[richlandrick]

At the risk or turning the thread controversial, I'm going to chime in.

There are three steps outlined above. They are all result in improvement at different cost levels. They are all good choices.

After buying springs and oil back when Rich owned Sonic springs, and adding a fork brace (Adventuretech fork brace #1), I had no desire to spend any more money on the forks. With the addition of a stiffer spring on the stock shock, and adjusting rebound dampening to full and backing off 1/4 turn, my little DL650 performed like a proper sport touring bike in the suspension department. I would do it again, and probably will, just on other older motorcycles.

Cartridge emulators would be the next step up, but they also require proper spring rate. So starting with proper spring rate is just plain teh way to go unless going with a drop in cartridge. Assuming as spec points out below, always adjust your sag first (because it doesn't cost anything).