How long are your fork bushing lasting

Tenman

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Dec 7, 2013
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I have never looked at my fork bushings. I've got 47k miles. I'm fixing to do a dump and fill oil change. I'm wondering if anybody has some experience with bushing wear.
 

jrusell

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To have a look at the bushings you will need to separate the outer tube from the lower. This is not hard but in my opinion not needed until a fork seal change is required.

The tubes must be pulled apart and when doing this the bushing on the inner is hitting the bushing on the outer forcing it out of the outer leg. In most cases there is very little damage and they can be reinstalled with no issues. On some bikes I have seen some major loss of bushing material and replacement is needed.

Personally whenever I need to do fork seals I buy bushings at the same time. If I pull them apart and if they look great I will reinstall and the new ones go onto the shelf for the next time. Not that expensive and when I am done I know the forks are in tip top shape.

This is another reason to do regular fork oil changes. The older the oil the more metal debris there will be in the oil. Look at some real old oil and it will have so much metal it shimmers when you shine a light on it. Your bushings are using this as a lubricant. Keeping your oil fresh will extend your bushing life considerably.

If you are going to go all the way and pull them apart I would plan for fork seals as well. I am not a fan of reinstalling used fork seals. I am sure others have done so with no issues, so it depends on what you are comfortable with.

With 47k miles I am sure your oil will be pretty black. You should notice a bit better fork action with the new oil for sure.
 

blitz11

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Sep 23, 2014
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SW Montana
I have never looked at my fork bushings. I've got 47k miles. I'm fixing to do a dump and fill oil change. I'm wondering if anybody has some experience with bushing wear.
When I installed new springs and valving on my 2013 with 500 miles, one of the bushings was completely shot - no "teflon" left on the bushing at all. I am guessing it went in that way, so I replaced all 4 (both legs). I change my fluid every other year (~10 k miles), and it comes out pretty clean, so I am assuming the bushigs are good. No seal leaks, so i haven't taken the forks apart again.

jrusell's comments above are spot-on.
 
B

ballisticexchris

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Bushing wear is very simple to check. I do it at every tire change by simply rocking the bottom tubes. Zero play means good fork bushings. After the coating wears off, the wear of the outer tubes is accelerated (sometimes to the point of needing to be replaced) depending on the quality of anodize. There are too many factors to determine how long they will last. I always change mine along with seals and oil change as part of routine suspension maintenance.
 

Flat lander

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Lawrence Ks.
My experience with fork maintenance comes from all my dirt bikes just work on them when they start leaking. The rest is with my 2001 fz1. I would always change the fluid every year. 10k to 15k on the average. That worked for the first 100k then the seals started to leak. Rebuilt them and never changed the fluid again. That lasted another 85k seals started leaking again. I'm not against doing maintenance. It is possible my 3rd love next to ridding. Wife comes first since she supports my passion. I've done both extremes of the maintenance and basically got the same results.
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
My experience with fork maintenance comes from all my dirt bikes just work on them when they start leaking. The rest is with my 2001 fz1. I would always change the fluid every year. 10k to 15k on the average. That worked for the first 100k then the seals started to leak. Rebuilt them and never changed the fluid again. That lasted another 85k seals started leaking again. I'm not against doing maintenance. It is possible my 3rd love next to ridding. Wife comes first since she supports my passion. I've done both extremes of the maintenance and basically got the same results.
I hear that!! Since a few years ago I just remove and send in my suspension for service. It's such a damn messy job and too time consuming.
 

~TABASCO~

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The Tenere is hard on bushings. I’ve had a seal fail because of the bushing coating falling down into the seal. Anytime I’m messing with my forks I change them (I already have them all torn down anyway). With customers bikes, If I’m ‘going in’, I suggest we change them. I’ve seen some really worn bushings coming out of Teneres in the past.
 

~TABASCO~

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Cycledude

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Replaced the fork bushings in my old 2013 Tenere at 25,000 miles, to me they looked fine but I had everything apart to replace both leaking seals so replaced bushings as well. Those upside down forks seem a lot more difficult to work on then standard forks.
 

Mzee

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Changed my metals at 150,000kms, and did also the oil, new oil seals and the rest of them.

I agree the stock are excellent.
 
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