Front Fork Tube Protectors

blimpman · 12-12-2006, 02:39 PM

I think I might try to see if these will fit my Lifan. The fork tubes are very unprotected and I need a way to keep the mud and debris off as much as possible. Anyone have experience with this product?

http://www.sealsavers.com

John22j · 12-12-2006, 03:16 PM

what type of forks are on your bike? conventional or inverted

The best thing for conventional in my oppinion are the accordian style rubber boots... those are pretty easy to find. For inverted the hard plastic covers are good because rocks from riders in front of you (on an MX track at least) will ding that crap out of the tube/sliders.... I had a brand new bike that broke one of those early in a harescramble --- the seal on that leg was leaking by the end of the race. Dirt, twigs/debree, and nicked up tubes are a seals worst enemy.

I've seen people using sealsavers, but I didn't think they really offered protection the way the old boots did -- kind of looked to me like just an extended wiper for the seals.

blimpman · 12-12-2006, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John22j

The best thing for conventional in my oppinion are the accordian style rubber boots... those are pretty easy to find. For inverted the hard plastic covers are good because rocks from riders in front of you (on an MX track at least) will ding that crap out of the tube/sliders.... I had a brand new bike that broke one of those early in a harescramble --- the seal on that leg was leaking by the end of the race. Dirt, twigs/debree, and nicked up tubes are a seals worst enemy.

I have inverted forks. There is no way to mount the hard plastic covers other than being creative with zip ties and making one yourself. ( I am working on that very thing) Some of the older Lifan's had mounting places at the bottom of the forks but mine are bare. I think the sealsavers might keep more of the gunk out as well. A dirty seal is an unhappy seal... :wink: Sometimes ya just have to be creative....

tzrider · 12-12-2006, 06:11 PM

I put fork gators on my XL600 cause when I bought it, they were missing. They work well to protect the tubes on conventional forks.

John22j · 12-13-2006, 01:19 PM

I wonder if you could somehow take rubber fork boots and make a buffer/bumper like thing at the bottom out of something like pipe insulating foam and attach the boots to that foam.

I can kind of picture it working --- provides protection from dings as well as dirt. You'd zip tie them tight to the upper part of the fork and maybe sew it to the foam down below.

Hmmmm - got my curiousity going now, but my bikes all have the hard protectors on them so I don't have a need to experiment with it. :(

ACD · 12-13-2006, 03:35 PM

Go to the Jetmoto wesite. The dirt only GY200 they sell has fork protectors and the forks look the same as the Lifan or other street inverted forks. Perhaps they could sell a set. Do a search we discussed this back this summer or early fall.

Aaron

www.jetmotousa.com

blimpman · 12-22-2006, 10:21 AM

I ended up buying rubber fork boots that fits mid-80's Honda CL's and XT's from Ebay.

I pulled off the fork tubes and with a little WD-40, they slipped on. Now I just have to get some clamps or big tie-wraps. I'll take pictures and post soon. I think they worked great!! Doesn't look too bad either. Here are the boots. $22 bucks incl shipping.

cajunkym · 12-22-2006, 04:55 PM

Dude, I think your Fork Protectors are Alright! For inverted eh?

VFRFLYER · 12-22-2006, 10:58 PM

I have a question how do you install these is it necessary to seperate upper from lower half of forks ?

blimpman · 12-23-2006, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VFRFLYER

I have a question how do you install these is it necessary to seperate upper from lower half of forks ?

Yep, had to take the wheel off first. Then loosen the three bolts that hold the fork tubes in the triple clamps so the tubes slipped out. Then greased up the inside of the boots with wd-40 ( probably should have used liquid soap) and just slipped the boots over the top of the shock and down to the bottom. This will protect the shock tubes from rocks and dirt. I left the bottom of the boot loose so I could pull it up to clean it if necessary. I'll edit this post with pictures soon. Sorry my flash crapped out on me...

VFRFLYER · 12-23-2006, 12:42 PM

Very cool! looks liike a good investment in the safety of tubes and seals. I will need to get some as well is this the place

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORK-...64473011QQrdZ1

Thanks Ray

blimpman · 12-24-2006, 09:33 AM

Pictures of boots changed to better quality

John22j · 12-24-2006, 07:00 PM

looks like it turned out really nice. Those will provide the protection you were looking for - much better than the seal savers were going to be.

12-12-2006, 02:39 PM	#1
blimpman Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Posts: 267	Front Fork Tube Protectors I think I might try to see if these will fit my Lifan. The fork tubes are very unprotected and I need a way to keep the mud and debris off as much as possible. Anyone have experience with this product? http://www.sealsavers.com __________________ The destination is merely a by-product of the journey. '06 KLR650 '06 XT225 '92 XT225 Serow ( MBD.... Multiple Bike Disease...)
	0

12-12-2006, 03:16 PM	#2
John22j Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 289	what type of forks are on your bike? conventional or inverted The best thing for conventional in my oppinion are the accordian style rubber boots... those are pretty easy to find. For inverted the hard plastic covers are good because rocks from riders in front of you (on an MX track at least) will ding that crap out of the tube/sliders.... I had a brand new bike that broke one of those early in a harescramble --- the seal on that leg was leaking by the end of the race. Dirt, twigs/debree, and nicked up tubes are a seals worst enemy. I've seen people using sealsavers, but I didn't think they really offered protection the way the old boots did -- kind of looked to me like just an extended wiper for the seals. __________________ '20 RPS Magician 250 '06 Hensim (Tierra) DB150-2 '06 X-Treme 70cc pitbike '02 Kawasaki KX125
	0

12-13-2006, 01:19 PM	#5
John22j Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 289	I wonder if you could somehow take rubber fork boots and make a buffer/bumper like thing at the bottom out of something like pipe insulating foam and attach the boots to that foam. I can kind of picture it working --- provides protection from dings as well as dirt. You'd zip tie them tight to the upper part of the fork and maybe sew it to the foam down below. Hmmmm - got my curiousity going now, but my bikes all have the hard protectors on them so I don't have a need to experiment with it. :( __________________ '20 RPS Magician 250 '06 Hensim (Tierra) DB150-2 '06 X-Treme 70cc pitbike '02 Kawasaki KX125
	0

12-13-2006, 03:35 PM	#6
ACD Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rockland, Maine Posts: 297	Go to the Jetmoto wesite. The dirt only GY200 they sell has fork protectors and the forks look the same as the Lifan or other street inverted forks. Perhaps they could sell a set. Do a search we discussed this back this summer or early fall. Aaron www.jetmotousa.com __________________ Aaron 2008 Fly-Scooters La Vie www.scootdawg.proboards59.com
	0

12-22-2006, 10:21 AM	#7
blimpman Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Posts: 267	I ended up buying rubber fork boots that fits mid-80's Honda CL's and XT's from Ebay. I pulled off the fork tubes and with a little WD-40, they slipped on. Now I just have to get some clamps or big tie-wraps. I'll take pictures and post soon. I think they worked great!! Doesn't look too bad either. Here are the boots. $22 bucks incl shipping. __________________ The destination is merely a by-product of the journey. '06 KLR650 '06 XT225 '92 XT225 Serow ( MBD.... Multiple Bike Disease...)
	0

12-12-2006, 06:11 PM	#4
tzrider Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Texas by gawd! Posts: 407	I put fork gators on my XL600 cause when I bought it, they were missing. They work well to protect the tubes on conventional forks.
	0

12-22-2006, 04:55 PM	#8
cajunkym Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 40	Fork Protectors Dude, I think your Fork Protectors are Alright! For inverted eh?
	0

12-22-2006, 10:58 PM	#9
VFRFLYER Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Columbia, S.C. Posts: 62	I have a question how do you install these is it necessary to seperate upper from lower half of forks ?
	0

12-23-2006, 12:42 PM	#11
VFRFLYER Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Columbia, S.C. Posts: 62	Very cool! looks liike a good investment in the safety of tubes and seals. I will need to get some as well is this the place http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORK-...64473011QQrdZ1 Thanks Ray __________________ 06 Roketa RSX 200E (DB 07A)
	0

12-24-2006, 09:33 AM	#12
blimpman Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Posts: 267	Pictures of boots changed to better quality __________________ The destination is merely a by-product of the journey. '06 KLR650 '06 XT225 '92 XT225 Serow ( MBD.... Multiple Bike Disease...)
	0

12-24-2006, 07:00 PM	#13
John22j Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 289	looks like it turned out really nice. Those will provide the protection you were looking for - much better than the seal savers were going to be. __________________ '20 RPS Magician 250 '06 Hensim (Tierra) DB150-2 '06 X-Treme 70cc pitbike '02 Kawasaki KX125
	0