2011 leaking fork seals anyone?

[mvk]

Well my new bike is channeling my Norton - those of a certain vintage and masochistic tendencies who own British bikes will remember the chronic problem with leaking front fork seals which led to many lengthy debates about 'soft chrome', plasticine seals etc.
After no problems with my 2007R I found this on my whiz bang 2011R, after the first few hundred km-




Both forks had similar signs of leakage.
This was readily acknowledged by the dealer as a fault and repaired under warranty at about 3,000 km but 500 km later it's back!
Could I ask all you 2011 buyers to check your forks to see if it is just mine or a wider issue (assuming you have not lovingly polished it every day...) On one of my photos it almost looks like the surface of the fork is scratched.

When the seals were replaced, I expressed my scepticism to the mechanic, 'surely 2 seals can't both be faulty' He did not disagree but said we had to tackle this one step at a time starting with the most obvious likely cause.

Not impressed...

[rockbottom]

I had that problem on a 2008 F800ST, so BMW is not immune. Heading to the garage to check mine now.

[2wheels]

Kind of looks normal to me! The forks are not hydraulic so contain no oil. This looks more like assembly grease. If you wipe it off does it reappear?

Start worrying when it runs down fork leg onto calipers....

[deilenberger]

Kind of looks normal to me! The forks are not hydraulic so contain no oil. This looks more like assembly grease. If you wipe it off does it reappear?

Start worrying when it runs down fork leg onto calipers....

Actually - they do have some oil in them just for lubrication. It does seem an excessive amount, and I see what looks like scratches on the one fork tube. I'd say see the dealer for warranty correction of the fault. Mine stay nice and dry (47,500 miles and counting..)

[mvk]

Yeah we thought about the assembly oil concept also but after wiping it off a few times it kept reappearing and Deilenberger is right - there is a reasonable amount of oil in the assembly. Note these seals are a different design than the previous with an external spring -the earlier ones looked neater.

[hjsbmw]

I used to change the fork oil on traditional forks every 2-3 years. It is not a maintenance item listed for the Roadster. Due to the design I would expect less wear and contamination, but it would seem one should still change this oil at certain intervals to prevent leaking seals. Thoughts?

[deilenberger]

I used to change the fork oil on traditional forks every 2-3 years. It is not a maintenance item listed for the Roadster. Due to the design I would expect less wear and contamination, but it would seem one should still change this oil at certain intervals to prevent leaking seals. Thoughts?

I don't think it's necessary. It's only used to lubricate the sliders moving on the fork tubes. There isn't any shearing action going on since no damping is done in the forks. I think as long as there is oil in there, it will stay just fine, and can't imagine how it could damage the seals. Most seal damage happens from stuff (dead bugs, grit, dirt) becoming caught on the fork tube, then wiped off with the seal as the slider moves. On BMW K bikes - the seals are a 20k item on a lot of riders bikes until they put "forkgaters" (accordian like boots) over the sliders. Then they last about forever. The gaters keep the "stuff" off the fork sliders.

[mvk]

Once again, I agree 100% with Don's analysis. The oil in the fork tubes won't be working as hard as in conventional forks because I understand it serves only as a lubricant and has no hydraulic function. I could even put up with some weeping (although I won't) but the problem is that (as Don pointed out) dust and grit are attracted to this and will score the metal surface allowing even more oil and grit to sit in the score marks and generally exacerbating the problem...Seals won't last long under these circumstances.

But if it is dry, don't touch 'em.

So, I haven't heard any general wailing and gnashing of teeth from others so I am assuming this is a one-off?

[hjsbmw]

But if it is dry, don't touch 'em.

I'll make that my mantra. Thanks to both of you.

[Fjm]

Mvk, my forks are clean.
Will monitor the situation and see how it goes.

[xbpod]

I have the same problem with oil on the fork slider, but I can't see any scratches. Mine is a 2011 with 450 miles on the clock and is booked in for its 1st service on 20/06/11. Will see what the dealer has to say and report back.

Pete.

[speedybrother]

Yep, same problem on my 2011 R1200R, happened at about 3,000kms. Fork seals replaced under warranty. Looks like a common problem for this series of roadster. Having said that, got to say loving this bike.

Cheers
Speedybrother
Sydney OZ

[rex akro]

Note these seals are a different design than the previous with an external spring -the earlier ones looked neater.

These are just dust seals, the oil seals are underneath them.

[Anyname]

My 2011 looked like that for the first 60 or 70 miles. I wiped it off and they have been dry ever since.

[Sander Abernathy]

My 2009 never had that problem. Both of my 2011s did from new.

I haven't tried wiping the oil off and seeing if it returns. Such an activity skirts dangerously close to washing a motorcycle and I've never done that.

I guess I'll ask the dealer to address the fork seals when the bike goes in for a new fuel strip.

[docdarrell]

My 2011 has 2000 chilometers on it and I have to say that I usually find the forks to be in similar shape to the photos when I wash the bike, I hadn't really seen it as a problem since it seems like a minimal amount of "leakage". Now I'm not sure what to think with all of your guys pointing it out as a problem.

[street bob 59]

I only have 400+ miles on mine, but already have some marking. Thanks for the tip. I will keep my eyes on them.

[deilenberger]

My 2011 has 2000 chilometers on it and I have to say that I usually find the forks to be in similar shape to the photos when I wash the bike, I hadn't really seen it as a problem since it seems like a minimal amount of "leakage". Now I'm not sure what to think with all of your guys pointing it out as a problem.

There is no normal or minimal amount of leakage on a BMW.. they are supposed to stay dry, they are not brit or HD..

[xbpod]

Had mine checked at the dealers this week as I had visible oil on the sliders after a 450 mile weekend. They pulled the dust covers and said all was OK with the seals inspite of some energetic pumping of the front end. Their take on the oil was that some might have leaked past the seals whilst the bike was strapped down for shipping and had now been blown past the dust caps. I will keep a check on it.

[Fjm]

....They pulled the dust covers and said all was OK with the seals inspite of some energetic pumping of the front end. Their take on the oil was that some might have leaked past the seals whilst the bike was strapped down for shipping and had now been blown past the dust caps. I will keep a check on it.

Thats what my dealer advised also. I have now more like a slight film smear on my fork tubes vs. lots of oil. I also get a noticeable scum ring forming at the top of the compressed fork tubes, which reappears after washing. I am sure if the oil was not leaking (as it shouldnt!) and acting as a binder for particle contaminants, the scum rings would disappear.

How are your fork tubes going MVK?