Need help

[suzuki gs500f]

I was lookig at my 2005 gs500f and notice on my stock spring, there are a bunch of number 1-?  what are these number for? I'm guessing the spring is adjustable?  or not?  and if so, what is the best setting?

[hmmmnz]

1- 7 i think, its your preload,
7 or what ever itis is the highest and 1 being the softist, depending on your weight and preferance is up to you how you set it, if i still had the stock spring i would have it quite high as the gs spring is soft

[annguyen1981]

I weigh 205lb and I have it set to 7.  It's still a bit soft, so I have a katana shock in the mail from another forum member.

[MarkusN]

Contrary to popular belief, that does not adjust the "hardness"; that is simply given by the spring, the only way to "adjust" that is to exchange the shock.

As hmmmnz correctly stated, it's preload. It adjusts sag. How high the tail of your MC is when you sit down, in other words. this influences steering geometry a little, but not hardness of the tail.

[suzuki gs500f]

So me being 6foot3 and 140 pounds. what would be my best option? also, my fiancee rides sometime. she weighs 155. I'm concerned about the ride I'm about to endure.  from Florida to Tennessee this thurs and was hoping this would make my ride easier.

[suzuki gs500f]

anyone?

[ostwayne]

You want to adjust the preload so that your rider sag is about 30mm to 40mm for regular road riding.

[scratch]

www.peterverdonedesigns.com/introduction.htm

[suzuki gs500f]

I didn't see anything telling me how to change the settings...

[RVertigo]

There's a tool in the standard Tool Kit...  http://johnla2.tripod.com/toolkit.html  (8 from the left)

You lock it onto one of the notches and give it a crank...  A HARD crank.

I've heard it's easier to do with a screwdriver, but I've never tried that method.

[scratch]

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=26802.msg289184#msg289184

[Chilly Willy]

So, do you want the pre-load to be higher (7) or lower (1) if you are a large rider?

Chilly Willy

[suzuki gs500f]

I'm 6foot 3 but only 140ish. what would be best?

[RVertigo]

You set the pre-load depending on what type of ride you want...

Pre-load is kinda (sorta) like adding weight to the shock...  The higher the setting, the more the spring is compressed.

If you ever bottom out the rear shock, you need a higher pre-load... 

If the rear is really bouncy (not swimmy like a Lincoln) and hard, then try a lower pre-load.



Generally, if you're heavier you probably want a higher pre-load...  But, the stock GS shock sucks, so bumping the pre-load may not give you the ride you want.

If Scratch's BF-Screwdriver method is as easy as people say, then you might try a few different settings...  Bump up to 4 and give it a ride... Then bump to 5, then 6, etc...  I wouldn't change it too much at once, since it does make the ride different.

[suzuki gs500f]

I do noitice that the rear wheel will hop sometimes. so your sayin gi need to bump it up to 5-6?

[Chilly Willy]

Thanks RVertigo, your description of the "feel" really helps.  My rear suspension really sags under my weight, so I'm going to try to adjust it.

Ultimately I need to replace that rear shock.  I've asked before, and Pantablo has responded that a 2001 Katana 600 shock would fit my 93.  Is that the only one though?  Are there other shocks that would work?  It would be cool to have a list somewhere of what shocks would and would not fit in the GS500.


Chilly Willy

[RVertigo]

If the rear wheel is hopping, bumping it up will probably make it hop more...

It's probably time to track down that Kat shock.

I installed a ratty, rusty, old '94 Kat shock and it's about 4x as good as the stock GS shock.  The coil-over is thicker and tighter, so you don't need to bump the pre-load as high AND it has a rebound adjustment...  I have Kat shock set to 4 pre-load, 2 rebound and it's about as stiff as I can take (I'm about 180 without gear).  Little hop, sticks to the road a lot better.   

It sits about a 1/2" higher and rides about 1" higher.

[RVertigo]

It would be cool to have a list somewhere of what shocks would and would not fit in the GS500.

http://pantablo500.tripod.com/id12.html

Hey Alpha... What's that other one that's a straight swap?

[Chilly Willy]

Thanks! 

[suzuki gs500f]

alright, looking at the bike from the right side which way do i turn the dial?  do I turn it clockwise or counterclockwise.