Me and my friend are currently riding the Carretera Austral and heading south towards Ushuaia for New Year´s and need new fork seals urgently.

Can anyone help please?

You can try to clean the old one with a thin feeler gauge (or a piece of film), it usually helps.

If you can find a more or less decent machine-shop they might have seals in the right dimension, buy an extra set to keep as spares.

Hi,

the fork seals on the R1100GS are the same as many small 125, 250 cc hondas , yamahas, y suzuki´s, and thus easy to find in SA. Javier in Dakar Motos produced a list when i was there last year and i was mildly surprised to see just how common the seal was. added bonus the honda part was only 60% of teh bmw part.
I am pretty sure that the 1150 is the same.

I don´t have the list of part numbers anymore as they are in a notebook back in the uk. But you could try emailing Javier, and probe his expansive mind, or visit one of the bike shops in Rio Gallagos or Punta Areanas. They may need to see it, but i reckon the odds are pretty high.

Or if stuck clean them then, trim the spring by a mm to tighten the seal.

cheers
mike

Don't worry too much about your blown fork seals, the missing oil doesn't do much anyway - the damping coming from the shock absorber alone. As has already been mentioned, you should be able to replace them with an alternative seal from another bike or try a local bearing or hydraulic shop. I found a great hydraulic shop in Ushuaia this time last year, three or four blocks up from the main drag. Maybe someone like them could help you?

Good luck!

Hamish

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honesy -
i am in town for another day or so and would be happy to bring them to you if you have no other solution. we will still take about 7 days to get to ushuaia though so don´t konw if this suits you?
email me andy_longmire (a) yahoo.com.au but do it soon if you want them.
cheers,
see you round,
andy

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Am almost in Rio Gallegos now, so will try to find a bike shop that is open, otherwise, Andy, if you are still going to be in Ushuaia on the 31st, we aim to arrive sometime in the morning if we can meet up? Alternatively, we can meet en route somewhere further north if that is better for you?

Will check - in on the way down to pick up any further messages - thanks again and hope you all have a good new year.

Cheers,

Honesy.

I blew my GS1150 fork seals on a particularly deep pothole on the Caretera Austral but didn't get round to fixing it till Bareloche. Then they both blew again after only 4 days as the guy who changed them hadn't bled the forks. From there I didn't change them till San Pedro De Atecama, but this time I did them myself and they lasted the rest of the trip so remember to bleed them properly before riding. I think 35mm Honda seals will fit but you'd need to double check.

You can ride fine on a GS1150 with blown seals as long as there is still some oil there, it looks like a lot coming out but really isn't that much. Unlike regular bikes, the oil only gives the forks lubrication.

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www.singapore-scotland.blogspot.com
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BMW R1150GS
Suzuki DR650 SE: Ride it like ya stole it. Oh, somebody just did...

If you stop at Rio Grande there is a big bike shop with lots of stuff, although with so many travellers they are now starting to run out of stuff.
Dont know the address by heart but take you there if you stop at hostal Argentino. We plan to be here until 2d of Jan. Hostal is on the guides (on main street San Martin at the other end - big yellow house)
Good luck,

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

There is a good shop in Ushuaia called Moto Pablo (see mechanics thread) he is also a Honda dealer.

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Honesy,

I'm sure you've managed to replace your fork seals by now, however the below info may help you and hopefully others in future. I came across it as I need to replace mine too (R1100GS)!

Fork Seals 35mm x 48mm x 11mm - Honda Kawasaki Suzuki Yamaha (and BMW R1100GS)
KS16-1020

OEM: 91255-KBH-003 51490-GS2-305 92049-1089 51153-19D10 51153-34010 51153-40A00 38W-23145-00-00

For 35mm diameter forks - fits the following: Honda VTR250 CB450K (frame 4017272 and up - 70-72) CL450 (72-74) CB500 CX500 (81-82) GB500 GL500 CB550 (74-78) CB650 CB750A CB750C CB750F (75-80) CB750K (72-78) ATC350X CR125 (74-78) NX125 CRF150F XR200R (81-83) MT250 MR250 XL250( 72-83 & 87) SL350 (72) XL350 (74-78) XL500 (79-81) XR500 (79-80)

Kawasaki ZX550 (84-85) KE175 (80-83)

Suzuki GN400 GS450LD/LF/LG/LH/LJ GT500 RE5 GS550 (77-82) GS550MZ GT550 GS650 (except Katana) GS750B/C/EC/N/EN/ET/EX/EZ/LT/LX/TZ/TD RM80 (89-01) RM100 (79-81) DR125 (86-97) RM125 (75-76) SP125 DR200 SP200 RL250 SP250 TS250 (77-79)

Yamaha XS400 Maxim & Seca (82-83) XS750D (77) YTZ250N (85)

And incedently, if you're struggling for an oil filter, the MANN 712/8 does the trick. Fits any Peugot 206 / 106 / 205, as well as a Citroen Berlingo / ZX / Xsara. Available throughout Argentina and Chile at any repuestos shop. A damn site cheaper than an original too!

I struggled to find one recently in Peru however, eventually coming across a US made "Parts Master 61334". Does the job!

Good luck,
Hamish

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