• 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.

Probably been asked, but I didn't find it.

  • Thread starter Thread starter waldo877
  • Start date Start date
W

waldo877

Guest
Hey guys,

Bike is working fairly well, although I notice a new fork seal leak. Instead of replacing the seals, I have what looks to be a stiffer set of GS550 forks. I believe the bike is an '82, or maybe younger. My bike is a 1981 GS850L. I was wondering if the forks will just swap out.
 
What makes you think a set of 550 forks would be "stiffer" than a set of 850 forks?

And, by "stiffer" do you mean the springs are stronger and won't compress as easily

- or -

the tube walls are thicker and won't bend as easily.

Either way, there is no way to tell by looking.

By the way, they might be a straight swap. According to this site, they both have the same diameter.
You will have to verify length, axle position and caliper mounts to see if they will actually work.
Note that your 850L has leading axle forks and dual disk brakes. How about the 550 forks?

.
 
Might double check that (worthless) list again Mr Steve my friend...The 550 have 35mm forks (the 83 and up models might have been 37mm, but ive never measured them, and they wouldnt swap anyway) The 850, all variants, have 37mm forks. Leading axle forks will not correctly swap to end axle trees, the geometry of the clamps is slightly different and would likely cause alignment problems, as well as the fact the fender and what have you wouldnt correctly mount. However, end axle/end axle will swap WITH the entire tree, and bearing swaps (if needed) but I dunno why you'd want to switch to a lesser set of forks (smaller, flimsy) in the 550 stuff just to save an hour of work in changing the fork seals on your 850s forks. You'll spend more time trying to do the swap than doing the seal replacement.
 
Ok, that sounds decent enough--I'll just order some new seals. I looked on Z1, but it seems they don't have the 850GL model listed. Out of the list, which one should I pick?
 
The seals are the same as the ones for the G models.

Many listings don't bother to make the distinction between G and GL, but in this case it's OK.
 
Ok awesome, my final question is--when I do the swap, is it the same procedure for the GS1000, and if so, do i really need to make a tool like he did, or does that just make it easier?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top