After seeing an ad in a magazine about HLS shocks I contacted HLS (which is associated with HMF) about shocks for my Outlander. Here is the reply they sent:

Michael,

We are interested in designing an HLS shock setup for the Outlanders. If you can lend us your machine for a week, you get the shocks at no charge. If this is something you would like to do, call GT Thunder to see when they would like you to bring your machine over. The number is 330-674-7122.

Thanks

Mike--HMF

Here is the reply I got from GT Thunder:


Hey Mike, hope these help!

Take I-77 South to 30 W. towards Wooster

Follow 30 W. to the Brewster exit ( think it says 93 ) Brewster/Massillon maybe.

At end of exit ramp go left this will actually be 241 S.

Follow 241 S. All the way until you come into Benton. Small green sign blink and you will miss it...lol.

As soon as you come into Benton you will make the first left on CR 207.

Then make 1st right on TR 630.

We are at the top of the hill big red building!

See you June 9th!

Thanks,
Tawnya DeWitt
Office Manager
GT Thunder
6748 TR 630
Millersburg, OH 44654
330-674-7122 phone
330-674-2437 fax
www.gtthunder


Well, on June 9th I loaded up the quad and made the 300 mile trip from my house to Millersburg, Ohio. A trip that took 5 hours out and 5 hours back for a total of 600 miles. I dropped the quad off with GT Thunder and thought nothing more of it.

Today I called GT Thunder and asked if the quad would be ready by Monday, June 16th. From the reception I got it sounded bad from the start, but she suggested I call Joe at HMF. So I called Joe in Cleveland at (216) 631-6980 and the news I got was even worse. It seems that several weeks before, they had been to a race and had borrowed someone elses Outlander to develop the shocks. He said that he was sorry, but they could give me a discount on the shocks. He also said he'd call me back, today which he never did. Meanwhile my quad is still in Ohio and I have to make another 600 mile round trip just to get it. No new shocks, just a $200 + gasoline bill. HEY, THANKS FOR NOTHING HMF! You've just lost a customer.

The thing that really gets me is that both GT Thunder and HMF had my e-mail address. You would think ONE of them would have let me know that the deal was off, BUT NOOOOOOO! I had to make the trip out there and back and then had to call them to find out the deal was off. Now I have to make another trip out there just to pick up my quad.

That's about right when..these companies are developing new products..they don't know which end is up and lead U on....

If they are reputable company ..why would they have to ask to use your bike... why not get one for themselves to test it out on.... sounds way to squirrely for me....

HMF is a fairly reputable company, or so it seemed. They sponsor GNCC racer Mike Penland and Bill Balance among others. HLS seems to be a joint venture between HMF and GT Thunder to develop a a low cost, but high quality suspension system for quads. I took them at their word when they said they would use my quad as a test machine for the HLS suspension. I lived up to my part of the bargin, it's a darn shame they didn't live up to theirs.

I'm seeking either new shocks for my machine, or barring that monetary reembursement for my travel to and from, to and from their shop. If, and I hate to say this, worse comes to worse, legal action might be taken.

It would be hard to prove any legal action, JMO...

If it were me.. I would ask them to offer U fuel money for trips and just go get the bike..

and then...buy a set of Works shocks..
There is a thread going right now in the Kawsaki section...they are a good set for the money....

Well, I've saved their e-mails to me. So if it does come to court I have those. Still, I'm hopeful that the BBB might be able to put pressure on them.

I've always like Works Shocks. They've treated me right in the past, so I might see about them if HLS weasles out on me.

Good Deal Buddy...

Keep us updated...because this is a unique situation that we can all learn from.... especially US modders....

They wouldbe coughing up the cash it took and still should give you a set in my poinion.. But if it was me I would do everything it took to get them to make it RIGHT.. I would fight till the day I died and makesure EVERYONE I knew and DIDNT know knew about it..
It gets me fired up when I hear something like this about a company taking money (is pretty much what they did to yu) and not make it right...
I'm so hard headed I would probably end up spending more oney than I was actually out just to make a point..

You should take them to small claims court if you don't get good resolution on this. You don't need a lawyer, and it's usually like $35. to file. If you have the emails, you should win easily.

Have you talked to who ever is in charge at HMF?

BBB is worthless, all they will do is put your complaint on file.

Like Voodoo says, get your gas money back (at least) and go buy some WORKS. I have them and they work great. Proven product.

I would find out who owns it or is the general manager of HMF, and call them up and ask to speak with him. If they won't put you through, or he doesn't return your phone call, I would print off the e-mails, and draft a letter explaining in a polite proffesional manor what you feel is the fair thing for them to do. Then send it certified mail requesting proof of delivery. Once you have your complaint well documented, and if they still have not resolved the situation to your satisfaction, then I would take your fuel recipts, copies of the emails and the certified letter that you sent, and go ahead and file a small claims suit against them. The value of the shocks is not likely large enough to get it into regular court.

Here is the reply I recieved from GT Thunder:

I have reviewed the emails and first off I need to warn you that I don't deal very well with situations like this. I did not realize what had been promised to you and intend to see to it that you are taken care of correctly from here on out.

I sincerely apologize for any confusion or mishandling. Any comunication or management problems should never be seen by a customer - again I apologize.

The Outlander shock testing and development will be completed by Monday afternoon at which time I can build your set if you still want them. It will take about 7 working days to build the shocks due to plating times since it is a new length body that we do not currantly stock.

If you are fed up with GT Thunder, HLS, and HMF and just want your quad back - I completely understand. I will then personally bring your quad back to you and reimburse you for all your expense in getting it here.

If you still want the shocks - I will gladly build our top of the line Elite shocks for you at no charge.

Feel free to call me on my cell phone anytime today as I want to take care of this and know that you have been wronged by people that I am invovlved with.
__________________
LS

www.gtthunder.com
lsommers@bright.net

Here is my reply:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

THAT IS SERVICE!

Laz,
Thank you very much. I will take the shocks. Sorry for the mix up. I should have realized that you have many irons in the fire at one time. Apparently you are never too busy to take care of a customer. I'll come over and pick up the quad Monday or Tuesday if it's O.K. Now, let's talk about tires. Since you are busting your butt for me, it would be negligent of me to just leave your shop with just a free set of shocks. I'd like to BUY a set of Maxxis Bighorns for my quad. 25x8x12 fronts and 25x10x12 rears (I noticed that you are a Maxxis dealer when I was over the last time). If you have to order them and ship them to me that's O.K. I look forward to happily doing business with you in the future.

Thank you again!

Problem resovled!

As far as HMF is concerned, they have apologized to me also. I replied back, tongue in cheek, that I thought they were discriminating against me because I'm a Steeler fan! (HMF is based in Cleveland)

That worked out great... Get him to build two sets of them for you and ME...

Way to stay on them Mac...And finally the right person, Laz, took over and is gonna make it right for you...

We need pics and clearance dimensions when U get them on...

Good deal, I am glad to see they got you taken care of.

Quality management, we should support them all we can!

After a month and a half the shocks finally arrived. The fronts are pretty standard (dual springs with remote reservoirs, but the backs are something else. They could be described as piggyback remote reservoirs. Piggyback as the reservoirs are mounted to the shock bodies and remote because they use a hose to conect the reservoirs to the shock. Take a look:

Front shock


Rear shock


Close up of the rear


Lowered ride height

They look great...what's the brand name and model....

is that rear shock installed correctly??????stroker

Could the rear shock resevoir be mounted to the TTI arm? Where it is would be a problem with mud and rocks. Just a thought.

How are they working on the trail?

Voodoo,

The shocks are HLS Elite series.

Stroker,

Yes they are installed correctly. I can't mount them upside down (or right side up depending how you look at it) because of the clearance between the TTI arm and the bottom of the shock. It seems that all of the '09 'Gades are made with the Gade X TTI arms. I don't know about the '09 Outlanders.

Foneman708,

I suppose it could, but that would make it more exposed. The reservoir is below the top of the tire so unless the side of the tire picks up a rock, it should be O.K. Mud, I'm not worried too much about. After the trouble I had with cleaning out the tank and the fuel pump prefilter, this quad has seen it's last deep mud and water.

ATVer,

Great. They are slightly more plush than the HPGs at low speeds with the added benefit of soaking up holes in the trail better. High speed is still up in the air, but from the little I did test them, they ride like you're on a cloud. Very plush. I'll have to do some more high speed testing to really get a hang of them.

quote:

Great. They are slightly more plush than the HPGs at low speeds with the added benefit of soaking up holes in the trail better. High speed is still up in the air.

I find the opposite to be true with the Works shocks to a certain extent. The ride is improved a great deal, but I wouldn't call it plush. However at high speed, they are awesome, great control and they stay planted on rough trails.