Maintenance list. HELP!

[simon kuether]

Psyguy old mate,sorry to hear someone is worse off.Give me a yell if I can do anything to help out.Guess then I'll have one friend.Cheers,Simon.:-D

[Joe Nardy]

Third - braided lines. For normal road use, absolute waste of time, and may even be worse than stock. If you absolutely have to, then Goodridge are about as good as it gets. Just Google 'Braided steel brake lines'. Personally I wouldn't do it on a GS. I did do it on the shovelhead, so I'm not totally biased :-D

OK, so I'll keep the brakelines stock.

While I respect the opinions of others, I must disagree with Pete about stainless brake lines. If you're happy with long lever travel and mushy feel by all means keep the stock lines. If you prefer a short pull and a very firm feel then switch to braided lines. I put braided lines on my '83 GS1100 a couple years ago and was skeptical about whether I'd really notice any difference. The first sign that there was a significant difference was the fact that my brake light would not activate because the lever no longer traveled far enough to make the switch. Once I adjusted the switch and rode it I was pleasantly surprised in the feel and power of the brakes. Stock lines expand with pressure and give the mushy feel. Braided lines don't expand nearly as much and give a much firmer feel. The added stiffness translates to more fluid pushing the caliper pistons out instead of expanding the brake line so the brakes are more efficient.

Thanks,
Joe

[KiwiGS]

Psyguy old mate,sorry to hear someone is worse off.Give me a yell if I can do anything to help out.Guess then I'll have one friend.Cheers,Simon.:-D

I'll be your friend mate :-D
Yes it does suck trying to get parts here.
The killer for me is the freight.
Cheers

[Suzuki_Don]

try ordering anything from a suzuki dealer in new zealand... your ausie prices + BIG local comission
thank god for the internet and the on-line ordering

I agree PSYGUY. Thank heavens for online and EBAY ordering. I just picked up a set of O/S piston rings for all 4 cylinders for $33 and a full top end gasket set for $41 for the GS550. A head gasket alone from Suzuki dealer in OZ is $152.

So its online and EBAY for me. Too

[Pete Logan]

While I respect the opinions of others, I must disagree with Pete about stainless brake lines. If you're happy with long lever travel and mushy feel by all means keep the stock lines. If you prefer a short pull and a very firm feel then switch to braided lines. I put braided lines on my '83 GS1100 a couple years ago and was skeptical about whether I'd really notice any difference. The first sign that there was a significant difference was the fact that my brake light would not activate because the lever no longer traveled far enough to make the switch. Once I adjusted the switch and rode it I was pleasantly surprised in the feel and power of the brakes. Stock lines expand with pressure and give the mushy feel. Braided lines don't expand nearly as much and give a much firmer feel. The added stiffness translates to more fluid pushing the caliper pistons out instead of expanding the brake line so the brakes are more efficient.

Thanks,
Joe

It's an argument that is ongoing and no doubt always will be until an unarguable 'better way' comes up.

As I said, I'm not totally biased - I have braided lines on the HD - I think a lot of it depends on riding style - those who push harder may well prefer the braided lines.

For a discussion from the 'other' point of view, this link might be of some interest, just in the cause of a balanced debate. Written for cars, but no doubt applies.

http://www.jag-lovers.org/xj-s/book/SSBrakeHoses.html

Opening two or three paragraphs, though the argument about the need for adaptors providing additional potential for failure may be of interest also.

[Billyboy]

Anyone know where's the cheapest place to get brake pads?
Might as well replace them too.

[gsgeezer]

ss lines

While I respect the opinions of others, I must disagree with Pete about stainless brake lines. If you're happy with long lever travel and mushy feel by all means keep the stock lines. If you prefer a short pull and a very firm feel then switch to braided lines. I put braided lines on my '83 GS1100 a couple years ago and was skeptical about whether I'd really notice any difference. The first sign that there was a significant difference was the fact that my brake light would not activate because the lever no longer traveled far enough to make the switch. Once I adjusted the switch and rode it I was pleasantly surprised in the feel and power of the brakes. Stock lines expand with pressure and give the mushy feel. Braided lines don't expand nearly as much and give a much firmer feel. The added stiffness translates to more fluid pushing the caliper pistons out instead of expanding the brake line so the brakes are more efficient.

Thanks,
Joe

I really don't know why anyone wouldn't want them, I put them on all my old bikes and I just ordered a set for my 2004 Kawa.

[Eli69]

this is a LED thing i did on my 1000. http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=118025

gives ya LEDs while still looking stock.

[Suzuki_Don]

[quote=gsgeezer;761825]When you install your gasket(s) use Hylomar. You will NOT be sorry.

Which Hylomar do you suggest for which gaskets. I had a look online and they do one for head gaskets. If you could give me some guidance that would be good. I have the barrels and head off the 550, so di I need Hylomar on the base gasket and on the valve cover gasket only. Cheers

[derwood]

Anyone know where's the cheapest place to get brake pads?
Might as well replace them too.

don't get cheap on me now.....sintered pads are the way to go, the organic ones...s u c k

[Pete Logan]

I really don't know why anyone wouldn't want them, I put them on all my old bikes and I just ordered a set for my 2004 Kawa.

I wasn't arguing against them as such. Just pointing out that there are perfectly respectable arguments pro and con, and that if you are a moderate rider on a budget they bring nothing to the party. If you're a hard rider, then they prolly do.

Like I said, I have them on one bike, partly for looks, but mainly because I can get a single brake line each end with no connectors other than the rear brake light switch, and no adapters, whereas the stock system comes in pieces.

But then, I'm a very slow, old rider :-D

[gsgeezer]

Hylomar

[QUOTE=Suzuki_Don;762554
Which Hylomar do you suggest for which gaskets. I had a look online and they do one for head gaskets. If you could give me some guidance that would be good. I have the barrels and head off the 550, so di I need Hylomar on the base gasket and on the valve cover gasket only. Cheers[/QUOTE]

I use Hyomar blue on all pre formed gaskets and for thread sealing.
I know they have a "advanced formula" one now, but I haven't tried it yet.
Since it is a chemical seal and never hardens, it allows you to remove and replace parts like valve covers and clutch covers and reuse the gaskets.
A racer friend told me about it some years back and I haven't had anything fail yet where I've used it.

I would be curious to see if anyone has used the advanced formula.

[Suzuki_Don]

I use Hyomar blue on all pre formed gaskets and for thread sealing.
I know they have a "advanced formula" one now, but I haven't tried it yet.
Since it is a chemical seal and never hardens, it allows you to remove and replace parts like valve covers and clutch covers and reuse the gaskets.
A racer friend told me about it some years back and I haven't had anything fail yet where I've used it.

I would be curious to see if anyone has used the advanced formula.

Thanks. GSGEEZER. I will look around and see if I can locate some here in Sydney. By preformed gasket do you mean just a gasket made out of gasket material, paper, thin cardboard, etc.

[Billyboy]

Well, I just spent $124 at Z-1 for braided lines for the front.
Lines, banjo's, bolts, washers. shipping...

Last night I won/bought a new master for dual discs on Ebay.

I'll be able to stop on a dime now!!\\/