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Fork seals and oil

brownie0486

brownie0486

Well-known member
2016 r1200rs with 29K on the odo. Coming up for service soon enough. Taking a 3500 mile 3 week trip mid July, question--------

Should I have the fork seals and oil changed in the tubes at the 30K service? They show no signs of leaking. They've not been done to my knowledge.

Or is is a case of "if it's not broke, leave it alone." -- I've read that service should be performed at 18K, 24K etc.

Better to be preventative maintenance oriented or wait and get them done at the 36K big service later this year?

Thanks
 
brownie0486 said:
2016 r1200rs with 29K on the odo. Coming up for service soon enough. Taking a 3500 mile 3 week trip mid July, question--------

Should I have the fork seals and oil changed in the tubes at the 30K service? They show no signs of leaking. They've not been done to my knowledge.

Or is is a case of "if it's not broke, leave it alone." -- I've read that service should be performed at 18K, 24K etc.

Better to be preventative maintenance oriented or wait and get them done at the 36K big service later this year?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Where did you see the need to service? I had one leak at 44k on my 14R1200RT. The forks provide no real dampening. I don't know of any service requirement, only replace when they fail. Sorry now I see it's an RS not an RT never mind :)
 
Last edited:
How is the rebound damping? When the oil gets old you'll lose some damping and the front end gets bouncy. See the attached Dave Moss video about how to evaluate good vs. bad fork damping.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz0z5IgVGSg

My understanding is that the RS doesn't have adjustable damping like Dave's bike in the video. Thus as the oil degrades one can't simply close the adjuster a little to compensate. When the oil degrades to the point where it's not doing its job it needs replacing.

Good luck and enjoy your trip!
 
At 30K the oil is likely shot. I'd do it now.
Seals only make sense while apart.

I have no experience with the RS specifically but my FJR needed fork bushings at this point as well.

YMMV
 
If the seals aren't leaking, and the tubes show no scratches, an oil change is all that's really required. An Aussie member of the R1200R forum did an excellent writeup on the procedure here if you want to undertake the service yourself.
 
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