R100 GS front springs
 

Hi all: What are the preferred replacement front springs for the R100GS (I have an '89)? I've seen them offered by Progressive, WP, Wirth (from Touratech).

I'm a big guy (260 lbs/120 kg) and I ride a lot of off-road, so I'm looking for a pretty stiff solution.

Thanks for any advice.

-Scott

Hi, progressive fork springs are fine, the standard ones can give problems. While travelling the Moyale to Isiolo road in Kenya my front tyre (TKC80)on my R80G/S lost 7 of it's knobles, a German friend on a R100GS also with TKC80's had no trouble, the only difference was that he ahd fitted new progressive fork springs and mine were still standard. I think my forks were bouncing too much and slamming back down onto the road surface which was sharp volcanic rock. Both sets of tyres were new in Egypt and bikes were carrying the same load.

I have the Progressive springs up front and the Progressive shock out back. I am 235lbs. The Progressive parts are much better than the OE stuff for me.

Much less squishy.

I weigh 230lbs and I used WP. I suspect they are all similar. You should also upgrade the fork oil:

RH leg just stick 15W in. Usual amount.
LH leg 16.25W (mix 25% 20W & 75% 15W) Usual amount

As recommended by Howard Millichap at www.UKGSer.com

bob