Air vs. Spring Forks | Which Are BEST?
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- The air fork revolution in motocross began a decade ago when the KYB PSF1 fork made its debut on Kawasaki and Honda 450 MX bikes. Showa followed suit soon thereafter and soon enough, WP joined in on the fun, too. While all of the Japanese manufacturers have returned to mechanical spring forks for their more consistent feel and performance, the Austrian brands - KTM, Husqvarna, and Gas Gas - have continued to stand by the air spring design. Several suspension hop-up shops, meanwhile, have been very successful in developing a mechanical spring retrofit kit, and Race Tech is among the most popular.
Several weeks ago, Race Tech revalved both ends of our 2024 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition test bike and installed its spring conversion kit in the WP fork. Tester Alex Ray loved the upgraded performance, but wanted to try the modification back to back against the same modified suspension components, sans the mechanical spring kit.
We spent a day at Fox Raceway with the Race Tech crew and did some true comparison testing with both mechanical spring and air spring setups. Which configuration did ARay prefer? Press play and find out!
The Race Tech Spring Conversion kit for WP AER48 forks costs $549.99 and is AMA legal for Stock class competition. Learn more at racetech.com
Almost sold my KTM until I had the spring kit put in by JBI. Now the best bike I’ve ever ridden
Got mine out to jbi as well. Not doing the spring just yet. 2k on forks isn't quite in my budget.
Yep I had KB5 do the KYB spring conversion on my 21.5' Husqvarna fc450 factory edition, best bike I've ever rode.
@@panic-revv85think its $1200 for the WP 6500 inserts
@@pags1981 right, but that's if you choose to go that route. There are other options for the wp stuff.
The video I was waiting for , was going to get a spring kit now decided, not just by the video just things make sense more by things I felt to , tks
I have both, spring is so much better. I've wasted so much time trying to get the air forks even close to as good as KYBs are right off the dealer floor.
Should do a blind comparison. Most are totally biased. REP does an absolutely phenomenal job with WP Air.
Also, rebound needs to be tuned differently between an air and coil fork. More spring force (on air) deep in the stroke means more deep stroke rebound control is needed. The damping needs to be different between the two types of springs.
I’m digging the scrubs A ray! That #Oneal kit is sick AF!
Where you ride makes all the difference. Air forks for sand/mud and coils for hardpack.
Should be a double blind test
I'd love to see blind testing done on guys from three or four different speed levels. Ex-pros are obviously elite and can feel the difference. Decent local pros, mid pack racers, and a slower vets/novice- I'm not so sure. I've had air and spring set up to feel decent. I've also had settings that were way off on both. We tend to be very influenced by what is spoken about at the top levels.
With blindfolds.
@@ashb9665100% I’ve managed to get my ktm450sxf air forks pretty dialed and when testing on a triumph the stock forks were terrible super stiff and brutal on the hands. Given some track conditions require a few adjustments on the air fork clickers but it’s so easy to adjust and feel the differences that I really can’t complain about them at all now if I get springs and valved for me specifically I’d be curious to see how it compares but stock vs stock I’m not easily impressed by any particular manufacturer save for Yamaha kyb stock is pretty good stuff but Ktm isn’t far off for being air.
EXCELLENT DESCRIPTION/ COMPARISON FROM AN EXPERIENCED RIDER/TESTER - SURE MANUFACTURERS ARE TRYING TO MAKE STANDARD SUSPENSION AS CHEAP AS POSSIBLE TO SAVE MONEY AT EXPENSE OF PERFORMANCE
Getting WP 6500 cartridge and spring kit cant wait, hope its as good as the Ohlins stuff
Thanks guys
I just ordered my set of race tech spring conversion kit, I cant fckn wait to strap that on my 2 smoker and go ride! I love my bike i just feel everything you described... tall upfront, squated or the rear... if I get the balance I used to have on japanese bikes than Im as happy as can be on my Husky
I forgot how good A-Ray is!
Aray, living large..hell yeah!
i like the rear end squat when i gas it out of a corner
That's the same problem I have in corners. It feels like it's going to settle in but then the front pops up. I'm 135 without gear and I'm down to 120 psi and still haven't figured it out. I'm new to Husqvarna (24.5 fc250 RE), guess I'm just used to quick steering Honda's haha
Cost to service....
Air. $$$$$
Spring. $
Reliability
Air. @#%#%$$
Spring. :)
Wrong cost $600 to service front and rear
Reliability haven’t had a single issue with my 450 air forks with 120 hours on it casing hundred foot jumps and full throttle into gnarly breaking bumps. You’re full of it.
He’s right you are extremely full of it, probably ride a TTR 230
Sherco 250 with kyb... for the tight trails. Kx 450 for the fast races and moto
😁
I got a full setup on my 2019 150sx race tech gold valves by crow performance with the conversion it is so much better much more comfortable stable and strong and won’t bounce me sideways when I case a jump and doesn’t kill my ankles when I over jump
FYI Air ramps up more than coil spring forks. The perceived feel just might not be what a graph would show.
My re-valved Air Forks have been amazing compared to stock.
More videos like this
KTM air forks are pretty good. The showa air forks Honda was using are worse than garbage.
KYB spring forks forever. I rode WP Air forks I do not like the feeling at all. Spring will always be better.
Im much more comfortable on spring forks
Alex looking a little thick !
If it’s that much of an improvement- why would ktm not do that from the get go??
KTM gotta stop with the WP air forks , I don’t know how many times I knifed the front with them. Front felt dead all the time.
Only air forks I’ll ride are KYB
Honda has spring forks and everyone is knifing that thing foh
Yer it is this big a difference
Xact pro cartridges were game change TC250
Air is so much lighter .... but being focused on chasing after ounces and shaving weight can put you in precarious shituations 🤷♂️
Sad you have to take an already expensive bike and spend thousands of dollars more making it what it should be. As a big guy I hate the cost of setting up suspension for what I need when it cost that much more to do spring conversions.
those handle bars have to go
Everyone knows air forks suck
Not true at all
Buy a brand new top of the line motorcycle and then start tossing and replacing $6000 components? You guys are ruining the sport.
I prefer my air forks to be honest they work so good and are so easily adjustable and if I gain or lose weight I don’t need a $1500 springs and revalve.