Front fork size

[Guest]

I'm going to taking my front forks off to install a newer set of headlight ears. I was thinking of adding some fork boots at the same time. Does anyone know the diameter size of these forks (37mm?)..and/or where I might stumble upon a good pair of boots?
Thanks
Chad

[cowboyup3371]

Well, there are about 4 different sizes so WHAT BIKE??????????????????????????????

[Grimly]

You want decent quality fork boots? Not some piece of junk that's overpriced rubbish?
Get a set of aftermarket Volvo 440 / 460 / 480 Manual steering rack boots - excellent quality rubber and will last for years - much longer than the type of crap that's sold as fork boots now.
They fit the GS850 forks perfectly. I lucked onto some NOS ones for about two bucks a set - so bought all he had.


Otoh, where you likely are - the US - you can nip into the local Autozone or O'Reilly's and score a pair of Ranger shock boots for cheap - many have had good luck with those. I was forced into looking for alternatives because of the insane pricing over here of things like that.
If you have 35mm forks, many people over at XS650.com have fitted VW Rabbit boots on their forks.

[chadams66]

Well, there are about 4 different sizes so WHAT BIKE??????????????????????????????

D'oh..my bike is an 1981 gs450t...

[RichDesmond]

D'oh..my bike is an 1981 gs450t...

Pretty sure those are 33mm. Little soda straw things.

[cowboyup3371]

From Basscliff's site you can find this fork tube size document - http://members.dslextreme.com/users/...fork_diameters.

(Rich is correct - they are 33mm)

[bwringer]

Or just go out to the garage and measure...

What's on the bike always trumps what's in the books. Lots of us have been bamboozled and flustermicated by something some PO changed.

[tkent02]

The benefits of changing the spindly 450's 33mm forks to something more substantial would be well worth a little bamboozlement and even some flustermication. They are tiny.

[chadams66]

thanks for the information guys...I knew they were twiggy little things when I took them off to put in progressive springs...all of the boots I've found were pretty much in the 35mm size (and cheap chinese junk at that)...if I had a micrometer out in my garage I certainly would've gone out and measured them myself...asking some "internet" friends seemed like a good way to go...it's worked for me before...
I understand that they aren't the best forks in the world..but for this bike..with the progressive springs they do a pretty damned good job...I have received compliments on it when chasing 600 sport bikes...they come up and want to know what it is.."man you were railing through those corners"...lol..when I replace the rear shocks..then they'll be surprized...I have two other bikes that are my main stays...this sweetheart was my first "back to riding" bike of 4 years ago...I fixed her all up..and have put more than a few thousand miles on her...I still ride her around town to run small errands...