Trying to decide between Racetech 1200 or 1300 spring

roadriderg

roadriderg

Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Messages
650
Location
Huntington Beach, Calif
Bike
2004 st1300
I thinking of getting a rear shock replacement spring from racetech. Either going lower with a 1200 lb or higher with a 1300 lp spring. I am right in between the two.

I am about 200 lbs dry and just looking to beef up the rear. Rarely do I ride with someone one the back. I have already installed racetechs .96 kg front springs and I am happy with that. But it showed the weakness of the stock shock.

The concern is that a 1300 lb spring would be too stiff and could lead to a rough ride...Or is a 1200 lb too soft?
 
I suggest measuring your rider sag and free sag and see if the latter is less than 8 mm. The OEM spring probably isn't that far out of the ball park for a 200 lb rider quantified by this method. If you have to change up I thin if you can get the lower rate spring of the two I would think you would be happier with the outcome.
 
I'm 215 lbs, sans gear and the 1200 lb/in Race Tech spring is just about right, perhaps a little on the stiff side when running solo, bags empty and top box not fitted. With full bags, top box and luggage or a passenger on the rear seat it's perfect though. I like the extra load capacity and the slightly stiff spring works better when hustling the back roads to keep the scratching bits up off the tarmac.

For mostly solo riding with no to little load in the bags and comfort rather than control as the priority I might look at a 1000 or 1100 in/lb spring.
 
I had Racetech rebuild my spring with the 1200lb. spring and then thought maybe that I needed the 1300lb. spring. Since I had the spring compressor I ordered and installed the 1300lb. spring. I took it off after only 2 days. It rode way too hard. I'm now back to the 1200lb. spring and happy.

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mlheck said:
I had Racetech rebuild my spring with the 1200lb. spring and then thought maybe that I needed the 1300lb. spring. Since I had the spring compressor I ordered and installed the 1300lb. spring. I took it off after only 2 days. It rode way too hard. I'm now back to the 1200lb. spring and happy.

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Click to expand...

If I may ask how much weight are you putting on the bike?
 
I weigh 175lbs. and carry around about 15lbs. worth of tools in the saddlebags all of the time. The 1300lb. spring felt great when riding 2 up, but that was about 315lbs. plus the saddle bags. I have now settled on .95kg spring in the front and the 1200lb spring in the back. I had to dial in more rebound damping than I thought I should have too, thus the reason for switching to the 1300lb. spring. with the 1300lb. spring the bike rode very hard. A rode about a 100 miles with it before I took it off. If you didn't live so far away I would let you try it out as I have not returned it yet.
 
Even their calculator puts the recommendation at 1256 lbs. If you never carry a load why would they suggest the stiffest spring they offer? I don't get these aftermarket suspension firms sometimes.
 
Whichever one you decide on. You are gonna love the way the bike feels planted. I couldn't believe the difference. :) My change was to the Hyperco spring that is also available at RaceTech.
 
The 1200Lb/in spring I got from Race Tech is made by Eibach, dunno if these are custom or off the shelf though.
 
dduelin said:
Even their calculator puts the recommendation at 1256 lbs. If you never carry a load why would they suggest the stiffest spring they offer? I don't get these aftermarket suspension firms sometimes.
Click to expand...

1. 1300 is not even the biggest they offer. they have a 1400 lb spring also.
 
roadriderg said:
The concern is that a 1300 lb spring would be too stiff and could lead to a rough ride...Or is a 1200 lb too soft?
Click to expand...

I was at Westoc a week ago and Race Tech did a very informative presentation. The guy that did the presentation was their touring bike suspension pro. He made a comment regarding exactly the query you've got. He said that he asks the customer if they would prefer a sporty ride (in your case 1300 spring) or a softer ride (in your case 1200 spring).

He welcomed us (ST Owners) to call him direct if we have any questions about our suspension. Here's his contact info: Matthew Wiley 909-273-4985 mwiley@racetech.com In my notes, I've got a comment that he said ST Owners get 20% off. Don't know if that was just for the duration of Westoc, or if it was a thing they do as an ST Owners sponsor.
 
Bought a Penske and they recommended the 1200 rate. I weigh in at 178 and probably ride with 15 to 30 lbs stuff. I have plenty of spring to dial in the right sag and it rides very well. I am still fooling with the settings on compression and rebound to dial it in but I feel it is the right rate especially since the people using the 1300 lb rated are well over 200 lbs in weight many times and ride 2 up. I have the .95 Racetech up front with Gold valves. All is pretty new and I am still working on the settings.
 
roadriderg said:
1. 1300 is not even the biggest they offer. they have a 1400 lb spring also.
Click to expand...
I meant between the two you mentioned as possible, 1200 or 1300 lb. I suggest again to get your sag numbers so you can make an more informed decision.
 
dduelin said:
I meant between the two you mentioned as possible, 1200 or 1300 lb. I suggest again to get your sag numbers so you can make an more informed decision.
Click to expand...

I did note that 1200 or 1300. I was just musing the 1400 lb spring, that spring would be like a rock or for somebody very very heavy. Seem to be have a problem doing the sag on the rear myself. Need some help. This weekend I will get a more accurate reading with some help. Right now to get a good feel at about 3/4 extended on the preload piston.
 
Last edited:
Art Franz said:
The guy that did the presentation was their touring bike suspension pro. He made a comment regarding exactly the query you've got. He said that he asks the customer if they would prefer a sporty ride (in your case 1300 spring) or a softer ride (in your case 1200 spring).
Click to expand...

That is exactly the info they should have told me. I will call Matthew instead.
 
roadriderg said:
He said that he asks the customer if they would prefer a sporty ride (in your case 1300 spring) or a softer ride (in your case 1200 spring).
Click to expand...

I agree with this statement. If I was building a track bike I would have kept the 1300lb. spring, but on the open road it was too stiff.
 
Here is a picture of the rebuilt racetech shock. One thing that is unusual is the 1/2" spacer they installed on the shock . I was told this does not effect travel. Also there is a small screw at the top now that is for recharging.

Review on the bike is a much more stable feeling on the freeway. Handling on the twistys is improved also although it has a different feel that I am not quite used to yet.

First is new and old spring, second new spring with spacer, third is showing new screw plug.
 

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