Hi all, this post is intended for the beginning to intermediate street rider (like myself) - but can be for experienced riders as well.
I recently put in a pair of Sonic Springs .95 springs in my front forks and installed a Katana rear shock (600 version)... and I have to say...
The handling is much much better. The ride is much smoother. The stopping is much stoppier.
I think that everyone should spend the $100 on new springs for the front. If you are on the fence - get the springs.
The rear shock is a different story. The ride back there feels smoother, but the bike is also raised a bit now. The center stand is almost useless, it can be used but the rear wheel isn't in the air any more (at least on mine :dunno_white:) - though this might be because I have wider tires. The bike leans more on its side stand, but it is stable, so that is not a problem.
Again, I am not an experienced racer who is used to fine tuning suspensions. I was content with the stock setup until just a few days ago when I got these installed. Now I am recommending that everyone who hasn't put in stiffer springs do so.
I'd agree, though the front really the springs are a bandaid on cancer. The single action brakes, the whole idea of damping etc etc were all just a vague idea the GS designers had. Nothing like we need it to damp this and stop with this much feel and feedback etc etc ... nope.
Cool.
Buddha.
Yea, I have almost the same setup (.90 sonics with 15w oil) and it really is a different bike. Perfect price vs performance solution for me. Now I don't need it to be any better and try not to imagine it any better. With the stock setup a change HAD to be made.
So yeah like you said, if anyone hasn't done these upgrades they should be at the top of your list. Out of the many things I have done to my bike, the suspension upgrade made the biggest difference transforming my GS from something I can live with to the perfect bike for me.
He he, can't wait for my Sonics to arrive :cheers:
With recently beefed up brakes it really plunges with abrupt braking.
With Sonics I also plan to raise forks to quicken the steering a bit :o
I put.85 sonics and a kat rear shock. It is amazing, but I kept the original fork fluid (10 w?)
The progressive/sonic springs actually start making the front end feel stiff and like I dunno, non compliant.
A kat FE will make it feel very soft, like stock, and at the same time it will not plunge like stock.
The best way to put it, the sonic's make a hard bottom in effect when you are at the end of its travel. Kat FE does not. It never seems to hit a wall, its compliant all the way till it even wont travel any more, it seems to gradually bottom.
Cool.
Buddha.