• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

should I replace fork springs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
  • Start date Start date
A

Anonymous

Guest
My 83 gs1100gkd dresser has blown a front fork seal and the front forks always seemed a little too spongy evan after I filled the forks with the proper amount of fluid.(before the seal started leaking) Progressive suspension calls fo 35/50 springs for my gk, but I was wondering if I should go a little stouter or is the stock spring for this dresser bike good enough. I would like to order parts soon so PLEASE give me your advice.
 
New springs cant hurt, measure your sag, the distance between the seal cap and the lower triple clamp, with the bike on the centrestand & the front wheel jacked off the ground, now measure the same pace with the bike on its wheels with you sittihg on it . The difference is called "sag" if it exceeds 40mm then new springs are a good idea.
Dink
 
Jeff Tate said:
Buy'em, you'll be glad you did.
Click to expand...



NO doubt about it.



I used Progressive springs. I was having the bike certified for licencing, and the original springs were within requirements, but too weak to keep me happy, so I asked the mechanic to replace them with Progressives, and also asked him to install an bit longer spacer, which reduced the dive almost to nothing, with zero air added to the shocks.

It is more than a year later, and normal spring aging has taken place, but it still has little dive, and is easy to live with. I now add about 8 pounds of air in each fork, and will have to replace the spacer for next year.
 
Ron, just curious, why do you have to replace the spacer? To install a longer one?
I recommend Progressive springs too. They work. They also come with a lifetime warranty.
 
Before I got mine I had the pre-load dialed up to full stiff and ran about 15 psi of air in the forks and they still felt crummy. With the Progressives, no air and no pre-load yet. Feels great.
 
There is a new set on e-bay now. I didn't see them when I looked up GS 1100, but was searching GS 550 & there they were. They are advertised to fit GS 550, 650, 1000, & 1100. It may be worth a look.
 
KEITH KRAUSE said:
Ron, just curious, why do you have to replace the spacer? To install a longer one?
I recommend Progressive springs too. They work. They also come with a lifetime warranty.
Click to expand...

I just wanted to eliminate the need for playing with the air pressure in the forks. I figured if the new springs were set properly from day one, I would be OK. The shop is a small one and th eowner is a mechanic. He gave me a good price on the springs and did the installation for $50., while I was at work.

He worked out how much extra length was needed for spacers....or he took a pretty good guess...and it proved to be right.

The first day I drove with the new springs was like night and day......all sag and dive was gone, except with maximum braking.
 
Just put progressives in the FJ, fan-freaking-tastic!!!!!!!! I cannot believe the change in the ride, why didn't I do this a year ago. As for the spring rate, jsut go with what they suggest, even a 50# change in rider weight has little effect on the spring they suggest.

Kenny
 
Must be the fork tuning week.
I too worked on my front end, drained the oil inspected springs(I have progressive wound springs), seals and bushing.

I reassembled with a 5/8" preload spacer and filled with some hydrolic jack oil I had floating around the shop. This stuff is good at not foaming.(works well in my Mtn. Bike forks)

Anyway....... when I was done I had a new bike. The little efforts can mean so much.

Rico
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top