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  ) - 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 

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 

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.