The consensus is that stock front springs suck, right?

[Egaeus]

Well you know what sucks worse than stock springs?  Stock springs with bad fork seals.  I was on my bike today and the front end felt especially soft.  I was able to bottom it out just by pushing on it.  It was then I noticed that there was a nice layer of oil on the left fork, and a beginning sheen on the right. 

Problem is that I don't have any money to fix it right now.  I want progressives because the stock springs are way too weak for my size (220 lb), but I just don't have the money to even buy the seals.  I guess I just won't be pushing it on any twisties any time soon. 

3imo, I guess it's a good thing I didn't try to make it to DeFuniak this weekend....

[scratch]

Fix the seals, replace the oil with a heavier weight (stock is 10w and you're going to hafta replace the oil anyway), and you should be able to afford some $.99 spacers from Home Depot (the schedule 40 PCV caps) to tie you over until you can get the Progressives.

[Onlypastrana199]

I just did my fork seals today and replaced the stock spacers entirely. I used pipe from an old screen house that was the same size and weight and just cut them longer, stiffened up quite a bit, might be a bit too much for me but I can always cut it shorter. Got my front Pirelli on too 

[galahs]

Don't ride with leaking front struts!

My cousin is currently in hostipal for doing so!

The oil saturated his brake pads meanin he couldn't stop, so he crashed up the rear of a car that stopped in front of him.

[gsmetal]

Yes, the front springs suck.

Putting thicker fork oil in doesn't change the FACT that the springs don't have enough "oommph" - it only hides the problem.

Changing the springs is an easy, inexpensive fix.

[galahs]

If this is such a well known problem?

Why doesn't Suzuki fix it!

Surely fix wouldn't cost them much money? Just a set of progressive springs and they are away! 

[bbanjo]

"Entry" level bikes mean "entry" level components that allow a price point for folks to get into the Suzuki brand. Sure, a $60 to $100 upgrade may seem like an allowable concession to us to make the bike better out of the door, but Suzuki has probably had those springs (or had them made for them by a sub) for 30 years at a price point for them (along with a number of other components on the bike) that just gets cheaper the more that are made.

If the gs500 was perfect, we either couldn't afford it, or would have nothing to mod.

Even the DL1000 has parts that you'd want to upgrade to make it a better bike. I can't think of a bike that doesn't have that. Ducati has Corse parts and programs that are better than stock.

[galahs]

If a car had such a bad reputation for its suspension, they would upgrade it on the next model and work out how to do so for the same price or less.

[ashman]

you can get fork seals for 5 bux off ebay. you can do the whole job for less then 20 bux. btw, i wouldnt say its real easy. it can turn into a real challenge if you dont have the right tools.

-ash

[TragicImage]

If a car had such a bad reputation for its suspension, they would upgrade it on the next model and work out how to do so for the same price or less.

oh really? 

Example: Dodge Neon.


fin.

[budget speed demon]

fixing the front forks makes a world of differance. I just put in race springs and gold enulators along with a new set of sport demons. the thing now handles so so SO much better. the stiffer springs make it alot more stable at highway speeds as well. defanatly a mod worth doing.

[Cal Amari]

See this thread...

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=25662.0

[Egaeus]

you can get fork seals for 5 bux off ebay. you can do the whole job for less then 20 bux. btw, i wouldnt say its real easy. it can turn into a real challenge if you dont have the right tools.

-ash

Hey ash, I just figured out what you mean.  I don't have access to my impact wrench, and I can't get the forks apart.  The hex bolt at the bottom of the slider just turns...and turns... and turns....  I guess the seal replacement will have to wait until I get to my mom's house in AR next week, where my compressor and air wrenches are currently located.  I'm going to experiment with a thicker oil and PVC spacers until then, and see how that does. 

[Dandy D]

Have you forgotten the 'crash' part of riding with leaking seals! Ya know, fluid on the brake disk - makes for really bad braking!
Think bout that first! Be careful!
Dandy

[bbanjo]

If a car had such a bad reputation for its suspension, they would upgrade it on the next model and work out how to do so for the same price or less.

oh really? 

Example: Dodge Neon.


fin.

Right on. The van my Wife drives has (I swear) the same brakes that the neon has and it's twice as heavy. Recycle, if it doesn't cause lawsuits, keep it on.

[Queso]

What are a couple good brands of front springs? Might as well grab some while I still have some cash to spare. I need a new front tire, too...

[domas]

I think the other reason (apart cost) to put softer springs is to make GS more forgiving. Soft springs almost eliminate the need of progressive braking. So if you grab the brakes suddenly and very hard you would get better traction with stock springs, because the weight of a bike would jump on a front tire more quickly. Ofcourse when you have learned progressive braking those stock springs are a pain.

[galahs]

I nearly dropped my bike yesterday because of its soft front springs 


I was riding slowly about 5km/h and just about to park my bike, when I had to stop all of a sudden to avoid hitting another bike that stopped infront of me quicker than I expected.

I grabbed a handfull of the front brake and the nose dropped so much it threw me forwardish, and was lucky to get enough strength in my legs to hold it up.


I'm now convinced I need to upgrade my front springs.

I'm leaning towards going with reacetech springs. Does anyone know where you can get them in Australia?

[galahs]

Wow, I just read this on http://www.peterverdonedesigns.com

What about progressively wound springs?

    Some companies manufacture springs that are wound progressively or have dual/triple rates. Progressive Suspension, HyperPro and WP Suspension are most noted for these. These springs are marketed to novice riders as a one size fits all solution to spring tuning. This is an extremely foolish way of looking at springing a bike and should not be encouraged. That said, progressive or dual rate springs do have a place in suspension tuning. These springs should not be used until every other suspension tuning avenue has been explored without success. Quality sportbike suspension has more than enough tuning options to account for almost any terrain or track. Going to these springs should be the last option for suspension tuning, not the first. Certainly in the rear of the bike, to adjust for progressive, linear, or regressive rates the linkages rather than the spring should be modified. Progressive springs are very difficult for even professional tuners to get right without the ability to have custom 'one offs' made for each track and rider. Miguel Duhamel's HRC WSB superbikes are rumored to use progressively wound fork springs.

    Stock machines may come with progressively wound springs. This is not done for performance by any means. This is done for the previously mentioned reason, that the factory is trying to make a bike that will perform reasonably well for almost all riders.

[Egaeus]

Since the original post, I have decided against the progressives in favor of the RaceTechs.  I still don't have the money for them right now though.

I'll be keeping an eye on my forks.