Front Fork Oil Change. When?

MIKE R

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2012
Messages
722
Location
Lancashire, UK
Hi all

My 3 year old electronically suspended S10 is approaching 30,000 purely road miles.

Although the bike still handles perfectly to me, the handling may have deteriorated slowly and unnoticed by me over time.

The handbook states the forks should be checked for leakage (no problems there) but does not mention oil replacement. The same handbook,however, doesn't mention rear suspension regreasing and petrol filter cleaning (had a misfire on tour last year caused by dirty filters)


How do I check if my fronk fork oil needs changing?

Mike
 

Nikolajsen

"Keep it simple"
Joined
Jul 1, 2017
Messages
2,046
Location
Denmark
It is almost impossible to check, without doing most of the work that needed to be done for changing the oil.. :(
So, decide if you want to change it or not.
With 30.000 miles, I would say that it is a good idea to do it. especially because this is first time from new, there might be a little "dirt" from KYB factory.
 

Boris

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2013
Messages
2,051
Location
midlands. UK
Hi Mike

Depending on where you are in Lancashire, Maxton Engineering in Frodsham would be a good place to have the forks done. Take them out and drop them off.
Rear suspension greasing, half hour job and very easy.
 

jwhuls

Always looking for adventure
Joined
Apr 2, 2012
Messages
133
Location
Southern Indiana
And it depends on your riding and geography.

I changed my front spring out with a rebuild from Stoltech at about 7K miles. afterwards, he told me it was time and that it had needed the rebuild. It was my Gen 1 that was bought with the intention to beat it the hell up. Took my ex-wife issues out on it. I sure miss that bike.
 

Paul466

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2013
Messages
516
Location
Littleton, Colorado
I hate to talk smack but nick from stoltec specked a wrong weight spring on my shock causing my lower shock mount to fail stranding me on top of a mountain for the night. After contacting him he tried to pass the fault on me , stating I gave him wrong weight specs. I was told that I would be taken care of. His way of taking care of me was to pass me on to Penske tech dept. After giving Penske same specs they calculated spring weight 100lbs. more than nick’s spec, charging me full price for everything. Be aware!
 

MIKE R

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2012
Messages
722
Location
Lancashire, UK
Many thanks for your replies.

I've just booked it in for a 30k service with a local, highly regarded independent mechanic. I'll ask him to ride it and follow his judgement.

Cheers

Mike
 

azb

Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2017
Messages
76
Location
Directly above the center of the earth
If you ride hard on road or off, the fork oil can be significantly degraded in 6k miles. Will you notice? Probably not. I try to change mine every year or 10k miles. But I'll be the first to admit skipping it sometimes.
 
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