How do you lower the forks on a gs500e. I have to rebuild them and I was wanting to lower them. Anyboby know how?
Do you mean you want to slide the forks up through the triple clamps?
If so, put the bike on the centerstand.
Loosen the 12mm bolt on the bottom of the right fork leg.
Use a block of wood to prop up the front wheel off the ground (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=27361.0).
Loosen the two 14mm bolts and the two 6mm hex bolts.
You may have to twist the tubes to get them to move, but work them upward, then tighten the bolts.
After you have rolled the bike off the centerstand, push down on the handlebars, but don't use the front brake to compress the forks. This aligns the forks with the new position. Then tighten the 12mm bolt on the bottom of the right fork leg.
I cant slide them in the trees. It has a drag bar. I might get a half an inch there. More interested in lowering them internally.
Then you'll have to use a pipe-cutter or hacksaw to cut the metal stock spacers.
Quote from: scratch on May 12, 2008, 07:03:29 PM
Then you'll have to use a pipe-cutter or hacksaw to cut the metal stock spacers.
I think mach1 was considering doing this. You may want to pm him and see if he did it.
not yet Im a bit busy with the R6 tail, but I will be lowering it once I get the new fork leg put on and rid myself of the bent one.
The GS front end is soft.If you lower the front end more than an inch or cut the spacers,the fork sliders will hit the lower triple clamp and headlight on bumps.This could be a dangerous proposition.
my stock springs are alot stiffer than normal gs springs, thanks to my special treatment. :thumb:
OK in that case Mach1, you can lower it exactly by the difference in sag without penalty. After that, if you have a before measurement of maximum travel, compare it to an after measurement of maximum travel and lower it by that difference too without loss in safety.
Cool.
Buddha.
as far sas I can tell I have never came close to bottoming out with the kat shock in the rear I get an 1/4 inch play with that spring
I have to ask, what was your "special" treatment?
Quote from: mach1 on May 13, 2008, 10:15:06 AM
as far sas I can tell I have never came close to bottoming out with the kat shock in the rear I get an 1/4 inch play with that spring
The rear won't effect the front that much in this situation to my knowledge. Once you hit a sizable dip in the road, it will be all up to the front suspension. Hope she's ready....