RaceTech GR2 Fork Valves

[Pussy]

Attn: Robert Taylor!!
Hey Robert, has anyone here got a set of these valves yet?
Are you getting them in?
I will be interested to see how these perform, although after having done what you have done to the two gixxers here(with bloody superb results!!), I seriously doubt whether I'll be buying a set. Just curious

[Shaun]

Attn: Robert Taylor!!
Hey Robert, has anyone here got a set of these valves yet?
Are you getting them in?
I will be interested to see how these perform, although after having done what you have done to the two gixxers here(with bloody superb results!!), I seriously doubt whether I'll be buying a set. Just curious

ummmm, so how are you going to see how they perform if you do not buy any, and test them yourself?


Silly me, of course a rider will buy some and post on the internet about them, and you will believe this said rider


OR are you just trying to get kiwifruit to offer you a blowie

[Pussy]

OR are you just trying to get kiwifruit to offer you a blowie

Nah... I like Kiwifruit, he's a good bloke, but I don't like him THAT much!
I'm just curious to see how these newer generation RaceTech valves go, and if anyone has tried them.
You still doing the Traxxion valving kits, or just the complete cartridges?

[Shaun]

Nah... I like Kiwifruit, he's a good bloke, but I don't like him THAT much!
I'm just curious to see how these newer generation RaceTech valves go, and if anyone has tried them.
You still doing the Traxxion valving kits, or just the complete cartridges?

That will be decided this week once and for all after a little meeting with a couple of chaps

[Robert Taylor]

Attn: Robert Taylor!!
Hey Robert, has anyone here got a set of these valves yet?
Are you getting them in?
I will be interested to see how these perform, although after having done what you have done to the two gixxers here(with bloody superb results!!), I seriously doubt whether I'll be buying a set. Just curious

I am fitting some this week and will conduct ongoing dyno and track tests through the year. They will not of course be able to approach the performance levels of the ultimate solution ( Ohlins FGK cartridge kits ) because it is not wholeslae replacement of everything inside the forks.

But being considerably cheaper ( by 60 or more % ) they will offer a very good bang for buck solution. The advantage over ''more standard'' replacement pistons is that up to 2 more tuning parameters are added i.e the port size can be tuned by a ''shadowing shim'' ( also acting as a preload packing shim ) AND if that shim is of a suitable responsive thickness it can be arranged to have a secondary ''blow off'' chracteristic further up in the fork shaft velocity range. When combined with a Race Tech ''bending shim stack'' mid valve I expect to see very decent results that will work significantly better than any other 20mm system. The disadvantages of big port pistons are eliminated, but that shadowing shim allows it to flow like a big port piston if something abrupt is ridden over.

To have suitable compliant road settings will be relatively easy, but we intend to have good road race settings in time. Initial tests will be conducted on our suspension dyno followed by track testing.

In the meantime we have our ''old faithfuls'' which work extremely well, Ohlins 20mm compression and rebound pistons.

[Sensei]

Well must say Robert after you putting the new Mod into my Ohlins forks the difference is outstanding the postive feed back is sublime over all road surfaces . Have had to change my cornering abit to suit the way the front performs now as it offers even more confidence than the standard fork did which where exceptional to start with but I guess the OZ race rims will have abit to help there as well . Highly recommend this mod to those with Ohlins forks over their standard set up & it cost only afew hundy to do !! Cheers Robert .

[Pussy]

I am fitting some this week and will conduct ongoing dyno and track tests through the year. They will not of course be able to approach the performance levels of the ultimate solution ( Ohlins FGK cartridge kits ) because it is not wholeslae replacement of everything inside the forks.

But being considerably cheaper ( by 60 or more % ) they will offer a very good bang for buck solution. The advantage over ''more standard'' replacement pistons is that up to 2 more tuning parameters are added i.e the port size can be tuned by a ''shadowing shim'' ( also acting as a preload packing shim ) AND if that shim is of a suitable responsive thickness it can be arranged to have a secondary ''blow off'' chracteristic further up in the fork shaft velocity range. When combined with a Race Tech ''bending shim stack'' mid valve I expect to see very decent results that will work significantly better than any other 20mm system. The disadvantages of big port pistons are eliminated, but that shadowing shim allows it to flow like a big port piston if something abrupt is ridden over.

To have suitable compliant road settings will be relatively easy, but we intend to have good road race settings in time. Initial tests will be conducted on our suspension dyno followed by track testing.

In the meantime we have our ''old faithfuls'' which work extremely well, Ohlins 20mm compression and rebound pistons.

I'll be keen to see how they go... and hopefully you'll keep us informed!!
Seems like we're living in the best of times for choice and innovation. The multi set up capability of the valving sounds interesting...

[Pixie]

I have been using G2-R valves for around 6 months now on a GSF 1200.
Using the Racetech recommended stack structure and 7.5 weight oil.
(Racetech recommend 5 wt)I tried 5 wt and 10 wt and found 7.5 the optimum.
The improvement in fork compliance is quite unbelievable from standard.

[Fatjim]

Seems like we're living in the best of times for choice and innovation.

Would be good to see a price that the average jo blo doesn't have a heart attack with.

[Pussy]

Would be good to see a price that the average jo blo doesn't have a heart attack with.

+1!! Great that there are getting to be more and more options. ALTHOUGH... I wouldn't trade my Ohlins cartridges for anything. I'm fortunate I was in a position to get them

[Robert Taylor]

Would be good to see a price that the average jo blo doesn't have a heart attack with.

I've been fortunate enough ( no, not fortunate, Ive worked my own path ) over the years to have lived and worked in the northern hemisphere and to have travelled back there often. Not for holidays and for long enough to suss out their economic realities and how they largely think. Therefore I think that has engendered an overall comparison to how we view things here.
My view is that overall we have a harsher perspective of what things cost, in the past because there were appreciable duties on many imported goods. But more so now because the cost of living has risen rapidly and we are both underpaid and overtaxed. Getting to the root causes of those problems would be the ideal solution but it would take armed insurrection and a lot of people going ''missing'' ( !!! )
But yes, these valves are a lot more affordable than the very top shelf stuff. They address the abrupt bump compliance issues and still deliver great ride height control. The cost for each model varies dependent on if a spring change is required ( most usually ) But also many oem forks have pretty dire rebound control. At minimum the rebound stack needs revalving but often a complete new rebound piston has to be fitted. BUT also, many of the rebound needles have a very abrupt taper and the working range is ridiculously close to full in and very narrow. Pixie stated in his post that his GSF1200 forks worked better with a heavier oil, that is most likely because of poor rebound control.

What none of this addresses are other factors like the cartridge bushings not being on the same centreline as the very cartridge tubes, the cartridge tubes very often not ''locking '' on the same centreline as the fork structure when bolted up, spring against inner fork tube wall friction etc etc.

With cheaper and cheaper ways of making cartridges ( Yamaha FZ1 being one of the most terrible examples ) the need for well performing aftermarket piston kits such as the Race Tech G2R is just going to get greater. You just have to make sure that fitment is not done by a ham fisted ''mechanic''

There are many customers who have purchased the ''ultimate solution'' and fortunately none of them to my knowledge have had coronaries!!!! The reality is that engineering and performance to the highest possible standards is going to cost.