Dual bending valves on 2017 Showa Forks

[jedd]

This << POST >>> sparked my curiosity regarding what, phyiscally, changed internally...so I did some digging....

This cross section shows the big changes are:
the new 2 way valve + the base T shaped shaft.
   

The parts catalog doesn't show the 2 way valve as a separate item, so I'm guessing that this valve is fixed inside of the bottom of the chrome fork tube. And the different part number between the 2017 vs. 2013/14 fork tube appears to be the case.

I did a quick comparison between parts needed to upgrade to the dual bending feature, and it appears that these 4 are basically alll that's needed.

   

Those 4 parts (~$200) cost 50% of a complete fork.
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Note, the 2017 fork also has different part numbers for the main spring, spring spacer, & top cap w/ "dual bending" scribed on surface. But, imo, they aren't necessary items to convert to dual bending.

When my time comes to mount a new front tire, I'm seriously thinking of installing those 4 parts.

or, I might just do what pdubs did and get the whole fork instead.
Having choices are good

[PowerDubs]

(01-20-2018 08:18 AM)jedd Wrote:  I did a quick comparison between parts needed to upgrade to the dual bending feature, and it appears that these 4 are basically alll that's needed.

Note, the 2017 fork also has different part numbers for the main spring, spring spacer, & top cap w/ "dual bending" scribed on surface. But, imo, they aren't necessary items to convert to dual bending.

or, I might just do what pdubs did and get the whole fork instead.

I'd suggest the whole fork- you could be overlooking the relationship that valving has with the spring rate, spring length, preload spacer length..

Those may be purposely different, heck even the adjustment mechanism in the cap may be different in dimension- not just pretty engraving.

If Honda could have used the same springs, why wouldn't they have?

Do we even know for sure that something as simple as the spring diameter is the same? If it was a few mm larger or smaller that would negate fitting with the rest of the assembly.

You can't just look at a picture like that and pick and chose which pieces to ignore without more info.

So while "they aren't (maybe) necessary items to convert to dual bending." they may be if you want properly working dual bending.

Or worse case- someone may read your post- go buy just those '4' pieces and discover that it won't even fit back together.

[jedd]

some of your concerns makes sense, and I can see myself agreeing.
But those who have some knowledge about suspension tuning can understand
what each part does, and so the big picture isn't as cryptic as someone who don't
have that depth of knowledge. I spent about 12 yrs tuning my own suspensions,
so I feel comfortable in what i've posted. Granted, I haven't verified it personally, as this is
just a post to throw things out there, so let me add in this...

look it over, see if it makes sense for you, but do at your own risk...

[Ulvetanna]

Watching this thread with interest.

Will have some serious bearing on my decision later this year to purchase an EX or, if Honda bring it here, an RS.

[old blue]

has anybody retrofitted these to earlier CB1100's ?

[PowerDubs]

The forks? Yes- http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=11007

Just the pieces inside? Haven't seen anyone try it yet.

[Houtman]

(06-19-2021 09:05 AM)old blue Wrote:  has anybody retrofitted these to earlier CB1100's ?

Yes , I put them on my 2014 DLX , would not fit on a 2013 ABS because of different caliper than the non ABS 2013.