Motorex vs. Maxima (or Silkolene) Fork Oil

[IntenseMack10]

Does anyone have any info on the performance and specs of Motorex 5wt fork oil (for the damper) vs Maxima or Silkolene? Im going to do a basic oil change in my Dorado. Manitou prefers Motorex, and says Maxima and Silkolene is "fine".

The simple solution is of course to just get the Motorex, however Im having a VERY hard time locating any Motorex 5wt damper oil, but the other are pretty easy to find.

Is Motorex a higher quality oil? All three being 5wt, do they actually have the same properties?

[Vespasianus]

No most oils are similar. I have used both Maxima and Silkolene with good results.

Check this site to find the true viscosity of different oils. One companies 5wt oil is not another companies.

Peter Verdone Designs - Low Speed Damping

[IntenseMack10]

I guess another question would be: is the Motorex Racing Fork Oil that is specifically labeled as motorcycle oil the same as bicycle suspension oil? Because that is pretty easy to find.

[mtnbiker72]

I guess another question would be: is the Motorex Racing Fork Oil that is specifically labeled as motorcycle oil the same as bicycle suspension oil? Because that is pretty easy to find.

Motorcycle forks and Bicycle forks work exactly the same, there is no such thing as "bicycle suspension fork oil" even if it is labeled as it.

The biggest thing is to look at the chart linked above. Motorex 5wt is quite a bit thicker than Maxima 5wt but very close to Silkolene 5wt. I've been using Torco RFF for several years with success and the RFF10 is very close to Motorex 5wt as well.

[IntenseMack10]

Motorcycle forks and Bicycle forks work exactly the same, there is no such thing as "bicycle suspension fork oil" even if it is labeled as it.

The biggest thing is to look at the chart linked above. Motorex 5wt is quite a bit thicker than Maxima 5wt but very close to Silkolene 5wt. I've been using Torco RFF for several years with success and the RFF10 is very close to Motorex 5wt as well.

I knew that the systems employed are the same, but I didnt know if the higher loads seen by the suspension on a motorcycle require different oil or not.

Currently I run my high speed compression backed all the way off. If I went with the thinner Maxima oil, it would change the compression properties of the fork correct? Enabling me run more compression damping and achieve roughly the same damping characteristics?

[One Pivot]

Yes, but same goes for rebound. You'll speed both up.

[shapirus]

When choosing oil, you'll also want to pay attention to the viscosity index (VI) value if you expect to use your fork in a wide range of temperatures (summer/winter). Higher is better.

[IntenseMack10]

When choosing oil, you'll also want to pay attention to the viscosity index (VI) value if you expect to use your fork in a wide range of temperatures (summer/winter). Higher is better.

Nah. I'm lucky to live in SoCal. I think the coldest weather I've ridden in is 55deg. While that is a swing from the 90deg summer temps (that I'm willing to ride in) I'm guessing that range isn't that great in terms of the oil performance.