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Need help with fork seals im cracking up

wobblybox

wobblybox

Joined Jan 2009
67 Posts | 0+
Norn Iron
The Ohlins specialist in N Ireland reckons the Suzuki seals story is a pile of balls :dunno. Now on reading here its obviously not but he's a very well respected bloke who looks after 90% of racers here. He says they will fit but are dearer and Ohlins have now uprated their seals which has done away with the weakness.

The Ohlins dude will do Ohlins seals etc with forks in bike for £170 a Suzuki garage here with an Aprilia mechanic will do the GSXR seals fitted with forks in bike for £100, but he's never heard of putting GSXR seals in but agrees they will fit.

What would you do????

Soooooo feckin confusing!!!!!!!!!!! :dowhat
 
The Tech may be a decent tech but he is wrong about the seals.
They are 100's of Rsv's out there with suzuki seals and the dimensions of the seal are identical except for the extra lip.

Yes the Ohlins seals were updated about 3 years ago but they are still single lip. depends on you point of view, single lip low stiction, shorter life or double lipped bit more stiction, longer life.

Don't even consider the Suzuki seals won't fit because they 100% will if they get the right 34mm versions.
If you want to trawl the Aprilia forum for peace of mind you will find lots of satisfied customers. Few on Rsvr.net too.

Cost wise suzuki seals are half the price of Aprilia's Ohlins seals but don't know what Ohlins direct charge for them
 
spoonz said:
The Tech may be a decent tech but he is wrong about the seals.
They are 100's of Rsv's out there with suzuki seals and the dimensions of the seal are identical except for the extra lip.

Yes the Ohlins seals were updated about 3 years ago but they are still single lip. depends on you point of view, single lip low stiction, shorter life or double lipped bit more stiction, longer life.

Don't even consider the Suzuki seals won't fit because they 100% will if they get the right 34mm versions.
If you want to trawl the Aprilia forum for peace of mind you will find lots of satisfied customers. Few on Rsvr.net too.

Cost wise suzuki seals are half the price of Aprilia's Ohlins seals but don't know what Ohlins direct charge for them
Click to expand...

Is the stiction noticeable in normal use? The Ohlins guy was saying the Suzuki ones would need thicker backing washers, I have read the threads and all suggest its the way forward. Why is nothing easy :dowhat
 
sprocker said:
Err my "mate" wants to know what "stiction" is :dunno he's such a numpty :biggrin
Click to expand...


The term "stiction" is derived from sheepherders from the Goajira indian tribe if Columbia. Historical stone carvings from 998 bc show carvings which suggest an Irish refugee called Sean who was totally inept at all chores used a large metal bar to beat the sheep into herds.

Unfortunately this caused damage to the sheeps legs and he was told to use a "stick Sean" eventually this was shortened to "stiction" Hope this helps your friend..... :dowhat
 
wobblybox said:
The term "stiction" is derived from sheepherders from the Goajira indian tribe if Columbia. Historical stone carvings from 998 bc show carvings which suggest an Irish refugee called Sean who was totally inept at all chores used a large metal bar to beat the sheep into herds.

Unfortunately this caused damage to the sheeps legs and he was told to use a "stick Sean" eventually this was shortened to "stiction" Hope this helps your friend..... :dowhat
Click to expand...

He says he wants some of what your on :biggrin
 
The stiction is not noticeable from what i've been told.

Backing washers ? Haven't been any on the Aprilia Ohlins i have seen and they don't appear in the manual at all.

You sure this guy is an "Expert"

Pm Scott2ride on Aprilia forum if you like. He had them fitted by a suspension tech in NZ and they went straight in, same dimensions, no mods they just worked. Clarkie ran them on his Factory in the AMA in the US etc etc. Lots of people using them.

You can analise it any which way chap but they just go in and work. What more can i say really. :dunno.



Just looked at the ohlins manual. He might mean the seperating washer between the seal and the lower bush. No it doesn't need to be thicker.
 
Last edited:
Had mine done nearly 1000miles ago with R1 SP seals and no problems. I think the seals were less than twenty quid,just thought I'd throw that in.
 
Does anybody have a part number for the cheaper seals that will fit my 2001 R model.Many thanks.:biggrin
 
Any bike manufacturer that uses 43mm Ohlins road and track forks will have seals.

Ducati, Benelli, R1 SP etc. I used Ducati seals and they were about £8 each i think off Ebay.

The Suzuki seals are more robust and ideal if you do high mileage or your forks get hammered by winter crap on a regular basis. Most Ohlins seals leak due to dirt on the lip as much as wear.

Aprilia insist on supplying the dust seal as well hence why they are so expensive.
 
i had my fork seals changed by my local kawasaki also ducati dealer as they had popped

they charged £179 with the forks in the bike , had the bushes replaced , seals and dust covers and fork oil all in that price

didnt think it was that bad really

the gsxr seals do fit as all dimensions are the same
 
Fyi i did some checking and the Aprilia Ohlins seals were/are 11mm and the R1 SP, Suzuki, uses 9.5mm seals but they go in with no issues or spacing mods needed.

The R1 SP is the same fork Internally as the Aprilia uses and uses a 9.5mm seal no problem. It may be the 9.5mm seal is the revision Ohlins seal and the 11mm the old style but i couldn't confirm that.
 
spoonz said:
Any bike manufacturer that uses 43mm Ohlins road and track forks will have seals.

Ducati, Benelli, R1 SP etc. I used Ducati seals and they were about £8 each i think off Ebay.

The Suzuki seals are more robust and ideal if you do high mileage or your forks get hammered by winter crap on a regular basis. Most Ohlins seals leak due to dirt on the lip as much as wear.

Aprilia insist on supplying the dust seal as well hence why they are so expensive.
Click to expand...
:thumbup Cheers ,what model year gsxr seals fit,Thanks
 
I've recently did miy ohlins,rang Harris performance the uk importer for road ohlins,Markn Hammond imports dirt ohlins.Anyway Ohlins seals,twin lip variety,no gap between seal & snap ring & ohlins road & track fluid{fork oil} £42 delivered,the oil is £20 a litre & seals £6 something,The ohlins are supposed to be servised more regulary anyway.Im always supprise at people who spend a fortune on decent tyres & change the engine oil before it is due,but ask them when they did their suspension oils & they reply they have never done it! Why have that very expensive ohlins & not give them fresh oil?
They are one of the easiest forks to service that I have ever come across,try doing Kyb's on a TL1000 & you'll know what I mean,without the corrct tools to compress the spring ,they are a pig.Ohlins are simple in comparrison & £42 & an evening in the garage & I get a guy to check my shock,fresh ohlins oil & regass £40 the last time he did it
 
Vince said:
I've recently did miy ohlins,rang Harris performance the uk importer for road ohlins,Markn Hammond imports dirt ohlins.Anyway Ohlins seals,twin lip variety,no gap between seal & snap ring & ohlins road & track fluid{fork oil} £42 delivered,the oil is £20 a litre & seals £6 something,The ohlins are supposed to be servised more regulary anyway.Im always supprise at people who spend a fortune on decent tyres & change the engine oil before it is due,but ask them when they did their suspension oils & they reply they have never done it! Why have that very expensive ohlins & not give them fresh oil?
They are one of the easiest forks to service that I have ever come across,try doing Kyb's on a TL1000 & you'll know what I mean,without the corrct tools to compress the spring ,they are a pig.Ohlins are simple in comparrison & £42 & an evening in the garage & I get a guy to check my shock,fresh ohlins oil & regass £40 the last time he did it
Click to expand...
:thumbup Nice thread on how to change you front ohlins oil would be great.:biggrin
 
I seem to remember seeing some videos on YouTube about servicing Ohlins forks.

I'll have a gander again and see what I can find.
 
amb67 said:
I seem to remember seeing some videos on YouTube about servicing Ohlins forks.

I'll have a gander again and see what I can find.
Click to expand...

:thumbup That would be great,i have downloaded the ohlins manual but it does not really tell you how to change oil.More of a full strip.
You wouldnt know what model suzuki seals fit,not sure if it would be a good job to replace seals at same time for peace of mind.:biggrin
 
p.ludlow said:
:thumbup That would be great,i have downloaded the ohlins manual but it does not really tell you how to change oil.More of a full strip.
You wouldnt know what model suzuki seals fit,not sure if it would be a good job to replace seals at same time for peace of mind.:biggrin
Click to expand...

If your removing your forks and stripping down then you must replace the seals.

False economy not to really.

On the Ohlins forks it's a known issue that the seals fail, best to replace before you end up with oil on your front tyre.
 

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