Hi everyone, I have a 1993 GS500E, Lizzie, and I'm replacing her handlebars. I realized several days into the project that my pre-load adjustable top caps won't work with the new bars. Does anyone in the Seattle area have a set of standard 37mm available?

Thanks in advance!
Ashley

the fork caps for the 1993 year? or the newer ones?

The caps I currently have are not original to the bike. I'm looking for a set to fit a more traditional style handlebar.

Quote from: Ashleydoodles on September 25, 2018, 07:55:41 PM
The caps I currently have are not original to the bike. I'm looking for a set to fit a more traditional style handlebar.

yes I have a pair of caps [well I gotta dig for the OTHER cap] off a 1995 set of forks. just want to make sure that's what you're looking for.

I helped the original poster replace fork seals on these forks. I've spent the last hour or so comparing parts diagrams and searching the forums in an effort to learn the differences between the "early" and "newer" forks.

Turns out, the forks in question here appear to be later-style forks, based on the internal damper being the "new" (ie, difficult to get a tool onto) style. (reference, http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=60898.msg704006#msg704006)

Please correct me if I'm wrong about any of the following:

• All forks for the entire GS500 series are 37mm
  
• All forks from any GS500 will physically fit onto any other GS500
  
• I don't know what's different internally between early/newer forks
  
• "early" refers to 1989-2002
  
• "newer" refers to 2003+
  
• The part number for the steering stem assembly (aka lower triple) is the same across all model years (and market regions)
  
• The pn for the steering head (aka upper triple) is different starting with "later" forks
  
• "later" fork lowers have a "protector" (for mud/rocks?) in the area of the fork seal
  

(note: My determinations regarding part numbers comes from the parts diagrams and the "where used" functionality found on suzukipartshouse.com and takes into account parts that have been deprecated and superceeded. I have no personal affiliation with that website, but I like it for parts diagrams.)

So... Does the original poster need "newer" fork caps?
Will "early" fork caps work?
What's the difference between early/newer fork caps? The ones the OP has are preload-adjustable. Are those the "newer" fork caps, or are they something from an aftermarket supplier?

Quote from: usury on September 25, 2018, 09:11:49 PM
I helped the original poster replace fork seals on these forks. I've spent the last hour or so comparing parts diagrams and searching the forums in an effort to learn the differences between the "early" and "newer" forks.

Turns out, the forks in question here appear to be later-style forks, based on the internal damper being the "new" (ie, difficult to get a tool onto) style. (reference, http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=60898.msg704006#msg704006)

Please correct me if I'm wrong about any of the following:

• All forks for the entire GS500 series are 37mm
  
• All forks from any GS500 will physically fit onto any other GS500
  
• I don't know what's different internally between early/newer forks
  
• "early" refers to 1989-2002
  
• "newer" refers to 2003+
  
• The part number for the steering stem assembly (aka lower triple) is the same across all model years (and market regions)
  
• The pn for the steering head (aka upper triple) is different starting with "later" forks
  
• "later" fork lowers have a "protector" (for mud/rocks?) in the area of the fork seal
  

(note: My determinations regarding part numbers comes from the parts diagrams and the "where used" functionality found on suzukipartshouse.com and takes into account parts that have been deprecated and superceeded. I have no personal affiliation with that website, but I like it for parts diagrams.)

So... Does the original poster need "newer" fork caps?
Will "early" fork caps work?
What's the difference between early/newer fork caps? The ones the OP has are preload-adjustable. Are those the "newer" fork caps, or are they something from an aftermarket supplier?

Hope this clears some questions up for you.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=72265.msg870582#msg870582

Quote from: J_Walker on September 26, 2018, 07:41:33 AM
Hope this clears some questions up for you.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=72265.msg870582#msg870582

Thank you! That's what I was looking for.

PM sent

Is this a newly acquired bike? Based on the fact that you are in the Seattle area and the preload adjuatable fork caps didn't come in USA model bikes I think you may have purchased a bike previously owned by adidasguy of this forum.
Is it by chance gray/ black with gimble rearsets or solo seat? If so I may know the history of your bike. You probably have '04+ forks with the European fork caps. The fork caps on the later forks are different. I hope you are not replacing  euro style clip on bars with standard handlebars.

If I am wrong about what bike you have I apologize.