Jono.ful
New member
*disclaimer* I'm a Radflo/Total Chaos guy, and have never run Icon products
quick note about Icon...they really do market themselves as a premium aftermarket manufacturer, and certainly charge accordingly. the digressive (Icon)/progressive (Radflo, King, Fox, etc etc) valving debate has been thoroughly hashed out, and I'm sure you've done your research about shaft coatings (1026 nitro steel for Icon, and 1050 chrome for everyone else). there are merits to the materials that Icon uses in some circumstances, but none of these things are revolutionary, and the other big names have had the same access, so if these pieces of tech are really as good as Icon claims, why aren't the other guys (who actually have factory race teams btw) using them?
the other piece that I can speak to personally has to do with spherical bearings, or uniballs. these are used in upper and lower control arms, as well as in shock mounts. Icon uses commercial grade bearings which, while they do have the same PTFE liners, are constructed from 52100 and carbon steel. Total Chaos and a few shock manufacturers, on the other hand, use 440C and 17-4 stainless steel bearings that fetch on average 75-100% more money due to the higher grade materials used.
in my mind, if you are going to call yourself the best and demand top dollar, you had g-d well better back that up with premium materials and cutting edge tech - areas where Icon demonstrably does not.
just my .02
quick note about Icon...they really do market themselves as a premium aftermarket manufacturer, and certainly charge accordingly. the digressive (Icon)/progressive (Radflo, King, Fox, etc etc) valving debate has been thoroughly hashed out, and I'm sure you've done your research about shaft coatings (1026 nitro steel for Icon, and 1050 chrome for everyone else). there are merits to the materials that Icon uses in some circumstances, but none of these things are revolutionary, and the other big names have had the same access, so if these pieces of tech are really as good as Icon claims, why aren't the other guys (who actually have factory race teams btw) using them?
the other piece that I can speak to personally has to do with spherical bearings, or uniballs. these are used in upper and lower control arms, as well as in shock mounts. Icon uses commercial grade bearings which, while they do have the same PTFE liners, are constructed from 52100 and carbon steel. Total Chaos and a few shock manufacturers, on the other hand, use 440C and 17-4 stainless steel bearings that fetch on average 75-100% more money due to the higher grade materials used.
in my mind, if you are going to call yourself the best and demand top dollar, you had g-d well better back that up with premium materials and cutting edge tech - areas where Icon demonstrably does not.
just my .02
