Gl1800 fork oil

[seagul]

Hi all, am planning a camping/hunting trip in April and want to do a few checks before I go. Does anyone have any suggestions on checking fork oil level without having to remove the front end?
Kindest regards
Rob

[Steve F]

Here's a link for you to check out. But I would like to say that fork oil level checking is easy, but if the oil needs to be changed, and you don't, it can become expensive. Chances are good, that if you don't have any signs of leakage the level is fine. I recommend changing it.
Link: http://www.pbase.com/fredharmon/forkoil

[seagul]

Thanks Steve F
I suspect it's all ok I just want to check it out. She's had some mods in her life before I bought her. The front has had of all things a air assist valve and balance tube of some sort. The front seems a bit more rigid than I would have thought, the trip I am planing may have some corigation to deal with. Regards Robert

[Steve F]

How many miles since the last fork service? Consider having the forks wear items replaced if it's been a while. I just had my forks serviced last week at the dealer.....wasn't cheap, but I felt it was long overdue (had to have the shop do the work since I don't have the space or the means of doing that kind of work). I asked that I get back all the parts that were removed so I could look at them. For the most part, they held up very well, but one of the slider bushings had all the Teflon coating worn off in a single spot and the base metal was starting to show through. If I had waited any longer, the fork lower could have been damaged. I had no leakage, and the chrome on the fork uppers looked pristine, so a rebuild basically gave me a new front suspension.
I bought the bike used with something like 15k miles and at the time of the rebuild, it had 73K mikes. I waited too long for the fluid to be changed, and I feel guilty about the neglect. Luckily, the wear was well within reason and no damage.
Your Mileage May Vary
Steve F

[seagul]

Kool young fella I think I may just have been convinced to referb the forks before the trip. She had 97k kms when I got her and I have put 40k kms on in the last 18 months. I think she's most likely over due.
Again thanks for your input regards Robert

[wingpilot08]

Kool young fella I think I may just have been convinced to referb the forks before the trip. She had 97k kms when I got her and I have put 40k kms on in the last 18 months. I think she's most likely over due.
Again thanks for your input regards Robert

Really not that hard to do and not a lot to take off the bike. I did my forks in Dec last year, all in all took about 3 hrs (took my time). I had also relpaced a all wearable items and new Progressive Springs. Finally I did disable the ADV

[seagul]

Thanks wingpilot08,
Much appreciated, am going to have to be a little less lazy. I am a bit shy on room to have really wanting to tear down another bike, that stable is at 9 at the moment. Regards Robert

[wingpilot08]

Thanks wingpilot08,
Much appreciated, am going to have to be a little less lazy. I am a bit shy on room to have really wanting to tear down another bike, that stable is at 9 at the moment. Regards Robert

9 bikes in the stable!?! jealous!