Just to update things (since I began this thread a while back) I also added Teknik V4s valves to my forks last year. So to sum up, I am now running Ohlins 60N springs, SAE10 oil and cartridge emulators, which I would suggest (IMHO) is probably about as good as it gets without going USD.

As others have mentioned, gold valves/emulators/intiminators/terminators (or whatever you want to call them!) do make a big difference to the damping. It is so much easier to set up and tune the damping characteristics to match your chosen spring rate (whatever that happens to be). Without the valves you are totally reliant on the rather hit and miss practice of experimenting with different oil viscosities.

Cost of suspension upgrades
 

I saw on some U tube show here, a test on a new 660 with upgrades & quoting an upgrade to technik suspension, all round for $990Au ?
I'd be interested for that amount of cash outlay.
Last year, I spent about $350Au having an Ohlins rear shock from my parts DR 650 reconditioned & fitted to the running DR. Heaps better to ride :045:

This seems the way to go.
To confirm - the std fork springs are linear in rate? I kinda thought they were progressive as standard being an adventure bike.
Years ago, when I raced off-road while living in Zimbabwe, I cut my fork & shock springs on my race bike to the rate I worked out I wanted then made spacers to bring the spring length back to where I wanted the preload & the difference was phenomenal! Has anyone done that to these springs? Big leap of faith as there's no going back but back then parts weren't too easy to get so we did it ourselves.

Where would you say the best place to get the emulators for the forks from?
Thanks

2008-2012 XTZs have Paioli internals linear springs and short spacers. 2012> XTZs have KYB internals and progressive springs/longer spacers. They way to spot the difference externally is to look at the fork preload adjusters; the linear sprung bikes have recessed hex key adjusters and the progressively sprung models have raised screw and locknut adjusters. AFAIK the X/R models continued with linear springs from 2004>.

The only place I know of the makes them specifically for the XT is Teknik Motorsport in Australia (which is where I got mine from). Others from Racetech etc. can be made to fit, or it isn't beyond the realms of man to make your own.

Many thanks for your help again 👍🏼

One of my sportsbikes came with dual rate springs. The thing rode really well on ordinary bitumen and I couldn't see why my mates with the same bike had taken it off to a specialist for reworking.
Until I had to brake deep into a corner with corrugated bitumen. What happened then was 'packing' I was told. The softer spring section allowed compression momentum to build up, to reach full compression with compromised grip the result.
Another problem with progressive or dual rate springs is in setting static sag and trying to get the optimal compromise between ordinary load and touring-with-luggage load. When you add luggage (or a pillion) the forks more readily compress beyond the best sag setting.

Following this thread with interest. ..I have been told that my Tenere has progressive fork springs as standard. ....not sure. .? Steve

It will have. Somewhere mid-way through 2012 the internals switched to KYB and with it came short progressive springs and much longer spacers than before. It's easy to tell the bikes with KYB internals as they have the raised adjusters on the fork tops.

Thanks Pleiades. ...do you think they are reasonabley good springs....I'm finding them ok so far. Would it be better to upgrade the rear shock first..? Steve

I don't have any experience of riding a post 2012 Tenere, so I'm not really in a position to comment. However, if you're happy enough with they way the front end works, then I shouldn't worry about changing anything.

TBH, I've heard a lot less in the way of negative comments made about the forks from the owners of later bikes compared with what owners have said of the pre-2012 ones. This would indicate that the KYB forks maybe better behaved? There are though, several forum members (with post-2012 XTZs) that have gone the Ohlins linear route and noted an improvement in ride and handling, and a few who have done the re-valve/emulators modification with decent results too.

As for the shock... Again, I wouldn't necessarily change it for the sake of it (unless you really properly don't like it). It will start to die at some point, anywhere between 10 and 20K miles usually (mine lasted just over ten), and it makes sense to change it then. You may as well get your money's worth out of it! However, an aftermarket shock does make a huge difference to the bike though and is well worth the outlay IMO.