Race Tech FTW!!!
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 508
Likes: 31
From: California
Race Tech FTW!!!
Hey all, just want to give props to the folks over at Race Tech for getting my front suspension dialed in today. Had been riding my 2014 FXDB with stock suspension for a couple months and absolutely had to trash it - my front end would wobble like crazy and pogo-stick all over the place, especially at speed.
Was between the Ricors and the Race Tech gold valve emulators and I am so happy that I decided on Race Tech (with Traxxion single-rate springs, would have gone full RT internals but a buddy hooked me up with the springs). Rode out to RT's shop this morning, bouncing all over the highway as usual. Riding the hour back home from their shop, my ride is night and day different. My front end is so stable now and eats bumps for lunch! So far, this is the best money I've spent on my bike. Highly recommend!!!
Was between the Ricors and the Race Tech gold valve emulators and I am so happy that I decided on Race Tech (with Traxxion single-rate springs, would have gone full RT internals but a buddy hooked me up with the springs). Rode out to RT's shop this morning, bouncing all over the highway as usual. Riding the hour back home from their shop, my ride is night and day different. My front end is so stable now and eats bumps for lunch! So far, this is the best money I've spent on my bike. Highly recommend!!!
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 56
Likes: 4
From: America
Hey all, just want to give props to the folks over at Race Tech for getting my front suspension dialed in today. Had been riding my 2014 FXDB with stock suspension for a couple months and absolutely had to trash it - my front end would wobble like crazy and pogo-stick all over the place, especially at speed.
Was between the Ricors and the Race Tech gold valve emulators and I am so happy that I decided on Race Tech (with Traxxion single-rate springs, would have gone full RT internals but a buddy hooked me up with the springs). Rode out to RT's shop this morning, bouncing all over the highway as usual. Riding the hour back home from their shop, my ride is night and day different. My front end is so stable now and eats bumps for lunch! So far, this is the best money I've spent on my bike. Highly recommend!!!
Was between the Ricors and the Race Tech gold valve emulators and I am so happy that I decided on Race Tech (with Traxxion single-rate springs, would have gone full RT internals but a buddy hooked me up with the springs). Rode out to RT's shop this morning, bouncing all over the highway as usual. Riding the hour back home from their shop, my ride is night and day different. My front end is so stable now and eats bumps for lunch! So far, this is the best money I've spent on my bike. Highly recommend!!!
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 149
Likes: 27
From: Quiet end of Silicon Valley
If the folks at Ohlins don't cough up some of the new fork cartridge kits they're going to become nothing more than an urban legend...
I asked a local shop about the Ohlins and they said for about the same money they would recommend K-Tech. I've heard that before...
So I understand that the RaceTech stuff is a whole lot better than stock so really starting to wonder if I need to go all of the way to Ohlins or K-Tech.
It's not about the money it's more about being realistic. The rear shocks were a no brainer because I went from 2 1/2" to 4" of travel with the Ohlins piggy back but how much better is the Ohlins/K-Tech than the RaceTech Gold emulators?
Just wondering?
Chonk
I asked a local shop about the Ohlins and they said for about the same money they would recommend K-Tech. I've heard that before...
So I understand that the RaceTech stuff is a whole lot better than stock so really starting to wonder if I need to go all of the way to Ohlins or K-Tech.
It's not about the money it's more about being realistic. The rear shocks were a no brainer because I went from 2 1/2" to 4" of travel with the Ohlins piggy back but how much better is the Ohlins/K-Tech than the RaceTech Gold emulators?
Just wondering?
Chonk
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 69
Likes: 19
From: Richmond
But to each their own
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 836
Likes: 92
From: Sonoma Co - California Formaly East Bay
... Ans spend the extra ton of cash somewhere else on the bike.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,830
Likes: 7,968
From: poway
If the folks at Ohlins don't cough up some of the new fork cartridge kits they're going to become nothing more than an urban legend...
I asked a local shop about the Ohlins and they said for about the same money they would recommend K-Tech. I've heard that before...
So I understand that the RaceTech stuff is a whole lot better than stock so really starting to wonder if I need to go all of the way to Ohlins or K-Tech.
It's not about the money it's more about being realistic. The rear shocks were a no brainer because I went from 2 1/2" to 4" of travel with the Ohlins piggy back but how much better is the Ohlins/K-Tech than the RaceTech Gold emulators?
Just wondering?
Chonk
I asked a local shop about the Ohlins and they said for about the same money they would recommend K-Tech. I've heard that before...
So I understand that the RaceTech stuff is a whole lot better than stock so really starting to wonder if I need to go all of the way to Ohlins or K-Tech.
It's not about the money it's more about being realistic. The rear shocks were a no brainer because I went from 2 1/2" to 4" of travel with the Ohlins piggy back but how much better is the Ohlins/K-Tech than the RaceTech Gold emulators?
Just wondering?
Chonk
While Race Tech's represent a drastic (IMO) improvement over stock forks. The difference is in the compression valving.. Stock HD forks are basically single speed orifice damping for both compression and rebound.. The best systems have at least 2 speeds for rebound and compression. They typically use a spring loaded valve that opens as the shock compression speed increases and the orifice. The orifice is considered low speed and the second valve comes into play at higher shock speeds.
Racetechs emulators add compression high speed valving. No change to rebound. Since (IMO) compression damping is 75% (Experts put your own number on it) of the suspension control, you'll see a pretty drastic improvement. The issue that make that extra 25% is dealing with how surface roughness changes attitude on the suspension because rebound cannot keep up (only single speed). Adding a second speed for rebound corrects this.. You can play with fork oil weights to minimize this with a single speed rebound system but it will always be there..
Richors only add a 3rd speed on compression via a floating valve but have to limit the devices 2nd speed (spring valve) due to the space available.. Don't know if these are better as I've not tried them..
Ohlins uses a good high flow deflecting shim 2 speed system.. If adjustable, it's the slow speed damping.
Get Paul Thede's Race Tech's motorcycle suspension bible... It's an easy read with lots of pics..
FWIW, The baggers I own have emulators but the others are all cartidge..
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 564
Likes: 48
i understand you are giving props to a product you recently acquired, but how did you experience so much 'wobble and pogo stick reactions' from your front stock suspension? i am asking mostly because i have the same bike, with stock suspension and i just want to know if i should be worried. and right now i am at approx 6200 miles.
Is there better suspention out there, of course there is and I am sure the stuff this guy bought is way better and performs way better than stock suspension. Like many that feel good about there new suspension he is running the stock equipment down, maybe a little more than it deserves. If you ride reasonable your bike will be fine and you will have nothing to worry about.
I have upgraded my rear shocks on my Dyna Street Bob to get a better ride than the stock ones and have no regrets but the stock ones were fine and safe. I have had no issues with wobbles or anything else with the stock front shocks.
Don't worry and enjoy your ride.
Ride Safe,
Bill G
This! I agree. At first all I wanted was some ohlins piggybacks and cartridge front end with dual disk, but I'm coming to realize even though I ride pretty aggressively I'll never use either to their full potential. Now I'd rather go hagon rears, gold valves, and maybe ness big brake kit.
But to each their own
But to each their own
I'm now looking to upgrade suspension.