My Personal Review
First a little a bit from where I am coming from with this review. J contacted Ed about his line of shocks, and asked if he would be interested in providing him with a set of shocks to test out. Ed, said sure, and sent a J a set of 2 Stage Shocks for the front, and Single Stage for the rear. We had a small Can Am Rally schedule for Broken Bow, and J was going to test them out there, and invited Ed to come up, and Ed accepted. I arrived and met Ed and Rex, and we started talking about Ed's new shocks, and I test rode Ed's Outlander Max, Rex's Honda, and Ed's Grizz 700 all outfitted with Crutchfield shocks. You could tell the improvement immediately, and how faster you could take bumps and rough terrain without worrying about losing control or bottoming out. So, Ed offered me a set of 2 Stage Shocks up front, and Single Stages in the rear for my Outlander 800. This first thing I noticed was how level my Outlander sat, and that was the first time I ever saw an Outlander sit level. They always are jacked up in the rear, and slope downward due to the terrible stock shocks. So, immediately you will regain your ground clearance to 12". The next thing I noticed was how much firmer my ride was, it just felt more solid and secure, no more noise diving, no more body roll, no more jack knifing up and down, and no more squatting on take off. So, I was very happy.
J showed up later on, and we were all standing around talking. J took off on his Outlander, popped a wheelie, and immediately shot to the left. He pulled around and you could hear the cv-joint clicking and popping. Long story short the right hear cv-joint popped out, from the right rear shock.
Ed, comes over and gives J a Limiter Strap to prevent the shock from unloading to far. We then go over to my machine to check it out, and since my racer was not sticking out from the differential, everyone felt my cv-joint should be fine. So, I rode around that weekend without any problems, nor did J after he put his cv-joint back together.
Okay fast forward a few months. J and I are doing a Polaris vs Can Am vs Yamaha Traction Review, and Crutchfield Shock Review for my magazine. J made sure he had his Limiter Strap on for this ride since he was going to be pushing it hard. We are working on the Crutchfield Field Shock Review about 1/4 of the way through, J is tackling a rocky section, and a loud pop happens. Next, thing we know J is three wheeling, and this was not sounding good.
Long story short J limps his machine back to the trailer, gets home, takes his cv-joint apart, and the racer that holds the bearings in place is completely broken. There was no simply putting it back together.
Alright, now its my turn. I am scheduled to do a 2008 Brute Force 750EFI Review, and comparasion against the Outlander 800. This review was for my Jacobs Atv Magazine During the review Chad is riding my Outlander comes out of ravine, and hears a loud clanking sound, and stops. I turn around, and don't see Chad behind me, so I pull around, and see Chad off the machine.
At first we did not think it was the cv-joint, but maybe the driveshaft or differential.I did not think it was my cv-joint since everyone felt my cv-joint was fine since the racer was not protruding outward, like J's was. But sure enough once I got home, and took it apart the racer came out, along with the bearings. If you want to know how to rebuild our cv-joint click here.
I have spoken to Ed about this, and he has made good with owners who have experienced this. Ed is a stand up guy, and stands by his product. Ed, told me he is designing a bracket and should have it done this week, and will limit the travel by 1". He will be sending this bracket, and I will update this review when I have the bracket.
The number one thing all the Outlander owners wanted was the ground clearance to be resotred back to 12" as Can Am touted (If you want to know why the Outlander GC is so poor click here). Well, Ed answered with a set of shocks that restored the GC and then some. Unfortunately, it came at a cost since the Crutchfield Shocks are 1" longer than the stock shocks, and when that right rear shock unloads, it pushes the cv-joint out, along with the racer, and then the bearings fall out, and it isn't going back in. Keep in mind the front shocks are fine, the left rear shock is fine, its just the right rear shock that has this problem.
So now what? Ed has two solutions; A) You can use the Limiter Strap or B) You can use the new bracket that Ed has design. For me the bracket is more sure than the limiter strap. Just make sure when you speak to Ed, and you are getting the rear Stage One Shocks you get the bracket. Keep in mind Ed, now sells shocks that are the same length as the stock shocks, just a better spring and piston rate. With these shocks you will not have to worry about any limiter straps or brackets since your cv joint will have no chance of popping out, since they are stock length. 
Okay, now I have that out of the way, and again I will update this review once I receive the bracket. So, we know the ground clearance has been restored to 12" with the Stage 2 Shocks, and Single Rate Shocks in the Rear. How is the ride? Now, you will not have that super plush cloud like ride you do with the crappy stock shocks, the ride is stiffer even on the softest setting. However, this is not totally a bad thing, especially when you are tackling super rough terrain at a pretty good speed. You maintain one level stance all the way through, there is no bottoming out, there is no diving or unstable washy feel. Its solid and sure all the way through. Dips or washouts where you would normally slow down or whince because of the impact you do not have to slow down anymore. Remember the body roll with the old stock shocks, that is a thing of the past. There is zero body roll, and you can hammer this machine in the turns.
I had my good friend ride my Outlander to get his opinion of the shocks. Chad has extensive experience with aftermarket suspensions, and runs Works shocks on his Brute Force. Chad felt the spring and piston rate was very good, a little stiff, but overall it was very good, and he was able to ride the Outlander hard and fast in all type of terrain without feeling unstable or un-sure.
Conclusion
No doubt Ed answered everyone's complaints with the crappy Outlander stock shocks, the lack of ground clearance, the nose diving, the body roll into corners, the squatting on take off, bottoming out, and the overall poor performance ride. Minus, Ed's initial design and it popping out the right rear cv-joint these are very good shocks, and solve all the stock outlander problems. Keep in mind I tested out the Early Stage 2 shocks, and Single Stage for the rear, and as you will see in the on-line store Ed has come up with several more designs.
You may notice the paint coming off the shock body or scratched, and it makes the shock look older than what it is. I spoke to Ed about this, and he used to have an aluminum sleeve, but he has since switched to a nylon type plastic that will reduce wear, and scratch/wear the paint off. Visually, it will hold up better over time. 
You will also notice that the machine is raked from front to rear. Meaning, the front will sit slightly higher than the rear.
You may also notice the machine rides alot stiffer than the stock shocks, and this is normal for many aftermarket shocks. It is design this way to allow the rider to take rougher terrain at higher speeds.
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