Any experience with Race Tech?

I just got a nice new pair of Ohlins shocks and a braced swingarm on my '77 KZ1000, and I'm looking to upgrade the front suspension as well.

I have heard good things about Race Tech and their emulators. It is worth it? does anybody have any experience with this?

-Dave

I had a buddy that went to the Race Tech suspension school. After a few years, he told me that their stuff is great, but a competent suspension tuner could accomplishs very similar results by changing the shim stack on the stock valves. This was on modern dirt bike forks though, so I'm not sure if it applies to the KZ forks.

It doesn't apply at all Adam. The only way to adjust our suspension is to change fork oil or springs. You could drill out some of the holes to make them squishier, but I can't imagine why.

I figuered as much. Does that mean that the stock KZ forks aren't as advanced as modern suspenders??? :laugh:

Yes, the newest accessory for the average Harley rider is much more adjustable!

Made FOR Hog riders, made BY Disney :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Now we're hijacking poor Daves thread. Sorry big guy-
Adam

Ok, I'll make a helpful statement then. The emulators from race-tech are the only option, as far as I can tell, to get any kind of good modern damping characteristics out of a KZ fork.

Well, a little, (experiance that is) and what little I have, is with the "gold valve" emulator... Period Kz forks were damped simply by holes in the lower "cyl/piston" unit. When installing the "gold valve" these holes were either opened up, or additional holes drilled to defeat the original damping, and a cylindrical "wafer" with valving dropped in attop "cyl/piston" & held in place by fork spring. There is/was some adjustment of this "wafer's" flow via a tensioning screw, or by staggering washers.... unfortunatly this required removal to effect.IMO, Progressive springs, proper pre-load, & playing w/ oil weight/& amount yeild about equal results... These forks are what they were, and since there is no way I know of to differ rates of "compression versus rebound damping" the difference is small. luck G

I installed the race tech emulators in my forks and feel there's a serious improvement in compression damping. I was able to set up the forks much firmer than before without getting wooden. This means much less brake dive and still a good plush ride. I like them so much I just installed another set in the new 38mm front end I put on my bike.

i have been wanting to do this to my z1r,i have heard nothing but good about the emulators.what kinda cash do these go for?

leon

About $150 IIRC

T_Dub wrote:

The emulators from race-tech are the only option, as far as I can tell, to get any kind of good modern damping characteristics out of a KZ fork.

X2

Have them installed on my KZ1000ST and the front suspension is superior to anything I've tried before. (ie. progressive springs, heavy weight oil, preload spacers, etc.)

Race Tech Gold Valves are a pressure sensitive variable valving device that is far superior to our antiquated fixed-orifice, damper rod forks.

Well worth the $150 and the only way to get performance comparable to a cartridge style fork.

Attached image is a gold valve emulator mounted on a stock KZ1000ST damper rod with enlarged bypass holes and a custom hydraulic stop to reduce total fork travel from 7" to 5"