Fork oil and capasity for ST1100AX ABSII

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How difficult it should be to find the oil type and quantity, look in both the user manual and the workshop manual. What fork oil and capasity in liters / deciliters for 1999 ST1100AX ABSII …

I also found a video about replacing the bushings and seals here on the forum in another thread.

 

[raygks]

I think you’ll be better off using the oil level method as a guide since you’re doing a full rebuild with replacement bushings and seals, the forks will be coming apart anyway.

I found that by using oil level specs, actual oil capacity is lower than manual stated slightly.

Manual states factory uses ss7, I’ve been using belray 10w replacement for some time since I find ss7 to be abit mushy/soft front end for me. Fork oil weight is some sort of like preferences, some prefer stiffer(10/15w) while some softer(5/7.5w)

Different manufacturers oil weight can have different oil viscosities. You might wana try a specific weight, if doesn’t like it then replace for another weight again.

 

[increasing]

In the video I linked to in the first post, the following oil is used «BelRay 15W HighPerformance»

 

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Double post

 

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What about Putoline fork oil, they have the following to choose from: Putoline HPX R 2.5W - 4W - 5W - 7.5W - 10W - 15W and 20W …

 

[Andrew Shadow]

Since fork fluid doesn't use a standardized weight rating like the viscosity rating of engine oils so they can not be compared simply by their labeled weight number. i.e. Brand A fork fluid labeled #7 may have more or less dampening abilities than brand B #7 does, and they might both be different from the Honda branded SS7 fork fluid.

Dave (@dduelin) posted a chart that provides a comparison of the characteristics of different brands of suspension fluids to make it easier to compare one to the other. See his post below;
Fork Oil Comparison

 

[increasing]

The link in the thread is not active. Putoline have also Heavy Fork mineral oil SAE 20 for regular road use or Putoline ATF Dexron III-D

Heavy Fork - 12 X 500 ml bottle - Putoline Oil - Putoline

Putoline Oil is a high-quality supplier of a wide range of lubricants and maintenance products. We only supply products for motorised two-wheelers and that makes us unique! Our years of experience, combined with continuous research results in the best price/quality ratio. Manufacturing our own...

www.putoline.com

ATF - 12 X 1 L bottle - Putoline Oil - Putoline

Putoline Oil is a high-quality supplier of a wide range of lubricants and maintenance products. We only supply products for motorised two-wheelers and that makes us unique! Our years of experience, combined with continuous research results in the best price/quality ratio. Manufacturing our own...

www.putoline.com

Honda use to recommend ATF be used for just about everything they made from dirt bikes to Goldwings, until somebody figured out they could market it and make a killing.

 

[dduelin]

A search for fork oil comparison chart hits multiple URLs. This is just one example.

Comparative Oil Weights Table - Transmoto

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.

transmoto.com.au

 

[increasing]

Appreciate all feedback and the "Comparative Suspension Fluid Oil Weight Table" but it doesn't tell me much. Can someone provide a "dummies guide" for the table... What oils does Honda recommend...

Comparative suspension fluid oil weights table

What's the difference between a 5wt and a 7.5 weight? This table gives a comparison of all major oil company suspension fluids.

www.teknikmotorsport.com

 

[dduelin]

Appreciate all feedback and the "Comparative Suspension Fluid Oil Weight Table" but it doesn't tell me much. Can someone provide a "dummies guide" for the table... What oils does Honda recommend...

Comparative suspension fluid oil weights table

What's the difference between a 5wt and a 7.5 weight? This table gives a comparison of all major oil company suspension fluids.

www.teknikmotorsport.com

Looking at one post above it looks like Honda used Pro Honda Showa SS-7 for factory fill. Honda still sells this product. This is nominally a 5wt fluid. Look in the chart and find Showa SS-7 and note the values in cSt 40C (16.6) and cSt 100C (3.8) and viscosity index (135). If the Showa oil is OK for you then buy it or find another brand with values the same or very close. If you desire a thinner oil look for values smaller than given for Showa SS-7 and higher than SS-7 values for a thicker fluid. The reasoning for the comparisons is that some nominal 10wt fluids have values similar to another different brand in 5 wt, 7.5 wt, or 10 wt. Thus choosing a 5wt fluid based on wt on the bottle might get you something that acts differently than the baseline factory fill.

 

[increasing]

Thanks for the clarifying info about oil type I've read a bit about oil quantity on the forum here and what I find for my bike is the following.

Right fork volume 533ml
Left fork volume 486ml

Honda recommends Pro Honda Suspension Fluid SS-7 I'm using the table from @dduelin to find an oil I think will be good for me, thinking a little stiffer/sportier compared to standard

St1100 2000, Fork Oil Volume and depth from Honda Manual | ST1100-Suspension

Hi I'm still waiting for my manuals to arrive but have a bit of an urgent issue which I would appreciate some assistance with. My local bike garage replaced the fork seals, the mechanic contacted Honda who told him to refill with 380ml in each fork leg. After riding it today and feeling that...

www.st-owners.com

Information regarding oil quantity:

St1100 2000, Fork Oil Volume and depth from Honda Manual | ST1100-Suspension

Excellent! Glad you are back on the road again. Good to know about the new fork oil. I only saw the 5 weight oil at the dealer and he said he was out of the 7 weight. So I used BelRay 10 weight fork oil, which also feels good and firm for me. Over years of oil passing thru dampening orfices...

www.st-owners.com

 

[increasing]

Now I have read through the entire thread here and watched both movies so this should go very well, regarding oil choice I am thinking of an oil that gives me a slightly stiffer fork. I will spend a little more time before I decide which oil The two oils I have looked at can be purchased locally here and they have all viscosity grades.

RSF 7.5 - FUCHS Silkolene

www.silkolene.com

HPX R 10W - 12 X 1 L bottle - Putoline Oil - Putoline

Putoline Oil is a high-quality supplier of a wide range of lubricants and maintenance products. We only supply products for motorised two-wheelers and that makes us unique! Our years of experience, combined with continuous research results in the best price/quality ratio. Manufacturing our own...

www.putoline.com

 

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Now both suspension struts are washed on the workbench ready for overhaul, all parts are hopefully in the house along with oil. Honda recommends Showa SS-7 (5wt Apollo) or Dextron ATF (early recommendation), according to the recommendation here on the forum no more than 10W and my local motorcycle repair shop that sells Fuchs oil also had Silkolene RSF 10W as its recommendation in their systems which explains the choice. After dismantling I let the parts stand overnight before assembly and oil is topped up according to quantity and not according to level measurement.

 

[dduelin]

I know you are pleased to get to this point.

 

[ST1100Y]

hmm...
after all the filling, pumping/purging the damper inside and getting caps back on, I always store the forks vertically till installation...