general info

All Boinger, Sub-Tank, Steering Stabilizer Stuff Here.
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2strokeforever
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Joined: November 13th, 2009, 1:04 pm
Location: Vernon B.C Canada

general info

Post by 2strokeforever »

figured since I made the effort of typing this up might as well post it here too

heres some firsthand unbiased info on TC forks
kayaba (SSS is just a catchy name, it isnt any more or less speed sensitive than anything else)
inner cartridges often loose their "bleed" due to leaking the tiniest amount of oil
piston gives quite a bit of stiction
free pistons explode when the top seal leaks (fairly often, I see at least 2 a week ) there $80 each
you can drill a hole to equalise pressure so its less likely to break when the seal goes (dosent do anything for the leak)
oil comes out dirty when servicing
kashima isnt the greatest, but not a super common problem
once in a while the lower fork lug unscrews itself (for no reason) and completely destroys your forks (seen twice)

the good
lower cartridge seal dosent go that often


showa
inner cartridges often loose their "bleed" due to leaking the tiniest amount of oil
piston gives quite a bit of stiction
top and bottom inner cartridge seals leak often, (there a pain in the bag to change, see it at least 3 times a week)
kashima is crap, its usually visibly uneven and wears off often
oil comes out disgusting (think alu clutch plates)
some have a short ics spring that dosent pressurise the oil near the top of stroke giving a soggy feel


wp
terrible base valve design and usually even worse valving (have to buy different piston to get it right, no amount of valving will make it right)
preload spacers swell and stick on inner tubes (dosent happen if you rotate them everytime you do fork seals)
cheesy automotive style circlip that holds the oil seal in gets rusty (dosent hurt anything, but it pisses me off)

the good
less stiction due to bladder and much nicer finish on sliding parts
fit and finish is miles ahead of kyb and showa, kashima NEVER wears
inner cartridge NEVER leak... ever (its a bladder, like your shock )
never seen, or heard of anyone replacing the ics seal, or any part of the inner cartridge
oil comes out 10 times cleaner than kyb (20 times cleaner than showa)

wp 4 chamber, junk, feel terrible, break every other ride, clickers are ornamental, parts are usually backordered

they all can be tuned to feel however you want (except 4cs)

might as well do shocks
kyb and showa, work good, lots of stiction
mx tech low friction sealing band fixes it
valving to suit rider

wp linkage
lots of stiction, friction bands known to disentegrate, wrecking shock body
mx tech low friction sealing band fixes it
way too stiff HSC spring
replace with proper spring
piston has lots of drag, replace with bladder (deja vu)
ceramic seal leaks and costs $50, replace with kayaba 18mm shock seal

PDS
terrible piston design, wonky valving
piston has lots of drag, replace with bladder
ceramic seal leaks and costs $50, replace with kayaba 18mm shock seal
rebound is a bit of a compromise, either a little too fast deep in the stroke or too slow up top
easy to work on
can work better in the woods on big square hits than linkage

wp sxs shock
nothing special, same flaws as the normal stuff, but with more anodising

traxx shock, awesome

cone valve forks, probably no better than kyb or showa, cone valve is basicaly a spring pushing on a cone for a midvalve, the cone behaves the same as if it were flat, so its like having a spring pushing on a washer for your midvalve (ktm dosent offer any different springs for tuning
not sure how the same midvalve is supposed to work for a 220lb guy on a 450 and a 150 lb guy on a 150?
the 450 will have less power and will be harder to start, and will be heavier, but to make up for it it will require more maintenance.
4stroke=dead fish
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