Couple questions regarding the front suspension of newer GSes

[lucas]

Pardon my ignorance but I have an older bike and it was literally in laundry baskets when I bought it and there are some parts that I have never seen and I am not as familiar with the newer GSes.  I noticed on another thread on this forum that the newer models of this motorcycle there is what appears to be a fluid level sight on the front dampers.  This must be wrong since it is not at the correct level for a fluid sign and it also doesn't look quite right... what in tarnation is this thing?



Also when looking on eBay for parts I sometimes see this thing called a front fork deflector.  Where does this part go and what does it do?

[Big Rich]

Sorry Lucas, can't help with the forks. Maybe your forks are from a similar model?

But if iI'm not mistaken, that fork deflector bolts to the bottom of your lower triple tree, and protects from water splashing into the steering stem.

[fetor56]

If i'm not mistaken that fork logo just signifies that the bike is assembled in Spain....mostly or entirely from Japanese parts.

[sledge]

http://www.paioli.com/home.html

Does the image look familiar?

The front forks on the F are made by Paioli......that's not a sight glass, its their badge 

[lucas]

Cool cool, thanks guys.  Does anyone have a picture of that deflector installed?  Just curious to see it.

[Bluesmudge]

I don't have a picture at the moment. I always thought it was there to force more of the air down towards the engine and oil cooler (only the F models have the part).

[Rallyfan]

So the F uses a Paioli fork? This makes sense for bikes assembled in the EU but at this price point I can't imagine a bike made in JP couldn't use a JP fork instead. Are all Fs sold in the U.S. assembled  in ES? (I don't know where to look on my 2006F).

[Bluesmudge]

I think all GS500s '04+ were assembled in Spain. It will say, "Made in Spain" on the frame VIN tag located up by the triple trees.

[Rallyfan]

Mine has the ES symbol on it.

Also, this thread lead me to discover a leaky fork seal. I pulled up the dust cap, cleaned the debris, and used a thin piece of blunt plastic to clean out the dirt under and within the seal itself.

Initially I thought it didn't work. I then jumped up and down on the forks while yelling like a sociopath, and it now no longer leaks.

Either the cleaning got the dirt causing the leak in an otherwise intact seal to cease, or enough oil has already leaked that the oil left inside cannot reach the seal to escape. Either way, I'm claiming victory. My next step will be to do absolutely nothing. Bike rides the same. Ha!