Fork oil
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 308
Likes: 60
From: Wi
Fork oil
I’m going to rebuild my forks. What is the recommend Harley fork oil? Are Ricors worth putting in. By the way the bike is a 2010 limited. Have Ohlins on the rear and the wife says she can feel the front hitting bumps
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,445
Likes: 2,816
From: Oklahoma
First off, I can't answer your question. Others will also have a hard time because we don't know what your opinion is of the ride you had before. Are you looking for more control, or a softer ride? Advise your wife that she is riding on a MOTORCYCLE, not a magic carpet. The wheels work by staying in contact with the road surface, and that surface, too often is bumpy. You will both feel bumps no matter what you do with your suspension. Were you happy before, or do you want some different performance? If you want changes, SPECIFICALLY what do you want to accomplish?
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 493
Likes: 92
From: NJ
Just for reference, 2000 RK classic with under 9000 miles. Love the bike but hated the nose dive. Original shocks, replaced lowers with chromed and used the Screaming Eagle straight. I am very happy with how it handles now and how it got rid of the nose dive.
I don't think the ride is hard all
I don't think the ride is hard all
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,452
Likes: 798
From: Bear Flag, lower end
The fork oil is not your issue. It is the HD crap front suspense that they still use on current models. You have good aftermarket shocks in the rear, now upgrade the front to match.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 308
Likes: 60
From: Wi
I don’t think I have bad nose dive on the front. I would like to put new oil in the forks. The manual says to put type E in and I believe the oil is 5 wt. I was thinking of putting type B and from my understanding the oil is 10w. I will admit the front end does seem to be hitting the bumps harder and not absorbing.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,445
Likes: 2,816
From: Oklahoma
In principle, you are correct, but there are many like me who knew what we were buying at the time and never had the intention of turning a touring machine into a cafe racer. No matter how good the suspension is made, we are still limited to about a 30 degree bank angle before various parts begin to scrape. Heavier oil front and rear did what I wanted and may be all the OP wants, we don't know. Obviously you wanted "far superior" and were willing to pay for it. I wanted "better for a modest price" and achieved that. No right or wrong here, just different tastes and goals.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 600
Likes: 231
From: Dewey, Arizona 86327
Be aware that there's no standard for the weight of fork oil like there is for engine oil. One company's 15wt is another's 10. Do some google and forum research. THere's a lot written on that.
I went to heavier oil on mine, helped some but not all that much. Higher air pressure helped. The real remedy is a rebuild kit with better valving and probressive springs.
I went to heavier oil on mine, helped some but not all that much. Higher air pressure helped. The real remedy is a rebuild kit with better valving and probressive springs.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 1,651
From: Olean, NY
The Ricor Intiminators made a bigger difference for me than just changing the weight of the oil (which I tried before putting the Ricors in).
I ordered them through DK Customs and they will tell you what weight oil to go with according to what type of ride you want when they set them up.
I ordered them through DK Customs and they will tell you what weight oil to go with according to what type of ride you want when they set them up.