It's a marketing trick to keep the costs down. Budget forks really. They are like that for the 1098 etc. R&T
I've got a nix30 cartridge kit fitted to my 1098 Showas destined for the 853 and they are the same. Only time will tell. Andy
The cartridge kit is exactly that, a kit to up grade existing tubes. Mine is for the Showa externals. Andy