Date: 13-06-24  Time: 15:14 pm

Author Topic: Fork oil  (Read 1685 times)

greg1953

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Fork oil
« on: 27 September 2014, 12:29:38 pm »
Can anyone recommend which fork oil to use as I'm about to service the front end ?
Greg

Falcon 269

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Re: Fork oil
« Reply #1 on: 27 September 2014, 12:57:50 pm »
Gen 1 or Gen II?  Standard springs?

Assuming you're average weight and not the last of the great late brakers, you could probably benefit from slightly less viscous oil to improve the high speed damping reaction.  Or in other words, make it a bit less choppy on rougher roads.

I used 5w Silkolene RSF when I had stock forks and springs in mine. 

Confusingly, the viscosity index numbers quoted for fork oils aren't consistent like engine oil ratings, meaning that some 5w oils will be thicker than others and so on for other viscosities.

greg1953

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Re: Fork oil
« Reply #2 on: 27 September 2014, 01:54:19 pm »
It's an '04 Gen 1, I'm 14st in my riding kit.
Greg

Lez72

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Re: Fork oil
« Reply #3 on: 28 September 2014, 03:24:03 am »
Silkolene RSF for me too when I gave my front forks a recent overhaul and new seals. Actually that's a lie. I stood and watched whilst a mate did all the messy bits which was basically the whole job  :\
Yamaha Fazer 'the only bike you'll ever need' maybe ???

sadlonelygit

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Re: Fork oil
« Reply #4 on: 28 September 2014, 03:07:59 pm »
silkolene use a seal sweller which can lead to stiction on the fork seals. just FYI

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Lez72

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Re: Fork oil
« Reply #5 on: 29 September 2014, 11:36:56 pm »
Yes but a blob of red rubber grease under the dust cover combats this nicely and there's no stiction evident on mine  ;)
Yamaha Fazer 'the only bike you'll ever need' maybe ???