'85 GS700E newbie questions

[Stingray]

Is there any special procedure to change the brake fluid on this bike, since it has the anti-dive system connected to it?

Is there any special procedure to change the fork oil?

What tires would be best for this bike? I can't find any radials in the right sizes. It has a 2.15" wide 16" front rim and a 2.5" wide 17" rear. Stock tires are 100/90-16 and 120/90-17. Can it take 80 series tires? What about 70 series? How wide can I go and does that help or hurt the handling.

Any help is greatly appreciated and sorry if I'm asking questions that have already been answered many times. I did a search but no luck finding very much info so far.

[lostit23]

Hey stingray,
I've got a '85 GS700ES with the same skinny tires...... I recently had to purchase a rear and was able to put a 130/80-17 on it. The bike does seem to feel a little better when I lean into turns. Plus I think that size tire is a little more common. I picked up a brand new one installed for $85.
lostit23

[Billy Ricks]

Is there any special procedure to change the brake fluid on this bike, since it has the anti-dive system connected to it?

Is there any special procedure to change the fork oil?

What tires would be best for this bike? I can't find any radials in the right sizes. It has a 2.15" wide 16" front rim and a 2.5" wide 17" rear. Stock tires are 100/90-16 and 120/90-17. Can it take 80 series tires? What about 70 series? How wide can I go and does that help or hurt the handling.

Any help is greatly appreciated and sorry if I'm asking questions that have already been answered many times. I did a search but no luck finding very much info so far.

One size over stock is the most you want to go. After that the sidewalls get pinched and you end up with a smaller contact patch that with the correct sized tire. You're not going to find radials to fit those rims. I switched to GSXR wheels so I could run radials in a 120 width up front and a 160 in the rear.

[redtires]

[PHP]

One size over stock is the most you want to go. After that the sidewalls get pinched and you end up with a smaller contact patch that with the correct sized tire. You're not going to find radials to fit those rims. I switched to GSXR wheels so I could run radials in a 120 width up front and a 160 in the rear.

[/PHP]

Huh, well that's pretty cool info. Just wondering if you know if there is a source for what is interchangable on these bikes? I've got an '82 GS850L which is currently pretty much stock w/some slight exceptions (so far :-D). Any help would be appreciated.

[dc10bill]

GS700E Brake fluid Change

Nothing special, just bleed both bleeders on LH & RH fork legs & the brakes in no special lorder

[fgh]

When changing the brake fluid you open the bleeder valves and pump the brake until the old fluid is pushed through and new fluid is pushed out. Because it will pull air into the caliper as you release I always attach a small clear plastic tube to the bleeder valve and have it arch about three inches above the valve to keep the air out. You can do it without a tube by closing the valve before releasing the petal or handle, but it gets awfully messy.

Since the piston in the master cylinder never reaches the bottom of the cylinder there is normally some residue on the walls of the cylinder near the bottom. If you fully compress the brake when pushing the fluid out the rubber seal on the bottom of the piston will pass through this area and possibly be damaged. For this reason many experienced mechanics and my Suzuki manual will tell you to limit the travel of the brake pedal or handle to 75% of the total travel.

LOL