You can buy the oil online.
I've used MX South for such items that are hard to find. If you can't find it in the catalog..call them.. they can get anything. And before you ask, no the oil is not dirt bike specific.
Race Oil:
https://www.mxsouth.com/silkolene/silkolene...uid_pro-rsf.htm
Normal Oil:
https://www.mxsouth.com/silkolene/silkolene...id_fork_oil.htm
Does anyone know much distance there is between the lower triple clamp and the fork seal when the fork "bottoms"? Will the seal go all the way to the triple clamp or will it stop somewhere before that?
No, it does not bottom. That would ruin your seals. There is still a gap regardless of suspension compression.
Everyone needs to remember that there are 6, count them 6 variables to our front end setups:
1.) Oil viscosity
2.) Oil height
3. ) Preload setting
4.) Rebound setting
5.) Compression setting
6.) Spring rate
This is just the available adjustments!
For any individual rider, the exact same settings are not going to be optimal for YOU. We weigh different amounts and load the front the front end differently. We brake and accelerate differently. We ride different types of road conditions and at different speeds. And of course, we all have a preferrence of how suspension should "feel". I like firm, but compliant, but to some it may feel harsh. But I guarantee I ride *A LOT* harder than the person that things my suspension feels harsh. So I demand a different feel to the bike (ie handling is more important to me than a luxury ride). Thankfully, you don't need to compromise that much anymore with good modern suspension.
All these factors contribute to a dizzying myriad of options to use. To make matters worse, changing one setting affects the other!
Example: Increase the spring preload (or spring rate), and the rebound will need to be increased to compensate for the spring. Meanwhile the compression may (or may not) need to be adjusted softer. Alter the oil viscocity and it changes the rebound and compression as well. You have to take all of these factors into account when making changes. Then you have to analyze exactly what changes should be done according to your unique riding situations and preferences.
The net result is the ONLY way you are going to find the right setting for YOU, the individual rider is to simply try different settings and really try to note how that change affected the ride, handling, and "feel". Don't just copy someone else's settings as a last word on the issue. Start with what someone your weight is using, then tweak from there. Afterall...YOU are not the same rider as the next guy.
With that said, I'm prety sure Klaus, a professional suspension tuner who has asked you plenty of questions about the above, would recommend what he feels to be good starting points. So stick with them. Then tweak from there. Especially oil heights, folks. DNFW them too much, you'll be terribly sorry when you blow the seals or cannot dial out harshness/softness because of a wrong guess.
God, I think I created a monster by putting that article out on FJRTech on fork oil changes..
:hmmm:
