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Couple of questions, guys and gals...
I bought this bike a few weeks ago - it's my first GS, and I'm hooked. But the guy I bought it from was no rocket scientist, and definitely had no mechanical inclination (he had to have had the cleanest garage I've ever seen, and not a toolbox to be seen anywhere....). The little things I can handle - an oversized rear tire which rubs on the caliper arm, stock turn signals being none too attractively (read: hillbilly modification) replaced with undersized "accessory" lights... The turn signals and brake light switches are worn out, and he was completely topical when telling me, as if he'd been riding it with no lights for some time...
I've got the electrics sorted out - including a rebuild of the turn signal switch (if your signals won't come on, and there's no positive feedback from the switch, there's a little spring inside the switch that centers the contact plate, and isolates the contacts when the switch is off - chances are it's toast. Ink pens make great parts donors.....). It's also got a 4-into-1 header of undetermined make with a Supertrapp slip-on - it runs great, and throttle response is tight, but it burbles a bit at sustained high-rpms, and stumbles a hitch at warm idle. I'm assuming the carbs will need to be synched, and I'll probably re-jet as I'm going to go with K&N pods. I'm just stoked over the fact that after many CB-Hondas, I've finally found an older Japanese bike with no leaks!!!
But to get to the point, I was informed when I bought the bike that the fork seals had just been replaced - I can believe this, as there is no visible fluid on the sliders. But the front end is very unstable at low speed - when I test drove the bike, I thought it was just very neutral steering - after I got it home, I looked at the rake angle, and the obvious weight bias to the front, and realized that the steering should feel noticeably heavier than it does, and figured I might have a problem. I tried to equalize the fork air pressure with a bleeder-type dial air guage I bought for a previous bike, and found out that the forks on this bike are self-equalizing (hence the single valve and bit of hose...). But while I was checking the air pressure, some fork oil came out of the air nozzle - is this normal? Also, being that I can be counterproductively perfectionistic at times, is there a dead-on way to equalize fork oil levels? I'm familiar with the process, but have never done it due to the fact that I can't see how to make positively sure that it's done right (taking into acount any fluid left in the forks, proper amount dispensed, etc....). My problem is that at moderate speed, sweeping turns are great. At low speed, however (parking lots, driveways, right turns from a stop), the bike is very sensitive to steering input, and feels very twitchy. I'm assuming fork oil or air seals, but haven't ruled out steering head bearings - I notice today that while straddling the bike, there was a noticeable click (felt, not heard) when I'd center the forks when turning them from both the left and the right. There's no noticeable play while trying to rock the bike with the front brakes applied, nor when loading the front end by tapping the front brakes while rolling.....
I know I'll probably just end up replacing the bearings, changing the fork oil, and adjusting the entire front end, but was wondering if anybody else has had the same experience (about the bike, not about being a crazy anal person).
And the brakes - Does anyone know where I can find an OEM replacement rear rotor? This one's warped, and I'd rather not have it machined (which would just increase the chances of it warping again...). I'd even take a serviceable used one, but can't seem to find one after hours of looking....
Finally - I would like to run hotter aftermarket coils (such as Accel Supercoils and 8.8 wires), but after reading about the potential faults in GS bikes' charging systems, I was wondering if anyone has upgraded the ignition system and experienced any problems?
Thanks for any help!!
-Q!
I bought this bike a few weeks ago - it's my first GS, and I'm hooked. But the guy I bought it from was no rocket scientist, and definitely had no mechanical inclination (he had to have had the cleanest garage I've ever seen, and not a toolbox to be seen anywhere....). The little things I can handle - an oversized rear tire which rubs on the caliper arm, stock turn signals being none too attractively (read: hillbilly modification) replaced with undersized "accessory" lights... The turn signals and brake light switches are worn out, and he was completely topical when telling me, as if he'd been riding it with no lights for some time...
I've got the electrics sorted out - including a rebuild of the turn signal switch (if your signals won't come on, and there's no positive feedback from the switch, there's a little spring inside the switch that centers the contact plate, and isolates the contacts when the switch is off - chances are it's toast. Ink pens make great parts donors.....). It's also got a 4-into-1 header of undetermined make with a Supertrapp slip-on - it runs great, and throttle response is tight, but it burbles a bit at sustained high-rpms, and stumbles a hitch at warm idle. I'm assuming the carbs will need to be synched, and I'll probably re-jet as I'm going to go with K&N pods. I'm just stoked over the fact that after many CB-Hondas, I've finally found an older Japanese bike with no leaks!!!
But to get to the point, I was informed when I bought the bike that the fork seals had just been replaced - I can believe this, as there is no visible fluid on the sliders. But the front end is very unstable at low speed - when I test drove the bike, I thought it was just very neutral steering - after I got it home, I looked at the rake angle, and the obvious weight bias to the front, and realized that the steering should feel noticeably heavier than it does, and figured I might have a problem. I tried to equalize the fork air pressure with a bleeder-type dial air guage I bought for a previous bike, and found out that the forks on this bike are self-equalizing (hence the single valve and bit of hose...). But while I was checking the air pressure, some fork oil came out of the air nozzle - is this normal? Also, being that I can be counterproductively perfectionistic at times, is there a dead-on way to equalize fork oil levels? I'm familiar with the process, but have never done it due to the fact that I can't see how to make positively sure that it's done right (taking into acount any fluid left in the forks, proper amount dispensed, etc....). My problem is that at moderate speed, sweeping turns are great. At low speed, however (parking lots, driveways, right turns from a stop), the bike is very sensitive to steering input, and feels very twitchy. I'm assuming fork oil or air seals, but haven't ruled out steering head bearings - I notice today that while straddling the bike, there was a noticeable click (felt, not heard) when I'd center the forks when turning them from both the left and the right. There's no noticeable play while trying to rock the bike with the front brakes applied, nor when loading the front end by tapping the front brakes while rolling.....
I know I'll probably just end up replacing the bearings, changing the fork oil, and adjusting the entire front end, but was wondering if anybody else has had the same experience (about the bike, not about being a crazy anal person).
And the brakes - Does anyone know where I can find an OEM replacement rear rotor? This one's warped, and I'd rather not have it machined (which would just increase the chances of it warping again...). I'd even take a serviceable used one, but can't seem to find one after hours of looking....
Finally - I would like to run hotter aftermarket coils (such as Accel Supercoils and 8.8 wires), but after reading about the potential faults in GS bikes' charging systems, I was wondering if anyone has upgraded the ignition system and experienced any problems?
Thanks for any help!!
-Q!
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