Fork Oil
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Novice
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Fork Oil
My new to me Fatboy is just awesome. I only have one complaint. It seems to me that this softail is bouncing down the road like the suspension is just way to stiff for a guy like me that is 180 LBS. I have had a Fatboy before but it had the 200mm rear tire. This Fatboy is the old school skinny tire. Is this skinny rear tire part of the equation that is leading to a bouncing ride?
I also want to know what happens if you put to heavy of oil in the front forks? Does this cause the front wheel to kinda bounce on the highway? I am just wondering if maybe the guy before me put heavy oil in, maybe screaming eagle oil or something heavier.
Maybe I need to flush the oil in forks and just put the standard stock oil back in. This bike is all decked out in Screaming Eagle parts and ignition module so it leads me to believe maybe the previous owner put screaming eagle oil in forks.
I understand it is a Softail and not much suspension anyway but I know my last fatboy rode nicer.
I also want to know what happens if you put to heavy of oil in the front forks? Does this cause the front wheel to kinda bounce on the highway? I am just wondering if maybe the guy before me put heavy oil in, maybe screaming eagle oil or something heavier.
Maybe I need to flush the oil in forks and just put the standard stock oil back in. This bike is all decked out in Screaming Eagle parts and ignition module so it leads me to believe maybe the previous owner put screaming eagle oil in forks.
I understand it is a Softail and not much suspension anyway but I know my last fatboy rode nicer.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 852
Likes: 54
From: Dallas tx
With the heavy fork oil (screaming eagle) it will ride stiff and you will feel every divot and giration in the road. Bumps will be more jarring. I let the dealer talk me into using it When they rebuilt the forks and I hated it. Went back a week later and told them to put the standard fork oil back in.
Last edited by Pitbull_Dallas; Sep 11, 2014 at 06:59 PM.
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Novice
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Well that is what I thought. I knew the Fatboy wasn't a Cadillac STS but I figured it rode a little smoother than this. I bet this is what is going on, the screaming eagle oil is in the forks.
This bike is just decked with high performance parts mostly screaming eagle and it is a 2002 with 8000 miles on it. I did the math, that is 55 miles a month.. hahahaha.. how do people do that. Buy a bike, completely modify it for speed and then never ride It..
This bike is just decked with high performance parts mostly screaming eagle and it is a 2002 with 8000 miles on it. I did the math, that is 55 miles a month.. hahahaha.. how do people do that. Buy a bike, completely modify it for speed and then never ride It..
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 852
Likes: 54
From: Dallas tx
Well that is what I thought. I knew the Fatboy wasn't a Cadillac STS but I figured it rode a little smoother than this. I bet this is what is going on, the screaming eagle oil is in the forks.
This bike is just decked with high performance parts mostly screaming eagle and it is a 2002 with 8000 miles on it. I did the math, that is 55 miles a month.. hahahaha.. how do people do that. Buy a bike, completely modify it for speed and then never ride It..
This bike is just decked with high performance parts mostly screaming eagle and it is a 2002 with 8000 miles on it. I did the math, that is 55 miles a month.. hahahaha.. how do people do that. Buy a bike, completely modify it for speed and then never ride It..
Why don't you post a picture of that bad boy?
Last edited by Pitbull_Dallas; Sep 11, 2014 at 07:43 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
I believe the SE FB is lowered an inch. If so, it wont ride like a standard fb. However, given your weight, it should not ride harsh. Hard to say whats going on. First make sure rear shocks are setup correctly, set sag ~3/4. Then cheapest and easiest is to replace fork oil. If you love the bike and plan on keeping it, upgrade both front and rear suspensions. You already have the bling, now make it ride. These bikes are sooo much better when upgraded.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,067
Likes: 60
From: Chesterfield, VA
I've experimented with fork oil types in my Road King. I thought stock oil caused to much dive in fast stops. Went to SE heavy shock oil and it did stop the dive, but I could feel every imperfection on the road. Went with a mid range weight and all is good.
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My fork on my heritage is running the same way. I feel every damn bump in the road. I think Im going to change the oil this weekend to see if that helps. Stock oil is what weight? 10?
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