Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

front fork oil??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 3, 2009 | 05:55 PM
  #1  
NMNSG08's Avatar
NMNSG08
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 519
Likes: 1
From: woburn,ma
Default front fork oil??

What fork oil should i use?2008 sg,want to change to better front end.
 
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2009 | 06:10 PM
  #2  
TODDNVAL's Avatar
TODDNVAL
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 382
Likes: 2
From:
Default

I changed out my lowers to chrome and everyone I talked to suggested the stock fork oil because the SE fork oil causes a harsh ride.
 
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2009 | 06:14 PM
  #3  
Plow64's Avatar
Plow64
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 163
From: Northern VA
Default

Originally Posted by TODDNVAL
I changed out my lowers to chrome and everyone I talked to suggested the stock fork oil because the SE fork oil causes a harsh ride.
Maybe my info's dated, but I've always heard that the SE fork oil is the way to go.
 
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2009 | 06:18 PM
  #4  
dawg's Avatar
dawg
Seasoned HDF Member
Shutterbug
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 28,514
Likes: 3,951
From: Vermont
Default

I mix E with SE
 
Attached Thumbnails front fork oil??-266.jpg   front fork oil??-267.jpg  
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2009 | 06:21 PM
  #5  
NMNSG08's Avatar
NMNSG08
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 519
Likes: 1
From: woburn,ma
Default

What about synthetics like race tech or amsoil?
 
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2009 | 06:25 PM
  #6  
Sefferdog's Avatar
Sefferdog
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,471
Likes: 5
From: Ocala, FL
Default

Originally Posted by TODDNVAL
I changed out my lowers to chrome and everyone I talked to suggested the stock fork oil because the SE fork oil causes a harsh ride.
Last time I changed fork oil I used SE. I noticed a bit firmer ride, but definitely not "harsh". It actually feels more controlled.
 
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2009 | 06:54 PM
  #7  
Moonrider's Avatar
Moonrider
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 820
Likes: 1
From: Sunny Saint Petersburg Florida
Default

I use Bel Ray 20W. Great Ride
 
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2009 | 07:01 PM
  #8  
04harleyboy's Avatar
04harleyboy
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 1
From: Southeastern Michigan
Default

There are two different SE fork oils, the "HD" and the "Race", I used the "HD" and it firmed up the front end, which was more comfortable for me.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 3, 2009 | 09:24 PM
  #9  
iclick's Avatar
iclick
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Default

Originally Posted by Sefferdog
Last time I changed fork oil I used SE. I noticed a bit firmer ride, but definitely not "harsh". It actually feels more controlled.
This is my take on SE fork oil, too. It is firmer, not harsh, with better control and much less bottoming. It needs to be mentioned that SE comes in two varieties, heavy and extra-heavy (racing)--and I used the heavy. If anyone is interested, the fork oil in non-cartridge forks can be changed more easily than prescribed in the service manual. I wrote-up the procedure here. Cartridge forks were used from '02-'05, I think.

Air fork oil can be changed by applying vacuum to the Schrader valve and sucking the fresh oil from the drain plug as described in the service manual.
 
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2009 | 10:24 PM
  #10  
GT_RoadGlide's Avatar
GT_RoadGlide
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 882
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee, WI
Default

I have the "race" oil in my Sportster and it is "stiff". After three years I'm going back to the standard oil.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:52 PM.

story-0
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE