What makes Kyosho shocks so good?
03-29-2012, 02:46 AM
#32
03-29-2012, 07:06 AM
#34
Tech Regular
Yeah that makes total sense. Specifically since AE had good shocks years before Kyosho. And this in all categories not only 1/8. Please guys, keep illuminating us.
03-29-2012, 08:00 AM
#36
AE has never, yes never had good shocks. Why do you think green slime was brought into their catalog years ago? And even to this day their latest 13mm shocks on the SC104x4 are horrible!
In 2007 when we debuted the 1/8 Big Bore at the Nats we had other factory team drivers asking us if we brought "extras"
THE best shocks I have ever built and used were Losi JRX2 with MIP hard bodies and Ti coated shafts with SRS cartridges and MIP orings and Losi pistons. Butter is 80 grit compared to these.
Fast forward to today...
Best off the shelf shocks for off road = Kyosho
Best off the shelf shocks for on-road = Tamiya
To answer the original question "What makes Kyosho shocks so good?" Quality control & material selection.
In 2007 when we debuted the 1/8 Big Bore at the Nats we had other factory team drivers asking us if we brought "extras"
THE best shocks I have ever built and used were Losi JRX2 with MIP hard bodies and Ti coated shafts with SRS cartridges and MIP orings and Losi pistons. Butter is 80 grit compared to these.
Fast forward to today...
Best off the shelf shocks for off road = Kyosho
Best off the shelf shocks for on-road = Tamiya
To answer the original question "What makes Kyosho shocks so good?" Quality control & material selection.
03-29-2012, 08:22 AM
#37
Tech Regular
..back on topic of the shocks.
Kyosho uses tighter tolerances then most manufactures and it shows in the fit and finish and also the smoothness. In order to use tighter tolerances, you have to have equipment that will achieve and maintain these tolerances. In order to have the equipment and calibration of these units you need money.
Kyosho has a race history that allows them to sell kits at a higher price and racers buy them. That money is re-purposed back into the product, R&D, and equipment/Maintenance etc. They will continue to make 900 cars and people will buy them until the circle of kyoshos business model fails, not saying it will, so they will keep building on success. The next version shocks will be everything you like about the current shock, taken to the next level, again building on an already great product. They have 3, 4 version of the same part that people think "they got wrong initially", this is usually not the case as they better what they already make and in some cases modify for the better.
Its companies like Kyosho that raise the bar so high that most racers can't see the forest for the trees so to speak, it's in the details. I find with Kyosho people are separated in 2 groups; people who love Kyosho and people who hate them.
...as I drifted off topic at the end too lol
Kyosho uses tighter tolerances then most manufactures and it shows in the fit and finish and also the smoothness. In order to use tighter tolerances, you have to have equipment that will achieve and maintain these tolerances. In order to have the equipment and calibration of these units you need money.
Kyosho has a race history that allows them to sell kits at a higher price and racers buy them. That money is re-purposed back into the product, R&D, and equipment/Maintenance etc. They will continue to make 900 cars and people will buy them until the circle of kyoshos business model fails, not saying it will, so they will keep building on success. The next version shocks will be everything you like about the current shock, taken to the next level, again building on an already great product. They have 3, 4 version of the same part that people think "they got wrong initially", this is usually not the case as they better what they already make and in some cases modify for the better.
Its companies like Kyosho that raise the bar so high that most racers can't see the forest for the trees so to speak, it's in the details. I find with Kyosho people are separated in 2 groups; people who love Kyosho and people who hate them.
...as I drifted off topic at the end too lol
03-29-2012, 09:59 AM
#38
I don't favor either car but once again used both shocks for about 1 yr combined. AE shocks were better for the most part. more consistsent to rebuild. Stronger shafts. Better shock boots and last longer and cheaper to rebuild if needed. Kyosho TKI 2 shocks better finish, better bladders, better springs better bushings, but the downfall I feel is the inconsistentcy to build due to the internal wear of shock as the satin coating fades off which in turn requires you to purchase new bodies sooner than you would like to. Shocks will still perform with the wear, but just not like they did when the coating was there. Would rebuild shocks after every race, AE no dirt, could reuse the oil if i wanted to, Kyoshos were extremely dirty which I can see why the coating would fade as the oil felt like sandpaper
Last edited by mcion; 03-29-2012 at 10:15 AM.
03-29-2012, 10:10 AM
#39
I've noticed a difference in the coating on newer big bore shock bodies coming from kyosho. It looks just like the coating that Fox Racing using on it's motocross and mountain bike forks. Fox calls it Kashima coating and it's basically a hard polished anodizing that fills in all the microscopic pinholes/cracks/abrasions. The coating on the newer big bores seems to be lasting much much longer than the small bores I had. It could be a combination of a better coating and I also thing that the machined pistons in the big bores are smoother and might help longevity.
03-29-2012, 10:24 AM
#40
Tech Apprentice
Great quality shocks but comes at a high price.
03-29-2012, 10:49 AM
#41
Tech Regular
Yeah AE shocks have always been crap... 
And the hole AE team uses Kyosho shocks. 
Can I flush the toilet now?
And the hole AE team uses Kyosho shocks. Can I flush the toilet now?
03-29-2012, 11:24 AM
#42
I think just because you used Kyosho shocks doesn't mean you win because of it. Driver skill and luck plays the biggest role. Most of us probably can't even tell the difference.
03-29-2012, 11:50 AM
#43
this is pretty ridiculous if i do say so , kyosho shocks are good , do we all need the "these shocks are better" or "kyosho are the worst" comments ?
there are alot of manufacturers out there and as many if not more shocks available for the same cars , many companies can make shocks of great quality and feel but they never seem to work the same on the track , that is what the OP is talking about i am sure
ask many many drivers of other manufacturers , it is simply the truth
there are alot of manufacturers out there and as many if not more shocks available for the same cars , many companies can make shocks of great quality and feel but they never seem to work the same on the track , that is what the OP is talking about i am sure
ask many many drivers of other manufacturers , it is simply the truth
03-29-2012, 03:29 PM
#45
