• 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.

Which forks to use? GS1000 or GS1100 forks on a GS1100

  • Thread starter Thread starter bomber737
  • Start date Start date
B

bomber737

Guest
I purchased a 81 GS1100E and I have a choice of forks I can use. I ride a 80 GS1000 and I really like the way it handles. I noticed that the stock forks on the 1100 are a leading axle but are adjustable and the 1000 forks have the axle on the bottom. Since I have a choice I wanted some input from the gurus on this site which way I should go.
 
If you change to leading axle forks, you also need to change the triple trees.

The offset is different, you need to maintain the correct geometry.

The triples for the leading axle forks will be back a bit, might hit the tank at full lock, so check before you commit to them.

.
 
That's a good thing to know. The tripple trees on the bike appear to be the stock ones and someone has put the gs1000 forks on the bike. When I picked it up the guy gave me the stock set but they werent on it. I like the idea of adjustable forks but just didnt know if it really worked or if they were more of a gimmic. I have anti-dive forks on my seca and they kinda work but I completely went through them and cleaned them up.
 
I believe the GS 1100 forks worked much better than the GS 1000 ones.
If my memory serves me well, there was an article in Cycle or Cycle World in those days that compared both.
Maybe I can find the article for you?
 
Thats good to know also. thanks. but with the leading axle forks doesnt that make the rake slightly more and the wheel base longer so the bike turns or responds slower?
 
bomber737 said:
Thats good to know also. thanks. but with the leading axle forks doesnt that make the rake slightly more and the wheel base longer so the bike turns or responds slower?
Click to expand...

Nope.. The geometry despite appearances is identical.

Leading axle forks have the same rake and trail as the straight leg forks..

L tress has no added rake.. they run parallel to the headstock same as the E

The L trees have 1" less offset than E trees to make up for the position of the leading axle and maintain the same trail.

You want to be careful mixing trees.. E legs in L trees will add to to the trail and give you slower steering.
L legs in E trees would shorten the trail and speed steering.. Possibly dangerously short.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the info. I guess I will probably use the stock adjustable forks and see how I like them. And I was planning on using the correct trees for the forks I use. I will be putting new bearings in the head anyway, I refresh all the bearings in the whole bike every project I do. They cost very little and give me piece of mind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top