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First set is finished. Almost a year to the date from when I started designing my initial concept on the kicker to now. Several revisions to the fit, the profile, the overall shape, and countless updates to the detent mechanism.
Knuckles turned out fantastic as well. Overall, much more complicated than I first anticipated. I honestly should have known better since nobody else ever tried to reproduce them. It is amazing at how intricate and technical the OEM knuckle is.
Answers to frequent questions.
1) Kickers are made from a high strength aluminum. There have been no failures in testing from the riders and the feedback has been that they are much stronger than 6061 versions, the grip is excellent (no slip), and the wear is significantly improved. The retracted fit is a hybrid to work with OEM, Maier, and Fullbore plastics. All aftermarket plastics have deviations from OEM, but I tried to accommodate them as best as I could.
2) Knuckles are made from hardened 4140. Often referred to as "chromoly," is several magnitudes stronger than the factory component. Much harder (not too hard to cause brittleness), and much less prone to deformation. I forsee these surviving long after we are gone.
3) First batch is sold.
4) Next batch will be towards the new year. Many might be aware, but I currently have a very large project that I need to finish before I start working on any of my own stuff.
5) Knuckles will fit both my kicker and OEM kickers. Kicker will fit my knuckle and OEM knuckles.
6) If your kicker is worn out, I will offer a service to remachine your OEM kicker and provide a size matched aftermarket knuckle for you. This will restore your OEM kicker to new condition.
7) Future cost is uncertain due to the extreme volatility in the raw materials sector. An estimate will be roughly $200ea for the kicker and the knuckle. These aren't cheap. They weren't cheap to make, and they aren't cheap to continue manufacturing. They use some of the best possible materials available, and it required a significant investment in specialized tooling.
If you have an issue with the pricing, please be mindful and respectful of the time and monetary investment I have dedicated to the community. Knuckles.
I'll start pre-orders for a large batch run early December. You are welcome to message me now to get your name on the list and provide a deposit. Just be aware that I won't be starting them until my current backlog is cleared.
