front springs ? help

[OLIVER69]

hi guys
need some help , I ve just got the bike GSX 1100 1981 a month ago and I noticed the fork springs are very soft... I ve read on the manual that its possible to stiffen them by turning the top from A softest to B- C -D position stiffest ... but its looks like it stuck , does not turn I don't even know in which position ? need some advice bike its very soft on the front ... very

IMG_1375.jpg

[Grimly]

The adjuster is notched deeply and to turn it you have to first push it down about 10 to 12mm and move it left or right.
There's an o-ring in there too, which is probably stuck to the alloy and the steel adjuster shaft might be corroded to the alloy cap, too. I'd leave some penetrating fluid soaking in the recesses for a day or two before whacking them.
If you have no luck freeing them off, you can always remove them just like an ordinary cap and attack them at the workbench, with heat and percussive prejudice.

[RichDesmond]

Keep in mind that turning the adjuster won’t make the springs stiffer or softer. It will just move the front end up or down. You really need better springs.

[Steve]

And we would be remiss to not mention that one of the better choices for new springs would be Sonic Suspension. Go to their site, there will be a choice of spring strengths that are based on your bike, your personal gravitational attraction and your riding style. If you happen to fit in between the rates available, go for the stronger one, and select 10w fork oil to add to the renewed forks.

.

[Rob S.]

Whichever company you buy from, most recommend straight, as opposed to progressive rate springs. (I put Race Tech .90 straight rate in my 11E, probably should have gone up a step to 1.0. New oil and seals, of course.)

[OLIVER69]

Today in the meanwhile we charged the air pressure in the forks... not sure if I can feel the difference , any info about this ? also changed the damping knob on the bottom but also there I can not tell the difference... which setting do you recommend ? mostly cruising ...not too fast riding

Thanks for the suggestions ... I m looking into new springs too... progressive or linear ?

[salty_monk]

If you are going to add cartridge emulators... definitely linear. If not then either will work ok.

the ones recommended by Sonic or Race Tech are basically what the progressive springs resort too once the soft bit becomes coil bound... (at that point the soft bit becomes a solid spacer as there is no gap between the coils and the rest of the spring takes over) I did all the math on it a few years back.

[OLIVER69]

thank you for the help , I ll look into it