I have an '08 290 and wondered if anyone else thinks the fork action is soft on the first part (spring) and then goes rock hard after, like it's hitting the air gap. Didn't know if this is how they're supposed to be cos they only have one spring and need the air gap small. My dealer tells me the gaps should be 180mm in the damper side and 60mm in the spring side, while the manual says 150mm both sides. I rode an older model which had full stroke in the forks and it was much better. Ideas anyone?

This is my best guess, but it sounds like you have too much oil in there somewhere.

You've just described how my forks feel when I overdo the fluid!

i would go with the manual, the dealer seems to be talking bout the pioli forks, which are on the 2007 modle. the new range have centuri (or something sounding that) forks, they will no doubt work diffrently and will require diffrent levels of fork oil the the previous years.

if it doesnt work you could always go back to what they were before.

Below is an email from Ryan Young. I've changed my fork oil on an 08 and it's perfect. Just make sure you get all the oil out of the cartrige side to get all the fresh oil in, and it didn't take 20 minutes, at most 5.

There is a pdf file on Ryans' Sherco site containing this info,

along with the other service files.

The Ceriani forks are identical to the old Paioli except for the outer fork legs.

Oil level on right leg: 60mm

With forks at bottom

Oil level on left leg: 110mm

With forks at bottom and without spring

Should be 370cc in right and 385cc in left.when doing this use the oil height

measurements taken from the top of the forks with the forks at the bottom of there stroke and with the spring removed.

The oil quantities are correct. The levels are correct. The problem is getting all the oil out of the

fork on the cartridge side. You have to pump it for 20 minutes. Then when

you put oil back in, pump for 20 minutes again, to get all the air out of

the cartridge to verify level.

Edited July 18, 200818 yr by clav3

i would go with the manual, the dealer seems to be talking bout the pioli forks, You Mean Paioli?

which are on the 2007 model. the new range have centuri (or something sounding that) forks,You mean Ceriani? they are Paioli!!

they will no doubt work differently and will require different levels of fork oil the the previous years.

if it doesn't work you could always go back to what they were before.

they were spelt phoneticaly.

Ha! Ok, what ever you say

anyway, should be roughly the same as there both paioli

if so, which they are. why would sherco advertise thier bike with "new Ceriani front fork" if they are exactly the same as the 2007(plus previous modles).??????? i suppose that they must be new because the have a fancy "new" kevlar sticker.

I suppose that they must be new because the have a fancy "new" kevlar sticker.

Looks smarter,

Edit: Found out the ones that say ceriani are fully adjustable for rebound AND dampening

Edited July 19, 200818 yr by shercoman2k8

Well after a bit of experimentation, i've ended up at 140mm air gap in both forks, with spring. Loads better on everything, for me anyway.