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Got a few 2017 CRF450Rs together, a few riders, and some goodies from: Showa, KYB, WP, and Ohlins...we're getting started this week...
Who on here has owned a set of kit suspension? If so, what type and what bike was it for, what did you think of them?
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Location: Avondale, PA USA
Posts: 1901
Joined: 11/28/2009
Location: Marshall, TX USA
Edited Date/Time:
Awesome!!!
I have WP 48mm cone valve forks set up by powerband racing and Andrew short's 2014 outdoor traxx shock (picked it up in the bazaar) on my 2015 KTM 250sx and I love it!
My setup is for sure on the stiff side for my pace but the harder I push the better it performs and while it is a bit harsh on small chop it is VERY PREDICTABLE and controlled when it comes to big hits.
2015 KTM 250sx, WP 48mm CV Forks, WP Trax Shock, Bills Pipe
2013 Chevy 2500 Duramax, 2014 Forest River XLR Nitro 28TQD bumper pull toy hauler
Instagram: @impalenthelen https://www.instagram.com/impalenthelen/
Youtube: Mitchell Thelen
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Location: Davis, CA USA
How can you hope to properly test that stuff if you can't even bottom it bro?
Make Hillclimb Great Again
Ratbeach Racing
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Location: Wildomar, CA USA
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Posts: 1901
Joined: 11/28/2009
Location: Marshall, TX USA
2015 KTM 250sx, WP 48mm CV Forks, WP Trax Shock, Bills Pipe
2013 Chevy 2500 Duramax, 2014 Forest River XLR Nitro 28TQD bumper pull toy hauler
Instagram: @impalenthelen https://www.instagram.com/impalenthelen/
Youtube: Mitchell Thelen
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Location: Sydney, AUS
Drool!
Cheers, Crush
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Posts: 1901
Joined: 11/28/2009
Location: Marshall, TX USA
Just sitting here trying to figure out which kit looks the best . . . and I ran out of napkins!!!
2015 KTM 250sx, WP 48mm CV Forks, WP Trax Shock, Bills Pipe
2013 Chevy 2500 Duramax, 2014 Forest River XLR Nitro 28TQD bumper pull toy hauler
Instagram: @impalenthelen https://www.instagram.com/impalenthelen/
Youtube: Mitchell Thelen
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Joined: 8/17/2015
Location: Cotati, CA USA
Finally!! I've been wanting someone to do this test for a while!! Can't wait to hear what you think about them all of them in the end!
As for the Kit suspension that I own, I have a KYB 2 Piece Kit shock for my 2012 YZ250F which works unbelievably well compared to the revalved stock one. Tracks super straight through rough chop, takes the hardest hits, yet is still comfortable over small stuff and doesn't get unsettled.
But what I am really excited about is my 2012 YZ450F that I picked up just hours ago which is an ex JGR race bike and has their concoction of a custom JRI rear shock and crazy 51mm Showa forks on it which I never even knew existed!! I can't wait to ride it and find out more about the bike!!!
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Location: Perris, CA USA
After the dynamic testing is over I volunteer to do a complete teardown and engineering evaluation of each unit along with a comprehensive comparison between the A-Kits and stock components.
Retired Mechanical Engineer, published technical writer, MSC Engineering, Instagram @maxvonauto
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Location: Temecula, CA USA
I've been toying with the idea of taking the leap into kit suspension, but I've ultimately ended up just doing a respring/revalve on my bikes. I really wish i was able to test out a set of kit suspension just to see if it made any significant difference. Otherwise, its a $3-6000 shot in the dark. The rebuilt/revalved suspension i have now seems to work pretty well for me. How am I supposed to know otherwise?
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Location: POL
Did Ohlins step away from DLC for this year? I know previous RXF forks had DLC coatings and this one has TiN.
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Location: Stockholm, SWE
Used to run Öhlins STX + Öhlins MXF on a KX125. Sickest bling on the track, bro.
It did work very well compared to the stock KYB stuff, night and day difference. I then fitted my old CRF450 -09 with a full TTX setup, that wasn't too exciting to be honest, felt more comfortable on the stock components. (If you ever could feel comfortable on that chassis, lol)
Have fun! And as for looks, both the KYB and Showa kits is god damn sexy. But the swedish gold takes the win.
#1
KX125
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In order to have a proper test done wouldn't it be more ideal for 1 rider to have all of the kits set up for him and his weight & skill level over multiple riders with different weight/skill levels or are you guys planning on having each kit set up for each rider on different days?
In my opinion switching bikes with different kit suspension setups for different weight/ability won't yield the best results for your test.
"Sorry Goose, but it's time to buzz the tower."
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Location: FIN
I have older (2010) WP SXS forks paired with WP Trax shock on my 2013 KTM 150SX and have quite similar experience as Thelen20 with those. Forks are awesome on larger bumps and rough tracks. They don't bottom even when i'm flat landing jumps. My only complaint is too that they feel harsh on small bumps and slower speeds.
The Trax shock in my opinion works great with two stroke. I have a lot more Traction coming out of corners and rear end doesn't swap side to side when accelerating over bumpy stuff.
I have a lot more confidence on my bike with this suspension setup compared to revalved stock suspension. The faster I go the better they work.
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Joined: 8/20/2015
Location: USA
No WP AER 48 Cone Valve? 
Running them now, and are amazing. Running stiffer on air chambers. 160 uper chamber, 175 bottom.
95-105kg setting is 156u 171d. 85-95kg is 151u 166d.
Relatively fast B-rider, 198lbs. KTM 450 SXF 2017. 48nm rear spring, 42mm static.
Have tested the spring version also (which was ok), as well as had the full Ohlins RXF kit 2014 incl shock. Did not like it that much. Most likely due to too soft material in the fork so it flexed way to much. Might have changed now.
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Location: AUS
Has anyone put Kyb Factory spring forks on a ktm instead of CV's?
Looking at getting kit suspension for next years racing (17,sxf450). For me there both roughly the same price (Think Kyb's will be more due to having to buy Xtrig clamps).
Anyway I'm looking forward to this test.
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Location: FIN
A friend of mine has the KYB PSF1 kit fork and kit shock on his 2017 350.
He ordered the WP spring CV forks and Trax shock a few weeks ago.
Current fleet of two wheeled vehicles:
- Yamaha YZ450F 2020
- Suzuki GSX-R 600 K7 track spec
- Canyon Sender CF 8.0 2018 Downhill
- White GX Pro 20 Gravel
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Location: Hesperia, CA USA
'17 KX450. Ohlins forks. Soon to get the TTX46 rear shock. Love the forks. Night and day difference. Money well spent.
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Location: Saint Marys, OH USA
Beautiful pieces of work right there. I've often thought about pulling the trigger on some kit suspension. I'd love to have something like the psf1
Kyb setup for my 2011 yz250 but I'm not sure I can justify the cost for me being a weekend warrior
2011 Yamaha YZ 250 -MX
1996 Yamaha Banshee 350 -Trails
1982 Chevy S10
2005 Pontiac GTO -451rwhp
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Location: Charlotte, MI USA
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Location: USA
nascarnate326 wrote:How much does "kit" suspension cost for regular people with no hookup ?
Ohlins and Cone Valve is about the same, 3300-3500USD for fork. Ohlins shock about 1400 USD, Trax a bit more i think maybe 300-500 usd more.
So not superexpensive. Ohlins inserts are about 1200 USD.
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Location: NOR
I don`t know how much of a diffrence it is on psf1 and the psf1 kit forks.
Other than coatings.
But once your outside of the target weight of the psf1 the forks they start to ride very low.
I love my Øhlins fork and shock. Spring change on them is straight forward, but servicing it. Isn`t as easy as a kayaba
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Location: Manchester, GBR
FRANZINI499 wrote:Finally!! I've been wanting someone to do this test for a while!! Can't wait to hear what you think about them all of them in ...more
Let's see some pics of it then
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nascarnate326 wrote:How much does "kit" suspension cost for regular people with no hookup ?
No hook up here. For the forks I found an Ohlins dealer on Ebay and got mine for $2200 shipped to my door. For my soon to be shock it'll be around $1300. That is coming from Italy to the States( no spring). Spring is $150 extra I think. Can't remember.
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nascarnate326 wrote:How much does "kit" suspension cost for regular people with no hookup ?
But is that the 2017 fork, or 15 or 16?
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Location: Hesperia, CA USA
nascarnate326 wrote:How much does "kit" suspension cost for regular people with no hookup ?
'16. Sorry, should have clarified that. Nonetheless, way better than my stock TAC fork. Front wheel feels glued to the ground.
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Location: Buda, TX USA
FRANZINI499 wrote:Finally!! I've been wanting someone to do this test for a while!! Can't wait to hear what you think about them all of them in ...more
51's? WTF! Pictures...
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Location: AUS
Id like to also see somebody like race tech the specialises in revalving stockers to build something from the stock stuff and be there to set it specific to the rider. Isn't the 2017 crf supposed to be modelled similar to un-coated a-kit?
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Location: Bowie, MD USA
Stuffs worth the $$, if ya got it . Team A kit showa spring fork, rear team shock on my 15 crf450 E3 replica.
