AST 5100 or Xida Gen 2
#1
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Greetings everyone!
I have come to a fork in the road on which setup I should purchase, and would like your opinions. A friend of mine is selling his brand new AST 5100 for a good price, and there's a set of used Xida Gen 2 up in the classifieds.
XIda Gen 2
The Gen 1 Xida are tweaked 5100?
I have come to a fork in the road on which setup I should purchase, and would like your opinions. A friend of mine is selling his brand new AST 5100 for a good price, and there's a set of used Xida Gen 2 up in the classifieds.
XIda Gen 2
- Used - has seen track days (~4k miles)
- 700 / 450 spring rates
- Double Digressive Piston
- NB top hats
- ~$1800 shipped
- Rebuilds by HVT in Texas (???)
- Brand New
- 12kg/7kg spring rates (~672 / ~392) Swift springs. Can change out spring rates to whatever I want for no additional charge.
- Standard piston
- Whatever AST supplies for their top hats
- ~$1900 local
- Rebuilds by HVT in Texas (???)
The Gen 1 Xida are tweaked 5100?
#2
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Gen1 XIDAs are 5100s valved and built to 949's specs. Gen2s are Tractive shocks built to their specs. The Gen2 valving is better because the Tractive shock's internals allows for a more digressive rebound curve. There's no comparison - the Gen2 XIDAs are better.
#4
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I'm like 75% sure that gen1's had a black spring perch and gen2's had an orange spring perch, but that isn't 100% guaranteed.
I do know that gen1's had a vent washer thingy on the shaft that the gen2's do not have.
And yes, both can be rebuilt in Texas. Not sure its HVT anymore. I think its a spinoff of HVT. http://www.inertialaboratory.com/
#5
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949racing SuperMiata Xida Gen 2 with NB top hats [$2500] - $1800
(Installed Dec 2015 and have ran three events. Under 4k miles.
Spring Rates 700 in/lbs Fronts, 450 in/lbs Rears With the Dual Springs system. This is the first version of the Gen 2 before they revised the poduct and changed manufacturers to cut cost.)
(Installed Dec 2015 and have ran three events. Under 4k miles.
Spring Rates 700 in/lbs Fronts, 450 in/lbs Rears With the Dual Springs system. This is the first version of the Gen 2 before they revised the poduct and changed manufacturers to cut cost.)
Edit: They are gen 2 purchased before the price cut.
#8
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Depending on the bodies used the AST 5100's could have less travel than Gen 1 XIDA's. That was one of the factors beside valving. Gen 2 AST hats helped address that.
I would not suggest the used 949 ones. Way to many unknowns. Premature rebuild costs would eliminate any savings over new and likely end up costing you more. If money is tight just wait until you can afford new.
I would not suggest the used 949 ones. Way to many unknowns. Premature rebuild costs would eliminate any savings over new and likely end up costing you more. If money is tight just wait until you can afford new.
Last edited by k24madness; 04-30-2016 at 12:35 PM.
#9
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There are several sets of non-Xida AST 5100's floating around build by Vorshlag, which became AST-USA with a new owner which became HVT with the same owner. They don't share the dimensions or valving of the Xida. Of those non-Xida 5100's, they vary in spec so there is no one comparison. There were some early prototypes and shocks made with leftover components. They could be really close to Gen 1 Xidas are miles apart. AST-USA, now with yet another owner still produce my Gen 1 design built to order for $1899 w/o mounts, but not marketed as Xida as we own that trademark. Website states with mounts but that isn't the case. Your guess is as good as mine WRT to the old non-Xida functional comparison but probably not worth the risk if you are spending more than $1000. Gen 2's are $1699 for the base kit without mounts and in stock.
So it's clear, the change to Tractive was because AST USA could not grow with us. With Tractive we got a better shock, bypassed the US distributor to cut their margin out, passed those savings onto the customer and never looked back. We sell, many Xida kits, which also serves to bring the price down.
So it's clear, the change to Tractive was because AST USA could not grow with us. With Tractive we got a better shock, bypassed the US distributor to cut their margin out, passed those savings onto the customer and never looked back. We sell, many Xida kits, which also serves to bring the price down.
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