I don't want to turn this into a huge debate but I am at a cross road in regards to my Honda forks. I'm a 56yr old vet & my bike is a 24 CRF 450 and I have had a decent amount of work on them via my suspension shop KroozeTune here in Aust. They have had revalving & springs along with their custom piston set up which is much like the KYB design giving more initial plushness. The forks a pretty good but I have always wanted to have a set of kit forks and have some spare cash and I have a line on a set. The kit forks are sprung for my weight but the set up is for A/B grade so I am assuming there will need to be a revalve done on them. For my showa's they can get Kashima coatings done & recommend purchasing new Showa DLC coated lowers ala.. works edition ones. They can update the custom piston set up with updated settings they have developed apparently ideal for vets like myself. All of this would be done and still be $1000 cheaper than the KYB kit forks.
Do I need kit forks - No
Do I like them - Yes
Just not sure which way to go. Would love to hear from some users of the Kit forks on your experience.
Thanks Rob
You are correct, you don't need kit forks, you would like them even if they are not an improvement, if you don't spend the money on things you enjoy, your wife will spend the money of things she enjoys instead.
Rob,
Just went through this whole deal with my 2024 Honda CRF450RWE and spent the money on both kits.
Did the KYB Kit suspension first, it was nice.
The Showa A-kit parts are way nicer in my opinion. KYB are known to be more comfortable out the box. But the Showa's in my opinion have a lot more adjustability.
With all that being said. The last setup that I think is the best, is the MX-Tech Blackjack inserts into the Showa forks. With a MX-Tech National shock in the rear.
You are going to be in the kit less than the other setups, and I think they are better parts personally.
There will be a wave of a million opinions incoming. But that's my personal opinion from someone who has spent the cash on it.
Good luck and excited for you!
I'd go for the kit forks as they will retain their value. When you spend money modifying the stock stuff, you never see that money again. With the kit forks you can take them to the next bike or sell them if you end up switching brands.
I would just get the KYB because they are sick AF
The Shop
Thanks for the info mate.
Not as many opinions coming as I thought. While MX Tech gear seems nice being in Aust not sure on who sets them up over here. Do they come set up for rider weight and skill? I cam get a Showa set that is a year old for 6k AUD from one of the Honda teams, I have a line on a set of KYB kit forks only for 3k AUD that are 10 hrs old so Im told. All will need re setting up as Im a Cgrade vet who does not race.
Still unsure
I ran KYB on my 2020 CRF and absolutely loved it. I found it was more consistent track to track and worked well in loam, hardpack or mud for that matter where as the showa was finicky to get a good setting that worked everywhere. I would jump on the $3k set and then you can sell later. If you look at most of the privateer Honda teams around the world they all seem to run KYB. Xtrig 24mm offset triple clamps, KYB suspension and a vortex ecu from XPR and the Honda’s are an amazing bike.
KYB a kit are simply coated upper and lowers with stock internals in them. Hardly worth the $ . A kit Showa have more bells and whistles than the kyb. It all comes down to WHO set's them up for you...
I am of a different mindset here.
I believe that KYB has achieved an incredible feat in that their forks have amazing feel AND are faaar easier to set up/valve in their production form. SHOWA is finicky, just no 2 ways about it - regardless of how trick their kit setups might be.
Take the superior KYB starting point ^^^ and add DLC and Kashima = MAGIC. Truly. Friction reducing coatings have several major advantages, less restricted movement being one obviously, but also the ability to valve them more precisely because the friction variable's influence on the setup doesn't have to be bandaided. This is big - and it makes the clickers more sensitive as a result.
I cannot understate how much of a difference the coatings make - at least for me.
Setup is key, no doubt. To fully "kit out" a suspension, I've had great results with Enzo Racing - specifically Craig Decker in Texas. He'll talk with you and figure out what will work best for your desired setup (e.g. adding spring tubes is adding works parts). I literally ended up with the same spec as a few of the factory team riders from a few years back on a set of PSF1 A-kit air forks. I kept asking "is there anything more we can do to improve performance?" and he just confirmed that the setup was what all their testing and trial-and-error led to. I definitely did not seek a specific setup, but rather ended up with the same parts given their experience/recommendations.
If you want the "bells and whistles" that come with SHOWA, get SHOWA. If you want the best performance you can get that is also the most versatile track-to-track, KYB all day long. There's a reason KYB is so popular with racers trying to make career of moto - results matter.
If you don't go A-kit, you'll always wonder ...
(P.S. SHOWA, KYB, WP, etc., can all be amazing with the right tuner. My experience is just that KYB has a higher probability of getting there and will work in a broader set of conditions. And I've spent big money on all. Your mileage may vary - have fun with your project!)
So as I understand it the KYB are standard internally but with all the coatings and are easier to set up.
So that being said would it be no better than my Showas with the coatings set up?? The difference would be down the track I could sell the KYB if I switch brands later
I have heard the Showa A Kit tends to feel harsh if your not fast enough to benefit ( thats hearsay)
I can get the Showa A kit if I desire but its double the cost of the KYB kit forks so I am trying to be a little sensible with my purchase.
These are all used sets not brand New
Thanks for the input so far
The KYB “stock internals” still perform better than the stock showa internals plus your getting the improvement of the coatings and billet fork lugs. I’ve had Pro Circuit Showa A-kit on a kx450f previously and the forks are too stiff for Aussie tracks unless your riding deep sand/soft conditions aka national level prep. For practice days they are harsh on the small chop.
I would think of it like this:
(1) regardless of A-kit or not, coatings or not, KYB is generally considered to be much more forgiving/less harsh. You're simply getting a far better starting point IF that is the type of ride character you want.
(2) if you go A-kit, you're getting coatings, potentially some upgraded internals, etc. These typically only serve to improve the situation. Now for KYB, the fact that their A-kit internals are similar to stock, that actually is FAVORABLE! The fact that they've arrived at such a high-performance design point and made it production should not be held against them (SHOWA is striving for this - guaranteed) - it's the reason they get such rave reviews. Analogy: If you purchased, say, a Lamborghini Diablo and when it was torn down you realized it had Toyota Tundra pistons, would you be miffed or impressed? I'd be the latter - because obviously Lamborghini is using the best it has at its disposal and recognizes the Tundra pistons are something special AND readily available. So, if KYB deems that near stock internals are what are best for their A-kit, and they are known to work incredibly well, is that the right move? I think it is. I tend toward well-egineered, time-proven designs versus more one-off, prototype-y ones. When I was younger, I totally would have gone for SHOWAs (and did), but I tend to chase needles in the haystack less nowadays and just want my stuff to work awesome with minimal hassle.
And again, a tuner can make or break the setup.
Sorry for the long write-up, I've just spent way too much time and money on "the best" only to learn that refinement of a really good base is usually where the big win is.
Do what's best for you and your wallet. Snag those KYB's.
Well put and we'll explained
Im.working on KYB stuff now.
I have seen a few Showa a kit forks where the coating on the legs have faded some what.
Yep that's what I'm doing
I thought only USA vet riders want A kit forks?
Nah mate lots of Vets want them
It takes this long to have enough disposable income to buy em
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