PROGRESSIVE FRONT SPRINGS

[Hiboy53]

Lots of talk on progressive springs...

I have a set of Progressive springs (11-1128) that I want to use on my 2008 GS500.

I bought for my 1990 500 and never used them.  The 1990 already had them and rides fine.

The progressives are a lot smaller in outside diameter than the stock spring and don't fit as close to the inside of the fork tube as the stock spring.

Will this be a problem...

Can I use the 11-1128 spring in my 2008..??

Still crazy....

[dinkydonuts]

There's only one model for the GS and it fits all years. Unless you opt to completEly drain the forks its a simple swap that takes 20 minutes to do.

The progressives are a lot longer than stock but that's intentional. Put the tightly wound end in first to reduce noise and then cut a piece of the provided PVC pipe to about 0.75" for preload. I weigh around 210 fully geared and might increase my preloaded spacers to 1.25" the next time I service the forks. The springs are a definite improvement but I still notice a little mush.

[Hiboy53]

Just checking...

The 2008 is a different bike to my 1990.

Wasn't sure if there was a better spring around other than the Sonics or the Progressives.

Thanks for the reply.

[RichDesmond]

Just checking...

The 2008 is a different bike to my 1990.

Wasn't sure if there was a better spring around other than the Sonics or the Progressives.

Thanks for the reply.

There isn't anything better than a good straight rate spring. Within that constraint all the brands are essentially the same. Sonic, Race-Tech, etc...  A progressively wound aftermarket spring will be a big improvement over stock too, but not quite as good as a straight rate design.