My 2002 GS is coming up on 4 years and 11 000 km (purchased at ~8000 km). From what the previous owner told me, I gather very little maintenance was ever done on the bike, besides oil changes. Now that I've got some vacation time coming up, I'd like to sit down and tinker a bit, before I go hunting for the twisties. The Clymer manual and various GStwins technical postings seem to agree that some parts are in need of replacement; additionally, now that the soft front forks have taught me how to brake smoothly, its time for those OEM springs to go! I would appreciate any advice on refining my parts list. Here it is:
1) Racetech or Progressive springs (any difference? 15W oil?).
2) Used Katana 600 rear monoshock.
3) Galfer braided brake lines (front and rear?).
4) OEM, Galfer or EBC brake pads (type?).
5) The stock rotors look fine, but any thoughts on upgrading?
6) Are OEM fuel lines any different from aftermarket ones?
7) Avon AV45/46 radials.
8) Sprocket and chain brands?
Thanks in advance to the GStwin brain trust! I am using the search function btw, but there's lots to sift through!
I went progressives almost immediately after buying my '00 in '01 and still think the front-end is a bit divey under serious/hard riding. I'd go to the straight-rate Racetechs or similar alternative. 15W oil in there, too.
Shock: I've got a GSXR unit waiting for me to get recharged/install, but I'm waiting till I find somebody that can machine me some new linkage pieces so it won't raise the rear more than an inch.
No experience with SS brake lines, but everybody I know that rides with them loves the feel.
EBC Sintered, no dust, less squeal, better feel than stockers or cheaper non-sintered.
I'm about ready to upgrade my suspension as well. I think that I'll try spacers in the front first just because I'm cheap. I upgraded to braided stainless front brake line right away and the improvement in feel and responsiveness was dramatic. I got a good deal by buying a ninja setup that was missing a line. Don't waste your money on a rear stainless line, so little force goes through that rear brake, and you wouldn't be able to feel the difference through your boot. (I've heard that some racers actually bleed a little air in the rear line to prevent a lockup)
Brake pads, I've used the kevlar with sintered metal but haven't noticed much difference, of course buying the bike used, who knows what was on it before.
Brake rotors, I don't think that they make much of a difference, but if you get some really agressive pads they can wear out rotors, so get some aggresive pads then try a fancy rotor when you wear out the stock one. And stay away from race only pads (only work when hot) and cast iron rotors (they rust too much to be worth the miniscule improvement in heat disipation)
Fuel lines, no need to replace them untill the stock ones get cracked or stiff. There should be no difference in performance of OEM vs aftermarket. Just get some that haven't been sitting arround a long time (age and ozone take their toll) You will only get an improvement in fuel delivery if you replace the fuel petcocks (and then why bother unless you have a problem)
Other things you may want to attentd to are the valves, and carb jetting (just do a search on the forum for info) maybee a pipe and filter upgrade.
Good luck :cheers:
same as Mk1 except I like the progressives they have been good for me plenty firm although I only weigh 55kg and I run 15wt oil also I can't comment on gsx 600 shock as I have a Koni that is made for the GS and its superb :thumb: :cheers:
Lukewarm Wilson, I NEED that part number for the koni. (This is not an issue of want. :) )
Mak's highmount is the best exhaust. Period.
K&N Lunchbox is better than pods.
Rejet after any engine mods.
I have straight rate racetechs, at the rate reccomended for racing for my weight. I love them. Hell I even tour on it.
Rear shock seems to be Katana, due to ease of finding and such. I'm gunning for an RGV250 rear, but those are difficult to find.
Quote from: CirclesCenter on August 01, 2006, 10:48:43 PM
Mak's highmount is the best exhaust. Period.
Umm...so dyno tested/look as good as any of the major brand's offerings? Doubtful.
Quote from: CirclesCenter on August 01, 2006, 10:48:43 PM
Lukewarm Wilson, I NEED that part number for the koni. (This is not an issue of want. :) )
Mak's highmount is the best exhaust. Period.
K&N Lunchbox is better than pods.
Rejet after any engine mods.
I have straight rate racetechs, at the rate reccomended for racing for my weight. I love them. Hell I even tour on it.
Rear shock seems to be Katana, due to ease of finding and such. I'm gunning for an RGV250 rear, but those are difficult to find.
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I'll see what I can do but Koni are no longer around they were bought out by a group and are now called Ikon I'll see if I can get a part number but just in case you can contact them through http://www.ikonsuspension.com/index.html they may still make them but after I got mine I never bothered to check but I do remember them saying the the Koni was old stock :thumb: :cheers:
Hi Circles by God your lucky if you move fast and I mean FAST they have one Koni left the bloke couldn't give me a price at the time but the part number is 1002, yeah thats it not much of a number they are closed over the weekend and are open Mon-Fri 9.30am -2pm so you will need to call about 1am Sunday your time if you are in the states otherwise you may have to check time differences where you are. Good Luck :thumb: :cheers:
OBTW ask to talk to there Ebay person she may be able to make the deal cheaper.
Let me know how you went
Quote from: CirclesCenter on August 01, 2006, 10:48:43 PM
Mak's highmount is the best exhaust. Period.
has he even finished it? i havent seen any updated posts...?
Quote from: jakkyl on August 04, 2006, 07:53:19 AM
Quote from: CirclesCenter on August 01, 2006, 10:48:43 PM
Mak's highmount is the best exhaust. Period.
has he even finished it? i havent seen any updated posts...?
He hasn't found a test bike yet. So no. He hasn't been here in a while either... wonder what's up...
im just curious how it's "the best. period." if it doesnt exist yet... :dunno_white:
Cause it will provide more ground clearance than other options.
Quote from: CirclesCenter on August 05, 2006, 04:50:19 PM
Cause it will provide more ground clearance than other options.
So that just makes it the best... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:.
What if it flows like poop in s straw? huh, what then?
Quote from: CirclesCenter on August 05, 2006, 04:50:19 PM
Cause it will provide more ground clearance than other options.
IMO nothing with that cheap ass glasspack attached to it could ever be "the best".
-M
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on August 04, 2006, 08:01:35 AM
Quote from: jakkyl on August 04, 2006, 07:53:19 AM
Quote from: CirclesCenter on August 01, 2006, 10:48:43 PM
Mak's highmount is the best exhaust. Period.
has he even finished it? i havent seen any updated posts...?
He hasn't found a test bike yet. So no. He hasn't been here in a while either... wonder what's up...
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Well glad I didn't wait for it and just bought the jardine BTW how much clearence do you need you'll scrape a peg before you scrape an exhaust on the GS :thumb: :cheers:
Quote from: Lukewarm Wilson on August 06, 2006, 03:23:43 PM
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on August 04, 2006, 08:01:35 AM
Quote from: jakkyl on August 04, 2006, 07:53:19 AM
Quote from: CirclesCenter on August 01, 2006, 10:48:43 PM
Mak's highmount is the best exhaust. Period.
has he even finished it? i havent seen any updated posts...?
He hasn't found a test bike yet. So no. He hasn't been here in a while either... wonder what's up...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Well glad I didn't wait for it and just bought the jardine BTW how much clearence do you need you'll scrape a peg before you scrape an exhaust on the GS :thumb: :cheers:
Yeah yeah. But a highmount would look SWEET.
Not when you have fireblade pegs.
Using definites to describe something that hasn't even been mocked up yet is a little rediculous, if you ask me.
That was my point right away. Yes, highmounts on a GS do look decent, but the bike wasn't setup for them, so they don't work all that well, and it's extra weight and really quite unnecessary, IMO. I'm not a racer, so I'm not out dragging knee/peg/pipe each weekend, but there are plenty of 500s running around tracks not using highmounts and doing just fine, as far as I am aware.
Quote from: Mk1inCali on August 06, 2006, 11:34:20 PM
That was my point right away. Yes, highmounts on a GS do look decent, but the bike wasn't setup for them, so they don't work all that well, and it's extra weight and really quite unnecessary, IMO. I'm not a racer, so I'm not out dragging knee/peg/pipe each weekend, but there are plenty of 500s running around tracks not using highmounts and doing just fine, as far as I am aware.
Yeah, but it'd look SWEET.
Last time I saw a high mount on a GS there was nothing pretty about it, it looked cheap and heavy the way it ran around the frame and up under the duck tail was not good to look at and made the bike seem cluttered and then there will be the problem with number plate mounts, blinkers etc and the length it will need to be will probably loose power then gain it or it will just stay the same.
But then again maybe he has a better idea how he will do it but it all seems to be talk at the moment and no action and the price difference between it and the aftermarket was not that great seeing that the aftermarket has a warranty. :thumb:
Quote from: Lukewarm Wilson on August 04, 2006, 12:15:51 AM
Hi Circles by God your lucky if you move fast and I mean FAST they have one Koni left the bloke couldn't give me a price at the time but the part number is 1002, yeah thats it not much of a number they are closed over the weekend and are open Mon-Fri 9.30am -2pm so you will need to call about 1am Sunday your time if you are in the states otherwise you may have to check time differences where you are. Good Luck :thumb: :cheers:
OBTW ask to talk to there Ebay person she may be able to make the deal cheaper.
Let me know how you went
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Circles did you get it?