Inner Fork Bushing External PTFE – Kayaba 48 mm Athena

The Athena S41TE48K Inner Fork Bushing External PTFE is a replacement sliding bushing designed for compatible Kayaba / KYB 48 mm motorcycle front forks.

Developed for professional suspension servicing and rebuilding, the bushing uses a high-strength steel body engineered to withstand the repeated tensile, compressive, and sliding loads generated during fork operation.

The external working surface is coated with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). This low-friction coating reduces sliding resistance between moving suspension components and helps minimize wear as the fork repeatedly compresses and rebounds.

The inner surface features a copper coating, selected for its thermal conductivity and resistance to corrosion. The copper layer helps distribute heat generated during suspension operation while providing additional protection against oxidation.

The combination of steel, PTFE, and copper is designed to provide smooth fork movement, consistent suspension response, and increased durability under demanding off-road and competition use.

Each package contains one bushing, suitable for servicing one fork leg. For a complete overhaul of both fork legs, a second identical S41TE48K bushing is required together with the corresponding internally PTFE-coated bushings used by the specific KYB fork assembly.

Key Features

• High-strength steel construction designed to withstand repeated suspension loads
• External PTFE coating reduces sliding friction and helps minimize fork bushing wear
• Internal copper coating promotes heat dissipation and provides additional corrosion resistance
• Designed for compatible Kayaba / KYB 48 mm motorcycle front forks
• Supplied individually, with one bushing required for each fork leg

Technical Specifications

The 47 × 49 × 20 mm specification is consistently published for Athena S41TE48K by specialist distributors.

OEM Cross References

Published cross references for S41TE48K include:

Cross-reference availability can vary by catalog source and model year.

PTFE Low-Friction Surface

The external PTFE coating creates the primary low-friction sliding surface of the bushing.

Reducing friction at this interface helps:

• promote smoother fork compression and rebound;
• reduce sliding resistance;
• minimize wear between moving components;
• improve suspension sensitivity;
• maintain more consistent fork action over time.

This is particularly important on high-performance KYB forks, where excessive friction can negatively affect small-bump sensitivity and overall suspension response.

Copper-Coated Inner Surface

The inside of the Athena bushing is coated with copper.

Copper provides good thermal conductivity, helping distribute heat generated during repeated fork movement.

It also provides additional protection against oxidation and corrosion, contributing to long-term component durability under demanding environmental and riding conditions.

Service Quantity

Each package contains:

1 × Athena S41TE48K Fork Bushing

One bushing services one fork leg.

For a complete two-leg fork overhaul, Athena specifies the need for:

• 2 × S41TE48K external-PTFE bushings
• 2 × corresponding internal-PTFE fork bushings

The complementary internally coated bushing must be selected according to the exact KYB fork configuration.

Application & Compatibility

The S41TE48K is designed for compatible Kayaba / KYB 48 mm front forks using the corresponding 47 × 49 × 20 mm bushing specification.

This bushing is used across a wide range of off-road, motocross, Enduro, and competition motorcycles from several manufacturers.

Compatibility should always be verified against the actual fork fitted to the motorcycle, especially where suspension components have previously been replaced or modified.