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Fork Seals - Where is the best place to purchase?

 
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Pontiac Nut



Joined: 13 May 2012
Posts: 3
Location: Delta Colorado

PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2012 11:27 pm    Post subject: Fork Seals - Where is the best place to purchase? Reply with quote

I am new to the group. I recently sold my V-max and Purchased a '97 K1100LT High Line. I am pleased with the bike but it needs Fork Seals and Dust Seals. I called the BMW dealership in Denver and the had everything in stock but the bill was $100. That just seems a little steep to to me. Any one had good luck buying seals elsewhere? Thanks in advance!
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'67 Bonneville (400 4-spd.)
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552255
Mad Brick Rider


Joined: 13 Aug 2010
Posts: 94
Location: Nebraska

PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2012 11:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't know how much the dust caps are 'worth'...i just replaced the seals, from MAX BMW, they seem to be more reasonble than other dealers. Bout 35 bucks i think...

DON'T get the cheap ebay ones, they wont fit (too thick) and its way too much work to have them go bad...fast.

I've put gaiters on as well, to protect the forks from bug guts, etc. but first! you may try carefully sliding a thin feeler guage around/under the seal to dislodge any gunk (amazing how much gets under there) this has worked for me and others. ...Before u order seals it may be worth trying... Use a cheap thin metal guage, (Harbor Freight?) it needs to be somewhat 'stiff'. Some have used business cards, but i don't know how....too bendy.

Many posts on this subject, good luck!
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Scott_Anderson
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Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 3122
Location: Central Iowa, USA

PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2012 6:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

+1 Stick to BMW for seals and dust caps.
The aftermarket ones don't fit. BTDT.
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1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
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"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
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Number 6
Flying Brick Rider


Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 481
Location: Paris area, France

PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2012 11:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try Athena seals, they last much longer than the BMW.
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94 K1100LT
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Mystic Red
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Joined: 28 Mar 2005
Posts: 2330
Location: Twin Lakes Idaho

PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2012 11:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Number 6 wrote:
Try Athena seals, they last much longer than the BMW.


Got a link #6? I couldn't find K11 seals on their site.
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Number 6
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Joined: 05 Feb 2011
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Location: Paris area, France

PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2012 12:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mystic Red wrote:
Number 6 wrote:
Try Athena seals, they last much longer than the BMW.


Got a link #6? I couldn't find K11 seals on their site.

http://www.athenaparts.com/eng/products/view/8460/mgr-rsd2-41-7x55x8-10-5
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Mystic Red
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Joined: 28 Mar 2005
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Location: Twin Lakes Idaho

PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2012 12:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Number 6 wrote:
Mystic Red wrote:
Number 6 wrote:
Try Athena seals, they last much longer than the BMW.


Got a link #6? I couldn't find K11 seals on their site.

http://www.athenaparts.com/eng/products/view/8460/mgr-rsd2-41-7x55x8-10-5


Not available.



Unfortunately.... They don't list that part for the K11 but it will work?
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jpberens1994K1100RS
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Joined: 06 Apr 2008
Posts: 784
Location: Hales Corners, WI. / Relocating to central FL.

PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2012 6:22 pm    Post subject: BMW seals or is seals just seals Reply with quote

Just sayin ........ it's OK.
Go ahead & get what ever seals off of e-bay that are cheapest. If you don't ride more than a couple thousand miles a year, you should be all set for a couple of three years.
If your wrong, you just get to do it over. Now ain't that fun. Laughing

Try another dealer on line like MAX or MotoSport from Europe, but don't fluff around with the seals. Or compare their prices and challenge your dealer to match or maybe split the difference?

You can waste an entire evening or more if you pull it all apart and do it right. You want to get this right first time out.

Get the boots from Amzon.com. # 1952 Rancho to cover them up. If you do get these, don't forget to vent them. Mine did NOT have vent holes.

If you get stuck, come back here, always GOOD solid information. If your ride has more than 40 to 50K on it in miles, consider new fork springs while you are at it.


Good luck! Smile
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TrustFundManChild



Joined: 13 May 2012
Posts: 5
Location: California

PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2012 7:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would like some Athena seals to put in my machine shed. Is there a group buy for these ?
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Number 6
Flying Brick Rider


Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 481
Location: Paris area, France

PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2012 10:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mystic Red wrote:
Number 6 wrote:
Mystic Red wrote:
Number 6 wrote:
Try Athena seals, they last much longer than the BMW.


Got a link #6? I couldn't find K11 seals on their site.

http://www.athenaparts.com/eng/products/view/8460/mgr-rsd2-41-7x55x8-10-5


Not available.



Unfortunately.... They don't list that part for the K11 but it will work?

A friend of mine has mounted tenth of these on K11 with much better results than the orginal marzocchi which are not tight enough and tend to leak outside, so maybe having a sealant around would do the job but the athena just do the job.
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jpberens1994K1100RS
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Joined: 06 Apr 2008
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Location: Hales Corners, WI. / Relocating to central FL.

PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2012 11:08 pm    Post subject: which seals? Reply with quote

This is getting good. Wink

Please do telleth which sealeths you do buy and install.

No matter where they may come from.
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Pontiac Nut



Joined: 13 May 2012
Posts: 3
Location: Delta Colorado

PostPosted: Mon May 14, 2012 11:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My bike only has 22K miles on it so i will probably skip on the springs. Surprisingly, there are no seals for my bike on ebay. I will take your advice and try some other BMW dealerships. At least they should not be expensive to ship. I am also planning to put some gaiters on while I have the forks off. I also purchased new tires (Pilot Activ) I will have them mounted and balanced while I am working on the forks. Thanks for the input!
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Mike 'Pontiac Nut'

'67 Bonneville (400 4-spd.)
'69 Firebird (Pro Touring project)
'70 GTO (400 4-speed)
'74 GTO Hatchback
'76 Trans Am (455 4-speed)
'88 Fiero Formula (V-6 5-speed, wife's car)
'97 BMW K1100LT High Line
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Niemand
Mad Brick Rider


Joined: 29 Mar 2006
Posts: 108
Location: NC, USA

PostPosted: Tue May 15, 2012 1:03 pm    Post subject: Re: Fork Seals - Where is the best place to purchase? Reply with quote

Pontiac Nut wrote:
Any one had good luck buying seals elsewhere?


If you decide to stick with OEM seals, you can get parts from Countryside BMW in IL with discount codes for 12-18% off MSRP.

See post here:

http://k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10974&highlight=countryside
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Niemand

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Mystic Red
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Joined: 28 Mar 2005
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Location: Twin Lakes Idaho

PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2012 9:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Number 6 wrote:
Mystic Red wrote:
Number 6 wrote:
Mystic Red wrote:
Number 6 wrote:
Try Athena seals, they last much longer than the BMW.


Got a link #6? I couldn't find K11 seals on their site.

http://www.athenaparts.com/eng/products/view/8460/mgr-rsd2-41-7x55x8-10-5


Not available.



Unfortunately.... They don't list that part for the K11 but it will work?

A friend of mine has mounted tenth of these on K11 with much better results than the orginal marzocchi which are not tight enough and tend to leak outside, so maybe having a sealant around would do the job but the athena just do the job.


I'm not saying they won't do the job Very Happy but the site says they are unavailable. Crying or Very sad I'm always looking for something better than OEM for when the next set of OEM seals blow. Thanks Number 6, maybe they are just out of stock at the moment.
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Number 6
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Joined: 05 Feb 2011
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PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2012 10:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Contact them to ask where is the closest dealer to you.
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