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GS450 Fork rebuild?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jen
  • Start date Start date
J

Jen

Guest
I have a 450 L that I have been working on, and have replaced the rear shocks. The rears are now WAY stiffer than the front, which highlights how VERY squishy the front fork is. It feels like a freaking noodle. I am sure the front fork is due to have the oil replaced in it, but I have no clue how to go about doing that. The rebound does seem okay- so I don't think anything is broken in there. It's not leaking, the boots and seals look good. I'm hoping it's just due for some maintenance. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

(This pic shows the front fender off- it was just off while it was getting shortened. It is back on now- I know it acts as a fork brace!)

20180301_174109.jpg
 
I am sure the front fork is due to have the oil replaced in it, but I have no clue how to go about doing that
Click to expand...
.Get the SHOP manual from BikeCliff's Website

Your forks look very low for a 450L. or a T or an E see here. http://www.suzukicycles.org/All-Suzuki/all_suzuki_models.html

1982_GS450L_top_450.jpg
attachment.php

I have a suspicion that someone has cut the spring or otherwise tampered with it. I can't see whether someone has moved the stanchion up through the trees but it doesn't look like it. Check the length of it using the manual while you are changing the fork oil.

the front end does get complaints as being prone to diving but "
It feels like a freaking noodle
Click to expand...
" is extreme. Something is wrong.
 
Last edited:
As Gorminrider says, download the manual and have a look at how to change the fork oil. You don't have to disassemble the forks to do that but you do need to pull the fork tubes out of the triple clamps. While you are at it, order a set of Sonic springs of the correct rate for your bike. They will be a huge improvement over the sacked out OEM springs.

I also agree that your forks look much shorter than the original forks for an L model. Can you jack the bike up so the front is in the air and measure how long the forks are when fully extended?


Mark
 
Unfortunately, we don't have springs with a small enough OD to work in those forks. Race-Tech does though, they will be a big improvement over the stock ones.
 
I guess I should have specified- the front and rear have been lowered equal amounts. Shorter rear shocks, the the triple tree lowered about an inch. The bike has clipon bars. The shocks themselves are stock, not cut or otherwise modified- the kid I bought the bike from was a staunch purist and kept the bike stock and original.
 
When I did my 450 forks I replaced the springs with Icon progressive rate springs which were better than stock, but I still felt the front wasn't quite right after stiffening the rear shocks to how they felt good. The rear icons have both adjustable preload and damping which made that nice and easy.

I solved the front by adding preload spacers under the fork cap bolts, and in my case that amounted to 4 x 10 cent pieces in each leg which fit pretty much perfectly in there. I don't know what that translates to in American currency... but that means an 80c mod for me :D
 
pete said:
When I did my 450 forks I replaced the springs with Icon progressive rate springs which were better than stock, but I still felt the front wasn't quite right after stiffening the rear shocks to how they felt good. The rear icons have both adjustable preload and damping which made that nice and easy.

I solved the front by adding preload spacers under the fork cap bolts, and in my case that amounted to 4 x 10 cent pieces in each leg which fit pretty much perfectly in there. I don't know what that translates to in American currency... but that means an 80c mod for me :D
Click to expand...

It sounds like the consensus is stiffer springs. Do you have a link to the springs you bought for your bike?
 
By the by, Are you sure it's an L? not an 83 or 84 TX? The colour seems wrong. Most L's are black I think.
 
Gorminrider said:
By the by, Are you sure it's an L? not an 83 or 84 TX? The colour seems wrong. Most L's are black I think.
Click to expand...


Yep- here is what it looked like before I started changing stuff. Definitely an L! LOL I could have the year wrong though, could be an 82.


20180201_154727.jpg
 
Jen said:
It sounds like the consensus is stiffer springs. Do you have a link to the springs you bought for your bike?
Click to expand...

Seems I spelled Ikon wrong in my post :)

This is their website: http://www.ikonsuspension.com/

However, to be honest if I were to do it all again I'd stick with the Ikon shocks but I'd do the research and find some straight rate fork springs to suit rather than go down the progressive rate path.

I believe Sonic Springs is the company to deal with over there in the US? Might be wrong, I've not looked into it at all.
 
pete said:
However, to be honest if I were to do it all again I'd stick with the Ikon shocks but I'd do the research and find some straight rate fork springs to suit rather than go down the progressive rate path.

I believe Sonic Springs is the company to deal with over there in the US? Might be wrong, I've not looked into it at all.
Click to expand...

Straight rate springs are indeed the way to go. Rich already replied (post #4) and said that Sonic doesn't have springs that will fit in the 450 fork tubes, but Race Tech does.

OP, look here: http://www.racetech.com/


Mark
 
Ah yes my bad, I'd forgotten Rich was Mr Sonic! :)

I see there's a gold valve emulator kit for the 450 there too :D
 
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