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[Chad]

 Iam going to change out my fork springs pretty soon and was wondering what suggestions anyone has on fork spring oil. The RACINX appreciates your help. ( Bikes name) 

[hipshot]

Amsoil makes a synthetic fork oil that I'm sure is as good as it gets. I generally just go to the local bike shop and buy a couple of quarts (actually, I think they come in litre bottles) of BelRay fork oil. Be sure to look up the capacities before you go; many Honda dealers seem to think that your forks require a lot less oil than the manual calls for. I know several folks have showed up here with a set of Progressive springs and either two or three pints of Honda fork oil; the dealer told them that's all the oil they'd need.

Be sure to pull the forks and pump them inverted to remove all of the old oil. Some folks think that you can suck it all out with the forks on the bike, but you can't get it all that way, and what stays in there has a lot of the built-up sludge in it.

[Pug]

+1 on the change to Amsoil. 

The OEM oil seems to sludge up a bit too quickly. I switched to Amsoil with my Progressive springs and love the difference (didn't help that my X -- like the majority -- came low on fork oil from the factory).

[Lucky]

Hmmm...low on fork oil from the factory?  Having just bought a new dealer bike is this something I should check?  And (hating to look stupid) how do I check the fork oil.  I need to get one of those darn service manuals.

[hipshot]

Connie, if you don't have any issues with the forks your oil level is probably fine. BUT..............you really do need to pick up a service manual. I don't know if Joey had one, but if not, you need one for Wayne's new ride too.

[Pug]

Unfortunately, the low fork oil level is more common (see multiple posts on the VTXCafe.com forum) than you might imagine. However, it's not a critical issue -- just causes a rougher ride, allowing the front forks to "bottom out" on speed bumps, dips, or street gutters (especially when entering or exiting asphalt or pavement). It's easy to check, and easy to fill (provided you've got some help to remove the cap -- great care as it is under considerable pressure from the fork springs).

For the 1300R&S fluid level (check the manual for the C) each fork tube takes 15.5 ±.08 US oz. of fluid. With the bike on a stand with the front wheel off the ground, the fork oil level should be 10" or 254mm from the top with the washer, spacer and springs out. This is just over 15 ozs. The easiest way to measure the fork oil level is to mark a wooden dowel and use it as a dipstick. If you remove the forks to clean them out, the oil level should measure 135mm or 5.3 inches (with the forks off the bike without seat, spring, or spacer, fully compressed and held straight up and down).

Regarding the manual, if you've got a high speed modem you can download a pdf manual at the VTXCafe forum. Here's the link: http://www.vtxcafe.com/showthread.php?t=3614. THe VTX Tech Knowledgebase is also a great source for additional help and is free on-line at: http://tech.vtxoa.com/.

Hope this helps...

[Lucky]

Thanks Pug for that link...but I still have yet another question...the link is for 03 1300's...I know that all the years of bikes are basically the same, but before I go spending lots of time downloading, would this PDF manual work for an 06 1300 also?

[Chad]

Thanks all for the reply!! I just wanted someone to back me up on the Amsoil for oil and yall did!! Much appreciated!!