13 ST forks make. KAYABA or SHOWA???

[Paul466]

13 ST forks KAYABA OR SHOWA ????

 

[Karson]

uhhh...maybe i've had too many crowns tonight, but wuz this mean?

 

[Dallara]

13 ST forks KAYABA OR SHOWA ??? ?

Neither. The forks on the XT1200Z Super Tenere are made by Yamaha suspension division - Soqi - regardless of year model.

Dallara


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[Karson]

Now that that's sorted...sorry for the dumb question, consider it a courtesy bump

 

[CAMTEX]

Everything I have read says they are made by Kayaba

 

[GrahamD]

Everything I have read says they are made by Kayaba

They were Soqi when they were released in 2010. But I have read a few mention Kayaba.
Just put that down to an assumption so they didn't have to say

ummmm I wasn't listening at the time

.

 

[Dallara]

Everything I have read says they are made by Kayaba

"Front Suspension: Soqi 43mm inverted fork with adjustable preload, compression, and rebound damping; 7.5 in. travel
Rear Suspension: Soqi shock absorber with remote adjustable spring preload and rebound damping; 7.5 in. travel"
( from: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/647/7837/Motorcycle-Article/2012-Yamaha-Super-Tenere-First-Look.aspx )

"Front Suspension Brand Name Soqi"
( from: http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/yamaha/on-off-road/2012/super-t-n-r-/base/detail.html )

"Front Suspension 43mm Soqi fork with adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping"
( from: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/firstrides/122_1008_yamaha_xt1200z_super_tenere/viewall.html )

"Front Suspension: Soqi 43mm inverted fork with adjustable preload, compression, and rebound damping; 7.5 in. travel
Rear Suspension: Soqi shock absorber with remote adjustable spring preload and rebound damping; 7.5 in. travel"
( from: http://moto20112012.blogspot.com/2012/02/2012-yamaha-super-tenere-specification.html )

There are lots more like these, and all this same info was contained in Yamaha's own initial factory press kit when the bike was announced and first shown to the public. I figure Yamaha knows better than just about anybody where the fork and shock on the bike comes from...

Yamaha has been building the majority of their own suspension components since late 2005, as mentioned in this Yamaha press release: http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global/news/2005/12/13/soqi.html

And that includes many of their flagship models like the R1: http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_0905_2009_yamaha_yzf_r1/photo_21.html (notice how much those look like your Super Tenere forks?)

In fact, I think the only time you ever see Showa or Kayaba suspension components on Yamaha bikes anymore these days is on the MX bikes.

Just FYI...

Dallara



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[scott123007]

Engine: 1199cc liquid-cooled Parallel Twin, 8-valve
Bore x Stroke: 98.0 x 79.5mm
Compression Ratio: 11.0:1
Fuel Delivery: Fuel-injection
Clutch: Wet multi-plate, cable actuation
Transmission: 6-Speed
Final Drive: Shaft
Front Suspension: Soqi 43mm inverted fork with adjustable preload, compression, and rebound damping; 7.5 in. travel
Rear Suspension: Soqi shock absorber with remote adjustable spring preload and rebound damping; 7.5 in. travel
Front Brakes: 310mm disc, 4-piston caliper
Rear Brake: 282mm disc, 2-piston caliper
Front Tire: Bridgestone 110/80-19
Rear Tire: Bridgestone 150/70-17
Curb Weight: 575 lbs.
Wheelbase: 60.6 in. Length: 88.6 in. Width: 38.6 in.
Rake / Trail: 28 deg. / 4.9 in.
Seat Height: 33.26 or 34.25 in.
Fuel Capacity: 6.0 gal.
MSRP: $13,900
Colors: Raven; Blue

 

[scott123007]

Oops, sorry Dallara, didn't see your post/s.

 

[CAMTEX]

I got ya, but I see just as many pages that say they are Kayaba....

http://bikeadvice.in/2012-yamaha-xt1200z-super-tnr/

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/firstrides/122_1102_2012_yamaha_xt1200z_super_tenere/viewall.html


and on and on and on....

 

[avc8130]

Does it matter? No matter who made them originally, they can be made better.

ac

 

[Dallara]

I got ya, but I see just as many pages that say they are Kayaba....

http://bikeadvice.in/2012-yamaha-xt1200z-super-tnr/

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/firstrides/122_1102_2012_yamaha_xt1200z_super_tenere/viewall.html


and on and on and on....

Well, I don't have a scanner here so it may be moot, but somewhere around here I have a paper copy of the original Yamaha factory press release about the bike, and it says Soqi for both the forks and shock. And again, if you look at the forks themselves you quickly see they look just like all the other Soqi inverted forks in Yamaha's model line-up... Things like the axle carrier castings, the upper, female tubes and their machining marks, the upper fork caps, etc., etc., etc. All of these parts look like other Soqi examples, yet detail-wise they don't look like the Kayaba or Showa forks you see on other brands and bikes.

I suppose the folks here that were involved in sending the banner to the Yamaha Super Tenere development team might still have contacts there, and perhaps they could ask them.

Dallara



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[GrahamD]

SOQI, Inc. (Location: Kakegawa, Shizuoka, Japan; President and Representative Director: Yoshio Mabuchi) will be renamed Yamaha Motor Powered Products Co., Ltd., effective January 1, 2006. Wholly owned by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., SOQI is a manufacturer of Yamaha brand powered products including all-terrain vehicles, golf cars and generators, as well as shock absorbers, such as suspensions for motorcycles.

Concurrent with the name change, SOQI will spin off its shock absorber manufacturing division and transfer its functions to a new wholly owned subsidiary. Effective January 1, 2006, the new company will begin operations as SOQI H·S Co., Ltd. (Location: Kakegawa, Shizuoka, Japan; President and Representative Director: Yoshio Mabuchi).

SOQI was launched when Showa Works Co., Ltd. and Shimba-Shibori Mfg. Co., Ltd. merged in 1988. Showa Works was a manufacturer of Yamaha brand powered products such as generators and golf cars, as well as shock absorbers for motorcycles, while Shimba-Shibori Mfg. was engaged mainly in assembling Yamaha all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles. In June 2005, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. turned SOQI into a wholly-owned subsidiary through a share exchange. SOQI manufactures all-terrain vehicles and golf cars, among other Yamaha powered products, at its headquarters’ factory in Kakegawa, and also manufactures motorcycle suspensions and other shock absorbing devices at its Numazu factory.

The name change will allow the company to become better known as a member of the Yamaha Motor Group, and improve the sense of unity among the group companies.

Maybe SOQI makes Showa.

 

[Dallara]

Maybe SOQI makes Showa.

Hmmmmmm... I may be wrong, but I don't think so...

http://www.showa1.com/en/index.html

http://www.showa1.com/en/corporate/history/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showa_Corporation

http://www.amshowa.com/

(and note the following from the "America Showa" link - "American Showa, Inc. is a U.S. company and is owned as a joint venture between SHOWA Corporation, located in Japan and American Honda Motor Company, Inc. which is headquartered in Gardena, California. SHOWA is managerially, technologically, and financially involved in this joint venture, while American Honda is financially involved. It is this successful partnership providing the technology,leadership, and financing which has made American Showa, Inc. a successful reality today.")

And there's this...

http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/7274:JP

(where in this link it states the following - "SHOWA CORPORATION, an affiliate of Honda Motor Co manufactures hydraulic products for automobiles, motorcycles, boats, and construction machinery. The Company's products include shock absorbers, power steering systems, hydraulic cylinders, and cranes.")

http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyOfficers?symbol=7274.T

(where it states the following - "Mr. Yoichi Hojo has been serving as President, Compliance Officer and Representative Director in SHOWA CORPORATION since June 2011. He used to serve as Executive Officer and Director in Honda Motor Co., Ltd.")

http://www.myglobalbizz.com/global-business/automotive/showa-corporation.html

(where it states the following - "Branch - AMERICAN SHOWA, INC., GUANGZHOU SHOWA AUTOPARTS CO., LTD., HONDA CARS SAITAMA KITA CO., LTD., NISSIN SHOWA UK LIMITED, SHANGHAI SHOWA AUTO PARTS CO., LTD., SHOWA AUTOPARTS (THAILAND) CO., LTD., SHOWA CANADA INC, SHOWA DO BRASIL LTDA., SHOWA INDIA PVT. LTD., SHOWA INDONESIA MANUFACTURING, PT, SHOWA INDUSTRIA E COMERICO LTDA., SHOWA KYUSHU CORPORATION, SHOWA SEIKO, K.K., SUMMIT SHOWA MANUFACTURING CO LTD"

There's more, but these days it appears that Honda and Showa are the ones joined at the hip...

Dallara




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