Fork Oil

[oscar_sande]

My manual says to use 10W, however, do you guys stick to this? I'm planning to drop the front by about half an inch to steepen the head tube angle to improve steering. So should I stick to the 10W??

 

[tugla]

i use 15W and seems to work great, think th e10 is a little thin, breaks down faster.

 

[sdt354]

My manual says to use 10W, however, do you guys stick to this? I'm planning to drop the front by about half an inch to steepen the head tube angle to improve steering. So should I stick to the 10W??

I put Mercon v in last week. Also cut my spacer to achieve about 1 in of preload, cut about 1/2 inch off, no air. I have to say I like the results so far, I believe Mercon v to be 20w. Will ride about 600-700 miles next weekend and report back.
Steve-o

 

[VMAX NV]

Seems like most guys on here are using 15W.

 

[65fury]

Well i ran the 10w and hated it... i did new fork seals and everything and my forks were so squishy my front end handled like CRAP!! so i used some 30w and i love it! much stiffer front end, still has plenty of give but when i hit my front breaks it doesnt feel like my forks are going to bottom out, just my 2 cents:biglaugh:

Jason

 

[dannymax]

Race tech springs, emulators, 15W Silkolene and no air....works great!

 

[Thevmaxrider]

5wt, Racetech springs, Racetech gold cartridge kit....... oh wait he meant Vmax forks :rofl_200::rofl_200:

 

[tugla]

Well i ran the 10w and hated it... i did new fork seals and everything and my forks were so squishy my front end handled like CRAP!! so i used some 30w and i love it! much stiffer front end, still has plenty of give but when i hit my front breaks it doesnt feel like my forks are going to bottom out, just my 2 cents:biglaugh:

Jason

30 eh:hmmm: was thinking of trying 20 this time but wasnt sure what it would feel like, though *** might be too thick but guess not. how is the ride on slightly not dead smooth roads? too much feed back into your arms?

 

[oscar_sande]

I spoke to a VMax specialist today and he said there is no point putting anything other than 10 if you're using the stock springs. He said the reason the suspension is '****' is because the springs are so soft. Using a 15W or more wont actually help. He says best to keep to the 10W, or change to stiffer springs and then use the required weigh oil for those springs. Seems like good advice!

 

[SvenDGAF]

My setup is......20wt oil, Hagon progressive springs and no air

 

[Rand-5107]

Racetech springs,10# Amsoil shock therapy, no air.

 

[one2dmax]

Keep in mind all oils labeled with a weight is not the same. Use a stable weighted oil (we like synthetic power steering or transmission fluid which will have an average viscosity of about 15w). Springs are also a good thing to upgrade.

Sean

 

[65fury]

30 eh:hmmm: was thinking of trying 20 this time but wasnt sure what it would feel like, though *** might be too thick but guess not. how is the ride on slightly not dead smooth roads? too much feed back into your arms?

Well my front end wasnt sloppy when i first got the bike and i liked how it rode, so im guessing the PO used a heavier weight of fluid... and im on a budget so upgrading my springs and everything isnt an option. Besides, adding a heavier oil isnt going to actually hurt anything. It all about road feel and how it handles. I havnt driven very far(about 10miles straight) and never felt any discomfort in the handle bars. It still has a good amount of give but it doesnt just cushion all the way down like it did with the 10w

Oh and the roads around where i live SUCK! i rarely see and good smooth roads unless i hit the highway or a new paved road in the city

Jason

 

[tugla]

Keep in mind all oils labeled with a weight is not the same. Use a stable weighted oil (we like synthetic power steering or transmission fluid which will have an average viscosity of about 15w). Springs are also a good thing to upgrade.

Sean

sean: you ever use that CHF7.1 stuff, ive heard of guys using that, its used in european cars for powersteering/suspension systems such as BMW.

and tranny fluid, you mean just reg dex 3 or 4 atf? be a lot cheaper then the bike fork oil stuff.

Well my front end wasnt sloppy when i first got the bike and i liked how it rode, so im guessing the PO used a heavier weight of fluid... and im on a budget so upgrading my springs and everything isnt an option. Besides, adding a heavier oil isnt going to actually hurt anything. It all about road feel and how it handles. I havnt driven very far(about 10miles straight) and never felt any discomfort in the handle bars. It still has a good amount of give but it doesnt just cushion all the way down like it did with the 10w

Oh and the roads around where i live SUCK! i rarely see and good smooth roads unless i hit the highway or a new paved road in the city

Jason

what brand did you use out of curiosity?

 

[one2dmax]

Whichever fluid you chose use the synthetic stuff. I posted all the viscosity ratings in another thread recently. We use the BG stuff which has one of the most stable ranges available.

Sean

 

[DanQuin]

Another thing to consider closely is that on damping rod forks the oil weight and damping hole size greatly control your rebound damping, so it's best to start with an oil weight recommended for the spring you are using in order adequately damp the rebound.

That's why I strongly agree with Sean's recommendations on 15 wt fluids. At least until you see how that performs. Just changing oi, although not convenient, is a pretty straight forward process if you need to adjust.

 

[XBoxMax]

This is a very interesting thread.. Thank you all.

 

[65fury]

what brand did you use out of curiosity?[/QUOTE]

I used PJ1 30w fork oil(gold series or something), i was at my local hole in the wall bike shop and mentioned my forks being super squishy and he recommended that.... and i cant complain, works great for me(stock forks and springs) until i upgrade to some USD forks!:clapping:


Jason

 

[ninjaneer]

it really depends on your springs and personal preference. stock springs, stay with stock wt. Upgrading to firmer ones, for example Progressive Suspensions, require heavier weight in order to balance out the rebound dampening (that is if you don't want the front end to "jump" up after it compressed over a bump). i tried Amsoil #10 with Progressives, and hated it. since Amsoil doesn't make a "#15", I went with Motul 15wt and it is working out great for me. some guys want a slower rebound and put in 20wt. it really depends on personal preference at that point.

 

[sdt354]

I put Mercon v in last week. Also cut my spacer to achieve about 1 in of preload, cut about 1/2 inch off, no air. I have to say I like the results so far, I believe Mercon v to be 20w. Will ride about 600-700 miles next weekend and report back.
Steve-o

Put a couple of hundred miles on,didn't get the 600 miles in, but and have to say I like the Mercon v. Be changing fork oil twice a season from now on also.
Steve-o