S
Surly
Guest
Like old parchment, he dust seals on my 78 GS1000E have crumbled to dust. Likely I'll just replace them, but has anyone ever put on fork boots instead? If so, how'd they turn out and what kind are they?
-
Required reading for all forum users!!!
Welcome!
Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.A note to new registrants...
All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.A Special Note about Email accounts!
DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.A note to old forum members...
I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.
Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...
-
Returning Visitors
If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.
If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.
I used shock boots on snowmobiles for years until I realized how much more they ruin the shock seals and shafts. Of course, a snowmobile is different, but the concept is the same. Moisture is the killer, and the fork boots condense even when it's not raining, so you have twice as much moisture in there at all times. A fork seal is a lot cheaper to replace than a fork tube that is pitted with rust.
Oh, and you can't put boots on instead, you still need seals to keep the oil in the forks, so it would be in addition to.
Oh, and you can't put boots on instead, you still need seals to keep the oil in the forks, so it would be in addition to.
S
Surly
Guest
Let me clarify...
Let me clarify...
No, it would be instead, not in addition to. I wrote that correctly.
The dust seals (Suzuki's label, not mine) I am referring to are the outer dust seals, dust covers, fork scrapers or fork wipers, not the actual fork seals that lie underneath. I am fully aware that you need seals to keep oil in things like forks. In fact, I have new seals on order because the current seals stopped doing their job. Perhaps your GS doesn't have these nifty dust wiper widgets?
Your point about additional condensation within the boot makes sense, but there IS A WORLD of difference between a sled and a bike. That said, like you, I too am familiar with snowmobiles as I wrenched on them professionally for nearly ten years. I never installed a boot on a snowmobile shock for obvious reasons, but boots are often run on dirt bikes and street bikes for protection from debris and improved seal life. Exactly what the dust wipers do, just a different look.
Let me clarify...
No, it would be instead, not in addition to. I wrote that correctly.
The dust seals (Suzuki's label, not mine) I am referring to are the outer dust seals, dust covers, fork scrapers or fork wipers, not the actual fork seals that lie underneath. I am fully aware that you need seals to keep oil in things like forks. In fact, I have new seals on order because the current seals stopped doing their job. Perhaps your GS doesn't have these nifty dust wiper widgets?
Your point about additional condensation within the boot makes sense, but there IS A WORLD of difference between a sled and a bike. That said, like you, I too am familiar with snowmobiles as I wrenched on them professionally for nearly ten years. I never installed a boot on a snowmobile shock for obvious reasons, but boots are often run on dirt bikes and street bikes for protection from debris and improved seal life. Exactly what the dust wipers do, just a different look.
I'm wondering about some sort of shield setup -- you see these on a few newer with upside down forks. Gold Wings and some sport tourers with fairings like the ST1100 and such have these built in to the front fenders.
I think if you can keep the arthropod carcasses and incoming rocks off the exposed fork tubes, it gives you most of the protection of boots without the grunge and water buildup issues.
Who had the stupid idea to unshroud fork tubes in the first place?
I think if you can keep the arthropod carcasses and incoming rocks off the exposed fork tubes, it gives you most of the protection of boots without the grunge and water buildup issues.
Who had the stupid idea to unshroud fork tubes in the first place?
C
cfcubed
Guest
Surly said:
Exactly why I ordered these . The original rubber dust boots on my bike are dry-rotted to the point they are about to fall off... Certianly not doing their job! I got those Dennis Kirk booties to avoid dropping the forks (the seals are fine right now).. They wrap around & velcro. I plan to take them off every so often & clean them & the underlying portion of the fork tubes off...
S
Surly
Guest
Cool
Cool
Those booties look like they might be neoprene. I have seen these on mountain bikes before, but never used them myself.
They are also a little cheaper than the rubber wipers that come on the bike. I just ordered new ones and they were 20.00 for the pair.
Cool
Those booties look like they might be neoprene. I have seen these on mountain bikes before, but never used them myself.
They are also a little cheaper than the rubber wipers that come on the bike. I just ordered new ones and they were 20.00 for the pair.
J
jimcor
Guest
bwringer said:
Excellent question! The answer is: The Chopper Guys. Seriously, the removal of the metal or rubber fork covering began back in the mid 60's and early 70's when long extended forks became the cool thing to do. Long lean legs identified the bike as a 'chopper' even if not a thing was cut on the frame. Anyway the manufacturers, always looking to save a buck and sell more bikes, copied this trend and it continues to this day, except on some of the shrouded H-D tourers and dirt bikes.
And I might add when fork construction went from external to internal springing. This also took place in the same time frame.
Last edited:
O
oldschoolGS
Guest
I am using these seal savers on my Bandit. I had to remove the stock plastic protectors when I mounted the aftermarket brace.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a243/GS750ED/P1010318.jpg
My suspension guy gave them to me to try when he re-valved the forks. Not totally sold on them yet, but they are hidden on the Bandit by the bodywork. They are mostly a dirtbike application, but I figure they can't hurt.
Ride On, Ed.
2005 GSF1200SZ
1992 900SS
1983 GS750ED
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a243/GS750ED/P1010318.jpg
My suspension guy gave them to me to try when he re-valved the forks. Not totally sold on them yet, but they are hidden on the Bandit by the bodywork. They are mostly a dirtbike application, but I figure they can't hurt.
Ride On, Ed.
2005 GSF1200SZ
1992 900SS
1983 GS750ED
Come to think of it, the Ducati Monster I slobbered on last Sunday had a pair of the Noj booties on the upside down forks. Ducati Red, of course.
Do you have to disassemble the forks to put the Seal Savers on? It's hard to tell from the photos whether they wrap around and fasten or you have to slide them down the tube. I know the Noj booties use velcro.
Do you have to disassemble the forks to put the Seal Savers on? It's hard to tell from the photos whether they wrap around and fasten or you have to slide them down the tube. I know the Noj booties use velcro.
O
oldschoolGS
Guest
The seal savers slide on, no velcro.
I would not have dropped the tubes just for them, I put them on when the tubes were off the bike for the gold valve install. I figured if I did not like the look, I could simply cut them off.
Ride On, Ed.
2005 GSF1200SZ
1992 900SS
1983 GS750ED
I would not have dropped the tubes just for them, I put them on when the tubes were off the bike for the gold valve install. I figured if I did not like the look, I could simply cut them off.
Ride On, Ed.
2005 GSF1200SZ
1992 900SS
1983 GS750ED