Fork sag

[Redhot]

89 gl1500. Tip it off side stand, and it sinks a lot. I get on bike, stays where it is. Had it a year and it rides nicely, but now want to address forks. Taking the caps off and measuring springs/oil is on the books, but in the meantime has anyone got any sag measurements with bike off stand, no rider ?

[Rodzim]

I used to have the same thing. Get some progressive springs. You will not be dissapointed

[Redhot]

I think I'm the only one whose doesn't like progressive springs. The soft bit seems to be taken up by bike weight/sag, and just leaves harder part of the spring working, which makes it firm over bumps. Fine on flat roads and corners, but I like plush. Oddly, I have a Tracer with meh suspension, and put in new linear in place of new oem progressives. It helped. I think linear work fine in the GL, the benefit of those fitting progressives, is that they are brand new, so yes, they will feel better than knackered linear. Has anyone put in new linear ?

[Rodzim]

Progressives are definitely firmer. I dont know if i prefer it this way or not to be honest. My springs were so weak that the bike was diving and rising when shifting gears normally.
Now that you mention it i would like to try new linears. Or hear somebodys opinion on them.

[RockportDave]

I replaced the fork oil on my 1999 SE and it helped a lot with the ride and front forks.
Mine will raise up and settle when taking off and stopping, but is very stable and smooth on the highway. I also have a Blackwing fork brace which helped with the handling.
Dave

[Redhot]

Oddly, the ride is fine. It's just when I take it off sidestand, the bike sinks about half it's travel. When I sit on it, it doesn't sink any further. It definitely sits too low, I cannot put it on centrestand for this reason. I back it up so rear tyre is on a piece of wood, then I can put it on centre stand. Seems springs ?can't take weight of bike. Maybe there's not enough oil ?

[WingAdmin]

Oddly, the ride is fine. It's just when I take it off sidestand, the bike sinks about half it's travel. When I sit on it, it doesn't sink any further. It definitely sits too low, I cannot put it on centrestand for this reason. I back it up so rear tyre is on a piece of wood, then I can put it on centre stand. Seems springs ?can't take weight of bike. Maybe there's not enough oil ?

Sag is not affected by oil quantity or type. Sag is determined by springs and air pressure. If you have excessive sag, and the air pressure is correct (assuming the fork/shock accepts air pressure for preload adjustment), then the problem is old, tired springs.

[Redhot]

Yes, sorry, I meant in addition to soft springs. It's an 89 so no air valve. Do you have a measurement from top of fork seal to triple tree, to give me an idea of where it should sit ? Thanks