Spoon or Mugen - The Great Debate

[RagingAngel]

mugen lsd > spoon lsd

Why because it's 2 way instead of 1.5 way? If that's the reason then that's not a very good reason.

project mu calipers > spoon calipers/mugen calipers

Why? Because it's a forged caliper that needs larger rotors and the use of their proprietary sized pads? If that's the reason, then it's not a very good reason either.

I believe in these two listed parts alone, it is dependent on the entire car/race series/budget in that order.

The Spoon twinblock calipers were designed to fit under the stock 15inch wheel due to super taikyu regulations. Spoon worked closely with Nissin to achieve this. Does it make it superior to the Project Mu stuff? Nope, I never said that...

On top of that, both monoblock and twinblock calipers utilize stock sized (ITR/S2000 respectively) sized pads for essentially an infinite choice in pad compounds from all brake pad specialists.

 

[RagingAngel]

I personally saw some low ranking Spoon employees taking new parts out of a huge crate and placing Spoon Sticker on them before repacking them into Spoon plastic bags and boxes...

I think a lot of people would freak out if they knew some of the fabled JDM stuff was actually produced in Taiwan Badge engineering, I like that term...

Now for stuff that are invaluable
SPOON:
Throttle Body Venturi Type (there is no other like it)

-Not true, any competent machine shop can replicate this. Maxbore.com throttle body boring service comes to mind if you want a "brand" with reputation.

Full Spec Suspension (they seem to understand Honda very well so its good)

-I agree, but they worked closely with Showa much like Mugen did to achieve this, but their latest dampers come from KYB which are similar to the SSG units.

Mono Block and Twin Block Calipers (Is there any other 4 pot caliper that fits over stock brake rotor size?)

-Wilwood Dynalite II calipers fit. I had a set before I got the Spoon set. I switched due to the fact that it uses OEM sized pad for almost limitless pad compound choice.

Polished Valve Set (they really put a lot of work into this one)

-So does supertech.

High Tension Plug Cords (there is no other with grounding)

-Nology would be a bit upset right about now

Gear set (the ratios are very nice for Hondas)

-Despite moonlighting for MFactory, I completely agree with their commitment to producing a PROPER tall 1st and 2nd gear.

Change Rod (there is no other like it)

-The rod itself may be thicker, but the modification that is most prominent and most effective can be done to any stock change rod.

MUGEN:

Hard Bushes (No one else seems to make the complete set, the only reason they have this item because Mugen supplies to one make races for regulations)

-Hardrace is on top of their game. We're offering better alternatives too, though I admit Mugen used to hold a strangling monopoly on this "dream set."

 

[olly ek9]

-The rod itself may be thicker, but the modification that is most prominent and most effective can be done to any stock change rod.

wanna enlighten us ragingangel?!?! sounds interesting

 

[RagingAngel]

Where the rod attaches to the shifter, it is a fork.

Simply welding a tab at the bottom of the fork will increase its rigidity and maintain its shape. One would assume Spoon came up with this idea due to their heavy involvement in endurance racing - where you would literally change gears thousands upon thousands of times.

With the change rod/shifter positioned right above the exhaust, protecting its shape is critical. Honda already gave a very strong clue with the small heat shield found on the DC2/EK9 OEM midpipe.

 

[olly ek9]

nice one raging angel

take it you mean weld a piece in the bottom of the part that is forked that attaches to the bottom of teh shift lever so its more of an open box/ shovel scoop type shape as oppose to a fork

 

[RagingAngel]

.....so its more of an open box/ shovel scoop type shape as oppose to a fork

Absolutely correct. DOHC/SOHC users can both benefit.

 

[britishracer]

Raging Angel: I appreciate what you said about the alternative parts...However I live in Japan at the moment and I was comparing SPOON and MUGEN to other Japanese manufacturers... Its actually nice that you guys overseas have so much more choice for parts as you aren't restricted to Japanese ones.....I have to use the JDM parts and pay the prices cause there are virtually no stock of most foreign brands for Japanese makes...its JDM pride and monopoly

 

[Tmus]

Spoon stuff doesn't cost that much in Japan anyway? but Mugen does

Good thing about Spoon or Mugen is that all the parts I have fits perfectly and bolts straight on, no changing anything over. Guess it is what you get if you use the same Factory as Honda etc.

 

[benzai]

Raging Angel: I appreciate what you said about the alternative parts...However I live in Japan at the moment and I was comparing SPOON and MUGEN to other Japanese manufacturers... Its actually nice that you guys overseas have so much more choice for parts as you aren't restricted to Japanese ones.....I have to use the JDM parts and pay the prices cause there are virtually no stock of most foreign brands for Japanese makes...its JDM pride and monopoly

Wow! I never thought I'd hear somebody on here complaining about having to use genuine JDM parts

You could always be my new supplier with all the JDM parts

 

[Rich777]

The quality of the genuine honda jdm parts is still really good thow. It dont matter where they are made the quality control is still strick.

 

[britishracer]

The quality of the genuine honda jdm parts is still really good thow. It dont matter where they are made the quality control is still strick.

Sorry lads..I was referring to JDM aftermarket parts manufacturers. The likes of Spoon, Mugen, J's Racing, FEEL'S Twincam, Toda, Jun, Seeker, M&M Honda have a strong overbearing presence in the Japanese Domestic Market and receive a lot of support from Japanese Honda fans. Its just about the same as any product Japanese whether it be digital cameras, Playstation games, food or even travel. The Japanese are their own biggest consumers of their produce. Which is a reason why they can maintain themselves as the world's 2nd largest economy.

On another note, I fully agree that Honda genuine parts have a very high level of quality, perhaps one of the best and strictest QC in the world. Which is why I favour Spoon and Mugen parts because they build upon the strength of the OEM design. Honda is a large company with production budgets to consider and therefore cannot afford time and resources to manufacturer all hand made engines and forged pistons and so forth. They give us the best possible compromise between cost and engineering excellence, which I dare say that level is already quite high. Considerably though the recent Type R models have been lacking in single mindedness and dedication as some might put it due to various factors that unfortunately favours cost of production and reducing labour costs over pleasing enthusiasts. That they surely did with the EP3 and DC5 but somehow managed to rectify it with the FD2. With the FN2 they still seem to be in the dark.

 

[jugbugz]

the best mods is when you use your brain.