Air Forks...feedback

Titan1
Profile picture for user Titan1
Posts
8622
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT US
Titan1
Edited Date/Time 7/22/2015 11:34am
I've seen a lot about the air forks in magazines and by "professionals", but I'm curious what the "average joe" thinks of them....How do they feel when riding? Maintenance (more/less, easier/harder)? Tuning (easier/harder)? That kind of thing. (Experience off road would be sweet as well)

I'm looking at a new bike this fall/winter...and I've got it narrowed down to a KTM 300XC and a YZ450...I'm leaning Yamaha just for the fact that I'm on a YZ450 now and really like it and love the suspension (and the KTM 4cs forks aren't great at all, and according to KTMtalk I've got to spend $1700 on a revalve from Kreft Moto to get them right...so thats $8700 on the bike, and $1700 more on the suspension...or I can spend $7000 on a brand new 2015 YZ 450 and have a local suspension shop revalve it for off road for $700)...but, if the air forks are good, I'd consider whichever Jap 450 I can get the best deal on.
|
Bruce372
Profile picture for user Bruce372
Posts
6341
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
Bruce372 7/21/2015 12:29pm
7/21/2015 12:29pm
my SFF TAC RMZ forks were horrible, then I revalved them and I love them. No different than any other fork ive owned.

IMO these forks had so much high speed damping, its no wonder people cant set the spring rate correctly since too much high speed compression can mimic a too high spring rate.

I am 220lbs, and just by going up and down with the air pressures, even with a rider at 160lbs everyone that has ridden my bike likes the forks.

before I did buy the bike, I noticed that the majority of people that hated air forks, didn't actually ever own any.
Justin345
Profile picture for user Justin345
Posts
644
Joined
6/26/2014
Location
Southern MD, MD US
Justin345 7/21/2015 12:44pm
7/21/2015 12:44pm
My SFF TAC forks on the 2015 KX450F were amazing after valved and set up for me. Performance wise they are close to my A-kit I currently use (older spring style A kit).

Maintenance wise - once you find a setting you like, checking the pressure before you ride takes 45 seconds and is no different than checking your tire pressure. Like Bruce stated, in my experience the majority of people that bash on air forks have never owned any. I've owned both the KYB PSF1 (2013 KX450F) and the Showa SFF TAC (2015 KX450F) for reference. The TAC's performed better IMO. My opinion is based on 100% mx track, no off road.
SweetDaddy
Profile picture for user SweetDaddy
Posts
655
Joined
11/21/2006
Location
Orlando, FL US
SweetDaddy 7/21/2015 12:49pm
7/21/2015 12:49pm
I have a 15 RMZ450 with Factory Connection susp and an FMF 4.1 titanium and I love it but I haven't ridden the others.

Only bad thing about this bike is that my dealer now has new 15s listed for $5999!
Fiftyfiveracing 7/21/2015 12:54pm
7/21/2015 12:54pm
I was actually pretty happy with psf1 Fork of 2014 crf450 after revalve. Yes i had to use neoprene seal socks because of the fear of blown seal while racing. Never had blown seals... Then, i bought 2015 crf450 with New psf2 Fork and must say, i absolutely hated it. After few revalves it still left me thinking what the heck.

The Shop

See All »
mmcmx
Profile picture for user mmcmx
Posts
2282
Joined
8/31/2008
Location
Perafita, Catalunya PE
mmcmx 7/21/2015 1:35pm
7/21/2015 1:35pm Edited Date/Time 7/21/2015 1:36pm
I have a KXF 2014 with kyb psf1. Can't say anything bad about them. Never blown a seal. The shock sucks but the forks are ok

I'd love to have the yami forks on my kawi though. That would make it the perfect bike.
Jrewing
Profile picture for user Jrewing
Posts
2865
Joined
1/4/2014
Location
AU
Jrewing 7/21/2015 3:02pm
7/21/2015 3:02pm
Fiftyfiveracing wrote:
I was actually pretty happy with psf1 Fork of 2014 crf450 after revalve. Yes i had to use neoprene seal socks because of the fear of...
I was actually pretty happy with psf1 Fork of 2014 crf450 after revalve. Yes i had to use neoprene seal socks because of the fear of blown seal while racing. Never had blown seals... Then, i bought 2015 crf450 with New psf2 Fork and must say, i absolutely hated it. After few revalves it still left me thinking what the heck.
What'd they do on the revalve? I like the forks if the tracks loamy beginning of the day... Come end of day on sharp edges the forks are horrible. Plus the rear shock fades 4-5 laps in- did you notice that?
mx836
Profile picture for user mx836
Posts
5579
Joined
4/2/2008
Location
; BF
mx836 7/21/2015 3:18pm
7/21/2015 3:18pm
PSF1 forks on my KXF450 are the best stock forks I've ever ridden IMO. I'm a 210 lbs (vet now at 30, I guess) expert level rider. Love being able to adjust spring rate with a few pumps of air. Maintenance is no different really. No more difficult than a spring fork and I've never blown a seal ending my day.
ktm212
Profile picture for user ktm212
Posts
608
Joined
11/30/2009
Location
Lafayette, NJ US
ktm212 7/21/2015 3:21pm
7/21/2015 3:21pm
I really dig the TAC SFF fork on my 2015 KX 450. I've ridden on a good set of 4CS though and really liked them too when theyre dialed in. The 16 KX should be pretty sweet too, dropping almost 8 pounds too.
mx317
Profile picture for user mx317
Posts
4562
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
TN US
mx317 7/21/2015 3:50pm
7/21/2015 3:50pm
Looked at the assembly and prep manual for 2016 KX450F and it has much different air fork pressures.174 psi inner, 14.5 outer, and 203psi balance is std air pressures.
tmauto769
Profile picture for user tmauto769
Posts
718
Joined
12/25/2011
Location
TN US
Fantasy
1001st
tmauto769 7/21/2015 5:10pm
7/21/2015 5:10pm
I am really digging the TAC forks on my '15 crf250. I had a problem with mine blowing seals and leaking oil for the first 12hrs. I went through the oem set, and 2 more sets of green skf seals to find out the bushings were shit, I changed those out with pro-x ones and all is good now. Mine are stock with no revalve I weigh 180#. I have only rode mx with them so far, but I think I am going to run some hs this fall on this bike instead of my 450.
Titan1
Profile picture for user Titan1
Posts
8622
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT US
Titan1 7/22/2015 7:57am
7/22/2015 7:57am
Thanks for the real world feedback. Much appreciated.
TeamGreen
Profile picture for user TeamGreen
Posts
29103
Joined
11/25/2008
Location
Thru-out, CA US
TeamGreen 7/22/2015 9:05am
7/22/2015 9:05am
Titan1 wrote:
Thanks for the real world feedback. Much appreciated.
The way you seem to appreciate "how" your YZF works...? I stay on what'cha like!
Fiftyfiveracing 7/22/2015 9:58am
7/22/2015 9:58am
Fiftyfiveracing wrote:
I was actually pretty happy with psf1 Fork of 2014 crf450 after revalve. Yes i had to use neoprene seal socks because of the fear of...
I was actually pretty happy with psf1 Fork of 2014 crf450 after revalve. Yes i had to use neoprene seal socks because of the fear of blown seal while racing. Never had blown seals... Then, i bought 2015 crf450 with New psf2 Fork and must say, i absolutely hated it. After few revalves it still left me thinking what the heck.
Jrewing wrote:
What'd they do on the revalve? I like the forks if the tracks loamy beginning of the day... Come end of day on sharp edges the...
What'd they do on the revalve? I like the forks if the tracks loamy beginning of the day... Come end of day on sharp edges the forks are horrible. Plus the rear shock fades 4-5 laps in- did you notice that?
I have no idea, i just tell him what i feel on the track and he changes something. Funny how you like them in loam because the only surface i was happy with them was intermediate soft soil with small bumps. As for he shock, i think it felt pretty much dead all the time and clickers had very small effect. Actually when they opened my shock for the second time the whole comp adjuster was broken.
Titan1
Profile picture for user Titan1
Posts
8622
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT US
Titan1 7/22/2015 11:34am
7/22/2015 11:34am
Titan1 wrote:
Thanks for the real world feedback. Much appreciated.
TeamGreen wrote:
The way you seem to appreciate "how" your YZF works...? I stay on what'cha like!
The "I really don't like change" part of me, is right there with you, but because I've only owned Honda's and Yamaha's...part of me is intrigued by the idea of riding something different, if I was confident I could make them work for me off road, and if I could get a better deal (and by that I mean cheaper) than a YZ.

At this point, a new YZ450 is at the top of my list. (I'd love a KTM 300, and when/if tests/ride reports start coming out saying they've fixed their forks...That bike will be the top of my list. That's why I'm waiting until late fall/winter to buy. )

Post a reply to: Air Forks...feedback