Front Fork Setup

[steptoe]

a soon as the strength in your upper returns 

keep getting better mate 

[AussiXS11G]

yes Geoff - i like the idea of long lasting fork oil and the Dexron is designed for use in a much more hostile environment than our forks.....
whenever I have changed fork oil the old has come out as sludge - be interesting to see the dexron at the next change
when is that I wonder........

[steptoe]

have not long bought some of that myself Bryan,, was doing some research for the daughters car,Toyota Camry 89,, is recommended for the manual box,,
anyway whilst researching I thought I read the spec was actually 15 weight which is what the purists say to run in forks , so next change which isn't to far off, will put that in and see

[AussiXS11G]

this may sound silly - I am using ATF Dexron III - it is of a suitable viscosity and longer lasting than fork oil -
my front forks are modded - Racetek emulators, constant rate springs with preload......
it all works a treat.......

[Fred]

Hey Justin,

I've got 330,000 klm on my '78E and although my springs are still within spec for length I preload mine on three and under the cap I've got three 20 cent pieces (they fit like they grew there).

Now you could go all tech and make a spacer to put under there but at 60 cent a side it's too much trouble.

As for oil, I run 10 wt. I've tried both 5 and 15 wt but seem to get the best result from 10.

good luck.

[petejw1966]

Hi Justin,
If you do a search on "suspension set up", "suspension sag", on you tube
theres a cpl of good videos on setting up the suspension on a bike,
the videos are of a modern sports bike but the principles are the same for setting them up.
i was running atf, but the front tyre was cupping badly, im running
20 wt atm.

[steptoe]

same here,,al though I forgot I had it in for some time and it burnt,,,, so at the moment I;m running ATF 10 weight,, just change it more often

works for me anyway

[Eveready1100]

Been running 15W in the "E' model forks currently on the front of my Special. It gives it a bit of firmness to the front end which is what I guesstimate that you're after. Can't really help on preload as I've got progressives in them but for the record, it's on the lightest preload and works really well for me.

[alice]

Any suggestion on the best front fork oil weight and preload for my XS1100E? The front is a bit vague....just repacked and tightened steering head then changed the tyre and it helped some but needs more.
Thanks in advance.....Justin