Race Tech gold valves/emulators

[1989kawasaki]

I could not find a previous thread about the race tech gold valves and emulators for the fork and shock.
but anyways , does anybody have this kit? does it make a HUGE difference in suspension performance? right now my suspension is adequate for field riding and just some small bumps and not on the moto-x track i hate how hard the landings are and it really jars me up , (not good if i want to get into motocross). maybe that has to do with my clicker settings  (too hard). i was adjusting the clickers on my shock and fork last weekend and it helped for the small bumps and rough terrain, the fork was too stiff so i made the clicker softer and the shock was rebounding too quickly so i turned down the shock reservoir (top clicker) . just picture a teeter totter going up and down quickly or its like a bucking bull , thats what its like (improved a bit since i adjusted the clickers) but it still needs more improvement for the track , i havent jumped it this season yet.i will have to see what jumping is like when i get to the track or i can get a mound of dirt and make a jump. and i read on the Race Tech website and it says that the kits make the suspension action more plush . they have type 1 and type 2 kits, type 1 sounds good for me cause type 2 is for aggressive motocross and supercross which im not doing.

i know im blurting all this out and if anyone is not clear of what i am saying just ask me and ill clarify

Race Tech's website (gold valve section)

http://racetech.com/HTML_FILES/GVWHYGV.html

[sylvester]

I had the local Race Tech shop here install the Gold Valves series II on my KX250 1997. I opted for the series II valves which are intended for supercross and more agressive riders, and slightly heavier riders. Mike @ C&M Suspention is a wizard. I am 200# Intermediate rider, Mike installed the Gold valves, springs, and re-did the washer stacks with his own formula. Night and Day difference!!!!!!!!!!!! Anymore, the first thing I dump money into is not a pipe, wheels, or bars. Suspention!!!! No longer does the front tire jump out of a rut in the cornner.... It is like riding on a cloud no BS! It takes a lot to bottom out, it still will make no mistake, but Mike spent hours with me at the track no extra charge to dial the suspention in.  Find someone who knows what they are doing though!!! If the tech you take your suspention to doesn't sit down and grill you with questions regarding your riding style and the racing/riding you do, I wouldn't leave them with him. He will more than likely just go off the Race Tech chart and give you the genaric stack, valving, and oil, etc... a tech who is talented at suspention will sit down and get as much info from and about you, so it can be tailored to you.

P.S.
I started to install the valves myself, but got to a point that I was not comfortable doing on my own ( 97 kx bottoming tubes dont unscrew, the dimples had to be carefully drilled in order to release) looking back it's the best money I've spent, and I wouldn't do it any other way.

[1989kawasaki]

WOW!!  Thanks! i will see how it goes at the track before i buy this kit. 

[Friar-Tuck]

 Hey there 89er,
 I saw this recent build on another sight and saw they are using Race Tech Gold and thought you might like to check it out.
  http://www.easterndirt.com/?p=8862
    Tuck\o/

[raptor68]

Hey there!

Can you let me know how the Gold Valves work for you if you decide to go with them? I contacted RaceTech about new front and rear springs for my '89 KX125; however, the fronts were discontinued and the rear was on backorder so I agreed they could send me Eibach springs instead. I did not go ahead and buy the Gold Valves, as I too was not sure if they'd make that much of a difference.

[don46]

I din't have an 89 250, but I did have an 89 kx500, I really liked the forks, of course that was 89 and this 2011 so myae it was how I remembered them not how they actually were. I've run Race tech gold valves sin several bikes, they do make a difference. if you buy a set you can get a custom build sheet from them for your riding style. and as sylvester said best money spent is on suspension.

Have you considered going to a newer set of forks? and maybe shock, late model stuff is cadillac. it could be expensive but man does it make a difference.

Oh by the way 89 if you shock is rebounding to fast you need to turn in the bottom one not the top, that is the compression dampning. Sometimes if your suspension is to soft it moves deeper into the stroke making it feel to stiff when in reality its to soft.

[1989kawasaki]

I din't have an 89 250, but I did have an 89 kx500, I really liked the forks, of course that was 89 and this 2011 so myae it was how I remembered them not how they actually were. I've run Race tech gold valves sin several bikes, they do make a difference. if you buy a set you can get a custom build sheet from them for your riding style. and as sylvester said best money spent is on suspension.

Have you considered going to a newer set of forks? and maybe shock, late model stuff is cadillac. it could be expensive but man does it make a difference.

Oh by the way 89 if you shock is rebounding to fast you need to turn in the bottom one not the top, that is the compression dampning. Sometimes if your suspension is to soft it moves deeper into the stroke making it feel to stiff when in reality its to soft.

been thinking of buying a complete front and rear end suspension of a newer kx500. front is off a 97 , rear is off of 98
and of course this will have the forks, triples, wheel , master cyl and line and caliper

the cost is around $600. should i do this OR rebuild (forks have some back and forth play) and revalve and spring the 1989 suspension?

[don46]

I din't have an 89 250, but I did have an 89 kx500, I really liked the forks, of course that was 89 and this 2011 so myae it was how I remembered them not how they actually were. I've run Race tech gold valves sin several bikes, they do make a difference. if you buy a set you can get a custom build sheet from them for your riding style. and as sylvester said best money spent is on suspension.

Have you considered going to a newer set of forks? and maybe shock, late model stuff is cadillac. it could be expensive but man does it make a difference.

Oh by the way 89 if you shock is rebounding to fast you need to turn in the bottom one not the top, that is the compression dampning. Sometimes if your suspension is to soft it moves deeper into the stroke making it feel to stiff when in reality its to soft.

been thinking of buying a complete front and rear end suspension of a newer kx500. front is off a 97 , rear is off of 98
and of course this will have the forks, triples, wheel , master cyl and line and caliper

the cost is around $600. should i do this OR rebuild (forks have some back and forth play) and revalve and spring the 1989 suspension?

was it me I'd go newer than 97, I'm pretty sure I could adapt the latest technology. It would mean modifying the shock clevis or swapping it and a clamp makeover but no doubt it could be done. When I still had a 500 in a 500 frame I had adapted the 250f forks and shock and I'm pretty sure you 89 250 is the same basic chassis as the 500 or at least the 89 250 chassis.

[1989kawasaki]

97 is the newest on ebay for the fork and 98 is the newest for the shock.

not really sure what i want to do......

i know the stock suspension can be awesome with some $$$$$$$$$ i think i will phone RG3 suspension and see how much
a rebuild , valve and spring job would cost compared to the newer setup

back in 89 this bike's suspension blew all of the other bikes away! (according to my motocross action mag)