Topic: Front Fork Damper Valve... anyone tried these???

[MRieck]

just got mine in the mail...
went to slide them in the tubes to see how everything fits.....its a smaller diamiter then the damper tube.  so does that mean that they are too small?

How much smaller? Do you have some calipers to measure the valve OD in damper rod ID?

[jaguar]

there are lots of articles out there explaining the benefits of cartridge forks. damper style forks have a progressive damping rate, which can result in hydraulic lock at high speeds, and mushy damping at low speeds. with the SOHC4, you've probably all experienced this the most as the mushy fork-dive they can have coming to a stop (depending on the oil viscosity).



cartridge forks use stacks of shims to control both compression and rebound damping, and have the advantage of doing so at a consistent rate regardless of velocity or force of the fork movement.



the emulators bypass the compression damping by drilling out the oil passageways too large to do much of anything, and then controlling the damping rate though a series of shims like a real cartridge fork. the rebound damping is still controlled though the smaller holes at the top of the damping rod. the emulators can be tuned to control compression damping, while the viscosity of the oil still controls the rebound.






here is a good article explaining it all:
http://www.fjmods.btinternet.co.uk/emulators.htm

looking at the pic with the damper on the tube its not the same size.  is that normal?  thats about what my valve looks like on the tube(am i using the right term?) 
best i can tell using an VERY old crappy mic tool is that the valve is .937in and the tube is .980 OD i have better tools but there at work...

[eurban]

You are of course not using a race tech product but if yours is designed to fit the same way then you can refer to Race-Techs website where they discuss how to size the emulator.  Here's the link http://www.racetech.com/articles/EmulatorFitting.htm  Basically, The emulator OD should be just a bit smaller than the OD of the damper rod's "piston head"  It should fit flush with the top of the damper rod covering over the central hole.  The nut on the thread should fit inside the hole in the damper rod and the bump on the down side of the emulator should fit into the cup on the top of the damper without holding the emulator away.  Oh and the spring should fit well on the top of the emulator.  If your item meets these criteria then it should maybe probably work.   Basically, just cause the XS and some of the SOHCs share the same diameter forks doesn't mean that the products are compatible. Hopefully, they are.  I've actually got an email into Racetech to see about an emulator application for the GL1000 37mm front forks on my project 750.  Unfortunately the XS pieces are probably too small so I will probably have to pay Racetech's price.   Please let us know how it works.

[paulages]

got mine in the mail today, and they look identical the the race tech product.

[eurban]

Well, when are you going to see how well it fits??

[jaguar]

i need to get forks first....mine are bent..
but that isnt so easy.  no one has them for a 78 cb750F
i will get those exact sizes for those parts latter

[mick750F]

i need to get forks first....mine are bent..
but that isnt so easy.  no one has them for a 78 cb750F
i will get those exact sizes for those parts latter

  No one has them? Cyclex? Frank's? You know, the thread you started about where to get forks. Or do you need the fork lowers? They shouldn't be hard to find either.

Mike

[jaguar]

just the tubes.  cycles are differnt.  emailed frank, got an anwser then i emailed him a question and never heard back

[Terry in Australia]

The tubes from any CB750 from the K3 on will fit your F3 mate. I've got F2 tubes in my K3's forks, and cut down XL250 dirt bike tubes in my F2. (long story) Cheers, Terry.

[Terry in Australia]

I just ordered a set, it'll be interesting to pull one apart to see if I can "emulate" it in my workshop, ha ha!

[mick750F]

I just ordered a set, it'll be interesting to pull one apart to see if I can "emulate" it in my workshop, ha ha!

Terry you leave those emus alone. The sheep will be jealous.

Mike

[Terry in Australia]

I just ordered a set, it'll be interesting to pull one apart to see if I can "emulate" it in my workshop, ha ha!

Terry you leave those emus alone. The sheep will be jealous.

Mike

That's true Mike, when I first saw the word "Emulate", I thought it was a fancy Aussie Coffee! ("Emu" "Late", gedit?) 

[jaguar]

i was told that the 78 was a different fork.

[Terry in Australia]

Only the sliders, not the tubes. Cheers, Terry.

[jaguar]

they kind of made me think that there was a difference.  now im lost....lol

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=29558.0

[FunJimmy]

Bump.

[Terry in Australia]

Bumpity-bump. 

I've received my emu-latte kit, but haven't had time to install them yet. They look like excellent quality though, so 49 bucks well spent, imho! Cheers, Terry.

[CBJoe]

You know.... I started this thread and I'm not sure i've even posted in it

The banter is way to interesting to read  (i gave up TV years ago so its my only entertainment).

Terry... I'm interested in what you think of these damper valves.  I've read what information is available in some other threads, and there have been some comments about adjusting them to be a PITA.

I'm not that aggressive a rider, so I'm not sure how much I'll benefit from installing them.

cheers... Joe

[Patrick]

I'll be watching for you assessment as well, Terry. I'm not an aggressive rider, either. I only do WOT and redline to clear out the jets. But it seems like my jets need clearing a couple or three times every time I ride....

Patrick

[eurban]

Has anyone determined that the Mike's XS emulator actually works on the 35mm SOHC forks??  A number of people seem to have ordered them but I can't recall anyone reporting on an actual successful install.

[paulages]

Has anyone determined that the Mike's XS emulator actually works on the 35mm SOHC forks??  A number of people seem to have ordered them but I can't recall anyone reporting on an actual successful install.

i haven't installed them yet (will do a set here in the next few days), but they are identical to the race tech product, which i have installed successfully.

[Terry in Australia]

Has anyone determined that the Mike's XS emulator actually works on the 35mm SOHC forks??  A number of people seem to have ordered them but I can't recall anyone reporting on an actual successful install.

Don't worry mate, they'll work fine. I might order aq couple more sets before they all run out......... 

[ralt12]

I've installed them, and on a static basis they seem much more agreeable than stock, but I need to rebuild my master cylinder before a road test.

[eurban]

Has anyone determined that the Mike's XS emulator actually works on the 35mm SOHC forks??  A number of people seem to have ordered them but I can't recall anyone reporting on an actual successful install.

i haven't installed them yet (will do a set here in the next few days), but they are identical to the race tech product, which i have installed successfully.

I understand that they are of the same design concept as the Racetech emulators.  It would also be nice if they were truly identical in quality and function but I am skeptical that you can determine this simply by looking at them. Racetech lists the same part number for the CB750 as the XS650 so theoretically they should fit.  I've already seen a post or two where people are recommending these as a must have uprgrade yet I still haven't seen a report from someone who has ridden a SOHC with these installed.  How about a update after a road test? . . . .Maybe I'm just being grumpy cause they won't fit the 37mm GL forks on my 750.   I'm still considering plunking down the $ for a Racetech kit sized to fit the GL forks and am interested in hearing about performance improvements.  How did the RT emulators that you mention installing work?  What bike?

[paulages]

Has anyone determined that the Mike's XS emulator actually works on the 35mm SOHC forks??  A number of people seem to have ordered them but I can't recall anyone reporting on an actual successful install.

i haven't installed them yet (will do a set here in the next few days), but they are identical to the race tech product, which i have installed successfully.

I understand that they are of the same design concept as the Racetech emulators.  It would also be nice if they truly identical in quality and function but I am skeptical that you can determine this simply by looking at them. Racetech lists the same part number for the CB750 as the XS650 so theoretically they should fit.  I've already seen a post or two where people are recommending these as a must have uprgrade yet it I still haven't seen a report from someone who has ridden a SOHC with these installed.  How about a update after a road test? . . . .Maybe I'm just being grumpy cause they won't fit the 37mm GL forks on my 750.   I'm still considering plunking down the $ for a Racetech kit sized to fit the GL forks and am interested in hearing about performance improvements.  How did the RT emulators that you mention installing work?  What bike?

i admittedly haven't ridden the bike yet-- cb650 forks on a 550 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=29117.0), but the install went well, which is what i was referring to. i am installing some of the mike's xs ones on a cb750K2 tomorrow, which will be test ridden and out of the shop by monday. i'll give a review, weather permitting.