Front Fork

The front fork connects the front wheel to the frame through the triple clamps and steering head. Almost all modern motorcycles use a telescopic fork: two legs, each with a stanchion tube sliding inside a lower slider, containing springs (coil or air) and oil damping.

Conventional forks have the thin tubes at the top; upside-down (USD) forks put the thick outer tubes at the top, which is stiffer and common on sport and off-road bikes. Cartridge forks give more precise damping than simple damper-rod forks. Other designs such as leading-link forks and BMW's Telelever exist but are rarer.

• Clean the tubes after every off-road ride; dirt on the seals causes leaks.
• Oil on the tubes means worn seals – replace them before oil reaches the brakes.
• Change fork oil at the interval in the manual.