Technology: What is an A-kit suspension?
The term “A-Kit” is often used in the motocross world. As a mere mortal, you will never get closer to a factory suspension than with a Kit suspension. You will be allowed to pay a lot and is it an added value for a leisure rider? That deserves a word of explanation.
Not everyone has a set of these expensive parts in their shed and that has everything to do with the price. If you really want an A-kit suspension, you should try it out to see if it's worth it. Raiding a well-filled piggy bank to prevent your lap times from dropping is not really an option unless your name is Elon Musk and you can dig into your wallet unlimitedly.
What is an A-kit suspension?
Factory riders always ride with a prototype suspension. An A-kit suspension is nothing less than the previous version of a factory suspension. With a standard suspension the price is decisive, with a kit suspension the quality takes precedence. WP, Showa and KYB and other suspension specialists offer their A-Kit suspension for all motorcycle brands. Before you rush to the local motocross dealer: an A-kit front fork from e.g. Showa easily costs 5.500 euros, for a rear shock absorber you can expect to pay 2.500 euros. Swallow!
If you think an A-kit will make your life easier, you are wrong. Adjusting a suspension with these expensive suspensions remains as time-consuming as it is complicated. With an A-kit front fork from KYB, the outer fork legs are supplied with a hard "Kashima" coating of which the inner legs are equipped with a DLC coating. The Showa kit suspension comes with outer legs with a Black Kashima coating. The inner legs are treated with a layer of Emerald coat. This layer gives that typical blue color.
What is Kashima coating?
Kashima coating is a form of hard anodizing that also involves a lubricating treatment. This not only significantly reduces friction, but also increases the hardness of the part's surface, making it up to three times more durable than chrome plating. The process also increases corrosion resistance 4-5x over normal anodizing. Kashima coating is a process that is only carried out by one company in the world, that is Miyaki in Japan. KYB ships its parts to Miyaki for treatment there.
An A-kit suspension is often also somewhat lighter than a standard suspension. The damping is done in the same way, but keep in mind that such suspensions feel firmer than a standard suspension. They are therefore designed to go harder. The comfort will be a little less than a standard suspension, but you can simply go a little faster with an A-kit, comfort is of secondary importance.
If you order an A-kit suspension, you will be asked about your level, your weight and your preferences. These kits simply spring a lot better because they have less friction, are made with the correct and therefore closer tolerances and they have a special coating that is more durable and, among other things, prevents friction. The A-kit offers more stability and you can go a lot faster with it.
Should I upgrade my dirt bike suspension?
Ultimately, your wallet will be the deciding factor, because this is not a cheap investment. These kits are expensive and not everyone will benefit from them. Most recreational riders will never exceed their performance with a properly tuned stock suspension. If you want to perform optimally and have the extra money, an A-kit suspension can give you more confidence in driving, allowing you to go just a little faster on the difficult parts of a circuit.
Photos: KYB, Showa, archive
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