• 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.

1979 GS 1000 fork mods.

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

Anonymous

Guest
I have been riding GS1000's (4) since 1978 and have just now gotten around to modifying one to keep close to the new crotch rockets. I know I can't speed wise, but I would like to try handling wise. Years ago a guy by the name of Howard Blau really prepped one up for such an event, and one of his modifications was to resize the hole in the front fork dampening tube. Does anyone know about this modification? Since I am this far along does anyone have any better ideas other than fork spring and oil viscosity change to improve handling? I have Works Shocks on the back with an "81 swingarm at the moment.
 
Since I am this far along does anyone have any better ideas other than fork spring and oil viscosity change to improve handling?
Click to expand...

The biggest improvement you can make is a set of Race Tech cartridge emulators and new fork springs. Race Tech make straight rate springs (preferable for tuning purposes) or you can get Progressive Suspension springs. A fork brace would be a worthwhile investment as well. After that, you will need to transplant a newer front end and add 17" radials for the next big step in handling.

If you are trying to run with newer bikes, then the new front end is in order. Despite the power improvements, the biggest changes have taken place in chassis technology and the new bikes will run rings around our old beasts. With the right rider, of course. A fast rider on a slow bike always works better than the other way around... :)


Mark
 
A 17" wheel will fit between your forks, but maybe not your mudguard.
I resized my Kat 1100 with spoked wheels, I'm running a 120/70/17 Pirelli Dragon on a alloy rim, GS750 hub.
 
You are really limited by tyre choice regardless of how good you make the front end. Tyre and brake upgrade from a front end change would do wonders. But you can go way too fast with a well set up standard front end. A fork brace is a good investment. I have found the euro spec front end is better as the damping is firmer when playing around with different oil weights (I have a US and Euro set of forks).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
Broken Air Fork valve
Replies
0
Views
47
emlivings
E
S
A one year rider and a 46 year old sport touring motorcycle - 1979 GS850
2
Replies
20
Views
486
Grimly
Grimly
I
GS400 clutch rod seal and cam chain noise.
Replies
1
Views
84
LAB3
LAB3
argonsagas
Child rearing,
Replies
4
Views
102
argonsagas
argonsagas
Zellock
That's a Texas GS450T, y'all
2
Replies
23
Views
342
Rich82GS750TZ
Rich82GS750TZ
Back
Top