Topic: Forking Motor Oil

[gregripko]

I would like to know what effects each different oil weight would produce and which type would be best for different terrain types. I'm a light rider and I feel like my ride is smoother when the bike is weighted down two up but when I'm by myself it seems to be too stiff in the front

[dave500]

what oil you using now in the forks?and how much?these have a short travel front end and are a little stiff by nature,but can be softened up a little.

[gregripko]

ATF.... I pumped the old oil out and filled it up with the recommended amount

[dave500]

I run atf aswell,im say 75 kilos,i use less than the specified amount by say 20ml,thatll give you less harshness,atf is "about"7 weight,might be more?might be less?,you can try fork oil at 5 weight?if still too harsh use less then the spec amount?,then try 2point5 weight?dont over think it all and try to think itll have a plush ride!it never will!but you can have it ride predicable,im a little aggressive from time to time in riding,sometimes the more solid feel suits?brake hard and the dive is less?etc?my old Yamaha IT dirt bikes had much better front end suspension than these!

[Bootsey]

Dave, what brand ATF do you use? Just wondering if they all have the needed stuff to keep the seals from drying out, and if there's any difference in using synthetic vs. mineral, before I go and buy the wrong stuff....?

[gregripko]

Yeah when I went to Shinko tires I noticed a really different ride. I actually missed my dunlops.... Tires seem too hard and pick up a lot of vibrations even after truing the wheel and balancing properly. Wasn't really happy with them even though their life expectancy was said to be longer than dunlops.

[dave500]

I like atf,hey I aint no expert here!atf is almost a modern miracle?its an hydraulic oil that pushes servo pistons,it also lubes at high temps needle roller bearings/bronze bushes and all in between,it also cools and lubes fibre clutch packs under extreme pressure,it has anti rust formulation and anti foaming #$%* so im told,it lubes complex planetary gear assemblies easily,i always ran it in two stroke dirt bikes gearboxes,great in forks,how ever I always used a super light 2.5 fork oil in my dirt bikes,different kettle of fish though?long travel,more abusive use etc,brands don't matter so long as its a good quality one?seeing as I drive an old trimatic auto transmission car(yanks read turbo 180 here)I stock dexron fluid,goes in power steering aswell,most cars like any myriad of fluids these days so you cant just fill up with anything,like shinko tyres?shinko tyres suck used in forks,i pulled some forks apart once and they were all gunked up with shinko tyre #$%*,dunno how that crap got in there?

[Stev-o]

I like atf,hey I aint no expert here!atf is almost a modern miracle?its an hydraulic oil that pushes servo pistons,it also lubes at high temps needle roller bearings/bronze bushes and all in between,it also cools and lubes fibre clutch packs under extreme pressure,it has anti rust formulation and anti foaming #$%* so im told,it lubes complex planetary gear assemblies easily,i always ran it in two stroke dirt bikes gearboxes,great in forks,how ever I always used a super light 2.5 fork oil in my dirt bikes,different kettle of fish though?long travel,more abusive use etc,brands don't matter so long as its a good quality one?seeing as I drive an old trimatic auto transmission car(yanks read turbo 180 here)I stock dexron fluid,goes in power steering aswell,most cars like any myriad of fluids these days so you cant just fill up with anything,like shinko tyres?shinko tyres suck used in forks,i pulled some forks apart once and they were all gunked up with shinko tyre #$%*,dunno how that crap got in there?

I think you might be over thinkin it, Dave?!

Greg - a harder compound tire, such as a Shinko, will last longer but not grip as well as a soft rubber compound.

[dave500]

I don't think,i think?or do I?let me think about it,i think?

[Bootsey]

I like atf,hey I aint no expert here!atf is almost a modern miracle?its an hydraulic oil that pushes servo pistons,it also lubes at high temps needle roller bearings/bronze bushes and all in between,it also cools and lubes fibre clutch packs under extreme pressure,it has anti rust formulation and anti foaming #$%* so im told,it lubes complex planetary gear assemblies easily,i always ran it in two stroke dirt bikes gearboxes,great in forks,how ever I always used a super light 2.5 fork oil in my dirt bikes,different kettle of fish though?long travel,more abusive use etc,brands don't matter so long as its a good quality one?seeing as I drive an old trimatic auto transmission car(yanks read turbo 180 here)I stock dexron fluid,goes in power steering aswell,most cars like any myriad of fluids these days so you cant just fill up with anything,like shinko tyres?shinko tyres suck used in forks,i pulled some forks apart once and they were all gunked up with shinko tyre #$%*,dunno how that crap got in there?

Haha, cheers mate, you've got me sold. Vote 1 ATF.

[dave500]

your results may vary?you know those little plastic air hose adaptors for fish tank air hose?unscrew the fork drain screw and the oil will hold mostly, youll only lose a drop unless you put downward pressure on the front end,then force screw the plastic elbow or what you have in so far,itll cut its own thread,connected to your standard everyone should have peanut butter jar plastic brake bleeder jar you can then pump the oil out with no mess.

[gregripko]

Does a harder tire vibrate more?

[dave500]

only if its out of balance,hey keep your #$%* in one post man,your making it hard for me to do dumb funny replies,if you aint running sport demons or Dunlop 501s on these bikes you care #$%* for your riding abilities,id let you of with a friendly warning if you had least bt 45s on your bike but you said shinko.

man ive run a few tires over and again,i aint no racer but for heavy duty street use and good value its a close call on the demons or dunlop 501s,then comes the default bt45 cant go wrong tire,i like the 501s,chunkier tread and I think a better wear rate?not that I care for wear rate,i use two rear tires per year,i change em early though.

[gregripko]

I believe I had Dunlop k70s before and enjoyed their performance and appearance.... I put about 3 grand in miles on my bike each year

[scunny]

hey. I like my BT 45's

[dave500]

I like them to,ive run a few sets of them all the out over and again,and run them hard,bt45s are fine,a bit old now though,they have been around a long time,they are good,but now have become the basic level tyre in our sizes,the tread pattern always scallops on the front and although its a dual compound the rear wears with a flat board section on the rear leaving perfectly good throw away tread on the edges,most bike tyres do anyway?i think the demons or Dunlop 501 offers slightly more lean angle with confidance and perhaps a little more milage?little being the operative word here?if you don't run 501 or demons run a cruiser tyre,your looking for milage then?ive never had trouble with any of them,ive never tried different fronts and rears,id like to try a rear 501 with a demon front?ive tried to slide the rear 501 and it just wont,that with a good steer demon will hook up good,these are an old bike and the handling belongs in a museum!

[Stev-o]

hey. I like my BT 45's

Hey. I love my BT 45's

Greg - Shinkos are "ok" tires but you can do better. I have Dunlops on my 550 and pleased with them.

[gregripko]

Going to go back to dunlops after these tires.... Now if I can only learn how to change a tire without popping a tube that'd be great....

[750cafe]

As to the ORIGINAL thought of this thread, try 10W fork oil or a trick that I have been using on three bikes so far. I use the Walmart Supertech brand 5W-30 synthetic motor oil in them. 
As to the NEW tire thread part of this oil thread, try Shinko 230's, Pirelli Sport Demon's or Bridgestone BT-45's. I have a few of each on several bikes and like all of those.
The Pirelli's are the stickyest followed by the Shinko's and then the Bridgestones. All are good choices. 

Eric

[70CB750]

I went from BT45s to Shinkos and if there is a difference, I can't tell.  Rode to Barber  from Northern Virginia - that included tail of the dragon and return in rain (1800 miles) and Shinkos performed grate.

To the OP, I used diesel oil in my forks for a while (15W40) when I was sporting shorter tubes in front to limit diving.  I believe it helped some.

[Deltarider]

I was always told motoroil in forklegs is a no-no. Don't know why.
My experience parallels Dave's. Around weight 7 (like ATF) is stiff enough and next time I will use some 15 cc less than I used to.

[strynboen]

yes my exp,are that a moderat overfill vill hardne the fork like use thik oil,but that dont vork..so made a mix instead,..i usea mix of hydralik oil..and atf..and mix up for perfekt visko
50% gives somthing like 8  to 10= fork oil visko..adds 75%hydralik oil,  then you have 10-12 .. fork oil visko..its a low kost job..and you gets a perfekt adjusting...i also use atf in rear dæmpers

[750cafe]

ATF is a form of hydraulic oil. 10W
Thinner oil makes for a softer ride. Less oil is NOT a good idea at all BTW.
Synthetic oils are in fact higher in anti-foaming additives.

Eric

[strynboen]

dont think atf are 10..think it are betveen 5-8....but have not read up at my ediket

[dave500]

less oil is fine.