Nitron Streets

[captain]

Interesting discussion here.

I had a drive in istoo's s2 last week which has had a full suspension refresh by CMC (with new oem billies).

Craig fitted Nitron STR's to my s1 as part of the Honda conversion and I have to say I'm now thinking of putting Billies on or getting new springs for the Nitrons, I think the spring rates are much higher on the Nitrons and even with the dampers set down to their softest (combined bump and rebound) it's a pretty crashy in comparison - and of course body control suffers with the damping wound off.

I'm sure they'd be great for track use but my car is 100% for road - and the roads around here are pretty broken up - I much preferred the ride/handling balance of Iains s2.

Anyone interested in a set of 3000 mile-old STR's?

[Stephen]

I am a big fan of standard! Lotus tend to know what they are doing, so unless you are intending to dedicate the car to the track then OEM is probably the way to go.
I suspect that a lot of the benefits that people are experiencing is the new v old rather than nitrons v Billies.
I think mine has gaz shocks at the moment but I intend to change it to the Billie LSS the same as Dom. I would have gone for the standard ones but as I have a 160 the ride height is lowered and steering is set up for the lower ride height so I need an adjustable set up. It originally came with koni LSS.
It also sounds a little like for a lot if the time folks are adjusting the nitrons so that they perform like the Billies on road and only crank things up occasionally??

[woody]

I am a big fan of standard! Lotus tend to know what they are doing, so unless you are intending to dedicate the car to the track then OEM is probably the way to go.
I suspect that a lot of the benefits that people are experiencing is the new v old rather than nitrons v Billies.
I think mine has gaz shocks at the moment but I intend to change it to the Billie LSS the same as Dom. I would have gone for the standard ones but as I have a 160 the ride height is lowered and steering is set up for the lower ride height so I need an adjustable set up. It originally came with koni LSS.
It also sounds a little like for a lot if the time folks are adjusting the nitrons so that they perform like the Billies on road and only crank things up occasionally??

S2 Lss can't just be fitted and ran at 160 ride heights. I had them and wasn't overly keen as they end up with very little bump travel at the front, even using EP lowering brackets. They don't ride particularly well either.

[Dominic]

I am a big fan of standard! Lotus tend to know what they are doing, so unless you are intending to dedicate the car to the track then OEM is probably the way to go.
I suspect that a lot of the benefits that people are experiencing is the new v old rather than nitrons v Billies.
I think mine has gaz shocks at the moment but I intend to change it to the Billie LSS the same as Dom. I would have gone for the standard ones but as I have a 160 the ride height is lowered and steering is set up for the lower ride height so I need an adjustable set up. It originally came with koni LSS.
It also sounds a little like for a lot if the time folks are adjusting the nitrons so that they perform like the Billies on road and only crank things up occasionally??

S2 Lss can't just be fitted and ran at 160 ride heights. I had them and wasn't overly keen as they end up with very little bump travel at the front, even using EP lowering brackets. They don't ride particularly well either.

Interestingly Ferg drove mine recently and commented how nicely it's ride was. I guess the 135 set up must be different to the 160's.

[captain]

I am a big fan of standard! Lotus tend to know what they are doing, so unless you are intending to dedicate the car to the track then OEM is probably the way to go.
I suspect that a lot of the benefits that people are experiencing is the new v old rather than nitrons v Billies.
I think mine has gaz shocks at the moment but I intend to change it to the Billie LSS the same as Dom. I would have gone for the standard ones but as I have a 160 the ride height is lowered and steering is set up for the lower ride height so I need an adjustable set up. It originally came with koni LSS.
It also sounds a little like for a lot if the time folks are adjusting the nitrons so that they perform like the Billies on road and only crank things up occasionally??

Indeed. It's worth pointing out that my s1 was still on its original konis after 85k miles and they were absolutely shagged - I've never driven any Elise on standard, as-new spec suspension until I drove that s2 last week.

My problem is that the Nitrons dont seem to perform like stock Billies - though i'm sure they could be re-sprung.

[woody]

I am a big fan of standard! Lotus tend to know what they are doing, so unless you are intending to dedicate the car to the track then OEM is probably the way to go.
I suspect that a lot of the benefits that people are experiencing is the new v old rather than nitrons v Billies.
I think mine has gaz shocks at the moment but I intend to change it to the Billie LSS the same as Dom. I would have gone for the standard ones but as I have a 160 the ride height is lowered and steering is set up for the lower ride height so I need an adjustable set up. It originally came with koni LSS.
It also sounds a little like for a lot if the time folks are adjusting the nitrons so that they perform like the Billies on road and only crank things up occasionally??

S2 Lss can't just be fitted and ran at 160 ride heights. I had them and wasn't overly keen as they end up with very little bump travel at the front, even using EP lowering brackets. They don't ride particularly well either.

Interestingly Ferg drove mine recently and commented how nicely it's ride was. I guess the 135 set up must be different to the 160's.

It's the same springs and dampers Dom?

[captain]

What's the acronym LSS?

[Shug]

Lotus Sport Suspension - basically describing specs of suspension fitted to some versions of the S1 and S2 from the factory. S1 was Koni, S2 was Bilstein (and can be retrofitted to S1)

[Kinger]

I am a big fan of standard! Lotus tend to know what they are doing, so unless you are intending to dedicate the car to the track then OEM is probably the way to go.
I suspect that a lot of the benefits that people are experiencing is the new v old rather than nitrons v Billies.
I think mine has gaz shocks at the moment but I intend to change it to the Billie LSS the same as Dom. I would have gone for the standard ones but as I have a 160 the ride height is lowered and steering is set up for the lower ride height so I need an adjustable set up. It originally came with koni LSS.
It also sounds a little like for a lot if the time folks are adjusting the nitrons so that they perform like the Billies on road and only crank things up occasionally??

Indeed. It's worth pointing out that my s1 was still on its original konis after 85k miles and they were absolutely shagged - I've never driven any Elise on standard, as-new spec suspension until I drove that s2 last week.

My problem is that the Nitrons dont seem to perform like stock Billies - though i'm sure they could be re-sprung.

Your welcome to try my S1, its on new Billies and I think there great on road and on track.

[captain]

Lotus Sport Suspension - basically describing specs of suspension fitted to some versions of the S1 and S2 from the factory. S1 was Koni, S2 was Bilstein (and can be retrofitted to S1)

Thanks shug. I didnt realise there were factory upgrades so to speak - i'm going to find out exactly what istoo got and try to get the same i think - i thought his car felt wonderful compared to mine.

[captain]

Your welcome to try my S1, its on new Billies and I think there great on road and on track.

That's awfully kind Kinger - just a pax ride would be great, thanks very much!!

[Scuffers]

I am a big fan of standard! Lotus tend to know what they are doing, so unless you are intending to dedicate the car to the track then OEM is probably the way to go.
I suspect that a lot of the benefits that people are experiencing is the new v old rather than nitrons v Billies.
I think mine has gaz shocks at the moment but I intend to change it to the Billie LSS the same as Dom. I would have gone for the standard ones but as I have a 160 the ride height is lowered and steering is set up for the lower ride height so I need an adjustable set up. It originally came with koni LSS.
It also sounds a little like for a lot if the time folks are adjusting the nitrons so that they perform like the Billies on road and only crank things up occasionally??

Bang on, much as we all deride Lotus, they are not total muppets.

Std dampers when new are pretty good, the problem is that they don't stay that way very long, hence why when you change them for *anything* new, most people will tell you how much better XYZ is.

I was never a fan of LSS, they basically added a lot of low speed bump to them to give a "sporty feel" (Direct Lotus quote!), but without the spring rates to support it, so you could bail into a corner, then half-way though the car would pitch over and round you go!

The std S2 Billies when new are pretty reasonable damping wise, when used with appropriate spring rates, for a road car they are great, the problem is they simply don't last, long before they fail (as in leak etc) they degrade, the car looses all it's 'sharpness' and 'precision' and you end up with a blancmange (by Lotus standards).

[campbell]

Had 3 types of damper on my S1 in 17 years and the S2 Bilstein kit has been by far the best all rounder.

They get replaced in pairs periodically, so the car stays fresh by default

I do more road than track. For those where the bias is reversed, Bilsteins may not be optimum as they are considered soft.

The LSS version might be an answer to that but Simon rightly points out possible compromises to those too.

Very much an individual pref. For example, my missus loves the S1. But if it were on firmer dampers I suspect she'd drive it much less.

[Stephen]

Woody
What's the issue with fitting the S2 LSS to the 160? Are the shock bodies longer? Were the Koni LSS bodies shorter than the old red standard Konis?

Cheers

[captain]

Anyone know if these are standard s2 bilsteins or LSS?

https://www.eliseparts.com/products/sho ... n-upgrade/