Hi guys!

I'm a new GS500 owner from Hungary, bought a '97 GS500E last months. This is my first bike, and I'm quite happy with it although I only had a few chances to ride it because of the weather. I found this page a few weeks ago, it's great. I already changed the oil by myself based on the how to guide on this page. I was proud of myself since i have never done any mechanical job before, and i have no clue about motorcycles, just know how to ride it.

Ok, lets stop the storytelling, i will explain my problem now. The front forks are bottoming out when i hit bumps, so i was told that probably something is wrong with it. I read lots of the topics here, and checked the fork seals, they seem to be perfect. So the next thing is was advised was to check the oil level in the fork, because maybe it's completely out of it.

So that's where i need help, how do i check the oil level in the front forks, or how can i refill it if it needs some?

Thanks for your help, sorry if this has been discussed before please send me to the right topic. Thanks again!

wurci

Soft front forks are a common complaint with the GS500 bikes. The front springs are very soft, and easily bottom out, even when the fork oil level is fine. Many poeple replace their springs, and/or put in thicker fork oil (15W instead of 10W). Some have reported inserting a spacer in the forks help too, which can be a very cheap upgrade.

Quote from: wurciI read lots of the topics here, and checked the fork seals, they seem to be perfect. So the next thing is was advised was to check the oil level in the fork, because maybe it's completely out of it.

So that's where i need help, how do i check the oil level in the front forks, or how can i refill it if it needs some?

Thanks for your help, sorry if this has been discussed before please send me to the right topic. Thanks again!

wurci

Welcome!

The only other way forks will leak oil is if the damper rod bolts are not tight enough at the bottom of the forks.

Unfortuneately, to check the oil level, you will have to take the forks off the bike, take the springs out, slide the tube into the slider, and then measure from the top of the fork tube to the surface of the oil in the fork.

This may help:

http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10036&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=fork+oil+seals&start=0