After changing tires today, I took the forks out to pref for installing the progressive springs and new oil. One thing I'm thinking about here is reinstalling the forks, the can be slid up and down there. I didn't really measure the position, I probably can by looking at the dirt lines around the clamps, but how exact does that need to be? For example if I reintall the forks slightly higher or lower than they were is that going to cause any problems?

If you throw the forks higher up on the triples, your weight will be transfered more towards the front of the bike.
This can potentially change the way your bike feels drastically.

People have done this in the past with bikes because the bike always feels light in the front end when travelling at high speeds.
My recommendation is find someone who is nice enough to measure the forks on thier GS that hasn't been moved since stock.

Honestly I would, but I don't have batteries in the camera right now.

First, the bike, stock, has the forks flush with the top of the upper tripple.

Second, just because it's like that stock, doesn't mean it's best or even comfortable to you.  I prefer a more aggressive ride so with every standard bike I've ever owned I've had to load the forks at least an inch.

Now, altering the fork height shortens the wheelbase and increases rake.  With a shorter wheelbase the bike is going to be more responsive to left/right movements so you'll get a little more effect from the same angle lean.  Increasing the rake makes the steering more sensitive to user input.  I would play with it a bit and try the bike at different levels to see which suits you.  If you liked it just fine as stock, just flush the forks in the upper triple.

I think they were flush or close to it, I'll stick them back on and see since there are fairly clear lines where they were inside the clamps.

I'm fairly glad I did this as several bolts on the front fork assembly and handlebar clamps were loose enough to remove by hand. Yikes!

I redid my forks one at a time so I thankfully still had one in before I realized I didn't know where they should be positioned. First time I put everything back together was semi sloppy and my bike pulled to the left. I realized they one fork was about 1 millimeter higher then the other, I spend about 20 minutes measuring over and over to get them right. The slightest bit off and you'll be able to tell.

-Ash

Ok, if it pulls I'll have to play. Hopefully I got them pretty close

New springs are in and fork oil is changed. It was pretty yucky looking after only 3,600 miles (and 11 years...) so I'm glad I changed it. I have no idea about the amount of oil... Every thread or tutorial seemed to mention a different amount or measurement of fork oil with progressive springs. I ended up with, I'd guess, around 400 ml per fork and it measured around 4" with the springs out and fork fully compressed. No idea if that's "right" or not but I made sure they were as even as I could get them.

FYI....
382ml/3.9 in from top    per factory serv man....
also to get the level correct.....
turkey baster with a clear hose and measure up the hose and mark it then stick hose to mark in fork  and suck out extra fluid

fork height...not oil level...:p

justin,  read the post right above mine.....

woops...that one snuck up on me...

and I was nice and didn't say anything smart assish.....

Quote from: werase643 on April 29, 2007, 03:44:19 PM
FYI....
382ml/3.9 in from top    per factory serv man....
also to get the level correct.....
turkey baster with a clear hose and measure up the hose and mark it then stick hose to mark in fork  and suck out extra fluid

I'm calling it 'close enough'. From what I understand as long as they are even it's not a huge deal right?

it will be just fine
ride it