Fork boots - on or off?

[We_are_Stevo]

I always retro-fitted then to my m'cycle forks because, even though the stanchions are hard-chromed, they get a lot more crap thrown at them than a MTB...

...now, with my MTB's I don't bother because I have so many bikes, and ride so little, they'll outlive me!

And they look better without

 

[feetabix]

i use them on my manitou 1's......after a ride/clean i make an effort to hold them open (propped up with matches for a bit) as i always find water behind them.....i sleep better knowing everything is dry!....



gratuitous shot of fat b@stard on said fork follows!..... :roll:

 

[Spudly]

I never used to run boots on my '97 judy xc's as they looked better imo (bitd)

But as it happens ive been riding my '98 caldera to work this week as the '93 lava dome has a slow puncture that just doesnt quite get me to work (lol) and i have noticed one of my boots has gone dry and shrunk a little and as so sticks down the leg from the top by about 10mm, now this is bugging me and looking at them weighing up whether to remove them or not, i think now they look miles better with!

(hi-jack do apologise)

Does anyone know where i can source a new pair as id like to keep them but one definately needs replacing!

 

[tintin40]

On

 

[t-stoff]

I never used to run boots on my '97 judy xc's as they looked better imo (bitd)

But as it happens ive been riding my '98 caldera to work this week as the '93 lava dome has a slow puncture that just doesnt quite get me to work (lol) and i have noticed one of my boots has gone dry and shrunk a little and as so sticks down the leg from the top by about 10mm, now this is bugging me and looking at them weighing up whether to remove them or not, i think now they look miles better with!

(hi-jack do apologise)

Does anyone know where i can source a new pair as id like to keep them but one definately needs replacing!

lol it happened the same thing to my judy, one is working the other is dry, so i took them off

 

[We_are_Stevo]

...gratuitous shot of fat b@stard on said fork follows!..... :roll:

That's not fat!

That's not even faintly embarrassing...

 

[onza100]

On the early judys its easy just to pop the legs of and regrease every few rides.
They work better that way too.

 

[soggz]

Well, to me its a bit of both.

However, fork boots, to the best of my knowledge, were to actually reduce the ingress of dirt and contaminants into the fork seals and causing damage to the internal workings. However, newer forks have better and improved seals thus negating the requirement for the fork boots. Enduro Seals can be bought to improve the seals on the older forks too.

If you are fussy about extra protection against dirt getting in the seals, then use them, or the Lizard Skin ones that you can take on and off as you feel like, ie in warm dry conditions when less mud and dirt is thrown about..

my two pence worth

New fork technology with its gold 'cashmear' coating or whatever its called is a lot better tech than the yesteryear fork.
The newer forks now have felt/sponge scrapers within them so no dirt or grit can get past.
I have a shit pair of 2 year old SR Suntour xc cheap as you like m's on one of my bikes, and the seals on them are crap!
I have put lizard skins on them as they need all the help they can get and yes, they have improved them greatly as when i stripped them, the seals were literally full of grit.

 

[feetabix]

...gratuitous shot of fat b@stard on said fork follows!..... :roll:

That's not fat!

That's not even faintly embarrassing...

my mrs wants to ring you in the morning!....