Using oil of lower SAE grade than recommended in your manual is only going to degrade the front fork performance and could even damage it. Even though the twin springs on either side of the wheel absorb some of the energy, the oil also acts in conjunction with it to smooth out the bumps. The entire premise of using oil as a dampener is because of the compressibility that the oil inside the fork provides when going over a bump. Most of the alternatives provide no extra benefits, so it’s best to simply stick with fork oil.
The oil cannot freeze up in winter, and in summer if it heats up excessively, it can affect handling. The viscosity of fork oil is important as it has to maintain its properties over a range of temperatures.
Any oil that can maintain these characteristics over a temperature range can be substituted for fork oil, as long as the SAE grade is the same. Gearbox oil is used primarily for lubrication, so any oil used in the gearbox must have high lubricative properties. A heavier bike is going to use a thicker oil when compared to a lighter bike that does not have to take the same front load. Different bikes use different oils as their front load, and fork construction varies. What Can You Use Instead Of Motorcycle Fork Oil?īefore doing anything, read your motorcycle manual to find out which grade of oil is best for your front fork. Keep reading to find out your best choices when the time comes to change your fork oil, and how to decide between them to keep your motorcycle in perfect working condition. However, many people will recommend automatic transmission fluid (ATF) as a fork oil substitute thanks to its similar properties.įork oil cannot be blindly changed as it could do more harm than good. There aren’t many suitable alternatives to motorcycle fork oil, as the role of this fluid is very important and specific on your motorcycle. But you might be wondering if there are any alternatives to using fork oil on your motorcycle.
Here’s a really nerdy table that uses the much tighter Centistoke (Cst) testing scale, so we can compare brands with accuracy.The motorcycle front fork is a critical part of the bike because it affects steering, overall handling, and it smoothens out the bumps on the road. But, due to the international SAE standard being so loose, one oil company’s 5Wt can be the same viscosity as another’s 7.5Wt. So what oil should you use in your suspension? Most suspension units use approximately a 5Wt (SAE). Buying the right oil for your bike is very important as it can effect performance and the amount of wear-and-tear your bike receives.
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