Which fork oil weight to use?
 

Hi,
My fork oil seals need replacing on my curvy and I'm going to be doing them myself (I've done engine rebuilds and basically everything else on a bike in the past so please no "don't tackle it yourself" stuff haha)

I've tried looking around to find out what oil weight to go for but haven't found an answer... I'm over 6ft and about 16st so I thought that 15w is what I'd need but I'd rather be sure before investing in the oil :P

I've found 1L of castrol 15w for £10.20 with free postage so that seems like the best thing to go for

Thanks in advance for any advice you lovely forum people!!

Re: Which fork oil weight to use?
 

Have a search on here as there is lots of 'what folk oil?' information. Basically match the oil weight to your fork springs (and emus if fitted) not your body weight. Usually OEM springs = OEM fork oil (10W).

Re: Which fork oil weight to use?
 

Oh right. I thought it was denser oil for a heavier rider...
I don't have any history on the bike so I'm going to presume that it's on the original springs.

Would putting 15w oil in effect it in a bad way?

Re: Which fork oil weight to use?
 

Also, mineral or synthetic? I don't think I'll be able to reap the benefits of high performance oil or whatever so all I'm thinking is going for the cheapest. I know that's not always best but my budget is tight, hence why I'm doing it myself :P

Which fork oil weight to use?
 

15W oil will be OK on standard springs, but suitable springs for your weight would clearly be a good purchase.
In this circumstance, you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference between mineral, synthetic or Spry Crisp and Dry.

Re: Which fork oil weight to use?
 

Thanks very much for the advice sid :)

Re: Which fork oil weight to use?
 

I tried 15W oil and really hated it - it made the front front end very harsh and uncomfotable - may have worked on smooth race track but not every day roads - the ultimate solution was new springs and emulators which transformed the front end.

Re: Which fork oil weight to use?
 

I've got k-tec springs to match my weight, emulators and 15wt oil, works a treat, not too harsh for me at all. Soaks up the harsh bumps and pot holes pretty well and handles great too, but it depends on your preference and the rest of your set up!

Re: Which fork oil weight to use?
 

I've just got the standard setup, I haven't tweaked anything and I liked how it handled before the fork seals went so I'm just going to leave the springs and replace the oil with Castrol 10w. I've ordered it now anyway so I'll see how it goes with that

Re: Which fork oil weight to use?
 

I meant that I hated 15W with the standard damper rod forks and springs - different ball game entirely with emulators and heavier fork springs (like wot I said in my first post)