I have a 96 f3, the people at the shop are trying to tell me that I should change the fork oil ever ten thousand miles. However, Honda goes out to 24,000 miles in their manuals and only lists inspections. So should I go through the effort to buy long ratchet straps and do it (garage rafters are like 10 feet tall), or should I just let it go until a seal has gone on it. Also, if I don't need to change it, is there a way to at least check the level without lifting the bike so I can be sure they're at the right level?

 

wassup man,I just changed my fork oil this weekend.You'll be amazed at what a oil change can do as far as feeling in the front end.It's like night and day!!!! took off the headers,placed a piece of 2*4 under the oil pan,rear jack stand on the back,took of front wheel and brakes. bleed the brakes as well.If you can change car oil you can do your forks!!! Its that easy,once you do it.

 

It's not about a leak or waiting to change it until it leaks. Depending on how hard you ride, is what you should look at. If you want to half *** your bike through its life, you'll get half *** performance.

 

In your case I don't think you should be looking at the mileage but how old the fork oil is. I don't know if your the 1st or the 6th owner of your F3. Either way if its never been changed that oil 15 years old. I'm surprised the seals haven't started leaking. I would take them apart completely. New seals, fork oil, inner and outer bushings would be what I would do. Plus since you have it apart. If you don't weight in the 150-165 lbs range. That would be a good time to install the correct rated springs.

 

Well, I'm not fat, so I weight almost in the very center of that weight range.

 

Yes,change it.

 

i know dirt bikes arent the same but i did front forks twice a year and rear once. so i did the front on my f3 last year {when i got it} and recharged the rear! so i figure this year i'll do front and rear{so there both fresh} and get on a 2 year suspension oil change schedule!!! right or wrong thats my plan!

 

Recommend for city riding is gonna prolly be right around 7 to 8000 miles...
There is a lot of metal on metal contact inside the forks that can clog the piston with metal
Shavings....

 

Where are you getting 7-8000 miles when the manual going three times that far says nothing about it? I mean, it goes through things like valve adjustments and brake fluid in that time, if the fork oil needed to be changed on a mileage basis, wouldn't it show up in the first 24000 miles?

 

Most all manuals dont say what millage you should change
I will get you the link so you can see..... Trust me you dont wan to wait that long
Other wise you gonna have to open up your cartridge and start
Cleaning your pistons inside..... I will gibe u the link later tonight