Dont Buy CHEAP fork seals

Just wondering, how often do you bleed the air out of the forks?
I'm thinking the seals I had replaced were due to high pressure build up in the fork leg.

I know there has been been some debate on here about this Kelsow,but I swear by the one touch fork bleeders.Both my KTM's used to get noticeably harsh especially in a hare scramble or longer hard ride.When I bled the them the amount of air that came out was amazing compared to showas and kyb's I've owned or on friends bikes.I can't speak for the Berg suspension that way yet but I have them on it anyway.

Good move with the Synergy seals. I have them in three bikes, and have never had a leak on any of them. I've gotten two years out of the pair on my KTM. They are the real deal if you want to quit worrying about leaky fork seals.

I was advised the other day not to use " leak proof fork seals ". They are prone to leak sooner than others.

The KTM/WP seals were re-designed in '05 and are less prone to leaks. I also use Seal Savers and this has helped significantly. I've also heard good thing about Synergy Seals. I have no experience with them, however my suspension guy says he does not see any advantage to them.

i can honestly say that on my last 6 bikes i have only had to change two sets of seals.
if there going this regular there must be something causing it (other than air build up which i don't believe blows seals)
who's fitting them?

I have one leg with a kawasaki seal (never any problems), and the other leg has the original ktm seal. The ktm seal has been reused (removed and then reinserted), but I modified it back in the beginning, by shortening the oil seal spring/ring (which I also did to the wipers). I have nearly 5000 miles on that seal. I think that is also the leg that has a dent in it from a cliff fall in moab, that deformed the wiper seal. Last year I had to do the 35mm trick once, but that has been it. It has gone far beyond the seal call of duty. I only bleed the forks when I remember.

kelsow said:

Just wondering, how often do you bleed the air out of the forks?
I'm thinking the seals I had replaced were due to high pressure build up in the fork leg.

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if the forks hold up to jumping, they should hold up to a little pressure imho. in my personal experience, fork seal leaks are most frequently due to mud drying on the fork leg and then getting forced past the wiper. the oem fork seals have a perfect spot for collecting dirt in between the seal lips, and once enough gets in there, you get a leak. most times you can just take the fork apart, clean the dirt out of the seals and reinstall (total time about 1 hour).

alternately, you can get synergy seals, which seem to have less of a spot for the dirt to build up in. i don't ride in much mud, but when i do, it's seal-eating, fast-drying dezert mud. i've never had a problem in traditional wet mud on rainy days.

also, fwiw, my 02 forks (43mm) get alot of air buildup. my 04 and 05 forks (48mm) get very little air build-up. mostly only the result of dramatic temp and altitude changes.

mw

baja_racer said:

The KTM/WP seals were re-designed in '05 and are less prone to leaks. I also use Seal Savers and this has helped significantly. I've also heard good thing about Synergy Seals. I have no experience with them, however my suspension guy says he does not see any advantage to them.

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He will be converted someday soon!

KaBooM