So I've got a bit of time off and the MOT is due , so I'll be sorting out the front forks in the next couple of days .

I've got 10w oil to go in the forks , but am toying with the idea of firming the front up a little . So question , should I go with a heavier oil or could I just leave a smaller air gap by increasing the oil level slightly?

Advice please Thanks.

 

I'd go with a little extra fluid - 5-10mm each side.
BTW you can use ATF (automatic transmission fluid) in the forks instead of fork oil - I have had it in mine for 4 years now - much cheaper here !

 

Thanks for the reply Pete

The price difference isn't that much here , so went with Rock Oil 10w.

I'll try 5mm each side and see how it goes , easier to add a bit more than take the stuff out

 

It's a cheaper and easier answer - fitting new springs etc (as Dean0 did) is great, but I've found that the little extra oil does it for me................stiff enough for speed work, and good over the bumps.
Good luck with it !

 

Kerri said that to me too Pete .....

and she recons mine is already stiff enough as it is too!!

Her lack of experienced does her credit...............................

 

With a straight face, she said that?
She's a saint, steve....


You know, it makes sense that you two older guys would have the tricks on how to make it stiff up front....
Necessity is the mother of invention, so they say....

 

I'm surprised nobody pointed this out, but adding oil, and changing to thicker oil are two completely different things with unrelated (mostly) effects. If you're looking for more damping, you want thicker oil. If you're thinking maybe slightly heavier springs are in order, but you want to see if reducing dive a little will do the trick, then you want to add a little more oil.

re: springs: Sonic Springs makes springs for our bikes, and they're not expensive. Check out www.sonicsprings.com for info...and tell them I sent you! I've got a set of Sonic 1.05's in my bike now with slightly heavier oil in the stock volume, and they work great.

 

Since the Mods are highjacking the thread, here goes:

An old couple, married 60 years, are sitting on the front porch in their rocking chairs.

The old lady leans over that slaps the old man so hard he falls over the railing and into the rose bushes.

He gets back in his chair and say, "What was that for?"

She says, "That's for having such a little one for all these years."

After a few minutes the old man slaps the old lady so hard it knocks her over the rail and into the yard.

She crawls back up into her chair and says, "Well, what was THAT for?"

He says, "That's for knowing the difference."