get both shocks unbolted at the bottom of the shocks, the wishbone system only drops about an inch at most and you can see that the inner CV joints are at the MAXED OUT LENGTH, meaning any pressure or bumps in that posistion could either pull that inner joint apart, or pull the axle out of the rear gear case, which I have read will happen with a bracket lift in the rear.

So for my rear kit, I used a spring spacer that I had for another machine coupled with a washer for extra locking protection. The factory spring retainers are ablout a 1/2" spacer from the top of the coil spring to the end of the shock shaft, so its sort of like a 1/2" spacer right off the bat. My spacer is 1-1/4" wide, so it gives you about 3/4" of more spring spacer. Heres what sucks.....it doesnt really lift the machine in the rear much at all, very little actually, but thats because the spring is already maxing out the travel of the shock before you add my spacer. So basically, it is just preventing the machine from squating as much as it would with the factory retainers instead of mine which in the end, isnt a physical lift, but it does provide more ground clearance WITH A PASSENGER due to a stiffer spring rate with the new spacer installed. Total time for the rear was about 45 minutes simply due to having a spring compressor that was a bit to big for this shock, it slowed me down due to having trouble getting it on and off the shock LOL. Tools required, a 15mm socket and wrench and I think an 11/16" socket for the lug nuts.

For the front, I used a lower shock mount bracket lift kit. This was a breeze to install, total time from the jack to completed was about 20 minutes. Tools required, a 15mm socket and wrench, a 9/16" socket and wrench and again, I think it was an 11/16" socket fot the lug nuts. The front ended up being a beautiful site when it was done.

I road it around a little bit to let it settle in and my increase in the front (the most important end IMPO) was around 2-1/2"

The floor board increase was 1-5/8"

And the rear was around 3/8" ,I know, not much, but it will stay up higher with a rider on it now.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow, I need to take a break, maybe have a little shut eye while the boss is cooking dinner :madgrin:

[hampster_rancher]

Sounds sweet. Can't wait to see the pics. I'll be sure to show them to my bud, maybe he'll change his mind and need a lift after all.

[torkmonster]

Yeah Paul, I have been hearing today and reading the other day that the rear was a beeatch to lift, and WILL pull the axle outta the diff if a BRACKET is installed and the only thing that is put on there that I have seen so far is a "pipe like" lift on the REAR... The front is a different story.. I saw one today that was WAY over stock on the front, looked inda funny being te front was so much higher, but he said he didnt ride much hills (scared of 'em) and so it actually did real well in the water he rode as it kept the front end picked up CONSIDERABLY... I didn't ask him what size lift was on it but he said it was done by a buddy of his so....
Anyway I'll b iterested in seeing the pix and maybe before and after pix(?) if possible...

[Rubberdown]

I didnt take any before pics, but Mattinthehat (the owner of this machine from another forum) might have taken them when he dropped it off, I'll ask him when he gets here. I do have some after pics though, I'm gonna get to work on those today in a little while.

[Rubberdown]

Rear spacer

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/rubberdown/Lift%20kit%20Outlander%20MAX%20Xt/P7050122.jpg

front lift

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/rubberdown/Lift%20kit%20Outlander%20MAX%20Xt/P7040114.jpg

the machine after install

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/rubberdown/Lift%20kit%20Outlander%20MAX%20Xt/P7050124.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/rubberdown/Lift%20kit%20Outlander%20MAX%20Xt/P7050125.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j158/rubberdown/Lift%20kit%20Outlander%20MAX%20Xt/P7050127.jpg

[mattinthehat]

Picked up the Outlander from Rubberdown today. I just wanted to say thanks for all the work and detail you put into the kit! the parts are great quality and the bike looks awesome with the kit installed. I have to admit I did not think 2" or so of increased clearence in the front would be noticeable. to me it did not sound like much, but the moment I saw the bike with the lift kit on it I could tell it had been raised. I also noticed even just getting on the bike it felt higher up. unfortuantly I did not get a chance to field test it yet as I had obligations with my wife for a day of rollerblading, but I look forward to testing it out next weekend.

here are some links to the pics that I took. Unfortunatly I did not think to take a photo from the front when I droped it off, I was focused on getting before pics of the suspension, not the overall look of the bike, as I did not think at the time, that I would even be able to see a noticeable difference from a distance with only 2" of lift. but believe me it is noticable!

here are the links for my BEFORE pics

http://www.gerhard.ca/images/outlander%20pre%20lift0001.JPG
http://www.gerhard.ca/images/outlander%20pre%20lift0002.JPG
http://www.gerhard.ca/images/outlander%20pre%20lift0004.JPG
http://www.gerhard.ca/images/outlander%20pre%20lift0005.JPG

[Rubberdown]

Hey Matt, welcome to my forum, have a look around, we got a lot of good peeps here to shoot the shit with. Thank you for bringing the machine to my place to work on it ;)

[mattinthehat]

I do have a pre-install video as well of us going over what is going to be done in the lift. in the video there is a pretty clear shot of the front of the bike where you can see the inital clearance in the front.

here is the link to the video

http://www.gerhard.ca/outty%20pre-lift.mpeg

[dcfox]

Boy...that rear box sure looks like it would carry a lot of beer and ice.lol.

[mattinthehat]

hmmm video link dosn;t seem to work. if you go to
www.gerhard.ca

and select "video gallery" it is there. try right clicking and downloading to desktop. should get better results if it does not work for you.

[mattinthehat]

[QUOTE=dcfox;48428]Boy...that rear box sure looks like it would carry a lot of beer and ice.lol.[/QUOTE

Unfortunatly I have not "beer tested" the box yet. but yes the stock BRP box is roomy. it will hold 2 sets of rain gear, lunch, and a pile of tools and stuff for the trail... in lamenes terms.. probably at least 48 beer and 4 bags of ice :)

:hippie:

[dcfox]

Hmmm...that would almost make it through a full day of riding.lol.

BTW...the 1st video link worked for me.

[mattinthehat]

I tired the link right after I posted it.. probably server was not done processing it. cool thanks

[sdf1201]

why didn't you have this lift done before I had to buy one from you know who???

[KENH]

rd you should make spring spacers for the front...it would prolly be a big hit too...them spacers you make look ALOT better then the pipe couplings i see everyone use

[Rubberdown]

rd you should make spring spacers for the front...it would prolly be a big hit too...them spacers you make look ALOT better then the pipe couplings i see everyone use

I think the ones for the rear will be a perfect fit for the front ones as well, so it will be an option, the fronts seem to have some of that famous polaris sag with them as well.

[KENH]

yes they do...just as bad maybe even worse

[torkmonster]

Nice Paul!! another quality product from you..
I may look into getting some SPACERS from you I think in the near future...
First things I'm getting though are SKID PLATES!!! Man I scared myself this weekend going over stuff and even ripped off the plastic cv guard thats stock on it!

But looks good man.....

[mattinthehat]

skid plates won;t protect yer boots. you need front A-arm guards. or rear differential guards depending on where you were experiencing the issue. BRP has decent a-arm guards. I think ricochette also does them as well.

a company called Alumatech makes a seriously good set of rear diff guards for the outty. might consider that. way better than the stock plastic. been considering it for a while myself.

[mattinthehat]

in case you are interested here is a link to some info on the alumatech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU6Gblqye4I

[torkmonster]

yeah, well I'm more worried about the frame really, they say will bend if hit hard.. The front cv guard is the one that came off the left on.. It didnt get hit very hard at all.. My buddy has those metal ones from BRP and they look good and have held up well with the abuse he gives his machine.. I will prolly get those and then the skid plate for the frame...

[mattinthehat]

I have both the front a-arm guards from brp, and the brp skid plates. the front a-arm guards are good and solid I have hit many ig rocks and they hold up well. my only complaint about them is the drain holes are right o the fold where the metal bends up. this probably made the metal easier to bend, but the downside is when traveling through tall grass the holes on the fold act like a harvester. they cut the grass and the grass collects inside the a-arm guard so you have to clean it out. where this would not happen if the hole was on the bottom.

the skid plates are good but do not offer as much protection as the ricochettes and are more money than the richochetts so I would say go with richochette skids.

[650Brute]

yeah, well I'm more worried about the frame really, they say will bend if hit hard.. The front cv guard is the one that came off the left on.. It didnt get hit very hard at all.. My buddy has those metal ones from BRP and they look good and have held up well with the abuse he gives his machine.. I will prolly get those and then the skid plate for the frame...



*Arms in the air*......... Yep, Tow Boat Money:)

[torkmonster]

I have both the front a-arm guards from brp, and the brp skid plates. the front a-arm guards are good and solid I have hit many ig rocks and they hold up well. my only complaint about them is the drain holes are right o the fold where the metal bends up. this probably made the metal easier to bend, but the downside is when traveling through tall grass the holes on the fold act like a harvester. they cut the grass and the grass collects inside the a-arm guard so you have to clean it out. where this would not happen if the hole was on the bottom.

the skid plates are good but do not offer as much protection as the ricochettes and are more money than the richochetts so I would say go with richochette skids.

Yeah, the dealer down here said the BRP skids were a little over 300 or so.....
I heard chad did end up cutting on his BRP a-arm guards just for that reason.. Down in the creek sand ROCKS would collect there and shovel straight into the housing and on the cv boot/clamp.. And that is not good..... Thats why I had to replace arear axle on the 700 popo and will have to on the opposite on it soon....
Yeah hell if I'm gonna pay 300 or so JUST for the skids, I might as well get the richochettes WITH the a-arm guards for 50 more.......

*Arms in the air*......... Yep, Tow Boat Money:)

That Food Service Director money!!!!!:madgrin: *Wildly Waving arms in the Air!!!*:)

[650Brute]

That Food Service Director money!!!!!:madgrin: *Wildly Waving arms in the Air!!!*:)


Iffin I had your kinda money, I'd just burn mine there:)

[torkmonster]

Iffin I had your kinda money, I'd just burn mine there:)

So is that what happens to all your food service director money????:pop2: