Racetech spring weight
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,923
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From: poway
The 06 to 08 fairing bikes have different springs / damping rods and emulator valve than the 09 to 13 bikes. I suspect that HD opened up the rebound oil on the damping rod on the later bikes and don't know what the changes are to the springs and emulator valve..
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 482
From: MA
I've not used the Ricor stuff.. The valving design is different than the Racetech stuff. I would try what you have but use 5 wt oil.. It's just a guess om my part. You might want to call Ricor and see what they say.. Hopefully they have to data. The stock bagger spring is still less than 0.7 kg/mm which IMO is way too light.
The 06 to 08 fairing bikes have different springs / damping rods and emulator valve than the 09 to 13 bikes. I suspect that HD opened up the rebound oil on the damping rod on the later bikes and don't know what the changes are to the springs and emulator valve..
The 06 to 08 fairing bikes have different springs / damping rods and emulator valve than the 09 to 13 bikes. I suspect that HD opened up the rebound oil on the damping rod on the later bikes and don't know what the changes are to the springs and emulator valve..
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From: poway
I found this discussion where he says he used 1.0 kg/mm
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...ml#post9273578
Don't know what bike he used tho..
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From: Bedford UK
'fabrik8r' is Jason Ward, who transmogrified into 'Wardspartswerks' when he designed and introduced a pair of cylinder cooling fans for big twins. Unfortunately he hasn't been around for a while now, last posted in 2016, so getting in touch may be a problem.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 546
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From: Toronto
Since the 08 and 07 have the same damping rods an valving on faring bike. This is what I did to my EGC..
Use progressive standard weight springs, 5 wt oil (Spectro or Maxima) and drill the center of the HD emulator valve out to 7/64ths..
Preload to 25/30mm.. I weight 190 and 25 works a little better. Add a little bit if you are heavier. This is a good setup on rough roads with potholes but still rides pretty well. Bike gets ridden aggressively. If you want want a softer ride you can use emulators but only do 1 or 2 holes in the hat/valve and gold springs set to 2 to 2 1/2 turns.. Warning, the RT valve will bottom severely on bad pot holes. I removed the RT emulators and went back to then HD version.
As stated, passenger and bags are in the back.
Use progressive standard weight springs, 5 wt oil (Spectro or Maxima) and drill the center of the HD emulator valve out to 7/64ths..
Preload to 25/30mm.. I weight 190 and 25 works a little better. Add a little bit if you are heavier. This is a good setup on rough roads with potholes but still rides pretty well. Bike gets ridden aggressively. If you want want a softer ride you can use emulators but only do 1 or 2 holes in the hat/valve and gold springs set to 2 to 2 1/2 turns.. Warning, the RT valve will bottom severely on bad pot holes. I removed the RT emulators and went back to then HD version.
As stated, passenger and bags are in the back.
i know now I am doing some serious thread resurrecting here, but I was about to pull the trigger on some racetech gold emulators and 1.0 springs for the front of my 08 eg classic. I weigh 205lbs. Figured Id do some research before pulling the trigger. Glad I did
what is different about 08 bikes? Racetechs site says I need 1.24 springs but they dont even stock them
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 482
From: MA
i know now I am doing some serious thread resurrecting here, but I was about to pull the trigger on some racetech gold emulators and 1.0 springs for the front of my 08 eg classic. I weigh 205lbs. Figured Id do some research before pulling the trigger. Glad I did
what is different about 08 bikes? Racetechs site says I need 1.24 springs but they dont even stock them
what is different about 08 bikes? Racetechs site says I need 1.24 springs but they dont even stock them
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 546
Likes: 54
From: Toronto
Thanks for the response! I figure the 1.0 springs would be quite a step up from stock, and with their gold emulators (it's a kit) that it would make a noticeable difference. But this thread had me wondering if 08 was somehow different in any way.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: poway
i know now I am doing some serious thread resurrecting here, but I was about to pull the trigger on some racetech gold emulators and 1.0 springs for the front of my 08 eg classic. I weigh 205lbs. Figured Id do some research before pulling the trigger. Glad I did
what is different about 08 bikes? Racetechs site says I need 1.24 springs but they dont even stock them
what is different about 08 bikes? Racetechs site says I need 1.24 springs but they dont even stock them
The Spring rate calc on RT website is currently screwed up on the spring rates. They give you the same spring for 4 inch travel fork (TC bagger, 14 and up) as they do for a 5 inch fork, (13 and earlier TC bagger). Think about it. With a 4 inch travel fork, compressing the fork 4 inches with a 1.25 kg/mm spring will yield the same spring pressure increase as compressing a 1.0kg/mm 5 inches.
I'd rebuild your forks with stock HD emulator, 5wt oil, and the 1.0 KG/mm springs. Drill the center hole out in the HD emulator to 7/64. Stock springs are about 0.7 to 1.6 kg/mm (last 1 1/2 inches). They suck.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 546
Likes: 54
From: Toronto
Not sure what the question is about the 08 bikes. From 06 to 08, the fairing bikes already have emulators (Showas version). 09 to 13 had slightly different valves, springs and emulators.
The Spring rate calc on RT website is currently screwed up on the spring rates. They give you the same spring for 4 inch travel fork (TC bagger, 14 and up) as they do for a 5 inch fork, (13 and earlier TC bagger). Think about it. With a 4 inch travel fork, compressing the fork 4 inches with a 1.25 kg/mm spring will yield the same spring pressure increase as compressing a 1.0kg/mm 5 inches.
I'd rebuild your forks with stock HD emulator, 5wt oil, and the 1.0 KG/mm springs. Drill the center hole out in the HD emulator to 7/64. Stock springs are about 0.7 to 1.6 kg/mm (last 1 1/2 inches). They suck.
The Spring rate calc on RT website is currently screwed up on the spring rates. They give you the same spring for 4 inch travel fork (TC bagger, 14 and up) as they do for a 5 inch fork, (13 and earlier TC bagger). Think about it. With a 4 inch travel fork, compressing the fork 4 inches with a 1.25 kg/mm spring will yield the same spring pressure increase as compressing a 1.0kg/mm 5 inches.
I'd rebuild your forks with stock HD emulator, 5wt oil, and the 1.0 KG/mm springs. Drill the center hole out in the HD emulator to 7/64. Stock springs are about 0.7 to 1.6 kg/mm (last 1 1/2 inches). They suck.
Clearly you know a lot more about suspensions then I ever will lol.
The mod to stock HD emulator along with a 1.0 spring will make a noticeable difference? Enough to not warrant the race tech golds?
New springs are definitely in order up front, going to address the rear shocks as well. Staying standard ride height, but want something that works without going super fancy (ballin on a budget)
EDIT- just realized you are who I quoted. Our roads are GARBAGE HERE...so I will maybe stay away from the rg emulators if bottoming out is an issue.
thank you!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: poway
You just answered my question, thank you. I had seen in a couple other threads that 08 was different, but I wasnt following with what.
Clearly you know a lot more about suspensions then I ever will lol.
The mod to stock HD emulator along with a 1.0 spring will make a noticeable difference? Enough to not warrant the race tech golds?
New springs are definitely in order up front, going to address the rear shocks as well. Staying standard ride height, but want something that works without going super fancy (ballin on a budget)
EDIT- just realized you are who I quoted. Our roads are GARBAGE HERE...so I will maybe stay away from the rg emulators if bottoming out is an issue.
thank you!
Clearly you know a lot more about suspensions then I ever will lol.
The mod to stock HD emulator along with a 1.0 spring will make a noticeable difference? Enough to not warrant the race tech golds?
New springs are definitely in order up front, going to address the rear shocks as well. Staying standard ride height, but want something that works without going super fancy (ballin on a budget)
EDIT- just realized you are who I quoted. Our roads are GARBAGE HERE...so I will maybe stay away from the rg emulators if bottoming out is an issue.
thank you!
First thing I did was go to progressive standard. 10wt oil. Worked better,
Tried 5 wt oil worked better.
Went to RT 4 holes in the hat, gold spring 2 turns, 20w oil. This was supposed to be the trick setup Over rough surfaces the forks would pack. You could feel the front drop. The problem is that rebound on damping was too stiff compression too light.
Backed off to 2 holes, gold spring 2 1/2 turns, bach to 5 wt. This worked OK but pot holes would seriously bottom the forks.
So I went back to stock emulators and drilled out the center hole in the HD emulator, 5 wt and still the progressive springs.
Was replacing the lowers so I swapped over to 1.0kg/mm springs. For me this is a bit better but front end dive is a little bit more.
This was all done over a period of 90000 miles. Bike just turned over 100K
If you think the springs would be too light for you, you can go with progressive springs which are about 1.07/1.40kg/mm rate springs. or find some 1.1s.
I've also done Softail and RK forks.. IMO the RT emulators work great in the Softail and RK forks.
The issue seems to be the rebound damping holes are different but I really haven't spent any time comparing the different forks. I simply modified each to suit. Some took a couple tires.. EGC took more..
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