Anyone install bleeder valves on their forks?

If so, which ones did you buy and where? I just unscrewed the bleeder screw on each of my forks and a ton of air came out! So much so that once the screw was un-threaded, they popped up in the air a little. I'm thinking bleeder valves are definitely needed.

I've got them and they work great!

Don't remember what brand they were, but I got them at the Yammie dealer here. All you have to do is push the button and bai bai air.

Yeah I need to get some as my forks had a ton of air in them. I'm just not sure which ones to get. Those stick up pretty high. Any issues with that?

You had bike on stand when you took them out, right Trav?? Front end of bike should be suspended when releasing the air.

No issues whatsoever.

FYI:

http://advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15915494&postcount=21841

DougZ wrote:

You had bike on stand when you took them out, right Trav?? Front end of bike should be suspended when releasing the air.

Yes Doug, the bike was off the ground.

Edit: You wouldn't need to have it off the ground with the bleeder valves would you? If so, why exactly?

I don't have it up, hell no! I use it whenever I am stopped after some good riding. Push the button, air escapes, continue on.

trav72 wrote:

DougZ wrote:

You had bike on stand when you took them out, right Trav?? Front end of bike should be suspended when releasing the air.

Yes Doug, the bike was off the ground.

Edit: You wouldn't need to have it off the ground with the bleeder valves would you? If so, why exactly?

Starting off with zero PSI inside the fork while it's fully extended is the standard of the industry for dirt bikes and dual purpose bikes (sport bikes, too), and has been for decades.
It is normal for the forks to increase the air pressure inside of them with use and time, and even changing weather/atmospheric conditions.
The fork comes with bleed screws in order to periodically release this excess air pressure and to get your fork back to the intended zero PSI at full extension.

The air trapped at the top of the inside of your fork gets compressed as the fork compresses.
It acts as a spring.
This air spring effect is taken into account when the fork is designed, and definately taken into account if somebody were to revalve or setup the fork for you.

Depressing the bleeder valve with the fork partially compressed (as in when it's holding up the bike's weight) nets you a negative air pressure once the fork extends.
This will reduce the spring effect of the air inside the fork, making it softer than it would be if the excess air were bled off with it fully extended.

This is true whether you use the push-button bleeder valves or the stock screws to release the pressure.

Certainly better than I could have explained the why.

Yes that was certainly a good explanation.

But if that's the case, then I might as well just stick with the screws if it has to be on the stand to bleed it anyway.

I have bleeder valves installed on my WR-250F, and I can bleed them while on the trail by putting the side stand down, pulling up on the handlebar, and taking the weight off the front end.

Do this a few times, and it becomes easy. :)

Well I can see doing that to bleed them. OK, so back to my original question. What kind and where to buy?

Check it out:

Fork bleeders <-- linky

I guess knowing how long it takes and what causes pressure buildup is what we need to know to decide what bleeders are needed.

If it's soething that needs to be done often every ride, then a quick bleeder is needed. If doing it once in a while, just unscrew the stock bleeders is enough.

get what ever ones look the prettiest to you. they all do the same job, just some are tall, some are short. just watch the height if you've slid the legs thru. most will come with adapters to suit the different threads.

Personal experience with the MSR bleeders and MOTION PRO bleeders. Both are basically identical (propbably just in different packages). Both work fine and fit well - DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN!! They look like ones Shewolf posted up on her bike.

MUCH better IMO than the stock screws. I bleed after every ride. Lift up the bike or put it on the stand and press the bleeders. No problems at all!

How often do you guys release the air pressure? Never done this to any of my bikes I owned. lol

the idea of the bleeder valves is so you can do it before every ride. it can make a massive difference to the feel of the forks.

BoredAzHell20 wrote:

How often do you guys release the air pressure? Never done this to any of my bikes I owned. lol

Without bleeders.... Weekly

With bleeders.... Every Ride