Progressive Springs Installed

[Ratboy]

Last night i bought my neighbor (who works at a Suzuki dealership) and his wife pizza, and my girlfriend made them dessert.  Shortly after dinner the ladies rented a chic flick and me and Thadd went to work on my GS.  We replaced the rear brake pads with Double H grade pads, adjusted the rear shock/spring preload, and installed my progressive suspension fork springs.  We filled the forks with 15W fork oil and finished up around 11:30 P.M.  The only bad part is that i have been so sick all day today, I still haven't gone on a test ride to feel the difference.   :x   I think I'm going to head out in a lil bit seeing as though i'm feeling better.  Just wanted to share the mostly good news.

[GT Eye]

Do you have a write up on how to install progressive springs, or a link with a write up?

[Kerry]

Do you have a write up on how to install progressive springs, or a link with a write up?

The easiest way to do it is by following pantablo's how-to on his Progressive fork spring install-the lazy way page.

I installed mine this way, several thousand miles ago.  In the near future I plan to do the "full" install (including new fork oil at a measured height, etc.) when I replace my fork seals.

For the full-blown procedure, see alexey's Changing Fork Seals page.

EDIT: Typo!

[wasabi_peas]

Learn to use the search tool, grasshopper.

In the meantime, try this:http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10540&highlight=progressive+spring+install

I installed my springs this weekend (and replaced the oil with 15W the non-lazy way, as described in the link above.)  Holy macaroni it's like a whole new bike.

I had replaced the tires earlier (was a Dunlop rear, and Metzerler ME33 Lazer front, both slightly taller than stock) with the recommended BT45s.  Have to admit that while they felt a bit more planted in the twisties, I think I had to convince myself to feel the improvement (over stock tires, apparently there's a much more significant difference)

But the fork--night and day.  If I were to do it all over again, I would have budgeted the spring and oil price into the bike budget from day one.  

I used a 1/2" PVC coupler, schedule 40, from Home Depot.  Cut to fit by Dremel cut-off wheels (they're almost up there with duct tape and zip ties.)  

You can do it

[wasabi_peas]

I installed mine this way, several thousand miles ago.  In the near future I plan to do the "full" install (including new fork oil at a measured height, etc.) when I replace my fork seals..

First of all, Kerry....why you gotta beat me to posting?   :guns:  :mrgreen:

Kerry, I highly recommend doing the oil replacement.  It's really no big deal (when you're not also doing the seals) and at least my oil was gross.  Didn't try it before the 15W (obviously) but the combo is wonderful.  I thought of saving the oil to pour through a coffee filter so I could post a photo, but got excited to go play in the twisties this afternoon.

Dunno.  You already did it, so I'm not trying to convince you.  But all you future installers, go ahead and do the full meal deal fork oil change while you've got the cap off.  

I did read the instructions carefully in re: oil level, and from the sound of it, the progressive instructions recommend a MINIMUM oil CLEARANCE.  So for bikes where the spec'd  oil level is less than 140mm, use 140mm.  If the spec'd oil clearance is > 140mm, use the spec.  In the case of the GS, the recommendation is 99mm so I went with 140.  Noting that the stock springs and spacers clearly displace less oil than the progressive springs.

[Kerry]

Since installing my Progressives "tha lazy way" I have assisted richard in doing the "full meal deal" on his bike ... following along in the Haynes manual ... BEFORE alexey posted his How-To.  So it's not for lack of knowledge or experience.  It's just that I'm waiting on a pair of fork seals to arrive, so I thought I would do it all at once.

BTW, to mitigate those "I just got out-posted blues", click on the Preview button when your message is ready to post.  Scroll down to see whether a new post has appeared while you were typing yours.  If so, you can always add a blurb at the beginning of your post before you Submit.  :mrgreen:

If you're quick enough, you can edit and resubmit your post right away and still avoid the "Edited ___ times" notice at the bottom.  I'm not sure what the trigger is:

Someone else has read your post?  That doesn't seem to trigger it.

Someone has posted since you did?  Well yeah, that'll do it every time.

Perhaps it's a timer thing?  :dunno: [/list:u]