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Author Topic: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?  (Read 1186 times)

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Offline OldZaskar

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Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« on: February 27, 2019, 06:36:16 AM »
Back in the '90s, we stopped using the rubber accordion shock boots on the Jeeps we built. Same with mountain bike forks. The consensus being that they served no positive function and could actually have detrimental functions - trapping moisture, making inspection more difficult.

Are they kept on the vintage motorcycles to keep the bikes true to the O.E.? Or, do they serve a function too?

Thanks!
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Offline MauiK3

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2019, 07:51:14 AM »
I would think they could keep pitting from happening on the surface of the forks.
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2019, 08:07:07 AM »
Stone/gravel/hard bugs chip/dent the chrome surface and eat lip seals, advance leaking.
Same with splashed on mud and road grime.

Or, you can just replace forks as a routine maintenance procedure.

Cheers,
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Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
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Offline OldZaskar

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2019, 08:22:16 AM »
That makes sense. While the truck and mtn bike shocks see a lot of water, mud, etc, they are not exposed to any of those at high speeds. Thanks!
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Offline jlh3rd

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2019, 10:27:11 AM »
Quote from: OldZaskar on February 27, 2019, 08:22:16 AM
That makes sense. While the truck and mtn bike shocks see a lot of water, mud, etc, they are not exposed to any of those at high speeds. Thanks!
yet honda did stop with these boots for vintage bikes as the 77 and up 550 F didn't have 'em, but the previous years did. Practicality and usefulness gave way to time, money and esthetics probably.
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Offline Ichiban 4

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2019, 11:09:24 AM »
I always felt (still do) that fork boots are great if doing a lot of off-road riding..maybe riding on non-pavement a lot.  Other than that..for street and road riding..I also agree that they can be as much of problem (holding moisture/dirt-in) as they are  an advantage.

If one looks at the forks on road/street bikes for as long as I can remember..most don't have fork "gators". Longevity of fork service seems to me to be primarily a matter of good routine cleaning and maintenance..rather on whether or not one has their "rubbers-on" LOL

My 2-cents..

Ichi


 
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Al Summers

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Offline 754

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2019, 11:43:39 AM »
 Keep in mind, forks were not plated all the way up.. big reason to cover them.
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Offline Mooshie

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2019, 11:52:14 AM »
I live at sea level and they get pitted without the boots.  So I always have them on Dash.  Plus I like the way they look

PS Hey Frank, how is the weather in Canada?  ;)
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Offline 754

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2019, 05:58:56 PM »
Oh man it sucks, wurst  Feb ever.  Went down to 3 or 4 degrees F last night.
 Really long cold snap but we had good temps till beginning of Feb..

Hope to see you this summer,
  If you are you coming out this way, you can drop in and stay here..
« Last Edit: February 27, 2019, 07:29:05 PM by 754 »
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Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline TwoTired

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2019, 07:12:21 PM »
Quote from: jlh3rd on February 27, 2019, 10:27:11 AM
Quote from: OldZaskar on February 27, 2019, 08:22:16 AM
That makes sense. While the truck and mtn bike shocks see a lot of water, mud, etc, they are not exposed to any of those at high speeds. Thanks!
yet honda did stop with these boots for vintage bikes as the 77 and up 550 F didn't have 'em, but the previous years did. Practicality and usefulness gave way to time, money and esthetics probably.

Yes, they went away in 77.  My vote for reason is for style points.  I think the competition deleted them first.  Modernization over durability.  My 77s and 78s have pitted forks now, and need frequent seal replacement.

Cheers,
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Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
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Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Tracksnblades1

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2019, 07:38:22 PM »
And in a "Water Born Paint" and "Powder Coat" world, What are 95% of Class 8 commercial trucks still painted with...?  DuPont Imron.....Additionally, the locally manufactured large outdoor LP tanks are still sporting their shiny DuPont Imron coats.  Marine hulls frequently are restored with Iron paint....

If you're wondering what abrasive materials those rubber boots are subjected to on the road.  Check out the front bumper of your local million mile Walmart class 8 truck...

👍

« Last Edit: February 27, 2019, 07:43:06 PM by Tracksnblades1 »
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Offline Deltarider

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #11 on: February 28, 2019, 12:25:59 AM »
FWIW, when you lift the rubber boots, the legs on my CB500 do not look paricularly nice, but in 135.000 km I did not have to replace one seal yet...
Also: in over 100.000 km and 39 years I renewed the front fork oil maybe 4 times at most and, frankly, I don't see a reason why this should be done more frequent.
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Offline robvangulik

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #12 on: February 28, 2019, 01:55:50 AM »
It's your bike, you can do or do not do with it what you want.
Just don't expect me to treat my bikes the same way!
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Offline Deltarider

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #13 on: February 28, 2019, 02:01:39 AM »
Quote from: robvangulik on February 28, 2019, 01:55:50 AM
It's your bike, you can do or do not do with it what you want.
Just don't expect me to treat my bikes the same way!
  ???... I didn't even expect you to comment.  ;)
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Offline robvangulik

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Re: Fork/shock boots - kept to be period correct, or serve a purpose?
« Reply #14 on: February 28, 2019, 04:27:56 AM »
I did hesitate, but as i know what forkoil looks, feels and above all smells like after just a couple of years of use, i couldn't resist ;D
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