About to buy a used bike...I need ...

IC3 said:
Compress the forks with your body weight whilst holding the front brake, how's that for you? :)
Click to expand...

And to give some explanation to that (which is correct anyway)...

https://begin-motorcycling.co.uk/useful-info/buying-a-used-bike/

Bounce the front of the bike up and down and then look for oil rings around the shiny parts of the forks. If oil rings are there it means that the fork seals have gone and need replacing. It’s not expensive for parts but it is for labour unless you can do it yourself. Now do the same with the back of the bike.
Click to expand...

E: He doesn't mean grab a handful of front brake when riding it down the road by the way.
 
Either way some well placed kitchen roll will hide anything but the most fubar'd seals unless you go popping the dust seals out to check underneath.
 
arfoll said:
Honestly bouncing forks at standstill apart from head bearing (and rebound/softness if you know the bike a bit) I don't see what you can tell at a glance...
Click to expand...
You can tell if they're leaking because it leaves a ring of oil on the stanchion when the forks are compressed.
Not a huge problem but they take ages to take apart and refill. Horrible job I've done once and always dread doing again lol.
 
As above you'll see a ring of oil or misting on the stanchion, the dust seals just inspect, if they are cracked/split then it wont be long until the seals start going also.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom