Fork Spring Preferences

I'm replacing the fork springs on my 1975 250 CR and trying to decide between Race Tech or Progressive springs. Any experience out there that can help my decision? Race Tech springs evidently are straight wound and the Progressives are, well, progressive. Race Tech recommended "4.8" springs for me - for my weight and moderate ability. The gold valves sound enticing, but a little too rich for my wallet right now. Any suggestions for other low cost improvements?

Go with the straight rate springs.

http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/how-to-determine-rear-shock-length.30652/#post-280969

http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/74-mag-race-tech-fork-kit.31405/#post-290386

Couple old threads that might be interesting to you. Personally I use straight rate springs.

Great info! Thanks for steering me there. The Race Tech Gold Valves get a lot of good press, but the price and the complicated set-up are intimidating. Ron, you said your Race Tech springs felt too stiff - do you remember what they were rated? I'm about 190 lbs with gear.

DO NOT Use the race tech setup drop down. Springs are way too stiff. Formulas they use on that drop down thing are for modern forks. Older bikes did not use the higher rates we use on modern. weights of peole have been constant since forever but fork/shock technology has not. ie they recomended 48 forks for me on an 83 and after much trial and error have 39's in them (custom courtesy of Drew Smith at WER) Drew has much knowlege on the old ones all the way through the 40's to include the race tech instll with his rod mods. Worth the $ and why the suspension gurus do and know what hey do.

The Race tech springs were .48kg and I'm 230with gear.
I found out later I had a bent fork tube. Still thought the .48kg spring were to stiff. Might be personal preference though, I like my suspension on the plush side.
The springs I used came from a 79 390CR. My stock springs were 2 piece and the 390 springs are about the same length as mine combined. I installed the 390 spring with about 1/4" preload (meaning no spacer needed).
Funny thing though, the springs were perfect for my 1970 Yamaha 250 DT1 (280lbs). Worked out good otherwise it would have been $125.00 under the bench collecting dust.

The Race Tech recommended set up for Gold valve is out to lunch too. They're pretty cool though, once you get them working right.

Found the #43 rated Race Tech spring too stiff in action. Running a 510 4T and a 500 2T with the Race Tech spring in one fork leg and a stock '87 yellow coded spring in the other leg on each bike. Very nice with sorted emulators.