comparison of different emulators and fork springs

Depends on what you want, really. For starters, Race-Tech emulators are the original product, designed, produced, and patented in the USA. They're a known factor. Mike's are knock-offs reengineered in either Peoples Republic of China or Republic of China (Taiwan), I'm not sure which. The only part that might differ from the Race-Tech product is the preload spring, but it's critical to the functioning of the valve. To date I haven't been able to get test comparisons of spring rate and durability. Race-Tech also supplies detailed installation instructions, setup suggestions, and tech support. Mike's does not.

Re. springs, emulator valves are designed to do well what dual-rate springs do badly, which is to modulate response of the forks to different sizes and profiles of bumps. They perform best with straight-rate springs selected for your weight, your bike's weight, and your riding style. Off-the-shelf straight rate springs aren't available in the diameter we require, but Traxxion Dynamics will suggest a rate for you and produce a custom-wound spring for less than you'd expect--the price was around $125 a few years ago, and I doubt it's significantly more now. If the springs don't deliver the right sag in a viable range of preload, they'll have another pair wound and sent to you with shipping paid both ways--can't beat their customer service and ethics.


Well I know this thread is a decade old but I'm going to shoot my shot in the dark anyways! I'm in the midst of building my first xs650 and have seen this ^ recommendation from a few people as I've been digging through the forums researching things. So I reached out to Traxxion Dynamics and was basically told that they don't have any build notes for the xs650 and they've never built springs for them before :wtf:... Can anyone shed any light on this for me? I think the race tech emulators and straight rate springs are the way I want to go. Just need to source components.
 
I've been using bigtwin springs for 35mm sportster forks, gotta spend some time finding a set the right length but I tested them as about 15% stiffer than stock and really like how they work.
 
Well, Race Tech have both springs and emulators. And good tech support. So why shop around for springs, to save 10 or 20 bucks?
 
However, I belive there is one missing aspects om this thread. Top Out Springs!
Later models are supposed to have them, while my 77 D does not.
I see that DCC have "Honda" top out springs, and I wonder if they will fit over the 35 mm XS fork damper rods?
 
Well I know this thread is a decade old but I'm going to shoot my shot in the dark anyways! I'm in the midst of building my first xs650 and have seen this ^ recommendation from a few people as I've been digging through the forums researching things. So I reached out to Traxxion Dynamics and was basically told that they don't have any build notes for the xs650 and they've never built springs for them before :wtf:... Can anyone shed any light on this for me? I think the race tech emulators and straight rate springs are the way I want to go. Just need to source components.
My experience with Traxxion Dynamics was outstanding. I think they're just being honest with you. They haven't done it doesn't mean they won't do it. They'll tell you what they need to know. They use RaceTech emulators and support them. The setup the put on my cousin's XS1100 is amazing. They set one fork for compression and the other for rebound. Based upon my experience and that of my friends, I have no reservations about giving the work to Traxxion.
Truthfully, RaceTech didn't impress me. I paid the price of admission and they left me hanging. Matt Wiley (RaceTech) saved it for me at the Barber Vintage Fest. Their emulator is a fine product, but I'm not a skilled tuner. I got it with the help of Matt Wiley.
 
they don't have any build notes for the xs650 and they've never built springs for them before :wtf:
If Traxxion won't do it, then I would go to RaceTech. That is, unless you are confident in setting it up yourself. It's a lot more complicated than I had imagined. Setting it up myself was a complete fail. YMMV. I don't think MikesXS will help you at all, and I expect you'll struggle to find someone there who knows anything about them.
 
You can add the top out springs from a later set of forks, if you could find some .....

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Actually Traxxion has done custom fork springs for an XS650 (mine), but it's been 15 years or so. Race Tech now offers straight rate springs for late XS650 forks (1977 and forward), so there's no benefit in having custom springs wound. TD is a Race Tech dealer and should be able to get the springs for you, or you can order direct from Race Tech. Talk to their tech support about rate.
 
Actually Traxxion has done custom fork springs for an XS650 (mine), but it's been 15 years or so. Race Tech now offers straight rate springs for late XS650 forks (1977 and forward), so there's no benefit in having custom springs wound. TD is a Race Tech dealer and should be able to get the springs for you, or you can order direct from Race Tech. Talk to their tech support about rate.

Perfect! Thanks for pointing a newbie in a helpful direction everyone! This will be my first build so I'm in the midst of figuring things out that you all have known for 15-20 years haha
 
Plus one on what Griz said about emulators and progressive springs being at odds with each other, the good thing about Racetech is you can work out the correct rate of spring for your bike/rider weight, they have all the info there, the Ractech site is a great resource! I recently put the RT spring emulator combo in my77d and am just as happy with the result as when I put them in my SR500, only other thing I did was put damper tubes from an SR500 (same as later XSs) in it as the 77 have different tubes to any other 35mm models and you need adapters and different emulators and not knowing this I had already bought the adapters for the later tubes, but I’d rather not use the adapters anyway.
 
Plus one on what Griz said about emulators and progressive springs being at odds with each other, the good thing about Racetech is you can work out the correct rate of spring for your bike/rider weight, they have all the info there, the Ractech site is a great resource! I recently put the RT spring emulator combo in my77d and am just as happy with the result as when I put them in my SR500, only other thing I did was put damper tubes from an SR500 (same as later XSs) in it as the 77 have different tubes to any other 35mm models and you need adapters and different emulators and not knowing this I had already bought the adapters for the later tubes, but I’d rather not use the adapters anyway.

With that in mind: My xs is a '78. I've done a little looking on here but havent gone on an extensive digging expedition yet, haha. Any knowledge on whether mine would have 35 or 36 mm front forks?
 
With that in mind: My xs is a '78. I've done a little looking on here but havent gone on an extensive digging expedition yet, haha. Any knowledge on whether mine would have 35 or 36 mm front forks?
If your '78 has the original forks, they're 35 mm. BTW, the hoop style brace often adds more stiction to the fork action. The Tarozzi style is better,
 
Also be aware that these forks just plain work better with slightly more than the stock amount of oil in them. Stock amount for the 35mm forks is just under 6 ounces. Use about 7 ounces if the forks have been totally cleaned out (disassembled and dry), about 6.5 ounces on a refill. Setting the oil level 6" from the tops of the tubes works well too. That results in around 6.5 ounces.
 
Also be aware that these forks just plain work better with slightly more than the stock amount of oil in them. Stock amount for the 35mm forks is just under 6 ounces. Use about 7 ounces if the forks have been totally cleaned out (disassembled and dry), about 6.5 ounces on a refill. Setting the oil level 6" from the tops of the tubes works well too. That results in around 6.5 ounces.
:agree:
Mine are topped to a little over five inches. It makes for far less dive when the brakes are applied. As far as my seat of the pants, it's the most worthwhile thing you can do with XS650 suspension for the street.
 
Any style of brace can cause fork bind if it isn't carefully fitted. I once had to shim one side of one clamp on a Daytona alloy brace with exactly one thickness of electrical tape to achieve good action. If you stay very patient and take your time, that hoop type brace will be fine.
 
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