Tuning Race Tech Emulators

[mmattockx]

Last week I installed Sonic 1.0kg/mm fork springs and RT emulators in my 1100E. The weather has been brutally cold here so couldn't get out for a test ride until yesterday and that was only maybe 60km of pretty sedate riding among traffic on local roads. The front end feel is vastly improved, being firm and taught over small bumps and sucking up bigger bumps quite well. Not as good as my GSXR1000, but maybe 90% of the way there.

My question is, how much of a difference does 1/2 turn on the emulator spring preload make? I used 10W oil, with the level set at 120mm as per Rich Desmond's instructions and 2.5 turns of preload on the emulator spring. I went with 2.5 turns instead of 3 because I was worried about having too much low speed damping and a harsh ride on the small bumps. The way it is now I would not say is too harsh at all and I'm wondering if I should try 3 turns of preload for a bit more feel or if that extra 1/2 turn will really tighten things up and make it too harsh for comfortable street use? If it was a track bike I would be upping the preload for sure but that isn't the case here.


Thanks,
Mark

[salty_monk]

In general you should get the rebound right first (using the oil weight as I don't think you have rebound adjust on that fork) and then play with the emulator.

1/2 turn can be felt.

[Dogma]

Good question. I've been running mine as delivered from the factory (after verifying they had the recommended settings). I had no complaints and it's too much hassle to yank them out just to experiment. Come to think of it, tire wear at Gingerman was nearly ideal, so I probably won't fool with them. But even if I had, I don't know how I'd answer your question. "Not much difference" for me might be a big change for you. Some riders are happy with a bike that's a tuning mess, others are so sensitive they're never happy.

I think the smallest increment I saw while playing with the calculators was a quarter turn, so that's probably the smallest adjustment someone might find significant. But that will also depend on which spring you have installed. I don't think RT emulators would have the reputation they do if 1/2 turn would take a bike from comfortable to unrideable. My guess is, it's a modest but significant change.

I totally get not wanting to do it more times than is absolutely necessary.

[RichDesmond]

Last week I installed Sonic 1.0kg/mm fork springs and RT emulators in my 1100E. The weather has been brutally cold here so couldn't get out for a test ride until yesterday and that was only maybe 60km of pretty sedate riding among traffic on local roads. The front end feel is vastly improved, being firm and taught over small bumps and sucking up bigger bumps quite well. Not as good as my GSXR1000, but maybe 90% of the way there.

My question is, how much of a difference does 1/2 turn on the emulator spring preload make? I used 10W oil, with the level set at 120mm as per Rich Desmond's instructions and 2.5 turns of preload on the emulator spring. I went with 2.5 turns instead of 3 because I was worried about having too much low speed damping and a harsh ride on the small bumps. The way it is now I would not say is too harsh at all and I'm wondering if I should try 3 turns of preload for a bit more feel or if that extra 1/2 turn will really tighten things up and make it too harsh for comfortable street use? If it was a track bike I would be upping the preload for sure but that isn't the case here.


Thanks,
Mark

Sounds like they are working perfectly.

Just an FYI, but the emulator preload affects mostly high speed compression, not low speed. The low speed compression is handled by the holes in the emulator body.
You want your suspension to feel supple but controlled, if that's what you have you're golden.

[salty_monk]

Running it with more preload will also support it more under heavy braking too (i.e. less tendency to dive).
Personally the 2.5-3 turns was about right for me with 10w oil.

[mmattockx]

In general you should get the rebound right first (using the oil weight as I don't think you have rebound adjust on that fork) and then play with the emulator.

1/2 turn can be felt.

The fork does have adjustable rebound, currently set on #2 of 4. It might be just a touch light at that but the weather has been so bad the last couple of weeks I haven't had much time to tinker. If things get nicer for a stretch before winter I will try #3 and see what I think of it. #2 definitely isn't much off perfect based on initial testing in the garage and the first ride.

Sounds like they are working perfectly.

Just an FYI, but the emulator preload affects mostly high speed compression, not low speed. The low speed compression is handled by the holes in the emulator body.
You want your suspension to feel supple but controlled, if that's what you have you're golden.

Fair point. It's really the crossover point where the valve starts to blow open on bumps that I am wondering about, I guess I didn't articulate that very clearly in OP. It was very nice on the test ride, firm and tight but not at all harsh. As I said, it felt about 90% as good as my GSXR1000 forks, which is damned good for a 34 year old bike. This may all wait until next spring the way our weather has gone, we are getting so late in the season that even nice weather is getting marginal for much riding. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but this whole season has been very unfriendly to motorcyclists.


Mark

[RichDesmond]

...It was very nice on the test ride, firm and tight but not at all harsh. As I said, it felt about 90% as good as my GSXR1000 forks, which is damned good for a 34 year old bike...

Hard to do better than that with damper rod forks.