125-200cc '11 CR150 Fork Oil

Changed the forks seals in my 2011 CR150 and drained some awful oil out of the forks. I guess it was the original oil from what I have read around here - thick and stringy syrup. It was reasonably clean but just terrible stuff to start with I would say. Bushings/internals were in great condition once i got everything cleaned up, seems like it is a low hour bike. Can't wait to ride it with fresh oil!

What did you use?

I used some Honda fork oil that I have used for years. It's 5wt and seems to work well even thought the specs aren't anything special . I have been running it in my shocks for the last 14yrs too, seems good there but I do change it once or twice a year in there

I was looking for the link you posted in the past, but haven't found it yet. What was it, Redline?

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=25&pcid=18

If you use it, let me know what you think

Are you using the 5wt or the "like water"?

Like water. Thought the forks were WAY over damped. Made a big difference.

Not sure if my forks have had any valving done or not - they didn't seem to work bad considering the crap oil that it had. Supposed to go riding this afternoon so I'll know better then

Thanks! 150/165 is a different animal, not sure what the diff is between it and 300 forks. Proper springs and 5wt Maxima and the 300 is fine, not so with the 150.

The redline stuff specs as good oil - great vi rating and pretty stable from 40 - 100 degree ratings in cs

I was looking in the manual and they call for the kyb khl15-whatever oil. I would have thought it would be a nice oil not the stringy stuff I drained out

Well, if it was in there since 2011 not surprising Not sure what was in my 150 forks, not good, but not as bad as the 300. It had what seemed to be different amounts of different oil On the 70s Jap bikes we use to say they used fish oil, it was shite and smelled bad. I switched to Maico in '80 and don't remember any issues with stock oils.

Speaking f fish oil (and I remember that)... I bought a 97 KLX300 parts bike and tore it down last night. I think it had the original oil in the forks. It was so bad, the springs are black at the bottom where they were constantly in the oil. Never sen a bike so poorly maintained as this one... but the price was right.

About these forks: I thought they were OK - just OK on the MX track, but HATED them in the woods. They deflected badly off roots and rocks, and the light oil made a HUGE difference. I said it before, but the difference was so big, it was the weirdest feeling riding a track you've ridden so many times before, and not feeling half the stuff you're expecting.

I will say the forks worked pretty good today. Private track that was freshly groomed, mix of sand/loam. They took the hit and soaked up everything on the track but the whole bike felt loose in the flat corners. If there was a rut I was golden but anywhere else it seemed to float - biting then losing traction front and rear. Weird

Have you read the suspension tuning thread? Good stuff. I changed shock spring on the 165 and now I need to do the tuning dance too.

Don't think I have. I will check it out though. I heard the yz springs fit our Sachs shock - is that what you used?

Actually, on the 165 I replaced a YZ Ti spring with a Husky 5.0 spring. Even with proper sag it seemed like too much spring. I like the Husky spring better already, but it's a little unbalanced which causes the front to tuck under in turns. I put the YZ spring on the 300 which is what I originally got it for. Haven't tested it yet, but hoping it works better on the heavier bike.

Is 5.4 the stock spring rate on the '11-'13 125's? Race tech says I need a 5.6 and they have had it right in the past

5.4 was stock on the 300 and 310, I think. Not sure on the 125, but would think a lighter spring. RT calculated a .44 fork spring for me on the 300 which was too stiff. .40 is plush and easily tuneable with oil level and clicks. They recommended 5.2 shock spring, so I went 5.0 and was great on the 300 and seems right on the 165 too. YZ Ti spring is 4.8, I think, but Ti has different spring characteristics. Also, didn't notice when I put the YZ spring on the 165, but on the 300 it's obvious the spring is a larger diameter. The top washer and rings only cover about 1/2 the spring. I ordered a YZ spring retainer/washer to try next. And, it's a tight fit. On the 165 minor scuff on the swingarm, on the 300 touches the the airbox boot when on the stand, @ 1/4" clearance when on the ground.

If I recall, the 125 was 5.0/.42 stock. I'm 150 lbs intermediate rider, but like my suspension soft and went 5.4/.38 and very happy with it.