Is it normal for the fork seals to leak/weep a bit of oil?

[King Key]

My 2012 GSA (£7,000ish miles) has the fork oil seals letting some oil past, it's not a huge leak, but the stanchions and top of the tubes have a layer of oil on them where it has seeped out, one is worse than the other.
Spoke to the dealer, (still under warrantee) they said 'Some do that', they'll take a look to see whether the seals need to be replaced or not.
Question is do they really leak? In 30+ years of biking I've never had a bike that has had a leaking fork oilseal that was just considered as 'normal'.

Took a peep at my friend's GS1200 forks and they were dry as a bone.

 

[mpriestley]

I'll be interested to see the replies to this question as I have the same issue........

 

[spm0912]

My 2012 GSA had a very slight oil weep up until about 6k miles. Gone now, so either all the oils leaked out or it's normal and it self seals again

 

[cookie]

no, it's not normal.

if you've sprayed your bike with WD 40 or similar, the seals can push it up the stanchion making it look a bit like a weeping seal though.

 

[WindyChuffer]

Fork seals should not weap oil. Time to call in the warranty.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

No they shouldn't but a weep won't affect anything because the forks are only there to hold the front wheel in. Get it sorted as and when it suits

 

[Dahoum]

Mine don't

 

[Old Wobbly]

Fork seals are designed to keep the insides in and not leak at all.

As said above, it's easy to mistake what the seal has pushed up (like WD40 or whatever you may have sprayed on there on the past) for a leak so wipe it all clean and have another look.

If it's leaking then fix it - a leaking fork seal will be the start of heaps of trouble and handling related so kind of crucial!

 

[Packer]

.............If it's leaking then fix it - a leaking fork seal will be the start of heaps of trouble and handling related so kind of crucial!

Not on a 1200GS with Telelever suspension. The forks are empty tubes apart from a bit of oil for lubrication. All the suspension and damping and therefor handling is controlled by the coil over shock unit.

 

[Bendy toy]

Oil cooler, oil lines and front shock are also sources of oil. Check carefully it's all 100% in those areas.


Sent from a widget that can't spell.

 

[Wicker]

Always thought a leaking fork seal was an MOT fail. If under warranty get it fixed at BMW's cost.

2000, R1100S leaking fork seal recently replaced at 80k. Had been riding around for a month or so before getting it fixed and nothing felt wrong with the handling. Just kind of got tired mopping up the trickle of oil down the fork leg. The parts themselves were cheap enough it was the hour and a bit of labour to remove the fork stanchion from the yoke, fit seal and to refit everything back together that hurt ~ think it was about £120 all in.

 

[Old Wobbly]

Not on a 1200GS with Telelever suspension. The forks are empty tubes apart from a bit of oil for lubrication. All the suspension and damping and therefor handling is controlled by the coil over shock unit.

You're quite probably correct, but I'd not risk it..