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
Gl1800 fork oil
- Steve F
- Posts: 508
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:25 pm
- Location: Grand Canyon State!
- Motorcycle: 1976 Honda CB750F Cafe' (sold :>( )
'03 GL1800
DARKSIDE RIDER
Re: Gl1800 fork oil
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
Link: http://www.pbase.com/fredharmon/forkoil
"To ride is the reason, the destination's the excuse."
-
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Tue May 03, 2016 3:52 am
- Location: rockhampton australia
- Motorcycle: 2001 GL1800
Re: Gl1800 fork oil
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
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
- Posts: 508
- Joined: Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:25 pm
- Location: Grand Canyon State!
- Motorcycle: 1976 Honda CB750F Cafe' (sold :>( )
'03 GL1800
DARKSIDE RIDER
Re: Gl1800 fork oil
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
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
"To ride is the reason, the destination's the excuse."
-
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Tue May 03, 2016 3:52 am
- Location: rockhampton australia
- Motorcycle: 2001 GL1800
Re: Gl1800 fork oil
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
Again thanks for your input regards Robert
- wingpilot08
- Posts: 652
- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:43 pm
- Location: Coatesville, PA
- Motorcycle: 2008 GL1800-HPNA - 73,000+ miles
1995 Bunkhouse camping trailer
Darkside #1720
bikes owned:
1975 CB550-4 final mileage unknown
1982 Yamaha 650 Maximum 30,000 miles
1987 Yamaha XVZ-1300 Venture 109,000 miles
1982 CB750-F Super Sport 60,000+ miles
1996 Honda GL1500-SE 210,000 miles
Re: Gl1800 fork oil
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 ADVseagul wrote: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
08' GL1800-HPNA - Red 73,000+ miles
1995 Bunkhouse Camper
Darkside #1720
1975 CB550-4 mileage unknown
1982 Yamaha 650 Maxim 30,000 miles
1987 Yamaha XVZ-1300 Venture 109,000 miles
1982 CB750-FSS 60,000+ miles
1996 Honda GL1500-SE 210,000 miles
1995 Bunkhouse Camper
Darkside #1720
1975 CB550-4 mileage unknown
1982 Yamaha 650 Maxim 30,000 miles
1987 Yamaha XVZ-1300 Venture 109,000 miles
1982 CB750-FSS 60,000+ miles
1996 Honda GL1500-SE 210,000 miles
-
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Tue May 03, 2016 3:52 am
- Location: rockhampton australia
- Motorcycle: 2001 GL1800
Re: Gl1800 fork oil
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
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
- Posts: 652
- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:43 pm
- Location: Coatesville, PA
- Motorcycle: 2008 GL1800-HPNA - 73,000+ miles
1995 Bunkhouse camping trailer
Darkside #1720
bikes owned:
1975 CB550-4 final mileage unknown
1982 Yamaha 650 Maximum 30,000 miles
1987 Yamaha XVZ-1300 Venture 109,000 miles
1982 CB750-F Super Sport 60,000+ miles
1996 Honda GL1500-SE 210,000 miles
Re: Gl1800 fork oil
9 bikes in the stable!?! jealous!seagul wrote: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

08' GL1800-HPNA - Red 73,000+ miles
1995 Bunkhouse Camper
Darkside #1720
1975 CB550-4 mileage unknown
1982 Yamaha 650 Maxim 30,000 miles
1987 Yamaha XVZ-1300 Venture 109,000 miles
1982 CB750-FSS 60,000+ miles
1996 Honda GL1500-SE 210,000 miles
1995 Bunkhouse Camper
Darkside #1720
1975 CB550-4 mileage unknown
1982 Yamaha 650 Maxim 30,000 miles
1987 Yamaha XVZ-1300 Venture 109,000 miles
1982 CB750-FSS 60,000+ miles
1996 Honda GL1500-SE 210,000 miles