Front suspension upgrade
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,535
Likes: 42
From: Bossier City, LA
Front suspension upgrade
I recently installed Works Performance triple rate fork springs. These were a huge improvement over stock but I wasn't blown away by them. I changed the spacers around trying to firm them up but still wasn't happy. I had decided to go to a cartridge set up from Traxxion. While researching I came across a Ricor Intimidator mod by a member here on the touring forum. His name is Fabrik8r. Basically he ports the valves and changes the shim pack in the intimidators an uses a single rate fork spring. The spring just hold up the forks and the valve controls the suspension movement. The guys he has helped have had outstanding results. The guys at Ricor have acknowldged him and helped him out with information.
My bike is the first 49mm fork he's worked with. We are starting with stock intimidators and single rate springs (1.1kg for my weight) from Traxxion. I'm running 10wt Aimsoil Shock Therapy fluid. Depending on the results my next moves will be changing to 5wt fluid to quicken the reaction of the valves, if needed. The next step will be porting the valves and making changes to the shim stacks.
I will post pics along the way and my observations. Evidently running the single rate springs allow the intimidators to function as they should and eliminates the "clunk" and harshness some have mentioned. Here's the thread from the touring forum.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touring-models/723724-who-wants-their-ricor-intiminators-to-work-better.html
My bike is the first 49mm fork he's worked with. We are starting with stock intimidators and single rate springs (1.1kg for my weight) from Traxxion. I'm running 10wt Aimsoil Shock Therapy fluid. Depending on the results my next moves will be changing to 5wt fluid to quicken the reaction of the valves, if needed. The next step will be porting the valves and making changes to the shim stacks.
I will post pics along the way and my observations. Evidently running the single rate springs allow the intimidators to function as they should and eliminates the "clunk" and harshness some have mentioned. Here's the thread from the touring forum.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touring-models/723724-who-wants-their-ricor-intiminators-to-work-better.html
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 756
Likes: 1
From: Austin, TX
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,535
Likes: 42
From: Bossier City, LA
Bobber if you have RaceTech springs you don't have the same thing. The variable rate springs do not allow the valve to fully control the suspension. This is due to the changes in spring rate as the suspension moves through its travel. Traxxion offers a modification using gold valves and a single rate spring. They modify the damper tubes as well to allow more fluid volume to flow through the damper tube. Believe it or not the 49mm tubes move much less fluid than the 41mm tubes. I'm not claiming to have any of this figured out. I've heard both sides of the story and tried the variable weight option and wasn't happy. It'd be nice to get this set up working well as its a much more inexpensive option than cartridges.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,465
Likes: 15
From: Corona, Ca
The race tech high performance springs are single rate progressive wound springs. The dampers are drilled with a total of 6 holes so the gold valves control the ride. I can tune the ride by adjusting the valve or adjusting the spacers or different weight fluids. Don't believe me go to racetechs website FAQ section.
Believe me I looked into the best option for me plus I know the guys at race tech here in corona haha
Believe me I looked into the best option for me plus I know the guys at race tech here in corona haha
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,535
Likes: 42
From: Bossier City, LA
Progressive means variable rate. The have a soft initial rate and then get firmer as they get further into their travel. They work the same as the works kit I was running but yours are more adjustable. I called and spoke at length with RaceTech regarding their set up. I'm not disagreeing with you on the adjustability of your set up or how it performs. Having a true single rate spring allows the valve to control the suspension based on input from the road or braking where having a progressive spring means the spring rate is not the same through its travel thus interfering with the valves operation. Basically the spring and the valve are both trying to compensate for what's going on. I don't need the suspension to be 1/2 way through its travel before it gets firm and handles well.