Just installed my set of .85kg/mm Sonic springs in my bike. Did it in a parking lot in about 3 hours from start to clean up, real easy. The only hard part was cutting the spacers ( pvc material supplied by sonic) with the saw blade on my leatherman multi tool. I wish i was joking about that. Otherwise really straight forward. Went for a ride and HOLY CRAP! Its an entirely new bike, im in love all over again. If you are thinking about doing it, DO IT.

Top old
bottom new
http://i.imgur.com/QLQ1R.jpg

Cool

I just picked up a set of progressives on ebay being sold as "stock" by a bike breaker for 40 bucks.

I am pretty excited.

And the springs will probably be some weird size or not fit or something... Because thats my luck.

but until that time, deal of the year for my broke arse.

They look like this: I think the winding means they are progressive style...



As adidasguy posted below, the ball-point pen springs are what I'm riding on now, so I can only imagine!

As an FYI: Newer forks do have better springs than the older ones.

TOP: 0.85's (spacer not shown, wasn't cut yet)
MIDDLE: Newer stock GS500 forks spring and spacer (from Suzi - 2009)
BOTTOM: Older GS500 forks spring and spacer (Is this really a spring or just a bent paper clip?)

Not exactly what year they changed the springs. Scanning the parts fiche might give the answer.

Here's all 3:


TRIVIA: Did you know that "Leatherman" is not named that because it is a leather tool, but that is the last name of the guy that invented that tool?

Quote from: Pontiackid73 on February 27, 2012, 04:30:46 PM
The only hard part was cutting the spacers ( pvc material supplied by sonic) with the saw blade on my leatherman multi tool. I wish i was joking about that.

Next time you should grab a lighter and just use the knife blade. Heat up the knife and slice through that plastic like butter!

Quote from: tt_four on February 27, 2012, 07:21:33 PM

Next time you should grab a lighter and just use the knife blade. Heat up the knife and slice through that plastic like butter!

The police around here frown upon huddling over a lighter with a knife in an abandoned parking lot 

But that's a good idea, hadn't thought about that.

Quote from: adidasguy on February 27, 2012, 06:36:19 PM
As an FYI: Newer forks do have better springs than the older ones.

TOP: 0.85's (spacer not shown, wasn't cut yet)
MIDDLE: Newer stock GS500 forks spring and spacer (from Suzi - 2009)
BOTTOM: Older GS500 forks spring and spacer (Is this really a spring or just a bent paper clip?)

Not exactly what year they changed the springs. Scanning the parts fiche might give the answer.

Here's all 3:


TRIVIA: Did you know that "Leatherman" is not named that because it is a leather tool, but that is the last name of the guy that invented that tool?

A bent paperclip would have had more resistance than that stock spring lol. I pulled out the stock one and looked in the tube for more spings. I have seen bigger springs on 50cc dirtbikes.

Also i didn't know that about the tool. The More You Know with Addidasguy lol.

Believe it or not those stock GS500 springs are considered an upgrade for some smaller bikes... like 250/125cc range

Quote from: Pontiackid73 on February 27, 2012, 04:30:46 PM
Just installed my set of .85kg/mm Sonic springs in my bike. Did it in a parking lot in about 3 hours from start to clean up, real easy. The only hard part was cutting the spacers ( pvc material supplied by sonic) with the saw blade on my leatherman multi tool. I wish i was joking about that. Otherwise really straight forward. Went for a ride and HOLY CRAP! Its an entirely new bike, im in love all over again. If you are thinking about doing it, DO IT.

what year gs?  please post a link to the springs, my 01 gs needs fork seals and i might as well respring her while she's opened up.

For springs, the year doesn't make any difference. Same for fork seals.

For springs, go to http://www.sonicsprings.com

Most of us go with 0.85's. If in doubt, get those.

Indispensable tool, used for a lot of things, including cutting PCV fork spacers!!

It would make that 3 hr job a 30 minute one, and it costs 15 bucks at the depot

I use a thing like this for PVC pipe. No plastic shavings from sawing. Really fast, too.

Quote from: adidasguy on February 29, 2012, 12:38:31 AM
I use a thing like this for PVC pipe. No plastic shavings from sawing. Really fast, too.

That. Is. Cool!!!

I want.

Quote from: adidasguy on February 28, 2012, 10:28:32 PM
For springs, the year doesn't make any difference. Same for fork seals.

For springs, go to http://www.sonicsprings.com

Most of us go with 0.85's. If in doubt, get those.

Thank you sir.  My GS feels like it is sprung for a 15 lb boy! It bottoms out on the smallest of bumps.  I have my suspension done for my supermoto bikes at Fastbikeindustries, but I am gonna respring this one myself in the interest of keeping the cost down. 

Just ordered some sonics, can't wait to try them out. Funny thing with my bike is the previous owner shoved a couple extra rebound springs on top of the stock springs. Some kind of poor mans pre-load solution I guess. Could not figure out why my forks did not look like the ones in the manual, figured it was some model year difference. When I unbolted the caps they would literally shoot up and hit the ceiling unless I put a heavy blanket on top. Unbelievably hard to get back together as well.

pah .. old topic.. dont care!! ...
it seems the budget for this year is a tad prohibitive on "brand new dream bike" spending plans 

so i have been think bout it and think bout it some more.... and seeing as the replacement fork seals that i bought and my mate put in (for a six pack) are leaking and probably need replacing again anyway ..  .. i'ma gonna get some of the sonic springs .. the kat rear shock thingy .. new chain and sprockets .. then 'take it to the limit' and put the damn stuff on myself! .. so a little saving up is in order...

even went to the sonic spring site and used their calculator for the recommended weight springs.. either .95 if i wanna ride like my nanna .. or 1.0 if i want to ride somewhat more eagerly ... not searched it out yet ... but any other fat ass bastids on here have needed 1.0's??

wrist surgery should be over by the end of august so gives me a head start on saving and buying time .. cant wrench right now cos i end up crying like a sissy biatch! .. so it all works out! 

Quote from: Janx101 on July 31, 2012, 10:44:04 PM
pah .. old topic.. dont care!! ...

At least the last post in this topic was in this calendar year, so no worries.

Quote from: Janx101 on July 31, 2012, 10:44:04 PM
wrist surgery should be over by the end of august so gives me a head start on saving and buying time .. cant wrench right now cos i end up crying like a sissy biatch!

Off topic here, but what's up with your wrist? And what type of surgery are you having? Sucks that it has to happen in the summer...

i'm an aussie and in winter .. so not missing too much riding.. though can usually "ride all year with the right gear"..... hmmm marketing idea!

got a torn/fractured TFC (Triangular Fibro Cartilage) (google it eh  ) in right wrist .. which limits my movement and grip strength by about 60-70% (max right hand is at 40lbs currently and normally would be a bit over 100lbs... i can still hack a easygoing half hour ride maybe twice a week though so its not all bad.

Surgery will be arthroscopic (camera in the metal tube thru keyhole cut) investigation and repair... they might just clip the torn bit away and 'glue' the little hairline cracks (easy recovery) .. or if its more "in bits" they will clip/trim then "glue" then stitch/wrap/suture the whole cartilage till it can mend up (arm in plaster for 4 weeks and longer recovery) .. plus both cases will need about 12 weeks of physio directed exercises to strengthen the muscles around the joint 'properly' so they pull it back together at the right angle kinda thing..

there is also arthritis and tendonitis across whole wrist but that does not normally worry me too much for work (furniture removalist) as the normal muscle mass holds it all together...

lately though with forearm muscles like bingo wings and the colder weather .. i been aching and clicking and popping like a grandpa hillbilly.... which for some reason amuses my missus no end!.

in case you wondered how i did it... accumulated stress on the area after 25 years of the job... it finally went pop! .. its all workers compensation covered so cool.... but it happened in Feb this year .. and the insurer been dragging the chain on approval for surgery for the last 7 weeks ... finally i had a "moment' over the phone at them and whaddaya know but its being looked at immediately 

anyway .. looking forward to getting all the bits for the bike and hoping i dont have spare bolts at the end of the process! 

Quote from: Janx101 on August 01, 2012, 07:11:22 PM
i'm an aussie and in winter .. so not missing too much riding.. though can usually "ride all year with the right gear"..... hmmm marketing idea!

Sorry, forgot you guys are upside-down and backwards down there. 

I know how you feel on the wrist pain. I was blessed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in my wrist when I was about 13. Mostly went away around age 18-20. Went through my 20s with no issues. Then a couple years ago, my wrist started giving me issues again. Pain/swelling up to my elbow. Went to see a wrist specialist where it was determined that they will eventually have to do surgery on my wrist, either a fusion or total replacement. The bones surrounding the carpel tunnel sheath are like coral and the sheath rubs against it and causes pain/swelling at times. The joint itself is partially fused, giving me limited mobility in that wrist. Luckily, cortisone and meds are keeping everything at bay for now...I understand that neither of my surgical options are pleasant for someone in their 30s.

Good luck on the surgery and may the painkillers be with you.

ta bro... i'd rather not have to have the surgery... i'd rather just have kept my wrist good... but surgery not bothering me either... its like .. Meh!, just do it already!..

i'm 41 now and its just another hurdle... if your carpal area is jaggy then it could be a bummer... but the actual standard procedure for carpal is now fairly simple and easy ..

i keep on asking my docs if i can have a real cool titanium terminator style arm skeleton put in.... but they pretend that such stuff dont exist yet.. the bastards!