When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
when you purchase the bike. but dont put heavy wt fork oil in like some folks are suggesting. you might even want to go with a lighter wt oil. you dont need the front forks to be even less responsive than they already are. been there done that
when you purchase the bike. but dont put heavy wt fork oil in like some folks are suggesting. you might even want to go with a lighter wt oil. you dont need the front forks to be even less responsive than they already are. been there done that
Agreed. Many suggest heavier oil to try to compensate for an under sprung suspension. Lighter oil and heavier springs is the way to go. Heavier oil will just slow your suspension down and make it less responsive. It will never fix the light springs that are on the bike, only changing the springs will.
I think 50K is for '09 and up. I do it at 20-25K because I have usually done everything else I want to (and can afford) and have saved up for either a chrome or blacked out front end. I will say the oil is pretty nasty at that point and the components need to be cleaned thoroughly. You have to replace the seals also at that point.
I changed mine twice already (at 5000 miles and 12000 miles) when making suspension changes - both times the oil came out very dark grey. That tells me the Teflon on the bushings is wearing out - the second time I replaced the bushings too.
ps, the reason people put heavier oil is to keep the wheel in control on bumpy roads - heavier springs alone will make it under-damped and floaty... of course some people prefer that soft ride vs. handling...
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.