"Kit" Suspension, the "in" thing?

ebers
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ebers
Edited Date/Time 2/18/2018 12:28am
Maybe I'm late to the party, but for the last couple years it seems a rapidly growing number of guys are looking for "kit" suspension.
Is this the next thing? It used to be a trick set of wheels meant your bike was bad ass. Is kit suspension now becoming that?

I understand people saying how awesome WP and A kit stuff is, just seems like everybody needs to have it these days.
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Crush
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Crush 10/30/2015 4:53am
10/30/2015 4:53am
Lots of KTM guys frustrated and lots of air-fork dudes frustrated? Maybe Vital is full of cashed up vets who are also frustrated?
Crisp BRAAAP! 10/30/2015 4:59am
10/30/2015 4:59am
^^^ Sounds about right to me.
Andy_Greenney 10/30/2015 5:02am
10/30/2015 5:02am
I'll stick to full Ohlins set up, does that count as 'kit'?
Crisp BRAAAP! 10/30/2015 5:18am
10/30/2015 5:18am
I think there's much more bling than there was 30 years ago too. Nothings got more bling than kit.

The Shop

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Justin345
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Justin345 10/30/2015 5:18am
10/30/2015 5:18am
I think it's a function of the vet folks having the money to be able to trick their bikes out like they have always dreamed about doing. I'm a few years away from the "vet" tag but I have an A kit and dubya wheels on my bike. Do I need it? No. But I can afford it and it's awesome, so why not? I look at the A kit as somewhat of an insurance policy. I know it's saved my ass a few times. And with more A kits floating around these days, finding a used set for your bike for a few $K isn't all that hard and no where near the cost for a new A kit ($10+K for a new one from PC with triple clamps, etc).

In terms of motor sports/hobbies, considering you can buy a nice used A kit for ~$4K, that's a pretty small cost when compared to other forms of racing hobbies such as 1/4 mile dragstrip. Hell, how many guys do you know that slap a supercharger on their car? $6K.
Uncle Tony
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Uncle Tony 10/30/2015 5:26am
10/30/2015 5:26am
Kit suspension is pretty cool until you get beat by a guy with stock suspension
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Crush
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Crush 10/30/2015 5:32am
10/30/2015 5:32am
Uncle Tony wrote:
Kit suspension is pretty cool until you get beat by a guy with stock suspension
Disagree completely.

My bike has never held me back from going as fast as I could possibly go.

But I definitely enjoy riding my bike a lot more now that it's not beating the shit out of me, and I probably go a little faster than I did–but my buddies still go better on bikes that have no changes at all. One in particular rips and he has just dropped some serious bucks on conevalves and can't wait.
slipdog
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slipdog 10/30/2015 5:37am
10/30/2015 5:37am
My OEM forks work just fine for me, but buy any aftermarket Ohlins, Showa, KYB or WP you want.

Hard to argue the fact that you can sell them when your done and the offset is similar to the cost most spend on their stockers that they can never recoup.
KTMShane699
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KTMShane699 10/30/2015 5:48am
10/30/2015 5:48am
slipdog wrote:
My OEM forks work just fine for me, but buy any aftermarket Ohlins, Showa, KYB or WP you want. Hard to argue the fact that you...
My OEM forks work just fine for me, but buy any aftermarket Ohlins, Showa, KYB or WP you want.

Hard to argue the fact that you can sell them when your done and the offset is similar to the cost most spend on their stockers that they can never recoup.
Exactly this. When done correctly and without the push to sell your stock suspension, kit suspension can be the same cost or cheaper than revalved stuff.

Who doesn't want to spend less and have better stuff? The drawback is you have to put the cash up front. You get most of it back though.

Shane
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KTMShane699 10/30/2015 5:50am
10/30/2015 5:50am
Uncle Tony wrote:
Kit suspension is pretty cool until you get beat by a guy with stock suspension
You're assuming everyone cares about who beats them. That's the first wrong assumption. I don't care if it doesn't make me faster, as long as it makes me more comfortable. Buying kit suspension isn't about everyone else, it's entirely about me.

Shane
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Reefer Sutherland 10/30/2015 6:10am
10/30/2015 6:10am
Have you noticed how Suspension Tuners are the tattoo artists of the motocross world? Meaning, everyone swears their guy is the best around, even if it is some redneck in his garage with zero data, just installing an mx-tech huck valve and a heavier spring.
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Roostermx58
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Roostermx58 10/30/2015 6:37am
10/30/2015 6:37am
Can't buy speed, or can you?
Uncle Tony
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Uncle Tony 10/30/2015 7:03am
10/30/2015 7:03am
Sorry guys
slipdog
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slipdog 10/30/2015 7:09am
10/30/2015 7:09am
Reefer Sutherland wrote:
Have you noticed how Suspension Tuners are the tattoo artists of the motocross world? Meaning, everyone swears their guy is the best around, even if it...
Have you noticed how Suspension Tuners are the tattoo artists of the motocross world? Meaning, everyone swears their guy is the best around, even if it is some redneck in his garage with zero data, just installing an mx-tech huck valve and a heavier spring.
George is getting upset!




CrGuy2T
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CrGuy2T 10/30/2015 8:03am
10/30/2015 8:03am
I would have to say the majority of people following these forums are vet riders and we can finally afford to make our bikes however we want them. Being the "in" thing would be a huge statement because at the track 9-10 people have stock stuff revalved or re sprung. I personally like it and it is better when tuned correctly but l, at the age of 16 I couldn't have even dreamed of having it.
FreshTopEnd
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FreshTopEnd 10/30/2015 8:33am
10/30/2015 8:33am
You know what? Moto is fun, and people get to spend their money on what makes it fun for them. Sometimes it's just fun to have something cool as get out, whether you need it or not. Shoot, the same can be said for a brand new bike for most people.

ebers
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ebers 10/30/2015 8:35am
10/30/2015 8:35am
The vet rider seems to be a common answer. But even then, vet riders have existed before the last few years right? It's a trend maybe starting with Vet riders...
To Shane's point, I never thought about the fact you carry that suspension with you from year to year, which is nice.
hvaughn88
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hvaughn88 10/30/2015 8:36am
10/30/2015 8:36am
Motocross: the community where people bitch about the lack of money being put into "the industry" then bitch some more when people spend thousands of dollars of their own money into "the industry." What the hell is wrong with some of you people?

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ebers
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ebers 10/30/2015 8:38am
10/30/2015 8:38am
Makes me wonder, could our whole industry change in future years where we buy just OEM frame and motor and build our own bikes from there? With the cost of new bikes starting to cost over 10k, and the amount of after market parts available, I could see it happening in the future... Like the bicycle industry.
ebers
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ebers 10/30/2015 8:41am
10/30/2015 8:41am
hvaughn88 wrote:
Motocross: the community where people bitch about the lack of money being put into "the industry" then bitch some more when people spend thousands of dollars...
Motocross: the community where people bitch about the lack of money being put into "the industry" then bitch some more when people spend thousands of dollars of their own money into "the industry." What the hell is wrong with some of you people?
For the record, I am not bitching. I am just noticing the talk of kit suspension being more prevalent now then ever before. And the release of WP's line and the Ohlins stuff, it's just interesting see it be more of a normal thing and where this goes.

At 315lbs and A (local AA), I could probably benefit from some trick kit suspension and can't wait until the day I can try some!
jeffro503
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jeffro503 10/30/2015 8:44am
10/30/2015 8:44am
One of these days!

Always wanted an A-kit on a bike i felt comfortable on. Initial price tag is scary but i know you can recoupe most of it.

You guys that have done the A-kit and the Ohlins way.....performance + cost.....which do you think is a better way to go? Not just using them , but for resale as well?
Justin345
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Justin345 10/30/2015 8:48am
10/30/2015 8:48am
ebers wrote:
The vet rider seems to be a common answer. But even then, vet riders have existed before the last few years right? It's a trend maybe...
The vet rider seems to be a common answer. But even then, vet riders have existed before the last few years right? It's a trend maybe starting with Vet riders...
To Shane's point, I never thought about the fact you carry that suspension with you from year to year, which is nice.
Vet riders have existed before the last few years but "A Kit" suspension available to the public really wasn't brought about until mid 2000's. So now the generation of young people that have grown up drooling over A kit suspension are now becoming Vet riders that can afford it on their bikes.

And to KTMShane's point, I totally agree. I won't lose any $ on my A kit when I go to sell it since I bought it used. On top of being able to use it on multiple different bikes (assuming same brand and lack of a huge change between years).
erikmx91
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erikmx91 10/30/2015 8:49am
10/30/2015 8:49am
Bone stock works...but then again im a broke college kid! Haha "A kit" is good and its all about comfort in moto..so if you can afford it why the hell not??
mjr119 10/30/2015 8:53am
10/30/2015 8:53am
Since we are on the subject, what is a good condition conventional "A-Kit" worth? Full kit.
Justin345
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Justin345 10/30/2015 8:58am
10/30/2015 8:58am
mjr119 wrote:
Since we are on the subject, what is a good condition conventional "A-Kit" worth? Full kit.
$2,500-$4,000 is typically the norm for older spring type. $5-$6K for a set of SFF air used. $7K SFF TAC air used (forks/shock/triple clamps/axle). This is all for Showa A kit.
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SLOWTIME 10/30/2015 9:06am
10/30/2015 9:06am
slipdog wrote:
George is getting upset! [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/10/30/109329/s1200_jerk_store.jpg[/img]
George is getting upset!




George likes his suspension spicy!
Reefer Sutherland 10/30/2015 9:10am
10/30/2015 9:10am
Have you ever noticed how people with clapped junk are quick to say something derogatory about someone's tricked out bike, or truck, or RV... and you never, ever see someone with a nice bike, truck, or RV walking around the pits saying shit about someone's clapped bike, and rusted out truck?

Imagine if the roles were reversed. Usually, it's the guy with all the nice stuff who is lending tools and spare parts to the guys with the clapped out shit who are making fun of the vet behind his back.

It's a pretty one-dimensional argument centered around jealousy.
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TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 10/30/2015 9:15am
10/30/2015 9:15am
I've got 2 sets of 2015 Showa A-Kits by PC available. Front and Rear complete with Axle (Ti avail).

I'm jus' sayin'....
ML512
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ML512 10/30/2015 9:19am
10/30/2015 9:19am
TeamGreen wrote:
I've got 2 sets of 2015 Showa A-Kits by PC available. Front and Rear complete with Axle (Ti avail).

I'm jus' sayin'....
Matt's stuff?
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 10/30/2015 9:21am
10/30/2015 9:21am Edited Date/Time 10/30/2015 9:22am
TeamGreen wrote:
I've got 2 sets of 2015 Showa A-Kits by PC available. Front and Rear complete with Axle (Ti avail).

I'm jus' sayin'....
ML512 wrote:
Matt's stuff?
Yyyyyyup

ps-You need to msg a brother w/ your contact info

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