TRX250R.ORG

Workshop => The Mad Scientist => Topic started by: croat1 on March 15, 2025, 02:28:38 AM

Title: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: croat1 on March 15, 2025, 02:28:38 AM
Sharing……

Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: croat1 on June 17, 2025, 06:08:30 PM
Sharing…..

Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: croat1 on June 24, 2025, 12:30:48 AM
Sharing

Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: All250R on June 24, 2025, 01:12:37 PM
Looks like Al is the material he's settled on maybe
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: bholzgen on June 25, 2025, 06:03:10 AM
His concept part was aluminum but he plans to produce them out of 4140 steel and have them heat treated.
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: All250R on June 26, 2025, 12:27:39 AM
Nice, I imagine a solid amount of work has gone into it!
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: SFricia on June 27, 2025, 05:39:26 PM
More work than I care to admit. There are multiple variations of those knuckles and they all have subtle differences in them. It took a long time to come up with a solution that satisfies every iteration of the knuckle that Honda produced.
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: ATVRacing2 on June 28, 2025, 10:26:07 AM
Will these hold up to the Big Bore High Compression Motors by chance?
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: SFricia on June 28, 2025, 04:40:20 PM
That is the intention. I am working on a mod to fix your OEM kickers as well.
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: The norm on June 28, 2025, 05:56:29 PM
Thanks Sonny!
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: ATVRacing2 on July 01, 2025, 07:27:59 PM
That is the intention. I am working on a mod to fix your OEM kickers as well.
Sweet Deal! can't wait till they are completed, definitely interested
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: croat1 on November 08, 2025, 06:07:30 PM
Sharing

Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: SFricia on November 08, 2025, 09:06:38 PM
Yellow zinc too flashy? It was either this, or black.
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: croat1 on November 08, 2025, 09:10:25 PM
Yellow zinc too flashy? It was either this, or black.

Yup too flashy. It’s nice but I’d like it in black.

Joe
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: SFricia on November 08, 2025, 09:12:52 PM
It wasn't intended to be that bright. Thought the combo would look better on a new kicker, but I think something more subtle next time may be a better choice.
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: croat1 on November 08, 2025, 09:15:49 PM
Any updates on modifying OEM kickers to work with your knuckle?

As always thanks for the great parts!!!

Joe
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: SFricia on November 08, 2025, 09:26:03 PM
Modifying the stock kickers was successful in my experiments. Any particular information you are looking for regarding that?
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: ATVRacing2 on November 10, 2025, 03:02:00 PM
Any updates on when the next batch of Kickers will be made by chance?
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: croat1 on November 10, 2025, 03:38:19 PM
Modifying the stock kickers was successful in my experiments. Any particular information you are looking for regarding that?

What’s the procedure as far as getting the oem fixed…exchange or do you get your kicker back with a knuckle?

Thanks

Joe
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: SFricia on November 10, 2025, 11:42:59 PM
I true up the bore on the OEM kicker and oversize it. Then size match it to a knuckle with an oversized post.

I got the kicker and knuckles mated tonight. I take it back, the gold zinc looks amazing.
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: SFricia on November 10, 2025, 11:45:15 PM
Any updates on when the next batch of Kickers will be made by chance?

I don't quite know. I have a very large project that I need to finish before I work on any of my own stuff again unfortunately. 
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: ATVRacing2 on November 11, 2025, 08:34:00 AM
Any updates on when the next batch of Kickers will be made by chance?

I don't quite know. I have a very large project that I need to finish before I work on any of my own stuff again unfortunately. 

Ok thanks for letting me know on that. When you are able to make the next batch, I am definitely interested in purchasing one from you.
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: The norm on November 11, 2025, 08:05:19 PM
I’m definitely interested in one or two myself
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: croat1 on November 11, 2025, 08:32:03 PM
Sharing


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.

8) 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. 


Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: ATVRacing2 on November 16, 2025, 03:08:40 PM
Thanks Joe for sharing that. Sonny I sent you a PM
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: croat1 on November 16, 2025, 05:33:03 PM
Thanks Joe for sharing that. Sonny I sent you a PM
.

Yup no problem

Joe
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: croat1 on January 01, 2026, 05:49:58 PM
Sharing

I will be starting on the next run of 250R kick start knuckles shortly, and one of the questions I have is regarding an option I was considering.

I was considering making an aftermarket knuckle that has an oversized pin (the connection pin that the kicker rotates on). Then offering a service where you'd send me your OEM kicker and I would machine the kicker to match this oversized pin on the aftermarket knuckle. Why this is a valid question is because the OEM kickers themselves get worn out, and the bores are no longer round and way past nominal dimensions. In other words, replacing an OEM knuckle with mine will not tighten up a wobbly OEM kicker, if that makes sense. Likewise, OEM knuckles wear out too, so putting one of my kickers on an OEM knuckle may also not fit tightly.

Is this a service or option some of you would be interested in, or is a stock geometry knuckle built to OEM spec. good enough? I know how fond some of you are to OEM kickers, and the hesitancy to move to an aluminum kicker is not something some of you want to do.

I ask because to do this, I would need to carry this custom knuckle in stock and I don't want to have to do that if you aren't interested. The time and money to make these parts is very extensive, so this isn't something I want to under or overshoot.
Title: Re: Kicker Knuckle (Sonny Fricia)
Post by: croat1 on January 02, 2026, 04:13:49 PM
Sonny, I think it’s a great service.  I’d undershoot on manufacturing.  Make it a limited run a few times a year that way you’re not stuck with the oversize knuckles in stock. 

Joe