How Often Should You Change Motorcycle Fork Oil?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Suspension tuners recommend fork oil be changed

around 20 hours

for maximum performance.

Does changing fork oil make a difference?


A change in viscosity by just a couple of points makes

a big difference in suspension compliance and action. All that applies to the fork also pertains to the shock (or shocks). The piston wears on the shock body, picking up metal that then travels through the oil and damping circuit.

When should I change my motorcycle fork oil?

The oil in your fork loses lubricity, gets dirty, and should be changed

every 10,000 miles or once a year

.

How often do you have to change fork oil?

The oil in your fork loses lubricity, gets dirty, and should be changed every 10,000 miles or

once a year

.

How often should motorcycle forks be serviced?

Company and component Service interval Instructional resources Öhlins forks and shocks Lowers every 30hrs,

full service every 100hrs or 1 x annually

Service manuals
Push coil Inspect bushings every 30hrs, full service every 100hrs or 1 x annually Support doc

Can you change fork oil without removing forks?

You will need to remove the caps to refill the fork tubes with oil. Determine if the fork legs have oil drain plugs near the bottom of the legs. If they do, you are in luck and will be

able to change the oil without

removing the fork legs.

What happens if you don’t change fork oil?

The longer your fork seals leak, the more oil that drips onto your front wheel below. The fork oil will also begin leaking onto your front brake pads and calipers. … When your brakes become too lubricated, their ability to stop your front wheel when you clamp down on your brakes is practically non-existent.

How much does it cost to change fork oil?

For this I usually get

about $150-$250

with them on the bike, less if they are off. In all actuality if it was a set of forks that I had recently serviced and I could guarantee the oil level and type was right I would charge about $50 on the bike to just to swap springs.

Why do you need fork oil?

Fork oil is

part of the maintenance of the forks

, which are part of the suspension, steering and braking of the bike. When maintained properly and set properly they provide the best safety and performance of the bike.

Does motorcycle fork oil wear out?

So how did street riders somehow get left out? Fork-oil change frequency as a line item has long been missing in the manufacturer’s documentation, and no one really knows why.

It makes perfect sense to remove old oil

because, like engine oil, its performance diminishes over time.

How long do motorcycle forks last?

The very best way to keep your forks at their best is to service them. While every two years would be ideal, assuming they have no problems,

every three to four years

(unless you’re on track or riding an awful lot) should be fine.

Does fork oil go bad?

it’s…. Yes I’ve been using the same open quart of fork oil for almost 10 years.

As long as it’s not contaminated, it’s fine to use

.

Can I change fork seals without disassembly?


Yes

. Pull the bolt out that secures the cartridge to the lower fork leg and the forks will come apart. Put a seal in with a split type fork seal driver. Then you pull the cap and separate from cartridge to pull the spring to set the fork oil level.

Why upside down forks are better?

By design, inverted forks have shorter and thinner walled fork tubes. This results in

less steering inertia

and more responsive handling feel. One more benefit, inverted front ends deliver better compression and rebound dampening than conventional designs.

How much does it cost to replace fork seals on a motorcycle?

Motorcycle shops and dealers costs vary greatly depending upon where you live geographically but from the feedback we hear from our customers is they were quoted as low as $150 and as high as $400 to have a shop fully remove the forks and replace the seals.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.