Honda ST1100 Section > Suspension ST1100

ST1100 Fork oil change

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bluehonda:
 :bl11

I hit the mother of all potholes on my road the other day (gravel road and broken afternoon shadows) and since then my rear shock has been bottoming out in bumps where it didn't do it before.

I plan to get a new rear shock from the US, currently about $400 on Ebay but first I want to change the fork oil.

My bike is a 1999 ST1100 (ABS TCS LBS) and I can't find a drain "bolt" if it's on my forks at all.  I know some models have the bolt.
Is it located in the forks above the axle or do I need to remove the guard, brakes, wheel etc and then remove the forks because that's how you change the oil on my model.

Thanks
Brad

Brock:
There is no shocky oil drain in the fork. The only oil drain in the fork area is the rear diff drain. In fact, it looks like there is no oil drain as such on the rear shock at all (according to the maintenance manual).

You may very well have blown a seal in the shock when you hit the hole.

alans1100:
I haven't had much to do with front forks other than getting fork seals replaced when required as usually I don't have a problem with them.

My rear shock is still original and near the end of it's life. It does bottom out sometimes when I'm riding two up, but I think that's more an issue of SA's not to perfect road surfaces on minor country roads. I'm going for a progressive rear shock myself when funds allow.

What I had forgotten was that I set the rear shock pre-load to the 2nd setting as I only had a pillion with me occaisionally, now we mostly do two-up and for got to adjust the rear setting. now it's set on 4th position and most of bottoming out is gone.

You might also need to check your rear shock pre-load and damping settings at

http://www.pan-europe.utvinternet.ie/owners_manual/major_components.htm

Found this page for you to look at re fork oil change on 1100, sounds to involved for me.

http://will.mylanders.com/mc/notes/read.pl?file=197

Hope that helps

bluehonda:
 :bl11

Thanks for the advice.  My bikes done about 70,000kms.
My front forks aren't leaking so I think the oil has broken down and needs replacing.

The rear shock isn't leaking and if the oil has broken down maybe the problem (pogo-ing) can be fixed by turning the adjustment to make the damping firmer.  Then again if the oil has broken I might not be able to fix it.  Might just need a new shock.  Didn't have the problem before that big pothole  hiding in the shadows.

If I make this technical adjustment tonight I'll have to go for a ride tomorrow to see if i have fixed it.

Brad

Brock:
Nothing worse than being forced to do a check ride..... :grin :grin :grin

Better make sure and do 100Ks or so, dont want to miss something.

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