The other day when I took my bike out of storage (the bike was elevated on a stand for 5 months) I put on the front brake and pumped the front forks a few times and when I stopped I could hear air leaking, or 'hissing' for a few seconds. Is this normal?

My owners manual doesn't mention anything about the small screws on the top of the forks, it talks about fork damping adjustment from the bottom of the forks. I'm just new to this so I don't want to start messing with stuff I don't know about. What are the small screws on the top of the forks for...are they bleeder screws? and what is the procedure for using them?

thanks

 

hmmmm never heard that before. That's weird.

 

Bleeder screws. When the oil and air get hot inside the forks (after a lot of action) the pressure will rise causing increased stiction. The fork is atmospheric and can bleed the pressure by removing the bleed screws on top of the fork caps. Refit once the pressure has been released.

 

sure is wasn't the gas tank vent?

 

Sometimes when i get up i hear a hissing sound too.....

 

Kawi decided it was unnecessary to include the bleeder screws on the 2009 model. For you folks lucky enough to have the 06/07 I have seen little thumb activated bleeder blow offs that you can put on your forks in place of the little brass screws for frequent relief of this air.