Air vs. Spring Forks | Which Are BEST?

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!

[stevesmith]

Almost sold my KTM until I had the spring kit put in by JBI. Now the best bike I’ve ever ridden

[OtisFlint]

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.

[shawnhorne]

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

[kurtheidelbach]

Should do a blind comparison. Most are totally biased. REP does an absolutely phenomenal job with WP Air.

[markfitzsimmons]

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.

[tcmx]

Where you ride makes all the difference. Air forks for sand/mud and coils for hardpack.

[andystreet]

I’m digging the scrubs A ray! That #Oneal kit is sick AF!

[jeremyrobinson]

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

[reginalarenasmoran]

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

[pags]

Getting WP 6500 cartridge and spring kit cant wait, hope its as good as the Ohlins stuff

[markfitzsimmons]

FYI Air ramps up more than coil spring forks. The perceived feel just might not be what a graph would show.

[woodysrockspyro]

Cost to service....
Air.
Spring. $
Reliability
Air. @#%#%$$
Spring. :)

[donmiller]

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

[Joe-pblx]

i like the rear end squat when i gas it out of a corner

[MeSmrIzEd]

My re-valved Air Forks have been amazing compared to stock.

[christopherevans]

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

[johnwojcik]

KTM air forks are pretty good. The showa air forks Honda was using are worse than garbage.

[moto]

KYB spring forks forever. I rode WP Air forks I do not like the feeling at all. Spring will always be better.

[adamwilkinson]

If it’s that much of an improvement- why would ktm not do that from the get go??

[mxalltheway]

Im much more comfortable on spring forks