Nitron Street Series

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:39 pm

Anyone tried them?

Suspension about to be replaced at MMC (mid January) and I want a softer set for road use (Exige set will be kept for re-sale) so it's either 111r Bilsteins or the NSS set up, however I have no idea how forgiving them are compared.

Thanks

RDH · Post by **RDH** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:38 pm

X7LDA wrote:Anyone tried them?

Suspension about to be replaced at MMC (mid January) and I want a softer set for road use (Exige set will be kept for re-sale) so it's either 111r Bilsteins or the NSS set up, however I have no idea how forgiving them are compared.

Thanks

I've got them on my K series S2? I've only done about 500 miles on them and am pretty happy with them! That said 3 of my 4 dampers were leaking previously so anything would've been an improvement!

I got Dan to fit them and set it up. It'd be easy enough to soften up the ride, but I don't know much it'd alter the handling!

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 1:28 pm

Good to hear someone has run them!!

How do they feel compared to your old standard billies?

Dan - could you do the same if I went through this option? Could maybe give me some advise on spring rates and ride height (as I don't want to alter it) and change my drop links too.

woody · Post by **woody** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 1:39 pm

I have a set, but haven't driven them yet, however the best riding elige I've driven was Hambo's on a set of full fat Hoffmans Nitron's. Twice the price of the NSS, but Hoffmans will build them to your liking.

j2 lot · Post by **j2 lot** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 1:51 pm

I have Nitron NTR on the Europa and would recommend them. Couldn't get street series at the time as they were out of stock but don't regret spending the extra for NTR.

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 1:52 pm

Heard both are excellent, just don't want to spend that kind of money as i'll be keeping the standard Exige set too!

roadboy · Post by **roadboy** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:04 pm

Hi Lewis,

The problem with the Street Series is that you can't spec the spring rates, you get what you're given. And I don't think you'd find the ride on them any better/softer than the Exige Bilsteins.

Your best bet is 111R Bilsteins unless you get something specifically built and valved for your needs. Unfortunately that's gonna cost.

What tyres do you run? You're not still on 48s are you? If so, you would see a big improvement in ride quality switching to something like T1Rs.

HTH

Dan

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:10 pm

Thanks Dan. Thought they would be a lot softer than the standard Exige set up!! Looks like I'll stick with the 111R shocks then.. Was even looking into Elise S shocks but heard the lengths of the rears are slightly different.

Running T1R's which has helped a lot. Couldn't believe how much a good set of shoes helped with ride comfort.

Roads are just getting too bad in Edinburgh to have the Exige as a daily driver, so it's either swap out the suspension or get something else - the latter is not what I want...

roadboy · Post by **roadboy** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 11:27 pm

The latter is the only way you'll get a truly comfortable commute though.

Dan

Post by **Shug** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:47 am

Aye, on the Elises chassis, it's not just the dampers, but the suspension travel and even the design of the bushes etc that make them more direct and jarring than, say, a family saloon. Look at the droop travel on a repmobile when it's up in the air, then compare that to the droop travel on an Elise - miles of difference.

It'll never be a comfy car - they are amazing for what they are, but they aren't designed to be a comfy commuter.

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:24 am

Think i've logged on to the wrong place.

Rag_It · Post by **Rag_It** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 3:20 pm

Considering a set in Jan to replace the temporary LSS I have from Robin at the moment, however might just plump for the NTR's, which i think will be more than good enough for my 4-5 track days a year in the 135r.

We will see, so many gadgets to purchase before Hay Jnr arrives!

Dave

Post by **campbell** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 5:10 pm

I'm afraid I wouldn't use an Elise or Exige over Edinburgh's streets now, not just from comfort but also sheer wear/damage point of view.

If forced to drive through the place regularly, I'd be sourcing a commuting hack for sure. Alternatively I'd get myself sectioned.

There are enough rattles in a Lotus without inducing even more

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 6:24 pm

I was simply asking what they were like in place of the rock hard Exige shocks. And I'm asking about replacing them with standard/aftermarket shocks that are still designed for the Lotus - i.e. take them back to basic Elise comfort levels (which I have owned four of and found them very comfortable). I got the same kind of reaction when I asked about replacing the interior with a Europa Lux interior (which I did and it's great!) even though they come standard in the Europa.... And I don't see you giving the Europa owners a hard time over it! And before you ask I bought the Exige because of the way it looks and go's - so no, I don't want a standard Elise/Europa...

I don't want a nice big comfy S-Type or anything like that I just want a bit softer set up on the road, that's all. Not everyone that owns one of these cars HAS to have a big stripped out hard core track car - people are allowed to own and drive them on the roads just because they like them

I'll keep the Exige shocks for re-sale and/or if I want to change back..... Is that not what people do when they put big fat ugly snow tyres on their car? Change them for practicality? I've never seen anyone comment badly on those threads.

Anyway I'm sure it's just good banter

so back on subject: I spoke to Nitron and they said they could change the spring rates for me at £25 a corner and keep the body roll to a minimum and said that even I go for the softest set up they offer (which they assure me is even comfier than the standard Elise set up) I would hardly notice any deterioration in handling on the road.

robin · Post by **robin** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:20 pm

For road only use, you'll need to jack up the ride height in order to avoid tyre->clam interface over bumps. The down side of this is no droop travel (the damper tube is only so long; the more of that length you tie up in static ride height, the less dynamic travel there is available). This is then an issue going over bumps because you can end up running out of travel on one corner, which will make the ride very poor.

So softer is not always better ... if the harder spring rate/damper can keep all four wheels on the ground all the time (i.e. you don't run out of bump or droop travel) then you might find a better ride.

Softer/narrower tyres will help, as you've discovered. A set of S2 elise front wheels will help further as they are narrower so you can fit 175/50-ish fronts which gives more air/less rubber/metal suspension to the front.

I hope to be proven wrong, but I've yet to receive a pair of Nitrons that will allow sensible ride height and give appropriate bump/droop travel ratio at that ride height. So before you spend any money, decide on what ride height you want (perhaps by consultation with Nitron) then ask them how much bump/droop travel you should expect at that height. Only when you know you're happy with the proposed set up should you part with cash.

Cheers,
Robin

Scottish Elises