...that is the question.
I have tried searching for the information I am after, but might not know the correct terms, so please excuse me if this is a common question.
After owning my last bike 20 years, the old faithful fully rigid bike is being given semi-retirement and I now have a Giant Roam 2 with front suspension.
I am not sure of the best approach to keeping the stanchions in the best condition possible, hence this post.
When I had a motorbike, I would wipe the stanchions regularly with a light oil. They had guards (not gaitors) which kept most muck off the stanchions so this worked well.
The Roam 2's stanchions are more exposed and when I ride on dusty trails they accumulate a lot of dust. This dust is mainly stone dust as the trails are crushed stone so will be highly abrasive.
According to the Giant Roam 2 specification the forks are the:
SR Suntour NEX 4610 Lock-out
I read the manuals provided by Giant and Suntour, but they didn't mention how to best care for the stanchions.
Basically it simply tells you to:
Clean stanchion tubes and dust seals after every ride
Inspect upper tubes for scratches
Not terribly helpful...
Is it better to have the stanchions with a light coat of oil (I actually use an inert silicon oil) and not worry about the dust that sticks as long as I wipe them clean at the end of the ride, or to wipe them dry before riding to minimise any stickiness that might pick up and hold dust?
Is it possible to keep the stanchions scratch free?
I'd like to prevent any damage, so any advice is welcome.
I have tried searching for the information I am after, but might not know the correct terms, so please excuse me if this is a common question.
After owning my last bike 20 years, the old faithful fully rigid bike is being given semi-retirement and I now have a Giant Roam 2 with front suspension.
I am not sure of the best approach to keeping the stanchions in the best condition possible, hence this post.
When I had a motorbike, I would wipe the stanchions regularly with a light oil. They had guards (not gaitors) which kept most muck off the stanchions so this worked well.
The Roam 2's stanchions are more exposed and when I ride on dusty trails they accumulate a lot of dust. This dust is mainly stone dust as the trails are crushed stone so will be highly abrasive.
According to the Giant Roam 2 specification the forks are the:
SR Suntour NEX 4610 Lock-out
I read the manuals provided by Giant and Suntour, but they didn't mention how to best care for the stanchions.
Basically it simply tells you to:
Clean stanchion tubes and dust seals after every ride
Inspect upper tubes for scratches
Not terribly helpful...
Is it better to have the stanchions with a light coat of oil (I actually use an inert silicon oil) and not worry about the dust that sticks as long as I wipe them clean at the end of the ride, or to wipe them dry before riding to minimise any stickiness that might pick up and hold dust?
Is it possible to keep the stanchions scratch free?
I'd like to prevent any damage, so any advice is welcome.