Front suspension "sticky"?

mdsuave13 · 06-05-2007, 01:33 PM

I have noticed that my front suspension feels "sticky" it doesnt smoothly adjust up and down. I weigh 165lbs and it just stays uncompressed until i really brake hard, then it will go down, but with small adjustments, it has a notchy, sticky feel to it.

Has anyone experienced this or fixed this? I am wondering if it needs the fork oil changed or if it is the overall crapiness of the front springs....

anyone want to field this one?

jkomp316 · 06-05-2007, 01:45 PM

Mine is like that to an extent. It wont compress at all when i sit on it. If a give it a nudge with the front brake it goes down though. I havent looked into it but I guess the fork oil is like vegitable oil or something

You might want to change it.

red2003 · 06-05-2007, 01:49 PM

I weigh 210 and my Roketa with USD forks acts like that too. I would prefer them to be softer sprung. It's not like we can sail these things off jumps anyway. I think a fork oil change WOULD help, but that's a fairly big job with inverted forks. Gotta pull the whole front of the bike apart. I think that'll be my next project. I will pull them apart and change out the stock fluid for a lite weight synthetic fork oil.

jkomp316 · 06-05-2007, 01:57 PM

Maybe the Chinese found an easy way to get rid of all thier leftover fry oil? Start manufacturing "USD" forks!

molypod · 06-05-2007, 01:57 PM

By changing my fork oil and by cleaning my seals I have noticable difference in the smoothness..

Here's the thread. Forks

mdsuave13 · 06-05-2007, 02:03 PM

thanks molypod, that is VERY helpful...

that is the other sweet thing about these bikes, i wouldnt feel so bad if i totally screwed something up because its a inexpensive purchase as compared to a high end jap enduro. I can learn how to do more extensive repairs on this for when i buy a much bigger bike down the road.

IronFist · 06-05-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdsuave13

thanks molypod, that is VERY helpful...

that is the other sweet thing about these bikes, i wouldnt feel so bad if i totally screwed something up because its a inexpensive purchase as compared to a high end jap enduro. I can learn how to do more extensive repairs on this for when i buy a much bigger bike down the road.

Ditto.

jkomp316 · 06-05-2007, 02:43 PM

IMHO i'm not sure i would trust full synthetic fork oil in the upsideown forks. our chinese fork seals are not the best.

red2003 · 06-05-2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkomp316

IMHO i'm not sure i would trust full synthetic fork oil in the upsideown forks. our chinese fork seals are not the best.

Yeah, a lot of people are under the impression that synthetic oil "leaks" by more then conventional. It has never been my experiance, or any one else I know for that matter, that I or they have ever seen this or heard of a situation where changing to synthetic oil caused a leak that wasn't already present to begin with. Synthetic oil molecules are not necessarily any smaller then dino oil, they are just more uniform in size since they are man made.

blimpman · 06-05-2007, 05:38 PM

Make sure that the torque on the triple clamp bolts iare correct. Locktite of course. You can crank down and pinch the tubes too much.

fatboy250 · 06-05-2007, 07:36 PM

I put about 4oz of Trans Fluid in my USD forks and they seem to be working fine. I did not remove my forks. Only the top screw cap.

madmaximum · 06-05-2007, 10:00 PM

Did you add the tranny fluid because your forks were "sticky" too? I've noticed that mine will compress when stopping, & "pop" back up when I take off.

liverchip · 06-05-2007, 10:54 PM

Mine are actually a bit soft. I definitely use the full travel during my rides. I am 215 It really needs stiffer springs IMO, I know I can preload the existing springs with washers, but that takes away travel and only hides the issue. What is the consensus on fork oil type. I'm thinking a heavier weight oil to increase dampening and help out.

stixx3969 · 06-05-2007, 10:55 PM

Mine does it to some extent but I'm used to it. May do new oil some day.

jkomp316 · 06-06-2007, 01:59 AM

I dont think changing to a full synthetic fork oil will "cause" it to leak. But I do think it will leak faster if there ever is one. I don't have much faith in the seals :wink:

06-05-2007, 01:33 PM	#1
mdsuave13 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ellicott city, Maryland Posts: 857	Front suspension "sticky"? I have noticed that my front suspension feels "sticky" it doesnt smoothly adjust up and down. I weigh 165lbs and it just stays uncompressed until i really brake hard, then it will go down, but with small adjustments, it has a notchy, sticky feel to it. Has anyone experienced this or fixed this? I am wondering if it needs the fork oil changed or if it is the overall crapiness of the front springs.... anyone want to field this one? __________________ My name is Justin, my friends call me Stix. 2008 Kawasaki KLR650 Candy Lime Green ______________________________ I am the official China bike registration Guru For the State of Maryland..... HA.
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06-05-2007, 01:49 PM	#3
red2003 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern Vermont, USA Posts: 1,247	I weigh 210 and my Roketa with USD forks acts like that too. I would prefer them to be softer sprung. It's not like we can sail these things off jumps anyway. I think a fork oil change WOULD help, but that's a fairly big job with inverted forks. Gotta pull the whole front of the bike apart. I think that'll be my next project. I will pull them apart and change out the stock fluid for a lite weight synthetic fork oil. __________________ First Chinabike: 2006 Roketa RSX200E Current Chinabikes: 2023 Titan DLX & 2022 Lifan KP Mini w/ 210cc BRT kit, 22 RWHP!
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06-05-2007, 02:03 PM	#6
mdsuave13 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ellicott city, Maryland Posts: 857	thanks molypod, that is VERY helpful... that is the other sweet thing about these bikes, i wouldnt feel so bad if i totally screwed something up because its a inexpensive purchase as compared to a high end jap enduro. I can learn how to do more extensive repairs on this for when i buy a much bigger bike down the road. __________________ My name is Justin, my friends call me Stix. 2008 Kawasaki KLR650 Candy Lime Green ______________________________ I am the official China bike registration Guru For the State of Maryland..... HA.
	0

06-05-2007, 05:38 PM	#10
blimpman Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Posts: 267	Make sure that the torque on the triple clamp bolts iare correct. Locktite of course. You can crank down and pinch the tubes too much. __________________ The destination is merely a by-product of the journey. '06 KLR650 '06 XT225 '92 XT225 Serow ( MBD.... Multiple Bike Disease...)
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06-05-2007, 07:36 PM	#11
fatboy250 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: COLUMBIA, SC Posts: 973	I put about 4oz of Trans Fluid in my USD forks and they seem to be working fine. I did not remove my forks. Only the top screw cap. __________________ 2008 Jonway MC-70-150 2007 Roketa DB-07B (RSM-200E) 2006 Roketa DB-07A (RSX-200E) 1995 Kawasaki Concours (ZG1000)
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06-05-2007, 01:45 PM	#2
jkomp316 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 145	Mine is like that to an extent. It wont compress at all when i sit on it. If a give it a nudge with the front brake it goes down though. I havent looked into it but I guess the fork oil is like vegitable oil or something You might want to change it.
	0

06-05-2007, 01:57 PM	#4
jkomp316 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 145	Maybe the Chinese found an easy way to get rid of all thier leftover fry oil? Start manufacturing "USD" forks!
	0

06-05-2007, 01:57 PM	#5
molypod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 223	By changing my fork oil and by cleaning my seals I have noticable difference in the smoothness.. Here's the thread. *Forks*
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06-05-2007, 02:43 PM	#8
jkomp316 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 145	IMHO i'm not sure i would trust full synthetic fork oil in the upsideown forks. our chinese fork seals are not the best.
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06-05-2007, 10:00 PM	#12
madmaximum Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 284	Did you add the tranny fluid because your forks were "sticky" too? I've noticed that mine will compress when stopping, & "pop" back up when I take off. __________________ 2005 RSX-200E 2004 Suzuki Eiger 1999 Arctic Cat 250 1977 Kawasaki KH400, aka Green Ripper
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06-05-2007, 10:54 PM	#13
liverchip Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mystery Spot Posts: 1,223	Mine are actually a bit soft. I definitely use the full travel during my rides. I am 215 It really needs stiffer springs IMO, I know I can preload the existing springs with washers, but that takes away travel and only hides the issue. What is the consensus on fork oil type. I'm thinking a heavier weight oil to increase dampening and help out. __________________ 2009 XR650L Big Red Pig Tusk bar risers 2007 X-Moto(Jetmoto) GY250 --mods--- 15/40 sprockets UNI Pod Filter 2007 Shineray TMS 200XYi--Betsy Betsy Mods:______________________ Acerbis DHH headlight FMF Powercore pipe Uni Pod Filter
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06-05-2007, 10:55 PM	#14
stixx3969 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 146	Mine does it to some extent but I'm used to it. May do new oil some day.
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06-06-2007, 01:59 AM	#15
jkomp316 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 145	I dont think changing to a full synthetic fork oil will "cause" it to leak. But I do think it will leak faster if there ever is one. I don't have much faith in the seals :wink:
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