Sources for Race Tech FEGV-S3301

[garyS-NJ]

looking to install the race tech front fork cartridge emulators in m '79 gs1000. The race Tech website says I need their FEGV S3301 which they sell for $180. So I googled around and found ebay they have the FEGV 3301for $130. Note that there is no S in this part number.. so back to the Race Tech website and I see they also sell a FEGV 3301 and the dimensions are the same as the S3301. I emailed Race Tech and they cautioned against ebay sellers and said the plain 3301 has different valving and designed for dirt bikes. I suspect smaller holes and perhaps a lighter spring but for $50 I cannot attempt to match the modifications….

Does anyone know of a less expensive source for the FEGV S3301??
And does anyone have free length dimension for Sonic Fork Springs Model 05S-100??

Now some background in case anyone is doing or has done suspension work on their GS1000. To start, yes, I did read through the posts here in popular Tech info and there was just too much to look at in the Old Tech Info section.. And I did a search here but found nothing on price or source.
I put sonic linear fork springs Model 05S-100 in my front end selecting the 1kg/mm and for my 160lb body I think they are too heavy or perhaps I need to reduce the preload (and/or fork oil weight). I think I used 10 wt oil but might have mixed 15wt with 10wt figuring I would need more rebound damping with the heavier spring.. but while heavier oil with the hydraulic dampers gets more rebound damping, it also increases the compression damping and the front is now too harsh. But then it could just be excessive preload on a heavy spring (It was a bear getting my fork caps started with my spacers). And looking at the front end sag, I'm getting almost no sag in the front with my weight on the bike and I’m getting about 5/8” rear sag in the rear with the rear shock set on the lowest/softest preload setting. I’m running with old stock rear shocks but from the sag it seems the springs are good but I have not taken them apart to check damping.. So besides front end high (oh crap, maybe those sonic springs model 05S-100 were too long, I asked the company the free length and compressed and will check when I get it apart..), the front is now very harsh (fork oil too heavy?) and scary on highway bumps.. And high speed turns, I get some snake weave which I think is a mismatch in damping.. this damping I hope to fix with the emulators…

[dorkburger]

I did the Sonic springs and Race Tech emulators on my 1150. Different bike, different forks, so it may not apply. Parts purchased used from a member here so I don’t have P/Ns.
My springs are .95. Rich over at Sonic said that was the perfect weight for me. I’m about 155 lbs, add some for full gear / helmet.

[Tom R]

The .95 springs transformed the front end of my GS1100 - maybe even slightly stiff - my 180 lbs doesn’t get much sag when I sit on it with 1/2” of preload.
Thanks to the generosity of Saltymonk supplying me some nylon adapters, I dropped a
set of MikesXS emulators in the front along with a 50/50 mix of 10 and 15 wt oil. I wouldn’t say they transformed the bike, but I can tell the difference, especially at low speeds... not as much at high speeds.
That setup along with hagon shocks on the rear and the bike feels fairly well planted. I just did about 500 miles of the twistiest roads we could find in SE Wisconsin (and they’re very twisty, and sometimes bumpy) and the bike never really lost its composure.... even at a very brisk pace with modern bikes.
Next time I change the fork oil, I’m sticking with just 10wt.

[garyS-NJ]

Thanks Tom and dorkburger.. 180lbs vs my 160lbs and 1/2 preload on lighter springs makes me wonder what the minimum preload I can run. And I would love to save a little penny on the emulators buying Mikes XS if I could get those adapters but I think they are gone forever.. funny everyone I hear post about the emulators loves them like night and day.

The .95 springs transformed the front end of my GS1100 - maybe even slightly stiff - my 180 lbs doesn’t get much sag when I sit on it with 1/2” of preload.
Thanks to the generosity of Saltymonk supplying me some nylon adapters, I dropped a
set of MikesXS emulators in the front along with a 50/50 mix of 10 and 15 wt oil. I wouldn’t say they transformed the bike, but I can tell the difference, especially at low speeds... not as much at high speeds.
That setup along with hagon shocks on the rear and the bike feels fairly well planted. I just did about 500 miles of the twistiest roads we could find in SE Wisconsin (and they’re very twisty, and sometimes bumpy) and the bike never really lost its composure.... even at a very brisk pace with modern bikes.
Next time I change the fork oil, I’m sticking with just 10wt.

[salty_monk]

You can buy the 35mm Emulators from MikesXS.net & fashion an adapter. That's what I run in my 1100E forks (that are fitted to a 78 1000E). Works great.

https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs650-damper-valve-pr-front-forks-77-84-oem-1t3-23170-00-00.html

RaceTech will warn you against Ebay sellers as they are pretty simple devices, easy to copy & I don't think RaceTech are very aggressive with defending their patent.

Pics of the adapters I had made (I've made these from Brass, Aluminum, Engineering Nylon bar in the past).

IMG_2743.jpg

[salty_monk]

Here is an adapter picture I found on a V-strom site - a well respected suspension guy that makes these by all accounts.Daugherty Emulators.jpg


If you're doing a suspension upgrade don't forget your brakes... see link below in my signature.

[garyS-NJ]

Nice on that salty monk. Thanks. I'll reach out on those adapters.. I have access to a lathe but not the time to play. Hopefully the adapters plus mikes $59 doesn't get me to the race tech $180.. And I'd hope they perform as well. I w ont have a comparison.. And yes brakes!! I was pretty happy with my stock brakes until I started riding two newer bikes and so been thinking r3crntly I need to look at brake upgrade

[salty_monk]

I also have access to a lathe but no time... If I could find someone with a free source of engineering nylon bar (or aluminum bar) it might become viable to make some.

I do have laser cut adapters for the brakes on my shelf if you want to go that way.

[garyS-NJ]

fab them adapters

Is this the material you could use to adapt MikesXS adapters to our damper?? https://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Stock-3pcs-27mm-2-Dia-13-Long-PA6-Nylon-Round-Rod-Stick-Bar-Stock-Black/391969240866?hash=item5b432ff722:g:RuAAAOSwunBa4WG 3:sc:ShippingMethodStandard!07032!US!-1


And is the Mikes emulator as emulatable as the Race Tech? Oh and I'm starting to think that RaceTech just lists their S3301 and the rest of the S parts to combat competing sales. I looked at a bunch of 37mm tube dirt bikes (used franks forks site) and none of these bikes had emulators listed on the Race Tech site.

Oh I didn't look at the brake link yet but will do.

I also have access to a lathe but no time... If I could find someone with a free source of engineering nylon bar (or aluminum bar) it might become viable to make some.

I do have laser cut adapters for the brakes on my shelf if you want to go that way.

[garyS-NJ]

This is a Mikes unit? Looks like he adapted the emulator clearance to the tube and I guess the washer is to give the spring a better surface?? I thought the interface to the damper rod had to be formed also..

Here is an adapter picture I found on a V-strom site - a well respected suspension guy that makes these by all accounts.[ATTACH=CONFIG]58964[/ATTACH]


If you're doing a suspension upgrade don't forget your brakes... see link below in my signature.

[garyS-NJ]

holy smokes there's 90 pages in that front brake upgrade thread. I quickly gleaned that one should us CBR rotors (year and model?) and not sure which calipers.. and there is drilling of the rotors required for the spacers (that wasn't perfectly clear from your 10 point summary). and Chinese rotors might last and some other GS rotors might also last. How much for your adapters and can you post a pic? I'll finish the 90 pages with coffee.

I also have access to a lathe but no time... If I could find someone with a free source of engineering nylon bar (or aluminum bar) it might become viable to make some.

I do have laser cut adapters for the brakes on my shelf if you want to go that way.

[greg78gs750]

fwiw i found the racetechs on amazon for less than from rt direct....

[garyS-NJ]

Yes, I'm finding many race tech emulators on amazon including their FEGV-3301 for $125 but not their FEGV-S3301 which their website calls out for our GS-1000 with 37mm fork tubes. The plain 3301 and the S3301 have the same outline dimensions but Race Tech explained that the plain 3301's are designed for dirt bikes and have different valving. However, I have not yet found a 37mm fork tube dirt bike where race tech website shows an emulator for it and the plain FEGV-3301 on amazon has comments of praise from street bike users.

fwiw i found the racetechs on amazon for less than from rt direct....

[850 Combat]

I dropped off a set of forks there, and picked them up rebuilt with new springs. Haven't mounted them yet. I'm thinking of having them build some shocks. They are about 25 miles from my wife's house.

It would have been cheaper to do it myself, but this was so convenient.

[salty_monk]

Yes, I'm finding many race tech emulators on amazon including their FEGV-3301 for $125 but not their FEGV-S3301 which their website calls out for our GS-1000 with 37mm fork tubes. The plain 3301 and the S3301 have the same outline dimensions but Race Tech explained that the plain 3301's are designed for dirt bikes and have different valving. However, I have not yet found a 37mm fork tube dirt bike where race tech website shows an emulator for it and the plain FEGV-3301 on amazon has comments of praise from street bike users.

The emulators are so simple... There are a couple of ways they could change the valving but the main one would be changing the spring on the top. My guess is dirt has a stiffer spring and that's it... they are adjustable.