P roject Raptor has been lacking in the suspension area for some time now. To fix this problem we contacted Works Performance in Canoga Park, California. Works has been building high perfornance shocks since 1973, so we knew we could get some race ready shocks to fit our application.

We chose the Pro Series Damping-Adjustable Piggyback shocks, which are available with both compression and rebound adjustments, and a triple rate spring. This shock has all the high-end features. It incorporates a 1-3/8-inch piston design and is constructed with a billet aluminum reservoir web and eye with a steel pressure cylinder. All of the machined shock components are manufactured at Works Performance on state-of-the-art CNC milling and turning machines.

The Pro Series shocks have a heavy-duty 5/8" C1050 induction-hardened high tensile steel shaft and a military spec coating to dissipate heat and resist corrosion. It has a threaded spring preload and spherical bearings with dust excluders. The damping is externally tune-able through 18 rebound and 18 compression adjustments. Works accomplishes this with a computer-calibrated check ball, spring and orifice damping system that is unique in the shock industry, and in fact was invented by founder Gil Vaillancourt. This allows the damping curve to be specifically tailored to the combination requirements of rider, machine and terrain. The springs are wound from chrome-silicon wire, shot peened and set to solid.

Enough on the construction details -- how do they work?

We received our new Works Pro Series Shocks just in time for the Whiplash race in Wickenburg. We did not have time to do any testing so we just bolted them on as they were set straight from Works. We had ordered ours for a 180lb rider in desert terrain. We adjusted the sag in the front per the instructions, and we were off to the races.

*See the sidebar on how to accomplish this."Sag" is defined as the distance the suspension settles from its fully extended position with a rider on board.

We had been fore-warned that the Wickenburg course was one of the roughest on the Whiplash circuit. They were not kidding. This course was 17 miles of rough trail and whoops, with no pattern to it at all. Our new Works Pro Series shocks worked absolutely flawlessly. We were able to tackle the whoops much faster than we could even think about prior to this upgrade. The front suspension of Project Raptor was soaking up the bumps incredibly well, and despite thick dust, I was able to pass about four riders in my class during the first lap. Unfortunately I had screwed up adjusting the clutch just before the race, and lost it entirely on the second lap to end my race. Since Wickenburg we have been putting many miles on Project Raptor. The Works shocks have worked as designed and we can finally use some of that additional power that we added. We definately should have scheduled this upgrade sooner in the project timeline.

At a whopping $899 suggested retail, these Pro Series Shocks may require you to save your pennies, but our experience so far shows they are well worth it. If that's too much of a pinch to your wallet but you still want to see awesome ride improvement, you can get the Pro Series with adjustable compression only [not adjustable compression/rebound] for $699.

All Works shocks are serviceable, and are covered by an exclusive 30-day "Performance Guarantee" -- the ride and handling will meet your expectations or Works will re-spring and re-valve the shocks at no charge, except for shipping. That's a pretty awesome claim, and solid service to back it up.

Next up for Project Raptor and our Works Pro Series shocks is the BITD Las Vegas 200, to be run the first weekend in December. This will be the longest race we have put them up against, and we are confident they will work well.

Works Performance Products , Inc.
21045 Osborne Street
Canoga Park, California 91304
Telephone (818) 701-1010
Fax: (818) 701-9043
Email: sales@worksperformance.com
www.WorksPerformance.com