Forks, run boots or not?

**nzspokes** · 29th October 2011, 06:49

Me XR needs fork seals. And the boots were stuffed when I got it. So should I run the boots and if so why?

Im a bicycle mechanic and we did away with them years ago as all they did on bicycles was hold the crap against the seals and wore them out faster. Is this the same for a motorcycle? I would have thought it was the same as motorcycle forks work the same but are more basic.

**scumdog** · 29th October 2011, 10:11

My wife and I are road-bike riders and I put them on our bikes.

'Cos a year or so back a large oncoming rock hit the slider and put a nick in it.

Result?
A torn-up seal and fork-oil everywhere, hence the boots

**DEATH_INC.** · 29th October 2011, 10:21

Yeh, you'll get answers both for and against it. I personally think on an older bike especially I'd run em. See above, there are many more rocks off road...Try to find some that will clamp a little down the leg rather than right at the top to avoid 'em holding shit where the seals are.

**CRF119** · 29th October 2011, 11:48

The great thing about fork boots is they stop rocks damaging the chrome. The down side is that is any shit gets in them that stuff is there to stay and until cleaned out will continue to ruin seals.

The answer i think you are after is. Fresh fork boots will be great and better then none but they need to be inspected every ride for tears and every 10th ride maybe slide them down to inspect for any shit.

**barty5** · 29th October 2011, 13:50

not sure if they make them for conventional forks but you could try and get some seal savers never used then either but probably easier to clean than boots

**unstuck** · 29th October 2011, 15:21

Goes a long way.

**scumdog** · 30th October 2011, 17:42

Originally Posted by DEATH_INC.

Yeh, you'll get answers both for and against it. I personally think on an older bike especially I'd run em. See above, there are many more rocks off road...Try to find some that will clamp a little down the leg rather than right at the top to avoid 'em holding shit where the seals are.

I punched some 4mm holes on the back lower face of each boot to allow water,debirs etc to find its way out - and I guess on the whole it likely to be less of a problem on a road bike.

But a high velocity rock pinged from the opposing traffic is unfortunately more likely with a road bike...

**scott411** · 31st October 2011, 09:03

fork boots will increase your seal life ten fold, upside forks on mordern mx/trail bikes can not run them due to damage, but it would not run a convetional forked bike with out them offroad

**scott411** · 31st October 2011, 09:05

Originally Posted by barty5

not sure if they make them for conventional forks but you could try and get some seal savers never used then either but probably easier to clean than boots

seal savers would work but they would be less effective than fork boots,

most good quality fork boots have holes in the bottom to let water etc escape