Where to buy fork oil?

d3matt
d3matt Posts: 510
edited February 2012 in MTB buying advice
I've got to service my RockShox Reba SL and need some 5wt and 15wt fork oil. Were's the best place to buy this from online? i.e. not get ripped off with oil labelled as "mtb oil" in silly little bottles.
Riding this Boardman Team FS 2010. Also trying my first blog.

Comments

  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    I use Stendec Crystal oil. Always seems good and not silly prices. £6 - 7 for a half litre.
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • d3matt
    d3matt Posts: 510
    Thanks. Just purchased some of that from CRC. At £5.99 per 500ml bottle, its about the cheapest around.
    Riding this Boardman Team FS 2010. Also trying my first blog.
  • Neal_
    Neal_ Posts: 477
    What cSt @40C are the 5wt and 15wt Stendec Crystal oils? Their website doesn't seem to have this info and not all 5wt oils are the same, see here > http://www.peterverdone.com/wiki/index. ... sion_Fluid

    RS 5wt oil is the same as Torco RFF 7 which is 16.1 cSt @40C so for the damper you want something close to this, I've just serviced mine using Red Line Lightweight > http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-60183-red-l ... fluid.aspx

    The 15wt oil is just for lubrication so the weight of it isn't too important and you could in fact use synthetic engine oil (http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-68959-mobil ... e-oil.aspx) in the lowers and synthetic gear oil (http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-806-mobil-m ... r-oil.aspx) for the top of the air side leg.

    I'm sure Stendec Crystal will be fine though but it's worth bearing in mind the weight printed on the bottle doesn't mean it will be exactly the same as the same weight from another brand.
  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    That does somewhat assume that the weight of oil was correct for you in the first place. Oil is one of those funny things , where experimentation with different weights/mixed weights can often yield better results for you individually.

    While I can't tell you the specific weights of Stendec's products, I can tell you that Dave, who runs stendec, has been a world cup DH team fettler for over a decade, and I've always found their products to be as good as anything else I have tried from an MTB brand.... although MX/Moto/Car oils might be better due to the size of the market.
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • mfereborn
    mfereborn Posts: 480
    May i ask why motorcycle fork oil wouldnt work?

    I have much lying around is why i ask!
    The Frog: Lapierre Zesty 214 2010 - Upgraded - W.I.P
  • benpinnick
    benpinnick Posts: 4,148
    They will, assuming its the right weight and of suitable quality. The link above in Neal_s post, will assist you in figuring that out.
    A Flock of Birds
    + some other bikes.
  • Neal_
    Neal_ Posts: 477
    benpinnick wrote:
    That does somewhat assume that the weight of oil was correct for you in the first place. Oil is one of those funny things , where experimentation with different weights/mixed weights can often yield better results for you individually.

    While I can't tell you the specific weights of Stendec's products, I can tell you that Dave, who runs stendec, has been a world cup DH team fettler for over a decade, and I've always found their products to be as good as anything else I have tried from an MTB brand.... although MX/Moto/Car oils might be better due to the size of the market.

    It is true that a bit of experimentation with suspension fluid weights can yield improved results but if I was going to start mixing different weights I'd want to know their cSt @ 40C first so I knew what I was doing, I'm sure they could give you this info if you asked. Stendec are fairly local to me and seem like they know there stuff considering their work with the CRC team plus their products get good reviews so I would certainly consider using them. I think what is most important is to find a brand you're happy with and stick with it so you have consistency when you start tweaking things.


    Also most MTB specific fork oil is just rebranded motorcycle suspension fluid so as benpinnick has said it's fine to use.

Categories