FE/FC 4CS service/revalve time- WP Factory Services vs Superplush

I'm down right now with a broken collarbone, and the forks on my 15 FE501s are about due for a service. So I'm gonna be sending them out so they'll be back and ready when I am healed up.

I have read for hours and hours about 4CS tuners, their approaches, etc. Basically, I have decided to not go with Kreft, MX Tech, or Stillwell, based solely on the cost. I consider these 3 to be the top tier of 4cs tuners, and I'm sure any would be awesome, but $700+ is just out of my budget. I've called and spoken to all of these guys, plus talked to MB1, superplush, race tech, factory connection, WP factory services, and a couple of local suspension guys. Probably some others I'm forgetting. If I was racing this bike every weekend I'd be looking at Kreft or Stillwell, but my racing days are pretty much over...

So I've decided to go with a service and revalve. I feel the forks in stock trim are decent, but could be improved. After my research and phone conversations, I've narrowed it down to WP Factory Services or SuperPlush. Cost, shipping and turn around time are all similar for these two.

In my mind, a possible factor causing me to lean toward WP factory services is they ought to have the largest data pool on 4CSs, be it moto or offroad, plus I would assume, they are privy to production testing for 2016 year model KTM and Huskys and the direction they may be going. SuperPlush maybe seems a little more customer attentive when Ive spoken to them on the phone, although both places seem good on the phone.

So, all that to say I'm looking for feedback from anyone that has done a revalve on 4CS forks with either of these guys. Obviously I'd like to hear about fork performance, but also any customer service type info would be much appreciated...

Thanks a bunch

price wise ZipTy is only a couple hundred and very good....

racemx904, thanks...
ZTR was on my list, but don't want to convert the forks. Sticking with stock parts, other than shim shuffling...

I first went to wp factory services and was not happy. They were fast turnaround but poor customer service on the phone and after I received them. Forks were still harsh and bottomed out to easy for me. They also took out my bottoming cones and never sent them to me. Funny they took parts out of their own design. I think most of the wp racers use their cone valve forks ($$$) so the depth of experience with the 4cs may not be as much as you think. I did go with Stillwell for my second try and WOW these forks are night and day better. There are many different stories on the net about good and bad set ups from different tuners. Good luck with who ever you go with.

There's a guy in ky many have used SM11 still motorsports... Heard good things....

My opinion is the few extra hundred is worth it no matter how hard of a bullet it is to bite.... I want a known quantity..

Imo it goes 1st kreft, 2nd mxtech, 3rd stillwell if your not going with any of those i would just leave it alone and keep your money in the bank. There the only ones that are consistently getting good reviews the rest are to much of a gamble. I'm not saying there isn't others that are good but do you want to possibly toss your money out the window there are may before you that have done this learn from there mistakes and do it right the first time you will be money a head in the end!!

I'd agree with the first two. I'm 5 miles from #3 and I went with #1.

thanks for the replies and info guys, keep it coming...

the posts so far kinda demonstrate the reason why I'm not dropping 700 plus into these forks: one vote for/one against a given "top tier" tuner. I'm sure any of the top tuners could nail a setup if they tested with you for enough time. Would they nail it out of the box? My guess is maybe, maybe not. Obviously SP can dial 4CSs in, they are winning some high level races. And there is no way any given shop is shipping the perfect setup to every single customer. Since I'm not racing this bike, just trail riding, I'm just looking for an incremental gain over the stock setup.

If I can get better compliance in the first third of the stroke, and a tad bit more bottoming resistance for $250, and I believe I can with a revalve, I'll be stoked.

Will they be the best forks ever? doubtful. Will they be better than stock? Likely. Time will tell if I'll be satisfied with this route

Have you tried any of the others? My FC are great..... Kinda silly to just ride with bad suspension rather than take a stab at someone different.... a lot of suspension tuning is proper feedback and reading of what its doing and what you would like it to do better....So many people are not honest with themselves when trying to get suspnsion right.... Top B when really your a Low B etc....

i suggest calling Still Motorsports in Elizabethtown, KY... He will revalve and ship the same day he gets yours.... so could be riding the same week as shipping... I was gonna try him but mine had been done by FC and I got a deal for a revalve.... But many have used that I know and like the stuff.

Wow!

Do your self a favor and call kreft he has cheaper alternative routes to go other then the full Monty. At least with him you know he fully understands the 4cs and he actuly stands behind his work.

I have done a heap of revalves on my forks. IMHO you can only get so far using OEM parts, if you want better you need to spend some bucks and get some aftermarket parts (pistons and bases). if your handy with a spanner there is a lot to learn and be rewarded with. I'm currently using Terry hay's setup using stock mid pistons with a bleed hole, RT adjustable bases and G2r gold valves. I have previously used other tuners mentioned in this thread and this setup worked better for ME

My parts from Terry arrived today, so I'll be doing the same setup tomorrow.
I tried to go down the "stick with the OEM" road but it only goes so far.
I'm hoping the setup is all Terry promised it would be.

hey bowser and b2, thanks for the info.

I fully agree you can get more performance out of these with some aftermarket parts...

Very curious if you guys can give any details for when you were on the OE route, like
-what were you after with your tuning/what were your goals for your tuning on the 4CS?
-what limitations did you run into? compliance just not there, or couldn't eliminate the bottoming, or ?

also, what was your previous bike with what you consider the best fork? wp CC, kyb SSS or something else?

many thanks...

Hey O P,
Problems; bottoming, harsh mid due to riding low, tucking when trying to weight the front in turns, rattled your back teeth out over braking bumps.

Goals, make it stop doing the things listed above.

Terrain, single trail with everything from sand to rocks to pea gravel covered on every ride.

The bike is also used to race the Enduro State Series as well as riding/racing mates every other weekend.

Previous bike was a Husaburg TE 300 CC forks which I grew to hate!

The tuning done to the OEM was the bleed hole drilled in the mid valve, shim shuffle & a restricter shim on the base valve.
It was really nice to ride on flowing single trail, but as soon as the pace picked up everything felt like a square edge hit along with blowing through the stroke.

The tuning was first done when the bike only had 25km on it, the results were outstanding but unfortunately once the suspension was broken in & settled it was just bottoming out & sitting too low in the stroke.

So the restricter shim (15mm) was put in & it really helped but was still the same old issues once I hit race pace.
Next step was going to be a 16mm restricter & partially fill in the base valve ports, this would have been the end of the mods apart from touching the bullets & losing the ability to adjust compression which I wasn't at all keen on & I knew from the last adjustment that the gains were small & I just wouldn't get it to where it needed to be.

I'm not interested in gutting the 4cs & turning it into some sort of Frankenfork, so Terry's setup appealed to me & after he took the time to explain it to me over the phone it made sence, so some gold valves & base adjusters were purchased.
I've had a mate who is very knowledgable & a full time suspension tuner helping me to understand the 4cs while using my feedback to make adjustments & help other riders, but we both knew we couldn't go on using the OEM & end up with suspension that was up to race conditions.
I'll have the new RT gear in this week & will be testing on Sunday so I'll give another report after that's done, but just between me & you I'm feeling pretty confident the results will be good.

IMHO if your going with a shim shuffle you really don't need our opinions because they'll all be very similar and lickly won't be a marked improvement. As another post said for what you'll get and the difference in handling you'll get from a shim shuffle you'd be better off keeping it in the bank.
The best deal for you might be selling those forks and buying a set of OC forks for $4-500!!! I think that would be a better use of the money, if you have to spend it vs spending it on a shim job....just my 2 Penny's.

IMHO the 4CS stock is a much better fork than the WP OC fork. It has much more tuning capabilities and can be made to do things the OC fork can only dream about. Like hitting a section of whoops and riding through a root and rock garden. You pay 10K for a bike don't go cheap on the suspension. You're cheating yourself.

Has anyone sold their 4cs on ebay and bought a set of Ohlins or adapted a set of Yamaha ss forks? I'm curious what the money difference would be compared to dropping $700 + shipping on the 4cs.

IMO the 4CS is not a bad fork. I have mine reworked with all stock parts (assymetrical)and the rebound/compression still up top, and they are fine. Are they plush? No. Do I give a crap? No. I have control with them. They are consistent and I trust them. That is what is important to me for the type of riding I do (off-road A/expert). All other setups I have tried fell short in the control department. They were plush, but didn't work. That includes the RT OC setup. Could they be better if I sent them to Kreft or Stillwell? Maybe, but right now they get the job done.