GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: burstun on September 03, 2004, 11:44:46 AM

Title: Suspension question
Post by: burstun on September 03, 2004, 11:44:46 AM
Hello,

I am new to motorcycles so sorry if this is stupid question.  I need to know how to make front suspension harder on my GS500F.  Right now it is very soft and bike's front end goes all the way down if I brake a bit harder for trafic lights.  I can not find anything in my owners manual and when looking at bike I can not see any settings.

Thanks.
Title: Suspension question
Post by: davipu on September 03, 2004, 12:00:13 PM
try searching for progressive springs, or fork oil.  at the top of every page there is a search button, and welcome to the community.
Title: Suspension question
Post by: TR on September 03, 2004, 12:14:32 PM
The usual mods are, in order of complexity:

-install PVC spacers inside the forks,

You need to remove the fork caps while front wheel off the ground, insert 3/4 inches long spacers and reinstall fork caps.

- change springs (only springs)

Most of us choose progressive springs, but you could find constant rate springs; same procedure as before but this time you have to fish the stock spacer and stock spring off from fork, then insert the new spring, check oil level (may need to drian some off), install new spacers (PVC or cut from stock ones) and reinstall caps.

- Change springs and oil 15w (instead stock 10w).

Once stock spring is off deinstall the forks from triple clamp, so you can put it up side down and drain all the old oil, reinstal forks on the triple clamp, insert new springs, add new oil... the rest as previos option.

- Install a gixxer front end.
- others
Too complex for me to explain...

The spacers option is cheap, but only add some preload to the stock springs. The progressives option is better but cost more, and better if oil changed, the other mods are expensive, and only worth for racing.

Hope this helps...
Title: Suspension question
Post by: burstun on September 03, 2004, 12:21:05 PM
Thanks on all replies and I was looking to get progressive shocks latter on.  But right now I need to know how to change setting on stock suspenion?  When I bought bike they told me suspension was set on medium so there must be something to change it to higer setting??

Thank you.
Title: Suspension question
Post by: octane on September 03, 2004, 12:23:49 PM
There is no adjustment in the stock GS forks. There is a preload adjustment on the stock rear shock, which is what they were probably referring to. So the short answer to your question is, you can't change the front setting. Sorry!
Title: Suspension question
Post by: burstun on September 03, 2004, 12:28:08 PM
Thank you, that is what I wanted to know.  I think I will get progressive ones when I go on my next maintaince.

Thank you again.
Title: Suspension question
Post by: octane on September 03, 2004, 12:31:15 PM
:thumb: