15w fork oil- anyone using it.
 

My forks need fresh oil after 23000 miles.

Anyone using 15w oil, I'm wondering if it will give too firm a ride.

I am.

It's standard with the HyperPro springs, so I can't realy comment on it's use with the standard springs, but worth a go I'd say.

I use 5 (SAE 10) ohlins oil with springs , and this is already more then stiff enough :)

maybe other springs are softer ... , don't know

Well I've put some Silkolene sae 15 Intermediate oil in with the standard springs.

I'll report back how it feels.

I love tinkering with the Tenere it's such an easy bike to work on, actually the same can be said for all the Yamahas I've had.

The sae 15 is blue I wonder if silkolene colour code their susp fluids or all the grades are blue, anyone know?

Gregor

Will be interested to hear your experiences because I'm contemplating doing the same thing myself on my XTR at the 25,000 km service.

Was really looking at updating to Hyperpro Front Springs but as it looks like I'll be changing over (upgrading ?) to a Super Tenere early next year this might be a suitable short term option.

Well after a quick ride I can say it is a definite improvement whether that is down to the heavier grade oil or just the fact that what was in there was well past it's best and had gradually deteriorated is debateable.


The bike feels more planted, holding a tighter line when cornering with less see-sawing on rough roads and when accelerating.No masssive decrease in dive when braking but certainly less.

I also reckon the engine was smoother, I guess because there was less movement at the swingarm so less chain play up and down - I think some of us have experienced the effect of a worn or badly adjusted chain has on the fuel injection.

I had a quick spin offroad down a byway and again a definite improvement with the bike following a cleaner line, couldn't up the speed as it's been raining all week and I'm running on Distanzias but I'm hoping it will tackle bigger bumps and dips better.

What does the bike have out of the shop? 10w?

I remember having an Aprilia Shiver with really soft forks. The shop said they could try changing it to 15w, and I must say it made a great improvement. Mind you the Shiver is a bike for fast corners and racing around town. Driving around town over tram tracks, cracks and cobblestone was hell, though.

I test rode an "old" 660z before buying the "new" 2011 ABS Tenere with shorter suspension travel. The old one felt like driving around on a cloud/waterbed so I can imagine it would benefit somewhat from 15w oil (if it has softer by default) if you want to get better road handling at least. Wouldn't put it in my ABS version, though. Shocks are much firmer.

I did 10000 kilometres with Hyperpro springs and oil.
It still works quite OK, but I am not sure it will do same good for the next 10.000 (next season) so am thinking to change the oil.
Any info what is the proper procedure of changing fork oil on Tenere?

Originally there should be 10W in them, but what was actually in there I do not know but it was to little. I set the oil hight to the spec (145mm from top) with 10W which gave a big improvement. I do not like to try 15W because this is stiff enough.

now thats interesting to me ....
im not sure ive put ohlins springs in an they suggest 10 oil
it still feels a little underdamped at times

i asked the guys at kais ..supension .....he was unsure saying it may be a little too slow compressing off road
you dont by any chance know what nm rating the hypro are ??
how is it on rocky stuff

im tempeted to gice it a whirl