Just wondering how the forks would feel if I were to use a 10wt oil compared to a 5wt oil or vice versa? Would the 10wt make the forks more stiffer as compared to to 5wt making them more soft? I'm just trying to figure out which kind of oil to go with. I also weigh about 140 so I dunno if that would make a difference. Also what brand/weight oil do you guys recommend using in the forks? Would someone please explain this to me?
Thanks!

If you weigh 140 stay with the stock oil type. 10 wt will slow down the forks and give them a hard "feeling" which is really not what you want anyway.

not to thread jack but i was just getting ready to post the same kinda question. i know the stock oil is meant for the 140-160lbs rider. well i weigh 220 (but loosing weight) and amtryin to figure out what oil to use.

If you weigh 140 stay with the stock oil type. 10 wt will slow down the forks and give them a hard "feeling" which is really not what you want anyway.


Yea I went to my dealer and asked them as well. They basically told me the same thing as what you said. He said for my weight use a 5w oil....

Let me add to the question.... How much oil goes in to each leg? The manaul says to put everything together exepct the caps, fill up the leg, pour out the oil to measure the amount. Why can't they just say how much to put in?

Its for a 01 model.

Fork oil is usually set with the oil being at a certain level in the tubes instead of a certain amount of oil, the reason is that when you drain the forks you cant get all of the oil out of them and one might still have a little more than the other one, so its easier to just set them to the same oil level instead.

I'm sure if I have to that I can find the actual amount that was originally in your forks.

I just changed mine, I was going to go with a heavy oil, as I kinda like everything stiff :sing But my dealer said that it would make the fork action 'sticky' rather than a fluid feel, he recomended 5w so I took his advice, and am pleased with how they feel. BTW mines y2k also.

I took the forks out, tipped them upside down let them drain, replaced the same amount that came out, was 400 ml, couldnt find anything to say exactly how much sould be in there tho. But like I say, they work fab.

My old oil was grey and stank!! Not sure why it smelt so bad?? Stuff going in was OK, wouldnt wear it out, but didnt smell so bad!

The service manual says 475 ml

"My old oil was grey and stank!! Not sure why it smelt so bad??"

Fork seals are good, but not 100%, so water & other foreign objects get in there & basicly rot. The grey look is from water, like if water got in you engine oil, you get that grey milky look.

Correction, the grey stuff is aluminum oxide from the material the fork tubes are made from. And it stinks because the oil is broken down from dirt and heat and its chemical composition has changed into a stinky substance.

stinky substance.

Ha, is that the technical term? !!

Yeah, that too :)

Ha, is that the technical term? !!
Only in the world of porn!!! :secret

just did mine yesterday. both forks had 14 oz. for us USA folks that dont understand them metric units. what the hell is a ML anyway damn foreigners :D

Yeah, when they rebuilt my forks they used 10WT because there was no full synthetic 5W on the shelf at the time. I needed it done pronto.

The forks are a bit stiff for my liking, I have the compression backed out all the way on the forks now, I like a soft suspension.

just did mine yesterday. both forks had 14 oz. for us USA folks that dont understand them metric units. what the hell is a ML anyway damn foreigners :D
ML is milliliters.

Ha, is that the technical term? !!

Yeah, like hootus aparatus and the almighty BIG BERTHA that is a big red dead blow rubber hammer which is primarily used on harleys but you can find good uses for it on a honda.

Big bertha can also come in handy for those arround the house jobs like hanging pictures or beating out the old dry wall, srtaightening the cabinets or fixing that clock that dosent work. Thousands upon thousands of uses and it can be yours for 2 easy payments of $29.95 but wait, if you act now you can get a second one free. just call the number on the bottom of your screen.


Sorry, It's late.

ML is milliliters.
ok so some people dont get sarcasm. its hard to pick up on it in a forum.
I WAS KIDDING!!!! I'm not that stupid :hammer

"I WAS KIDDING!!!! I'm not that stupid" LIAR!!!, lol