Fork oil

[Suzuki_Don]

Thread Hijack!!!
Now you piqued my interest. what software if you can say?

PDFill_PDF_Tools

This program is free and enables you to merge, delete pages, etc in PDF files. Good for merging individual chapters of a manual into one document. maybe you all know about it, but it was new to me. Thanks to Andre (Matchless).

[simon kuether]

Matchless,let me know what type of fork oil you'd like and I'll post you some.Cheers,Simon.

[bwringer]

Replace the fork springs (Progressives are most popular), set the sag correctly with preload spacers, and use zero air pressure.

Air pressure is a cheap, cheating, no-good, unsafe crappy way to use air to fake having a strong enough spring in the forks. The air is sort of an auxiliary spring, if you will.

Even at zero pressure, the air trapped in the forks contributes a little spring action as the fork compresses. Pumping up the forks with additional air pressure is a great way to wear out the seals and end up in the weeds when the seals leak at a critical moment and your forks collapse.

[Suzuki_Don]

Replace the fork springs (Progressives are most popular), set the sag correctly with preload spacers, and use zero air pressure.

Air pressure is a cheap, cheating, no-good, unsafe crappy way to use air to fake having a strong enough spring in the forks. The air is sort of an auxiliary spring, if you will.

Even at zero pressure, the air trapped in the forks contributes a little spring action as the fork compresses. Pumping up the forks with additional air pressure is a great way to wear out the seals and end up in the weeds when the seals leak at a critical moment and your forks collapse.

Brian or anyone, any tips on where to buy progressive fork springs at a reasonable price.

[Matchless]

Matchless,let me know what type of fork oil you'd like and I'll post you some.Cheers,Simon.

Simon, thanks for the offer, but I think I will get by now. I have proper SAE20 fork oil and ATF and will mix those for a start. I can get others, but in a case only or have to order from a supplier in another city.

Some very interesting and meaningfull things have come up in this thread already.
Its always amazing to see how much knowledge and experience is out there.
Much appreciated and keep well.
Andre

[Matchless]

Don't mean to hijack here Andre. But a question still on forks. I have just received my 650 forks to go on the GS550B and they have the capability for air pressure in the top caps. As I have never before had a bike with air in the front forks can I receive some advice on how much pressure to run with and any procedures to end up at the correct pressure and how this system actually assists the normal oil damped forks.

BTW that software you put me onto works brilliantly. Thanks for sharing.

Don,
Sent you a PM. The owners and workshop manual for the GS850's and 1000's have a very brief coverage on the air for the fork. That adjustment seems to be only intended for the final fine tuning of your front suspension. I understand that as little air pressure as possible and rather having the oil closer to the dampening effect you prefer is more desirable. (This may be what Brian was suggesting).
My bike was still holding pressure on the 28 year old seals and I had last checked it a year ago!

[Matchless]

Here is an interesting procedure for setting up your suspension. I think this will also help you to determine whether any of your springs need replacing.

http://www.gostar-racing.com/club/motorcycle_suspension_set-up.htm

or this one

http://www.roadracers.co.uk/suspension.htm

[psyguy]

i used 15w fork oil recently, as per what seems to be the most popular oil weight used on this forum
but i think i'll try using 20w next time, may suit my riding style better
so, andre, consider using 20w for a start
if you find it too thick on a road-test, you can drain a little and add the same quantity of the atf

[Matchless]

i used 15w fork oil recently, as per what seems to be the most popular oil weight used on this forum
but i think i'll try using 20w next time, may suit my riding style better
so, andre, consider using 20w for a start
if you find it too thick on a road-test, you can drain a little and add the same quantity of the atf

I am definitely going to play with the 20W and making it softer with ATF. The 20W is readily available here in 500ml cans so I will get a couple and some ATF for the shelf in the meantime. I have just 30 miuntes ago put in 20W and ATF 50% mix for starters. Once the bike is on the road again and I do the suspension setting up, I can see which way to go with the damping.
Very interesting that you find 20W may work better for you. I am only 95 Kilograms, about 210 lb and think this has an effect as well.
Thanks for the info.

[psyguy]

hm, i'm like 75 kg, but prefer a stiffer suspension setting - cos when i set the suspension all nice for everday city use, it can feel quite wobly at higher speeds - and i dont like that

[Matchless]

hm, i'm like 75 kg, but prefer a stiffer suspension setting - cos when i set the suspension all nice for everday city use, it can feel quite wobly at higher speeds - and i dont like that

If you change to 20W let me know how you find it. I will probably take quite a while before I get to that real fine tuning stage. How is your average climate around there, temperature wise?

[psyguy]

If you change to 20W let me know how you find it. I will probably take quite a while before I get to that real fine tuning stage. How is your average climate around there, temperature wise?

day temps:
winter - 10-16'C
summer - 20-28'C

[Matchless]

day temps:
winter - 10-16'C
summer - 20-28'C

Basically we have the same here, so we are not running at extra cold temps, so your tests and mine should relate a bit except weight wise.
I thought engine oil was a can of worms when threads on that were started, but fork oil is not far from it it seems. What I have learned though is that we should change our fork oil more regularly.
Keep well.

[MrBill54]

fork oil

I just bite the bullet and use belray 30w fork oil in my GS, seems to work great, keeps the front end from excessively diving and maintains a good ride and the seals great. I get my from Dennis Kirk, since most dealers dont carry that heavy of a fork oil.

[psyguy]

I just bite the bullet and use belray 30w fork oil in my GS, seems to work great, keeps the front end from excessively diving and maintains a good ride and the seals great.

do you have the experience with any other oil weight on the same bike?
i'd be interested to hear what kind of difference it makes
thanks