Damage to front forks? - SV650.org

10-08-09, 02:11 PM

Can a sudden shock to the front forks send the oil off? Or is there something in the fork internals that can get damaged? Had to emergency stop last week in London as some silly bint on her mobile phone walked off the pavement in front of me whilst I was filtering.

The front forks gave off their trademark SV clonk which they normally do when you hit a pot hole, and the bike pulled a stoppie, rear wheel maybe 6-9 inches off the deck. Since then I seem to have lost the damping off my front forks. Bouncing about all over the joint, as are the cars in my mirrors and not stable in corners. I'm about 15 1/2 stone so the forks probably bottomed out.

Bike has 20k miles, but the fork assemblies and bottom yoke were replaced under warranty at about 10k that due to paint flaking away, so it's not like the oil has done an awful lot of miles.

10-08-09, 05:33 PM

Many less views than stuff posted later in the day in the same section so....

Bumpity, bump, bump. bump.....

10-08-09, 05:38 PM

up the oil. If forks were done under warranty chances are oil was recycled.

Sid Squid · 10-08-09, 08:16 PM

Bottoming out the forks certainly shouldn't do any harm, and assuming there is no apparent external failing, a leak for instance, it isn't obvious how that could damage anything in any significant way either. However, as you report a difference in the suspension after an extreme circumstance has overcome it, there's no responsible suggestion other than somebody competent will have to be enlisted to cast an eye over the bike.

10-08-09, 09:39 PM

Thanks guys, I think the forks were replaced as a single unit straight from the factory, ie: the oil already in them. I thought they would just replace the painted fork legs so I asked about putting in progressive springs and heavier oil and that's what I was told anyway.

No visible signs of any problems, leaks etc, like I say just lost damping a bit. As Squid says I'll need to get them checked out, maybe now a good excuse for those springs and oil.

yorkie_chris · 10-08-09, 10:44 PM

Oil will be on its way out by 10k easy, especially the thin stuff from the factory.

10-08-09, 02:11 PM	#1
-Ralph- Guest Posts: n/a	Damage to front forks? Can a sudden shock to the front forks send the oil off? Or is there something in the fork internals that can get damaged? Had to emergency stop last week in London as some silly bint on her mobile phone walked off the pavement in front of me whilst I was filtering. The front forks gave off their trademark SV clonk which they normally do when you hit a pot hole, and the bike pulled a stoppie, rear wheel maybe 6-9 inches off the deck. Since then I seem to have lost the damping off my front forks. Bouncing about all over the joint, as are the cars in my mirrors and not stable in corners. I'm about 15 1/2 stone so the forks probably bottomed out. Bike has 20k miles, but the fork assemblies and bottom yoke were replaced under warranty at about 10k that due to paint flaking away, so it's not like the oil has done an awful lot of miles. Last edited by -Ralph-; 10-08-09 at 02:13 PM.

10-08-09, 05:33 PM	#2
-Ralph- Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Damage to front forks? Many less views than stuff posted later in the day in the same section so.... Bumpity, bump, bump. bump.....

10-08-09, 05:38 PM	#3
thefallenangel Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Damage to front forks? up the oil. If forks were done under warranty chances are oil was recycled.

10-08-09, 08:16 PM	#4
Sid Squid No, I don't lend tools. Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Skunk Works, Nth London Posts: 8,680	Re: Damage to front forks? Bottoming out the forks certainly shouldn't do any harm, and assuming there is no apparent external failing, a leak for instance, it isn't obvious how that could damage anything in any significant way either. However, as you report a difference in the suspension after an extreme circumstance has overcome it, there's no responsible suggestion other than somebody competent will have to be enlisted to cast an eye over the bike. __________________ If an SV650 has a flat tyre in the forest and no-one is there to blow it up, how long will it be 'til someone posts that the reg/rec is duff and the world will end unless a CBR unit is fitted? A little bit of knowledge = a dangerous thing. "a deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst"

10-08-09, 09:39 PM	#5
-Ralph- Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Damage to front forks? Thanks guys, I think the forks were replaced as a single unit straight from the factory, ie: the oil already in them. I thought they would just replace the painted fork legs so I asked about putting in progressive springs and heavier oil and that's what I was told anyway. No visible signs of any problems, leaks etc, like I say just lost damping a bit. As Squid says I'll need to get them checked out, maybe now a good excuse for those springs and oil.

10-08-09, 10:44 PM	#6
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Damage to front forks? Oil will be on its way out by 10k easy, especially the thin stuff from the factory. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

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