Mugen N1 and Spoon N1 dampers are both made by Showa. Externally, the two look totally different. Internally, I haven't a clue. I've heard fantastic things about the Mugen N1s, they apparently offer a surprisingly smooth ride even when combined with very high spring rates. Does anyone know what the performance is like of the Spoon in that regard? Are they valved similarly at all?

I phoned King motorsports and they told me they're not even remotely similiar and they don't know anything about the Spoons and can't comment on them.

I phoned A&J racing and they told me that the Spoon N1 isn't really comparable to the Mugen N1, they say they're more comparable to the Mugen NZs. The Spoons are also easier to set up, I assume he meant because the mugens must be "clickless" and the spoons have 5 way (5 click) adjustment.

I wonder how the SPSS3 Konis compare to Mugen NZs or Spoon N1s? Anyone have any experieince? I think George Knighton went from SPSS3 valved Konis to Mugen N1s and couldn't believe the improvement.

I need someone with at least some experience with the Spoons as well as Konis and/or Mugens. You'd think this would be easy, it seems the Spoon N1s are much more common and affordable than the Mugen N1s.

 

setups i've had:

PIC P3 > Spoon N1/Quantum RMs > Mugen Lowdowns > OTS Koni Yellows

i can't really speak for Mugen N1s but i've heard nothing but good things about them. i actually sent out money to weaksauce for a set SPSS3s but they were out of stock so i settled with PIC P3s and i can't be happier.

if it were between SPSS3 Konis or Mugen N1s, i'd get the Konis solely because once the Mugens inevitably blow, you're gonna be sitting on a set of $2000+ paperweights, that is unless you're willing to pay to have them shipped back to Japan and have them serviced (which won't be cheap either)

good luck

 

Yeah, Spoon >>>> Koni OTS or SPSS3. I went for a ride in George's car and...yep, it is that incredible. I've driven/ridden cars with Konis, so I do have a legitimate comparison. fuko brings up the valid point of rebuilding though. What will you be using them for? Either of the N1s aren't really suitable or meant for the street, even though lots of people use them for that (bling factor I guess).

 

I have two sets of Spoon N1 coils - second one are there in case something happens to first set :D. I love them, but ride is stiff, as to be expected.

 

Where is Scott Rinde when I need him . . .

 

I have Mugen N1s with 14kg/mm (784lb/in) and 24kg/mm (1343lb/in) front and rear springs respectively in my DC5. Honestly they are the first aftermarket suspension I have used so I can't really compare them with anything useful. I think they ride fairly smoothly considering the spring rates and I have daily driven them around 20,000kms this year so far as well as at about 10 track events. They certainly ride fairly well compared to friend's coilover setups in DC5s with spring rates half that of the Mugens.

I have never adjusted the dampers because I have no idea how and I dont want to break them so if anyone could enlighten me on the adjustment range and how to set them that would be great .

No idea what I am going to do when I need them rebuilt, which will probably be fairly soon.