What top riders are using air forks

4thGearPinned wrote:

Yamaha's going spring because it works better...

Cost savings is the main push for air on production bikes not performance.

kiwifan wrote:

the KTM guys are going to be upset too, as the FE comes with air forks so therefore the 2017 KTMs will have them.... only a...

the KTM guys are going to be upset too, as the FE comes with air forks so therefore the 2017 KTMs will have them.... only a matter of time before Yamaha follow suit

c0ncEpT wrote:

Yamaha will change once another production fork is "better" than the SSS.

Darryl916 wrote:

Heads up.... Was just on the phone with Craig from Enzo earlier and also talked with Joey at JGR, Looking to pull the trigger on a...

Heads up.... Was just on the phone with Craig from Enzo earlier and also talked with Joey at JGR, Looking to pull the trigger on a KYB kit for my soon to be 2016 YZ450.

Want to pick your brain about some details and options, gonna give you a call a little later to help me make some choices.

kiwifan wrote:

Yamaha is already spring and they are going air like it or not or be in denial or not

ML512 wrote:

Not for the foreseeable future... I expect springs for at least two more years, if not longer.

kiwifan wrote:

Bet ya a beer they will change sooner :-)

kong0036 wrote:

Was wondering with all the talk about air forks these days are there still any factory riders that use spring or oil forks

ML512 wrote:

Here's a list, I'm going to be adding over the next few mins... check back as I update. KYB PSF1 Air Forks: 450s Justin Barcia -...

Here's a list, I'm going to be adding over the next few mins... check back as I update.

KYB PSF1 Air Forks:
450s
Justin Barcia - JGR Yamaha
Weston Peick - JGR Yamaha
Phil Nicoletti - JGR Yamaha
Trey Canard - HRC Honda
Cole Seely - HRC Honda
Justin Bogle - Geico/HRC Honda
Ken Roczen - RCH Suzuki
Eli Tomac - Monster Energy Kawasaki
Tommy Hahn - Rock River Yamaha
Josh Grant - HLTN Suzuki

250s
Jimmy Decotis - Gieco Honda
RJ Hampshire - Gieco Honda
Jordon Smith - Gieco Honda
Chase Sexton - Geico Honda
Christian Craig - Gieco Honda
Malcolm Stewart - Geico Honda
Alex Martin - Star Racing Yamaha
Jeremy Martin - Star Racing Yamaha
Cooper Webb - Star Racing Yamaha
Mitchell Harrison - Star Racing Yamaha
Aaron Plessinger - Star Racing Yamaha
Scott Champion - BPR Yamaha
Austin Politelli - BPR Yamaha
Cole Martinez - BPR Yamaha
Michael Leib - Slaton Yamaha
Benny Bloss - Slaton Yamaha
Colt Nicholls - Rock River Yamaha
Luke Renzland - Rock River Yamaha


KYB 48mm AOSS (spring)
450s
Chad Reed - Factory Yamaha

250s
Kyle Cunningham - Motorcycle Superstore Suzuki
Josh Osby - Motorcycle Superstore Suzuki
Marky Worth - Motorcycle Superstore Suzuki
Jimmy Albertson - Motorcycle Superstore Suzuki
Zach Bell - 51Fifty Yamaha
Hayden Mellross - 51Fifty Yamaha

Showa SFF TAC (air)
450s
Blake Baggett - Yoshimura Suzuki
James Stewart - Yoshimura Suzuki
Broc Tickle - RCH Suzuki
Wil Hahn - Factory Kawasaki
Jake Weimer - Tedder Kawasaki

250s
Austin Forkner - Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Tyler Bowers - Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Adam Cianciarulo - Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Chris Alldredge - Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Joey Savatgy - Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Arnaud Tonus - Pro Circuit Kawasaki
Nick Gaines - Trader's Kawasaki
Justin Starling - Trader's Kawasaki
Anthony Rodriguez - Trader's Kawasaki
Braken Hall - Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Honda
Kyle Peters - Ride365 Honda
Chase Marquier - Ride365 Honda
Zac Commans - Slaton KTM
Gannon Audette - Legends & Heroes Kawasaki
Matt Lemoine - JAB Kawasaki

Showa twin-cartidge spring fork
450s
Dakota Tedder - Tedder Racing - 49mm A-Kit
Adam Ecktinap - 722 Honda - 49mm A-Kit
Tyler Ecltinap - 722 Honda - 49mm A-Kit
Nick Schmidt - TPJ Suzuki - 49mm A-Kit
Mike Alessi - MCR Honda - 48mm production
Vince Friese - MCR Honda - 48mm production

250s
Freddy Noren - Rockwell Honda - 48mm production
Jackson Richardson - Honda - 49mm A-Kit

WP 52mm AER (air forks) + air shock
450s
Andrew Short - BTO KTM
Davi Millsaps - BTO KTM

WP 52mm Cone Valve (spring)
450s
Ryan Dungey - Red Bull KTM
Marvin Musquin - Red Bull KTM
Dean Wilson - Red Bull KTM
Jason Anderson - Rockstar Husqvarna
Christophe Pourcel - Rockstar Husqvarna
Justin Brayton - BTO KTM

250s
Zach Osborne - Rockstar Husqvarna
Martin Davalos - Rockstar Husqvarna
Jessy Nelson - TLD KTM
Shane McElrath - TLD KTM
Justin Hill - TLD KTM
Alex Frye - TLD KTM
Mitchell Oldenburg - TLD KTM
Matt Bisceglia - MAD Suzuki - 48mm version
Daniel Baker - MAD Suzuki - 48mm version
Cole Thompson - Slaton KTM - 48mm version

Ohlins spring forks
450s
Kyle Chisholm - Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Honda
Alex Ray - Privateer Honda

250s
Dillan Epstein - RBI Kawasaki
Maxime Desprey - BUD Kawasaki

aees wrote:

Roczen is running spring forks, KYB.

aees wrote:

Roczen is running spring forks, KYB.

ML512 wrote:

No he's not! He's using KYB PSF1 Air forks... I'll dig up the photos from the last two races if you'd like... I only stood there...

No he's not! He's using KYB PSF1 Air forks... I'll dig up the photos from the last two races if you'd like...

I only stood there talking to Ryan while he checked the pressures at both rounds...

aees wrote:

Roczen is running spring forks, KYB.

ML512 wrote:

No he's not! He's using KYB PSF1 Air forks... I'll dig up the photos from the last two races if you'd like... I only stood there...

No he's not! He's using KYB PSF1 Air forks... I'll dig up the photos from the last two races if you'd like...

I only stood there talking to Ryan while he checked the pressures at both rounds...

ML512 wrote:

I know how long the suspension contracts are for...

And I don't drink... I'll take a Dr. Pepper though.

Sheriff245 wrote:

You must be one dehydrated man. What will you do with the Dr. Pepper if you don't drink, build bombs?

ML512 wrote:

I know how long the suspension contracts are for...

And I don't drink... I'll take a Dr. Pepper though.

Sheriff245 wrote:

You must be one dehydrated man. What will you do with the Dr. Pepper if you don't drink, build bombs?

ML512 wrote:

I know how long the suspension contracts are for...

And I don't drink... I'll take a Dr. Pepper though.

kiwifan wrote:

ok, but lets play devil's advocate here... so lets say Yamaha want to lose a lot more weight off their 250/450, we all know that air...

ok, but lets play devil's advocate here... so lets say Yamaha want to lose a lot more weight off their 250/450, we all know that air forks save quite a few pounds, even if they have a suspension contract with KYB to deliver them spring forks for next 2-3 years....surely that would not stop them moving to air forks sooner if they wanted to?

And ok a Dr. Pepper ..nice stuff that

mx317 wrote:

If it's cost, then why are most of the factory teams on air when cost is no factor?

colintrax wrote:

There's a performance benefit to air, less partially sprung weight. It's also quicker/easier to change the spring rate. On the flip side, air doesn't react to...

There's a performance benefit to air, less partially sprung weight.
It's also quicker/easier to change the spring rate.
On the flip side, air doesn't react to heat as well as springs.. and some people claim there's less feeling in air forks. BS imo

Titan1 wrote:

ML512 is a full on encyclopedia...

I love it.

Titan1 wrote:

ML512 is a full on encyclopedia...

I love it.

ML512 wrote:

More than a few people have called me "motopedia" before... Not nearly as many that call me "Talking Boy" though... I can thank Ross and Donn...

More than a few people have called me "motopedia" before... Not nearly as many that call me "Talking Boy" though... I can thank Ross and Donn Maeda for popularizing that one.

Titan1 wrote:

Lol motopedia works. Hahaha

kiwifan wrote:

ok, but lets play devil's advocate here... so lets say Yamaha want to lose a lot more weight off their 250/450, we all know that air...

ok, but lets play devil's advocate here... so lets say Yamaha want to lose a lot more weight off their 250/450, we all know that air forks save quite a few pounds, even if they have a suspension contract with KYB to deliver them spring forks for next 2-3 years....surely that would not stop them moving to air forks sooner if they wanted to?

And ok a Dr. Pepper ..nice stuff that

ML512 wrote:

The R&D staff wants to stay spring right now and they know that's a great selling point for them. They also have the lowest MSRP in...

The R&D staff wants to stay spring right now and they know that's a great selling point for them. They also have the lowest MSRP in both classes (in the USA), so the cost reduction isn't as big of a deal for them. The weight loss isn't worth the offset of losing a great selling point to those who don't get along with air forks.

kiwifan wrote:

ok, fair enough.

Flatliner wrote:

Surprised all of star went to air. That's interesting.

ML512 wrote:

If I'm wrong though, I owe you... HA

Flatliner wrote:

Surprised all of star went to air. That's interesting.

ML512 wrote:

Star has been on PSF1 air since 2013 (old chassis).

mx317 wrote:

If it's cost, then why are most of the factory teams on air when cost is no factor?

colintrax wrote:

There's a performance benefit to air, less partially sprung weight. It's also quicker/easier to change the spring rate. On the flip side, air doesn't react to...

There's a performance benefit to air, less partially sprung weight.
It's also quicker/easier to change the spring rate.
On the flip side, air doesn't react to heat as well as springs.. and some people claim there's less feeling in air forks. BS imo

mx317 wrote:

That was my point.

colintrax wrote:

If you were making a point then whyd it end with a question mark?