Topic: 550 forks

[ryder60]

I am racing a 550.  The forks have new uppers and the older, shorter lowers.  The springs are stock and I have about an extra 5cc of 15 wt oil in them.  On a higher speed corner it just jack-hammers.  I'm planning on pressurizing them.  How much air pressure can I put in them?  What other low-budget changes might I make to them?
Thanks

[CBJoe]

Have you looked into Progressive Springs and/or cartridge emulators. 
http://www.race-tech.com/HTML_FILES/EMULATORGV.HTML

I'm not a racer, but I would figure you'd upgrade the springs before modifying to air forks.

Joe
 

[wannabridin]

i've heard plenty of great things with using an emulator from race tech.  you have to use single rate springs with these though, as progressives would cancel out the emulator's effects.  i plan on running emulators in my 750 when i start the build. 

[MCRider]

Suspensions are always trial and error. I'd go the other way, 5cc less oil and lower wt. to get rid of the jack hammer.

I have emulators in my HawkGT and they transformed it.

I've had air forks on my 750 before. Usually you'd run about 5lbs at full extension no wt on fork. But then its trial and error. See what you like. It doesn't take much at full extension as you compress the fork the pressure goes up quickly.

[Howell]

I refurbished my Cb750 fork with  valve emulators , new progressive springs , preload adjusters and special oil.
Now it works like a modern cartridge fork.
You can buy this emulators at :http://www.mikesxs.net/products-19.html#products
Much more cheaper than by Race-tech.
They fit also the Honda 35mm forks. you must dril bigger holes in the damper rod.

[Howell]

How the emulators do their job:

[Yoshi823]

I have a set of these (from Race-Tech) on my Exup1000 and they transformed the performance of the fork. I used these together with Ohlins springs and fork oil.

It's interesting to see them available for the 35mm Honda fork.

[wannabridin]

howell,

i've heard not to use progressive springs with the emulators.  how do yours perform, and have you tried them with standard rate springs to compare?  i'm going to run a GL1000 front end, so it's a bit more troubling finding the 37mm components...  randaaks has good parts, but i don't know about pre-load adjusters??

[Howell]

howell,

i've heard not to use progressive springs with the emulators.  how do yours perform, and have you tried them with standard rate springs to compare?  i'm going to run a GL1000 front end, so it's a bit more troubling finding the 37mm components...  randaaks has good parts, but i don't know about pre-load adjusters??

My fork works very well even on the circuit , I have not tried it with standard rate springs.
Pre load adjusters are used to set your bike higher or lower at the front for a fast or slower steering.