fork oil

[raphael]

Hi
which oil do you use in your fork ? I have 10w30 and 20w30 and can't choose....
thanks !

[Jerry]

Yamaha recommends 10 weight fork oil or equivalant for the XJ forks. I believe this is the same for the XS. Heavier will make the forks 'stiffer'. You can go all the way down to a 5 weight if you want a more supple front suspension.

Some folks use automtic transmission fluid, which is fine but the weight is more variable from batch to batch.

[squarehdca]

I use an synthetic iso 68 hydraulic fluid (similar to a SAE 30 wt), works well and since it comes from work the price is right ( damn , said that out loud).
Nothing beats changing the fluid yearly in northern climates , same goes for brake fluid.

[buffalo]

I use 7.5 wt Yamaha fork oil in my 78 xs1100E. Works pretty well, with preload set fairly heavy ( I am pretty large and tend to ride aggressively) fork is still supple over bumps. Heavier oil tends to slow response, try different weights and preload settings to see what works best for you. Also adjusting the volume of oil in the forks can make a big difference.