Front Forks

Hi,

My bike came with Ohlins fork internals and I just wondered how to fit them as the front dives though the back is nice and stiff.

Also can you tell me how much a 22k mile service is and what it includes? I should get a Haynes really, I'll look out for one on the bay.

Any help appreciated.

[northwind]

What sort of internals? AFAIK Ohlins just do the springs...

Originally Posted by northwind

What sort of internals? AFAIK Ohlins just do the springs...

Yup they are springs.

[northwind]

Take out old springs. Put in new springs Hardest part is supporting the front end while you do it... Well worth taking the extra time to change the oil too. And then, do a search for "static sag" and take it from there.

Originally Posted by northwind

Take out old springs. Put in new springs Hardest part is supporting the front end while you do it... Well worth taking the extra time to change the oil too. And then, do a search for "static sag" and take it from there.

Cheers, I'll get a Haynes to find out how to change the springs I guess, infact I've remembered where I can find out!

Can someone tell me what the best setting would be for my 10 stone of weight, what W of oil to put in and sag etc.?

Any idea about the 22k service?

By the way, I'm going to be bugging you all an awful lot about every little thing so if it gets annoying I'm sorry.

Cheers.

Joe. I mean it when I say it forks are VERY simple to work with, the ONLY problem you have is keeping the front end off the ground. You really need to get a trolley jack and lean the bike against a low wall, that really is the best and cheapest way. As for your springs, I imagine they are not as soft as the standard ones so 10w should be fine for you....or even 5w but I'd stay safe with 10w.

22k service - As with any bike, do anything you can. Valve clearances will want to be checked if they haven't already but no rush I guess.

Originally Posted by Phantomtek

By the way, I'm going to be bugging you all an awful lot about every little thing so if it gets annoying I'm sorry.

Apology accepted.

[northwind]

I did 15W with the Ohlins springs, at the time I tipped the scales at 11 stone. Was a wee bit overdamped that, I'd have gone to 12.5 if I'd kept that setup, but it was better than standard. As for how to do it, I own an Abba stand which makes all this sort of thing laughably simple, but you can do it with a paddock stand if you're careful, or swing the bike from a strong ladder or roof beam. (If you do it on a paddock stand, don't jack under the sump, instead jack under the front cylinder head- the sump's close to the centre of balance and makes it unstable.)

Right cheers guys, I actually found this guide and it is actually for the bike I have so I'm sorted for that, though I think I'll invest in an ABBA stand because they do look really useful.

So I'll put in 10W fork oil with the new springs, and do most of the service myself, get a Haynes and a spare weekend, I'll learn how to do the valves But then I won't get a stamp

What should I do!?

[northwind]

That's a great guide that...

I service my own, losing the service history would cost less on resale than I've saved by doing my own work, and I enjoy it. But it's a personal choice really. Some dealers will do the tricky bits and stamp it, and let you do the fluids, might be a good option? Could be wrong but I think your valve clearances were due at 16,000 (I don't do the normal routine) in which case they may well have already been done.

Originally Posted by northwind

That's a great guide that...

I service my own, losing the service history would cost less on resale than I've saved by doing my own work, and I enjoy it. But it's a personal choice really. Some dealers will do the tricky bits and stamp it, and let you do the fluids, might be a good option? Could be wrong but I think your valve clearances were due at 16,000 (I don't do the normal routine) in which case they may well have already been done.

Cool, I heard that it was valves but it wasn't a definite, I'll check the history book now....

It has the stamps from the first 3 services and I believe I have the reciepts for the rest somewhere as they weren't done at a Suzuki dealer. The first owner only did 3000 miles in 3 years!!! I did a 3rd of that on my first weekend of ownership!!

I think I will do fluids and other stuff myself and if indeed it is valves I'll take it to a garage.

If anyone has a Haynes could you tell me what is involved in the 22k service?

I read my owners manual and it only mentions upto the 15k service