This month, Carl discusses how to properly maintain your motorcycle forks to ensure top performance during adventure riding.
Most dual-sport bikes do not have bottom drain plugs, so they require removing the forks from the triple clamps before servicing. Remove the top cap and spring carefully, then turn the fork upside down to drain the old oil completely.
While you have everything disassembled, give the fork tubes a good cleaning so that you don't have any leftover contaminants accelerate the wear on your forks. Use rubbing alcohol or solvent to flush out all the old sludge and metallic debris that accumulates from internal component wear. Pump the tubes up and down while cleaning to remove all particles trapped in the bottom.
If you are replacing your fork seals, consider also changing the fork bushings located directly underneath the seals. These bushings are easily accessible and held in place with small clips. Replacing both components together prevents chatter and eliminates another source of the metallic sludge found in old fork oil.
Use the factory recommended fork oil weight and volume. Resist the temptation to use heavier weight oil, thinking it will provide better damping. While heavier oil does increase resistance, it also generates more heat, causing the air in the fork's upper chamber to expand and potentially blow out your fork seals. This heat buildup is especially problematic during spirited off-road riding.
Similarly, avoid overfilling your forks with extra oil. Adding more oil also reduces the air volume at the top of the chamber, creating the same high pressure condition and fork seal failure issue when the oil heats up.
Never use motor oil as a substitute for fork oil. Motor oil contains adhesive qualities designed for clutch operation that are too abrasive for fork tubes. This will cause premature wear on seals and bushings, leading to poor performance and costly repairs. Stick with quality, name-brand fork oil in the correct weight and volume specified by your motorcycle's manufacturer for optimal suspension performance and longevity.
Be sure to check out our video for more details.
As always, if you have questions, don't hesitate to e-mail, call, or text us!