Is this normal? GSF250 front suspension

**Dare** · 14th January 2009, 11:51

I've noticed recently that under moderately heavy (front) braking and occasionally on ramps, etc. my bandits suspension completely compresses. Or at least feels like it is doing so, accompanied by a 'knock knock' noise and some uncomfortable sensations in the bars. Now I know 250 suspension is meant to be quite soft although I don't quite know why... But I don't want to feel like I am damaging the bike when I'm enthusiastic on the old levers. Is this something that can be fixed easily? Or maybe it's perfectly normal...

**Robert Taylor** · 14th January 2009, 12:05

Originally Posted by BaDDoGNZ

I've noticed recently that under moderately heavy (front) braking and occasionally on ramps, etc. my bandits suspension completely compresses. Or at least feels like it is doing so, accompanied by a 'knock knock' noise and some uncomfortable sensations in the bars. Now I know 250 suspension is meant to be quite soft although I don't quite know why... But I don't want to feel like I am damaging the bike when I'm enthusiastic on the old levers. Is this something that can be fixed easily? Or maybe it's perfectly normal...

Yes! The suspension is very much built to a price, as it is on pretty much all 250 road bikes. The trick is to fit Race Tech emulators and appropriate linear wind springing to give it ride height control, brake pitch control, square edge bump compliance, mechanical traction, better rider feel and improved tyre life.

Anyone who says you can do it with progressive springs, longer preload spacers and heavy oil are trapped in a time warp!

**Dare** · 14th January 2009, 12:31

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Yes! The suspension is very much built to a price, as it is on pretty much all 250 road bikes. The trick is to fit Race Tech emulators and appropriate linear wind springing to give it ride height control, brake pitch control, square edge bump compliance, mechanical traction, better rider feel and improved tyre life.

Anyone who says you can do it with progressive springs, longer preload spacers and heavy oil are trapped in a time warp!

Thanks! Sounds well expensive though... Any guess as to the price of that mod?
Maybe worth saving the craziness for a later ride...

**James Deuce** · 14th January 2009, 13:46

The knocking sound is steering head bearings.

Suspension fully compressing sounds like your fork seals gave up eons ago and you have no oil in there.

I like Robert's plan but there will be those who suggest simply sorting steering head bearings and replacing fork seals an oil. Both are right. Robert is just more right, but then that is my opinion. I'm fat so my opinion is worthless.

**Dare** · 14th January 2009, 13:58

Fork seals and oil were replaced about 3 months ago at Spectrum as one of the old seals was leaking... So what does bottoming out sound like then?

**Badjelly** · 14th January 2009, 14:45

Originally Posted by James Deuce

I like Robert's plan but there will be those who suggest simply sorting steering head bearings and replacing fork seals an oil. Both are right. Robert is just more right, but then that is my opinion. I'm fat so my opinion is worthless.

I agree.

**James Deuce** · 14th January 2009, 16:13

Originally Posted by BaDDoGNZ

Fork seals and oil were replaced about 3 months ago at Spectrum as one of the old seals was leaking... So what does bottoming out sound like then?

At the risk of getting my face punched in:

1. You're fat. Lose weight. Even I don't bottom forks on a GSF250. I had one to thrash for a few days a couple of years ago when the Zed was off the road.
2. Spectrum made a genuine mistake and some other bloke with a Bandit 250 has fresh fork seals and oil that he's blissfully unaware of.

**James Deuce** · 14th January 2009, 16:14

Originally Posted by Badjelly

I agree.

You'll keep.

**Robert Taylor** · 14th January 2009, 16:20

Originally Posted by James Deuce

The knocking sound is steering head bearings.

Suspension fully compressing sounds like your fork seals gave up eons ago and you have no oil in there.

I like Robert's plan but there will be those who suggest simply sorting steering head bearings and replacing fork seals an oil. Both are right. Robert is just more right, but then that is my opinion. I'm fat so my opinion is worthless.

No, youd need suspension upgrades even more so............

**Robert Taylor** · 14th January 2009, 16:21

Originally Posted by BaDDoGNZ

Thanks! Sounds well expensive though... Any guess as to the price of that mod?
Maybe worth saving the craziness for a later ride...

PM me about that otherwise it will start a dutch auction from site parasites.

**NZsarge** · 14th January 2009, 16:37

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Yes! The suspension is very much built to a price, as it is on pretty much all 250 road bikes. The trick is to fit Race Tech emulators and appropriate linear wind springing to give it ride height control, brake pitch control, square edge bump compliance, mechanical traction, better rider feel and improved tyre life.

Wow, was about to PM you to ask that very question, might have to beef up the springs in the ZX14...

**FROSTY:Me** · 14th January 2009, 22:21

Before spending a single red penny dude.
Do as JD said and check steering head bearing tension.
THEN if all is well try putting a zip tie around the fork leg just above the dust cap.
Take the bike for a ride and report back on how far up the fork leg the the zip tie has been pushed.
You may simply need the CORRECT quantity and viscosity of oil for your bike to be more than happy with the front end. -It occurred to me that spectrum may have simply fixed the mechaniual issue--blown seal in one leg and not flushed n replaced the oil in both legs.
Hey if its not bearing tension and fork oil level worst case your outa pocket $50.00

**Dare** · 14th January 2009, 22:27

Originally Posted by James Deuce

At the risk of getting my face punched in:

1. You're fat. Lose weight. Even I don't bottom forks on a GSF250. I had one to thrash for a few days a couple of years ago when the Zed was off the road.
2. Spectrum made a genuine mistake and some other bloke with a Bandit 250 has fresh fork seals and oil that he's blissfully unaware of.

HAHAHAHA!
1. Bro. I weigh 69kg's.

Used to be 65 but I eat well.
But then, I do throw my weight around a bit =p
+1 for the laugh though

2. Pretty sure seals are fresh as the leak... stopped. But hey you never know!

FROSTY Thanks for the tip! I'll do that,
Robert I'll do as FROSTY suggests and then PM

Cheers everyone =)