Hello all

I have bought a used gs500e model 2008 some days ago, and I would like to upgrade the terrible front fork suspension, i did some research and found spring model 11-1128, however the seller's description says its for model 89-02, i wounder if this will fit the newer gs500e models because i looked every where and didnt find any other spring models for the newer gs500e

can anyone help it out?

thx

All GS500 forks are basically the same size and dimensions. Any springs would work regardless of the year.
Standard Sonic springs are what most of us use. Progressive's haven't shown to be much different at all. Afetr all, we have a sealed column of air which by the nature of air will act progressive as the forks compress and the air gets compressed.
Either will be fine for your bike. Rich Desmond of Sonic is a member on the board. Kind of nice to support him and buy Sonic Springs.

Back to the original question, 1989-tioday is all the same so don't worry about the year for buying new springs.

Are you in Europe?.........If so different rules apply.

Quote from: sledge on November 20, 2013, 03:30:33 AM
Are you in Europe?.........If so different rules apply.

no, im in Brazil

are the models different based on different countries?

Yes they do differ dependent on country.

Have you got those adjustable preloaders on the fork tops?

Quote from: Zyklon on November 20, 2013, 08:31:37 AM

Quote from: sledge on November 20, 2013, 03:30:33 AM
Are you in Europe?.........If so different rules apply.

no, im in Brazil

are the models different based on different countries?

As mentioned, the dimensions of all GS500 forks are the same so get springs for any year.
While the stiffness of OEM springs changed in 2004 in the US, and Europe had better springs, they all go in the same. You adjust preload according to the length of the spring as the various springs were different lengths. I've put adjustable preload caps on, but still you go for the norm in terms of your preload.

Instructions come with Progressive and Sonic springs so read them and set preload accordingly. They include plastic pipe to make the spacers. Use something like a pipe cutter to make a clean cut. A saw will be rough and can leave bits of plastic around (not good if it gets in the forks) unless you carefully clean off all plastic bits.

If you have adjustable fork caps, you can go by the instruction sheet or a little shorter or longer (1/4 inch maybe) depending on if you like your front more on the stiff side. Just putting in better springs according to the directions you will have a much better ride.

A generally good way is to have the fork extended. Drop in the spring. Drop in the washer that goes on top of the spring. Drop in your spacer tube. Now mark it at the top of the fork tube. That is a good cutting point. If you have adjustable fork caps, because they are longer, make the cut 1/2" lower.

When certain Euro spec bikes got the pre-loader caps in the early 90s they also got  springs with a higher rate. Non euro bikes didn't get the preloaders and didn't get the stiffer springs.

Different countries, different setups 

mine doesnt have the preload thing

i just hate how super soft the front suspension is, i have a cheaper 250cc bike (fazer 250) that handles better then my gs500e, so im looking to make my gs500 more like my 250, harder  front suspension, will also raise the handebar for it to become more confortable

I'm reading that the preload caps were purchased and added to the bike by Adidasguy ..

I'm also reading that what country the bike was setup in can be different in the springs that are in the tubes.... From factory... Which is interesting ... But for the purposes of the OP post is IRRELEVANT!

The NEW springs that are purchased and going in .. Whether sonic or progressive or other ... are the focus ... And the mission is to fit them into the tubes .. All the tubes may have minor variations with years and country ... But fitting new springs into them remains the same PROCESS with instruction sheets providing information for variable preloads according to the riders likely end use ...

Who cares what springs came out? ... They are gone... Removed... Kaput ... The owner has decided that they are too soft!

If the new ones are Sonics then they are likely to have been referred from the website chart that matches body weight/riding style to spring needed... If Progressive? ... Dunno I never looked ..

So even if the tubes are different sizes according to year or area ... Or katana FE I would think... If the old springs are too soft and causing issues in whatever way ... The new installation may have its own particular settings/measurements .... But the discarded springs are now superfluous in both physical and informational effect! ... Reported common US stockers are .55-.65??? ... Maybe the euro were .65-.75? ... Big deal? ... Too soft is too soft!! ... The various companies have all the info on spring rate and installation needed ... Or if you have preload caps or not .. They still have the info available.. 

This is backed up here by many and varied voices saying the same ... These voices belong to those that have actually done the springs.. (Or like me had them done by a mechanic cos I'm lazy)

And a lone voice or two worried about what was thrown away because some sheet of paper somewhere needs to have every point of comparison filled in for technical purposes and historical completeness ... Or a case of OCD 

So,  I've done fork springs in dozens of bikes, but I've never seen such short springs with such long spacers as in the GS. Was it a Suzuki cost saving measure? Or what?
Seems obvious to me that spring action would be more 'refined' with more spring coils in there and less solid spacer.
Tell me I'm wrong. And why.

No idea why Suzuki put in such bad springs. For what its worth, the Kawasaki EX500 (1987-1993 I believe) had exactly the same problem with crappy springs and the same Sonic springs as the GS500 uses also fixes the EX500's issues.

I believe most of us get 0.85's but a few heftier people get 0.90's. Either way, you can adjust the length of the preload spacers and either way, it is far superior to stock springs.

I'm sure Sledgey will write endless paragraphs of mindless chatter for your amusement and to say how the rest of us are wrong. But I don't care because he is on my ignore list and I no longer see his replies - but I do see how many of you are, too, annoyed by him. Is he the new jb848?

Quote from: Joolstacho on November 21, 2013, 02:53:30 AM
So,  I've done fork springs in dozens of bikes, but I've never seen such short springs with such long spacers as in the GS. Was it a Suzuki cost saving measure? Or what?
Seems obvious to me that spring action would be more 'refined' with more spring coils in there and less solid spacer.
Tell me I'm wrong. And why.

You're wrong.   It's a common misconception, but as long as the rate is the same the length has no effect on the feel or action of the spring. 0.85 is 0.85, regardless of length.
What length can affect is the level of stress in the wire, but as long as good chrome silicon steel is used that's not an issue either. Some new sport bikes come with extremely short springs, 220-230mm, and they work just fine.

Quote from: adidasguy on November 21, 2013, 01:37:52 PM
I'm sure Sledgey will write endless paragraphs of mindless chatter for your amusement and to say how the rest of us are wrong.

And what is even more amusing Patrick is seeing you refuse to accept you are wrong even when you are presented with indisputable evidence 

You stick to telling people what fits together  ...........leave the reasons how and why they fit together to the people who do actually know and everything will be peachy.

Have a nice day 

Any spring in the stupid GS FE is like putting a bandaid on cancer.

But hey, I know of people who'd do a paint job (rattle can of course) on a bike with a slipping transmission, yes so maybe it works @ some demented level.

Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: RichDesmond on November 22, 2013, 07:59:19 AM

Quote from: Joolstacho on November 21, 2013, 02:53:30 AM
So,  I've done fork springs in dozens of bikes, but I've never seen such short springs with such long spacers as in the GS. Was it a Suzuki cost saving measure? Or what?
Seems obvious to me that spring action would be more 'refined' with more spring coils in there and less solid spacer.
Tell me I'm wrong. And why.

You're wrong.   It's a common misconception, but as long as the rate is the same the length has no effect on the feel or action of the spring. 0.85 is 0.85, regardless of length.
What length can affect is the level of stress in the wire, but as long as good chrome silicon steel is used that's not an issue either. Some new sport bikes come with extremely short springs, 220-230mm, and they work just fine.

Well, just makes you wonder why all those manufacturers wasted all that money over all those years sticking in comparatively expensive spring coils in forks when they could have just put in short ones and filled 'em up with spacers!

wouldnt the length and tech available at first design stage play a part? .. as the newer tech and designs are available they change the setup .. but if the design 'works' for the most part .. why would they change it? .. unless safety recalls or a new platform design then companies tend to stick with what they have that works. 

Quote from: Joolstacho on November 22, 2013, 05:33:08 PM

Quote from: RichDesmond on November 22, 2013, 07:59:19 AM

Quote from: Joolstacho on November 21, 2013, 02:53:30 AM
So,  I've done fork springs in dozens of bikes, but I've never seen such short springs with such long spacers as in the GS. Was it a Suzuki cost saving measure? Or what?
Seems obvious to me that spring action would be more 'refined' with more spring coils in there and less solid spacer.
Tell me I'm wrong. And why.

You're wrong.   It's a common misconception, but as long as the rate is the same the length has no effect on the feel or action of the spring. 0.85 is 0.85, regardless of length.
What length can affect is the level of stress in the wire, but as long as good chrome silicon steel is used that's not an issue either. Some new sport bikes come with extremely short springs, 220-230mm, and they work just fine.

Well, just makes you wonder why all those manufacturers wasted all that money over all those years sticking in comparatively expensive spring coils in forks when they could have just put in short ones and filled 'em up with spacers!

Lots of stuff the manufacturers do can leave you scratching your head.

Its all about cost

Making an already existing spring from an old model fit a new model or variant by using a simple and cheap to make spacer will work out far cheaper than designing, making and stocking a totally new spring for it 

Parts bin engineering 

Quote from: sledge on November 23, 2013, 09:46:54 AM
Its all about cost

Making an already existing spring from an old model fit a new model or variant by using a simple and cheap to make spacer will work out far cheaper than designing, making and stocking a totally new spring for it 

Parts bin engineering 

Unfortunately for us, it's not anywhere near that logical. The Japanese manufacturers will do stuff that increases cost for no obvious benefit or reason.
Examples: First gen SVs, the naked and S models use different upper triple clamps. That's not completely crazy, although they could easily have designed one that worked on both. The really dumb part is that the upper triples are different thicknesses, so the steering stems are different lengths. Two separate part numbers for no reason at all. The naked and S swingarm are also different lengths.
On the second gen SVs, between the naked and S models, the triples have different offsets. So now not only is the top one different, but the bottom one is different as well. Again, no good reason or benefit.
When the second gen SVs came out in '03, the footpegs and controls were the same as the first gens. But in '04, they changed them. Old ones worked fine, again just a change for the sake of change. More part numbers, more inventory cost, more production cost.
I could go on for days with more...

thx a lot for all the replies!!

i will get the sonic springs instead of the progressive ones

I think i will get the .80 spring, i don't want something that is way to hard for driving in bad streets and speed bumps