How many mL of fork oil?

[justafifteen]

Could anyone tell me how many mL of fork oil is needed in each fork, on average? I am 165lbs, stock springs etc

[slipperymongoose]

First up, your better of measuring with a ruler or vernier calipers like I did with your tube fully compressed down with no spring from the top lip, ml capacity is a general guide. Second what year is your bike? Need to know that as different years have different heights. Thirdly your weight would really only come into play if you were upgrading your springs. If you have a Haynes or clymer manual just stick to the specs in that. Finally if your doing your fork oil are you going to do your fork seals? Good time to do them while there apart, also check the general condition and straightness of your fork tubes. Hope this helps. 

[justafifteen]

First up, your better of measuring with a ruler or vernier calipers like I did with your tube fully compressed down with no spring from the top lip, ml capacity is a general guide. Second what year is your bike? Need to know that as different years have different heights. Thirdly your weight would really only come into play if you were upgrading your springs. If you have a Haynes or clymer manual just stick to the specs in that. Finally if your doing your fork oil are you going to do your fork seals? Good time to do them while there apart, also check the general condition and straightness of your fork tubes. Hope this helps. 

Thanks

It's a 2005. I don't have a haynes/clymer manual. I am replacing my fork seals and hence also changing out the fork oil (I could only get ahold of 10wt  ). The fork tubes are perfect.

What should I measure to with a ruler?

[Bullfrog]

Compress the tubes and measure from the upper lip to the oil surface. Should be 105 milimeters (4.13 inches) afaik.

But you have to do the following: Insert some oil and then move the tube up'n'down until that smacking sound is gone. By doing this, you make sure that there's no air left in the tube.

[RichDesmond]

Compress the tubes and measure from the upper lip to the oil surface. Should be 105 milimeters (4.13 inches) afaik.

But you have to do the following: Insert some oil and then move the tube up'n'down until that smacking sound is gone. By doing this, you make sure that there's no air left in the tube.

Yep, with the stock springs 10w and 100-105mm are good numbers.
Just to reinforce the point, you're measuring the air gap above the surface of the oil, so a bigger number means less oil.