Ricor Intiminators
 

Hi, has anyone fitted the Ricor Intiminators to thier XT660Z? If so, which diameter did you buy? I have a pair for a BMW F650GS Twin (41mm) but dont know if they fit. Thanks for your help!
Fernando

Emulators, gold valves, T-valves, intiminators, or whatever you want to call them all work/fit in broadly the same way in damping rod forks. These Ricor ones are very popular on the KLR650 in the states. KLR forks are pretty much the same as those on the XT and there is plenty of information on US forums about fitting. Here's one video, although ignore the music and jump straight to 4:00ish:



I fitted V4S valves by Teknik in Australia, which are similar to Ricor, Racetech et al. They are easy to fit and just involve splitting the forks, drilling out the existing damping holes (so they don't work anymore) and placing the valves on the top of the damping rod/tube. There is some info that might be useful in this thread:

http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=22771

The BMW may have 41mm forks, but that's the outside diameter, the important fact of the matter is the inside diameter and therefore what diameter valves will fit - the XT forks are 43mm O/D anyway, so unlikely to be the same inside. Whether they'll fit or not depends on whether the BMW has cupped top or flat top damping rods, and that I don't know (the XT has the cupped type).

Thank you very much for the information. I have written to Ricor to see if the ones I have fit. According to them, you dont need to drill the rods, only use ligther oil (5w). How have the Tekink ones worked for you? Have you also changed springs? thanks again,
Fernando

Using thinner oil achieves practically the same thing, although there will be (even with SAE 5 oil) some residual damping coming from the existing damping tube. The big advantage with not drilling is that returning the forks back to standard is easy and free!

I'm very impressed with the Teknik valves - a massive improvement over stock. Much more control, both in compression and rebound.

I have changed the springs to Ohlins 6.0N/mm springs (stock springs on pre-2012 bikes is 4.8N/mm). I use SAE 10 oil.

Hi Pleiades, did you get your Teknik fork valves from Australia. ..or is there a dealer/stockist in the UK. ..? Steve

Got them direct from down under Steve. Nowhere in the U.K. (or Europe) imports them.

Hi Pleiades, Ricor is asking for an accurate interior measurement of the fork tube. Do you know this measurement? thank you very much for your help!
Fernadno

These are the measurements they will probably need:

Outside diameter = 43mm
Inside diameter = 38mm
Fork spring diameter = 36.5mm

Thank you very much!