BRING BACK FORK BOOTS!!

[dyna-ti]

Thats it really

Well not really :? I keep seeing forks on ebay that have really quite excessive wear to the stanchions usually through to the alloy.The problem as far as i can see,is that grit or dirt is gathering against the top of the seal and being dragged through it wearing both.Seals are easy if not a pain to replace but stanchions are not and somewhat expensive to boot[pun ]
Now ,just about everybody removed the boots off their bombers etc bitd as it looked way cooler than every other fork.But eventually they went back on to protect those precious surfaces.
Given that the fork depends on these surfaces remaining smooth as possible,is it really such a good idea to leave them exposed,even on modern forks.Maybe especially on modern forks
Looking towards cutting down on maintenance and replacement parts :?

Thoughts :?

 

[andrewl]

The boots on bombers serve no real function as the seal and wiper push the dirt away. if anything the boots on bombers trap more dirt than they keep out...

Most dead forks I see are damaged from lack of oil or worn bushings and a fork boot won't fix or prevent that.

 

[02gf74]

^^^^ wot he said about boots.

you need to clean the stanchions and the seal (a toothbrush is goid for that) to clear the dust/.dirt/grit from the seal after each dusty/muddy ride if you want them to last.

 

[petitpal]

Being a bit of a saddo I've kept the boots on my Mag 21s from the day I bought them and they still look and work perfectly.

 

[We_are_Stevo]

Being a bit of a saddo I've kept the boots on my Mag 21s from the day I bought them and they still look and work perfectly.

Nothing sad about that, just good common sense - I always put gaiters (boots) on the (conventional...)forks of all my motorcycles; used to get some derisive comments from the fashionistas but I rarely, if ever, had to change my seals...

Having said that, I've taken the full-length boots off my Manitou IV's and replaced them with the more aesthetically pleasing shorties!

 

[Drencrom]

The boots on bombers serve no real function as the seal and wiper push the dirt away. if anything the boots on bombers trap more dirt than they keep out...

Honestly can't say I've ever seen boots on a set of Z-1's. Can't remember them being specced from new either, unless I got diddled at the shop when I bought them BITD.

 

[velomaniac]

Get a couple of sections of old inner tube and some cable ties.
Admittedly it doesn't look good but its function over form

 

[andrewl]

The boots on bombers serve no real function as the seal and wiper push the dirt away. if anything the boots on bombers trap more dirt than they keep out...

Honestly can't say I've ever seen boots on a set of Z-1's. Can't remember them being specced from new either, unless I got diddled at the shop when I bought them BITD.

Z1s never had them but the Z2 and Z3 did. The seals are the same on them all though and they are designed to run without.

 

[mechagouki]

I like Lizard Skins on Rock Shox - you can cut them to a perfect fit and you don't have to dissasemble the fork to fit them. When they get a bit grimy you can run them through the washing machine.

 

[dyna-ti]

The boots on bombers serve no real function as the seal and wiper push the dirt away. if anything the boots on bombers trap more dirt than they keep out...

:shock:
Erm....

OK i understand where your coming from,but the boots are not a permanent fixture,they move and can be cleaned by lifting them up and giving the stanchion a wipe
Though how anyone can say it makes things worse is beyond me.Try throwing a cup of mud onto the fork stanchions.Now do the same thing with the boots present.Are you saying there will be more mud on the covered stanchions than the uncovered ones ?

Stone chips the windscreen of your car,would it really stretch the imagination to suggest that the same can happen to the MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE FORK sorry

And that boots totally prevent damage like this :?