dustystranger wrote on 11/27/15 at 15:54:29:sorry WD, but the most common fillup for front forks is 6" from top with forks fully compressed with no springs inside. Why not just put in the recommended amt the factory recommends? Do you think they pay those factory engineers for no reason? Oh yeah I know, most bikers think they are EXPERTS! Wanna buy a bridge?
Because the engineers base the amount on a theoretical "average" weight and riding ability/style. That weight generally being 150 pounds, which I exceed by 90-95 pounds. And I tend to ride extremely aggressively. I use oil weights and level to tune the fork for how and where I ride.
An as shipped motorcycle is a half finished motorcycle. Accepting the factory settings means you won't get everything the machine is capable of. Riders routinely swap rear shocks, seats, handlebars and mirrors for a better "feel", tuning your front fork is no different. Especially when that fork is NO better than that on a 1950s bike. The Savage/S40 fork is a scaled down 1949 Hydraglide unit, nearly identical to same era English and American twins.
Increasing oil levels in hydraulic forks to improve handling is as old as hydraulic forks themselves. Increasing fluid weight is as old as hydraulic cylinder technology.