Got my GS... and I have a few more questions...

[Eisenfaust]

Well, a week or so ago, I mentioned that I'd be picking up mmy frist bike, a 91 GS500E, this past saturday, and well, she's been mine for about 5 days now, I couldnt be happier. Great bike.

I do have one main question though. The front end feels.... a little less solid than I'd expected. I learned the basics of riding spending about 8-10 hours tooling around on my best friend's Yamaha Radian.. and the GS feels way less planted than the Radian. I know my bike needs new fork seals (badly), but not having any other GS to compare with, I'm not 100% sure thats whats causing the floaty, bouncy sensation coming from the front (in straights and while cornering). Is this probably the cause? I mean, ive bottomed my fork out over pretty mild bumps around my little island neighborhood... I'm planning on getting the progressive fork springs everyone talks about ASAP (next thursday, probably).. will that help/eliminate this problem?

Anyway, other than that, the bike is great. I've ridden probably 90 miles just around the few streets on Treasure Island, and after my first trip to the gas station tonight (across the bay bridge), it only took 3 bucks of gas to top off the tank. Not shabby at all.

The bike stops great. though the rear brake is kind of... squishy... easy to apply too much force to it... ive made the rear tire howl once or twice practicing hard braking from 30 or so in an empty lot.. Is there anything i can do to improve feel in the rear brake? (the front is great, aside from the nose-diving tendancy of the bike)

Anyway, this whole thing is a huge learning experience... I'm getting much smoother. This evening I was able to drop from 4th to 2nd while slowing down in preperation for a corner, blip the throttle and engage the clutch just right so the bike got under power smoothly, and take the turn, all in one nice smooth set of movements. Felt great... much more satisfying than operating a car.

[tdan553527]

Progressives should solve your problem, as for the rear brake, just don't use it as much. Use your front alot more, around 80% front, 20% rear.

[SPARKPLUG1977]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=35592&item=2488834360&rd=1

here you go

[Rema1000]

There are better prices than $62+s&h for progressive springs: like $47+s&h at Chaparral (type 377-1128 into the search box at http://www.chaparral-racing.com ) or $58+s&h at http://mawonline.com (part 02517) if Chaparral is backordered.

The rear brake may be squishy on purpose: some riders deliberately let a bit of air into the rear brake line, so that it takes more pressure on the pedal to lock-up the rear tire.  Since you bought it used, I would not assume anything about the brakes.  I would replace the brake fluid in both reservoirs (and inspect the brake pads to see that the wear grooves are still there).

As for feeling less "planted", I have heard that a smaller, lighter bike will do that.  It is easier to maneuver at low speeds, and more flickable in the twisties.  I heard a rider of a 600SS say that he was surprised that the GS seemed to take almost zero pressure on the handlebars to turn.  But with a heavier bike like the Radian, you have to press harder to put it into a lean for a turn, and it will hold the path which you have set very firmly, and ignore any little jostles you may make during the turn.  A GS will still take steering input even in the middle of the turn, in a lean.  This is one feature which make the GS great in city traffic, but less perfect for long highway trips, where the GS will require more-frequent steering corrections.  As your skill level increases, you will learn to feed less "steering noise" to the bike, and it will be less squirrely in turns.  It's sort of a Zen thing:  the less you do, the better it rides.

BTW, that is all based on hearsay; the GS is the only bike I've ridden since MSF.

[Eisenfaust]

My bike is definitely flikable, but it just feels squrrely any time I try to put it over qucikly. I imagine I just need more seat time Like I said, in comparing to the radian, it doesnt feel as solid... but apparently my friend just cant turn his bike as sharply as the GS turns. I have a feeling i'm leaning the bike a lot more than it feels like I'm leaning. I just dont feel confident leaning far over at anything more than 25 mph or so.

I'm going to order those progressive springs, and take them into the shop when I get my fork seals done in a week or two. I have a feeling that will make the bike feel a lot nicer.

In the meantime, practice, practice, practice.... and pray for an opening at an earlier MSF course. (Mine isnt for another 3 weeks >_< )

[maximus conjugatius]

A cheaper solution may be to use anothe fork spring oil. I guess a more viscous (thicker) one may improve rigidity of the front end. Ask a motor shop. They'll be able to sort it out for you. And if it works, it's more less costly than a complete progressive fork.

regards,

Maximus Conjugatius