RaceTech Gold Valves for 2017 CRF450R....Do they exist yet?

WileCyot
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WileCyot
Hoping Racetech rep will chime in...

Buddy of mine has a 17 CRF450R and he ate it pretty hard in some whoops this past weekend due to his suspension not being set up properly for him. He's a B class rider, 6' tall, 225lb and wants to install Gold Valves. I can't find anything for these bikes yet.... no springs or otherwise....
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Dtat720
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Dtat720 1/20/2017 4:24am
1/20/2017 4:24am
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mikec265
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mikec265 1/20/2017 9:32am
1/20/2017 9:32am
My suspension guy always used to tell me gold valves were b.s. because they are not tailor made for each specific rider.

Your buddy is about the same size as I am.
I would tell him to send the suspension out for revalving and stiffer springs. Don't let him waste money on pipes and cosmetic crap before doing the suspension.
WileCyot
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WileCyot 1/20/2017 9:44am
1/20/2017 9:44am
mikec265 wrote:
My suspension guy always used to tell me gold valves were b.s. because they are not tailor made for each specific rider. Your buddy is about...
My suspension guy always used to tell me gold valves were b.s. because they are not tailor made for each specific rider.

Your buddy is about the same size as I am.
I would tell him to send the suspension out for revalving and stiffer springs. Don't let him waste money on pipes and cosmetic crap before doing the suspension.
Not to be a dick but you don't know what you're talking about based on your response.

Gold valves replace the cast base and mid valve pistons with a CNC machined aluminum version. Since they know the dimensions of the ports they are able to run calculations to develop appropriate shim stacks for your needs that you install. On the sheet provided by racetech, it gives a list of shim stack options denoting softer to firmer so if you find the stack they suggest isn't 100% perfect you know which way to alter it so as to suit your needs.

Many folks aren't able to change fork fluid much less alter the shims stacks so they send it off and pay 2-3x as much and you're still left with poorly flowing OEM pistons. Others offer their own pistons and develop their stacks using them.

I have had factory connection revalve my forks, local guys revalve my forks, and hands down my favorite setup has been racetech gold valves that I installed myself. You just have to be willing to open em up and follow simple instructions.
HackMan162
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HackMan162 1/20/2017 3:32pm
1/20/2017 3:32pm
Gold valve pistons are not the end all, be all solution. It is extremely arguable whether they are better than OEM or not. RaceTech's philosophy is for a higher flow piston. Others, not so much. If you are a newbie to suspension tuning, it is a decent way to go, because it is a full package complete with valving guidelines. Once you develop some knowledge and experience, you can take that and apply it to OEM pistons just the same.

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mikec265
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mikec265 1/20/2017 8:31pm
1/20/2017 8:31pm
I'm not a suspension tuner. Just repeating what my suspension guy told me about goldvalves.
Maybe things have changed since the older days or my guy is full of b.s..
WileCyot
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WileCyot 1/20/2017 8:36pm
1/20/2017 8:36pm
mikec265 wrote:
I'm not a suspension tuner. Just repeating what my suspension guy told me about goldvalves. Maybe things have changed since the older days or my guy...
I'm not a suspension tuner. Just repeating what my suspension guy told me about goldvalves.
Maybe things have changed since the older days or my guy is full of b.s..
Read the diy crf450r suspension thread on thumper talk and you'll understand things a bit more. Good valves aren't the end all be all for sure. They're not necessary by any means. I just like the convenience of them providing shim stacks and direction.
m21racing
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m21racing 1/21/2017 9:51am
1/21/2017 9:51am
Everything can work, and everything can fail. Gold valves do work. I choose different stacks if a rider doesn't care for the chart setup they have. Personally, I've spent more time, money, and testing (track, suspension dyno) with the stock components. Great settings can be accomplished with the stock pistions as well.
crobargreg
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crobargreg 1/22/2017 6:31pm
1/22/2017 6:31pm
WileCyot wrote:
Hoping Racetech rep will chime in... Buddy of mine has a 17 CRF450R and he ate it pretty hard in some whoops this past weekend due...
Hoping Racetech rep will chime in...

Buddy of mine has a 17 CRF450R and he ate it pretty hard in some whoops this past weekend due to his suspension not being set up properly for him. He's a B class rider, 6' tall, 225lb and wants to install Gold Valves. I can't find anything for these bikes yet.... no springs or otherwise....
Dont bother with the gold valves. Have a good suspension shop revalve the forks. They can get them working good without the need for new compression pistons. A shop like enzo charges 190 for a revalve and gold valves cost 125-145 Your not saving anything by doing it yourself and the end result wont be as good as a professional shop doing the work.
crobargreg
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crobargreg 1/26/2017 9:32am
1/26/2017 9:32am
HackMan162 wrote:
Gold valve pistons are not the end all, be all solution. It is extremely arguable whether they are better than OEM or not. RaceTech's philosophy is...
Gold valve pistons are not the end all, be all solution. It is extremely arguable whether they are better than OEM or not. RaceTech's philosophy is for a higher flow piston. Others, not so much. If you are a newbie to suspension tuning, it is a decent way to go, because it is a full package complete with valving guidelines. Once you develop some knowledge and experience, you can take that and apply it to OEM pistons just the same.
Most modern oem dirtbike compression pistons flow just fine. The only bike i could see benefiting is an older bike. 80s early 90s. I did them on a 1988 honda cr250r. I took the fork apart 3 times and changed the stack until i was happy with it. A pain in the ass. I did it for a 1 time learning experience. I wouldnt do it again. The suspension shops have better set ups. Did it improve the suspension yes. Was it better than a top shop handling a revalve. No.
potatoflake
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potatoflake 1/30/2017 8:49am
1/30/2017 8:49am
I would put the right Springs in I'm 210lbs and do this with every bike, it makes a world of difference for us heavy guys even just having the right Springs will make such a world of difference for him, and if he wants that tuning capability get the gold valves in there it's his bike and he should have what he wants in it. Springs in my opinion would be a must though
WileCyot
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WileCyot 1/30/2017 8:59am
1/30/2017 8:59am
potatoflake wrote:
I would put the right Springs in I'm 210lbs and do this with every bike, it makes a world of difference for us heavy guys even...
I would put the right Springs in I'm 210lbs and do this with every bike, it makes a world of difference for us heavy guys even just having the right Springs will make such a world of difference for him, and if he wants that tuning capability get the gold valves in there it's his bike and he should have what he wants in it. Springs in my opinion would be a must though
Changing the springs isn't enough. The rebound, for instance, is designed around the stock spring rates. Change to a stiffer and you now dont have enough rebound damping and the bike feels like a pogo stick. Go to softer rates and now the bike feels like it doesn't want to rebound at all. The suspension just packs and packs until there's no more travel.

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