Peteortiz11
Forum Apprentice
Has anyone upgraded the fork on their GS850gl? what fit and how did you get around finding a rear rim that matched the new front one?
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Fork upgrade
- Thread starter Peteortiz11
- Start date
Already has dual discs.
Basically, I'd get the fork working the way it's supposed to, and see how you feel. GS forks work surprisingly well when they're right.
- Straight rate fork springs from Sonicsprings.com
- New OEM fork seals and bushings ("slide metal") if needed or loose.
- Flush, clean, refill with 10W fork oil to the proper level (fork oil amount is irrelevant; setting the level is the only accurate way)
- Check wheel bearings
- If you haven't done so already, replace the steering stem bearings with new tapered bearings and adjust properly.
Oooooh, much better, eh? The fork springs really reduce brake dive and give you so much more control.
Somewhat optional:
- Cartridge emulators. To be honest, I haven't tried these, but people who have say they're the bee's knees.
- Fork brace. To be honest once again, I had a fork brace on my GS850G and I removed it -- it does keep the forks from twisting and flexing under hard use, but it felt numb to me. I honestly preferred the extra feedback. I'm kinda strange, I guess.
Not Optional:
- Make sure your brakes are up to snuff. GS brakes work astonishingly well when they're right.
- Plop in modern semi-sintered or organic pads
- Add braided stainless brake lines
- Clean the brake master cylinders and calipers thoroughly, and reassemble with fresh OEM seals and such. Ponder the parts diagrams carefully and replace any corroded or missing hardware, springs, shims, etc.
If you have your heart set on modern replacement forks, you're probably in for a disappointment -- there are few, if any modern forks that are long enough, unless you want to re-engineer a set of dirtbike forks. And besides, a modern 17 inch front wheel would look absolutely silly and shorter forks would play hell with your cornering clearance.
And of course, let's not forget good shocks out back (Progressive or Hagon at minimum) and fresh sticky tires on both ends.
You have a bike that has the potential to handle beautifully and can be ridden VERY rapidly on twisty roads with a few updates to the stock suspension and the appropriate skills.
