Front forks dilemma

[Tisunac]

I need an advice. Sunday morning I went out to check the air pressure in my front forks ('99 Venture Sec.Gen.) before going to a 300-miles trip two-up. I would usually keep the pressure at 3-4 PSI and am using a digital HD pump that is quite precise. So I put about 4 PSI in left fork and could see air pressure dropping back to zero within a few seconds. Right fork did the same thing. I tried several times thinking that I didn't place the pump right but with the same result. So I guessed that my forks are leaking air. I checked around and couldn't see any trace of oil anywhere.

 

So, we went for a ride and I paid a close attention on how it rides, especially the front of the bike. To my surprise, the ride was very smooth and with no problems at all.

 

My questions - do I need to address that problem since it rides just fine? By ignoring it, will I make it worse? Is it safe to assume that it's not leaking any oil since I couldn't find any? What do I have to do, if anything? Please go easy on me - I'm not very handy and most of the work (if any) would be done by a mechanic. I would change the pipes or leveling links but I wouldn't mess with the forks.

 

Bike have around 32K miles, bought it about 2.5 years ago with around 20K. Riding mostly two-up (me around 250 lb on a good day, my wife half that). Rear shock usually around 40 PSI.

 

Thanks for your time.

[BratmanXj]

Check the simple things first...Are the schrader valves at the top of the forks tight? Even replace the valve core with some inexpensive ones from the autoparts store.

[Neil86]

Since there is no interconnection on the air between the front forks on an RSV, I would suspect your pump is leaking rather than both forks starting to leak air at same time.

[Tisunac]

You see, that's a good suggestion. I will check the pump first (on the rear shock). If that's not it, I will try to replace valves in it.... Thanks guys.

[Tisunac]

What about riding it like this? Still safe? Am I messing anything up???

[BratmanXj]

The forks are OK at 0psi, the pressure affects spring pre-load. IF you do have a leak you stand the chance to pump oil from your forks.

 

1 other thing I remembered since my 1st post. When I bought my RSV last year I did a fork oil change by removing an allen head bolt at the bottom of the fork leg, drained the fork and refilled through the schrader valve. I think it took a long-shank 6mm allen to tighten up that bottom bolt, and you would have to remove the front axle to access.

[ediddy]

I have an 05 Venture I purchased new. Have never put air in the front forks and bike handles fine.